Das was a highly involved student holding leadership and mentor positions in several campus organizations, including the Data Analytics and Information Systems (DAIS) Club, DAARSTOC, Leadership Development Program (LDP), Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council (GBLC), APICS and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Seizing on-campus opportunities helped Das to develop her leadership potential.
When Chahana Das started at Rider, she considered herself an introvert. With a desire to get out of her shell, she challenged herself to step outside of her comfort zone by becoming more involved on campus. Das later took advantage of all the University had to offer through active participation in various academic and social organizations.
“Getting involved in different areas within the university allowed me to interact with different people, as well as learn more about my interests and strengths, and areas where I needed improvement.”
She continues, “Being part of different organizations allowed me to develop multiple skills which have been helpful in my professional development post-graduation.” In particular, Das credits her co-curricular activities for helping her to develop various professional skills and strategies for problem-solving within the workplace, while allowing her to take a deeper dive into supply chain management, technology and leadership. Das also served as a mentor in Rider’s Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council (GBLC), an organization that advances women’s leadership, mentoring and philanthropy.
One of the biggest lessons I learned [at Rider] is the importance of being comfortable with the uncomfortable. When I started to get out of my comfort zone, that was when I learned the most about myself."
Digital rotational associate at Pfizer
Engaging with entrepreneurs and business executives in Oxford, England and Silicon Valley
Das participated in two signature Engaged Learning experiences offered by Rider and the Norm Brodsky College of Business, the Innovation Intensive at Oxford and Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. The unique study travel programs take business students and aspiring entrepreneurs to Oxford, England, and Silicon Valley San Francisco to interact with leading entrepreneurs and innovators to explore culture, business philosophies, techniques and strategies.
“On the Silicon Valley trip, I had the opportunity to meet different corporate individuals to learn about different company visions as well as learning about the cultural differences between the West and East Coasts. On my trip to Oxford, I had the privilege of meeting 40-plus entrepreneurs who shared their experiences as well as their perspectives on managing their businesses. I was able to gain a lot of insight from experienced individuals and learn about their perspectives which is something I continue to use in my professional life.”
Using Rider resources to gain experiential learning experience
As a student, Das learned the power of networking and doing it with intention. Utilizing resources provided by Rider’s Office of Career Development and Success, including their job-seeking platform Handshake, career fairs and weekly career emails, she obtained several internships, externships and part-time jobs while in college. Additionally, while attending Rider events, she seized opportunities to network with people whom she kept in contact with and built relationships.
Through these experiences, Das landed internship roles with her current employer, Pfizer, Accenture, a global information technology services and consulting firm, and took part in the Master of Business and Science (MBS) Externship Exchange program offered by Rutgers University. The MBS program matches students to corporate-sponsored small projects to give them hands-on experience collaborating with teams and working with the world’s leading corporations. She also worked part-time jobs on campus and at NJM Insurance Group.
Throughout my time at Rider, I received a lot of support from my dean, advisors and professors. They helped guide me through my university years while better preparing me for my future career aspirations.”
Digital rotational associate at Pfizer
Leveraging her networks to land a job after graduation
After completing two internships with Pfizer, Das entered their digital rotation program as an associate. The program, designed for recent graduates, gives them the opportunity to work with the leading biopharmaceutical company to grow their skills and experience while preparing them for full-time roles with Pfizer Digital at the end of the rotational assignments.
“I am in my second rotation [at Pfizer], where I am working with the portfolio and vendor management teams as a business analyst. Within the portfolio team, I analyze reports from different digital portfolios to help create impactful analysis and insights which helps in deciding recommendations for next-step actions. In the vendor management team, I am helping automate tools to enhance data collection as well as optimize partner engagements.”
She continues, “I was able to get my full-time job through networking and truly believe that it is an invaluable skill for the future careers of any student regardless of their career direction or industry.”
Words of advice for current and future Broncs
“Get involved within Rider as much as possible and make the most of all the resources the University has to offer. Making the most of these resources helped prepare me for my future.”
Norm Brodsky College of Business
Named a College of Distinction, Rider’s Norm Brodsky College of Business is one of only two colleges in New Jersey with dual-AACSB accreditation. With expert faculty who bring their industry experience to the classroom and immersive and experiential learning opportunities, we help students to build valuable skills for the career they desire.