Meet Roopal Goel
Roopal completed her BSBA with a concentration in information technology management and a certificate in marketing. Roopal describes herself as a vibrant, friendly person with a love of learning, people, growth, and life.
Where did you intern?
I interned at two of my top choices: The Coca-Cola Company and PwC. I’m grateful and lucky for the opportunities that helped turn my dreams into reality thanks to the Scheller career services staff in the Undergraduate program office.
Why did you choose the Scheller College of Business?
The moment I stepped foot in Scheller as a confused and slightly terrified high school senior, I knew I had to come here. I was initially an out-of-state student grappling with the idea of being so far from home in a foreign city, but I was drawn to the warm, vibrant community at Scheller and in Atlanta. Scheller’s Undergraduate office is one of the best, and the faculty at Scheller are top-notch. The people at the College are constantly uplifting and pushing you to succeed, whether it’s your fellow students or your professors. The support system that naturally exists in the school is clear and helpful.
In addition, the location is unbeatable! As a business school that operates at the intersection of business and technology, we get to reap the amazing benefits of Atlanta’s diverse community. From Fortune 500 companies to high-flying startups, there is no lack of incredible companies to work for. Scheller truly cultivates an environment of success, happiness, and ambition. It’s evident in every student’s face when they’re walking the halls.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
I have to list two marketing professors: Michael Lowe and Michael Buchanan. I took Marketing Management with Lowe and Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing with Buchanan. Their classes were some of the most challenging and rewarding courses I took. I always walked out of class having learned something through engaging lectures and discussions. They were also exceptionally nice and funny men, and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know them. Learning from Lowe and Buchanan helped me think critically and succeed in my internships, and I’m excited to apply my knowledge in my job after graduation!
What was your favorite course (and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?)
My favorite course was Management 4193, Servant Leadership Values and Systems, taught by Dr. Bob Thomas. I learned about the concept of servant leadership, servant leaders in business, and I also worked on refining my values and building meaningful relationships with my community. In terms of my role as a leader, this course dramatically altered my worldview, showed me different ways of viewing businesses in terms of systems, pushed me to reexamine my values and priorities, and helped me shape myself into a better leader.
The biggest insight I gained about business was that if we want to create better businesses, we must create better leaders and better people. Leaders must learn to listen and understand their followers, encourage failure and foster trust, be authentic, and promote a growth culture. Dr. Robert Zuber, the director of Global Action to Prevent War (a United Nations department) and a guest speaker in our class, succinctly put this idea in a few short words —“better policy requires better people.”
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller does a great job integrating emerging and current technologies into our coursework and curriculum. Students at Scheller learn about technology trends and work on incorporating them into our projects and presentations. Scheller’s commitment to creating new knowledge and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation sets us apart. Scheller realizes that technological growth affects the way business is conducted and prepares students to understand business analytics, digital transformation, data visualization and analytics, and technological advancements.
What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller?
Be yourself! Authenticity is an attractive quality, and it is evident when you are putting on a fake persona. Also, be passionate about your interests and goals. Passion and authenticity are a great combination. In addition, Scheller students are kind, hardworking, and collaborative. Show that you’re a team player and a friendly person, and you will thrive!
How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller help you during your time here?
The extracurricular offerings at Scheller helped me branch out and make lots of valuable friends and connections. I transformed as a student and a leader through my work with the Undergraduate program office and Scheller Business Ambassadors (SBA). My involvement in SBA has been near and dear to my heart. As vice president of community development, I had the opportunity to create diverse, inclusive, and dynamic events for the students of Scheller, which was a wonderful and rewarding experience. The offerings at Scheller helped me build a strong professional and support network that will last a lifetime.
On campus, I was the executive director of internal affairs in Georgia Tech honors program leadership for two years. I was also the operations team lead in the Yellow Jacket Space Program for two years, and a GT 1000 team leader for three years. Off campus, I was a board member in an organization called Fearless Females and provided guidance and advice to young girls to prepare them for higher education and business careers. My business education taught me about valuable leadership skills, change management, organizational behavior, and teamwork. These skills translated into my leadership roles and helped me improve my communication and delegation skills while fostering growth cultures and building trust with my peers and colleagues. My background also helped me mentor other young women interested in business.
