Alumni Impact: Keshvi Nandu
Alumni Impact is a social media campaign that recognizes the excellent work being done by FIUTS alumni all around the world. This week, meet Keshvi!
Keshvi Nandu, 2019 SUSI alumni and recent graduate of Ahmedabad University in Business Administration: Finance.
Hello, my name is Keshvi Nandu and I am from India. I participated in the SUSI on Youth, Education, and Closing the Skills Gap in Summer 2019. Words can scarcely qualify nor quantify the life-changing experience I was a part of and I consider myself fortunate for having been selected to be a part of SUSI.
Although I harbored doubts before SUSI, this experience proved that I can easily get along with everyone. Through this experience I learned to appreciate punctuality, dedication, and discipline in my work. These skills are helping me improve myself. I gained a unique opportunity to understand the steps taken by different countries to overcome problems through discussions with student leaders from different countries. It helped me understand our common challenges from a broader global perspective. University of Washington Student Ambassadors and an American home-stay host family allowed me to explore and understand American culture in a better manner. I learned a very important lesson that social issues can be solved through awareness events and people can come together to support each other in many different ways.
Keshvi (pictured with group) at an Entrepreneurship Club meeting at Ahmedabad University.
FIUTS led sessions on Leadership and Project Planning interested me as I was able to design my training in a more effective manner. Our discussions about the changing future of work made me think about what I really want and helped me more clearly express my goals. Coming from a business school, I always wanted to connect with entrepreneurs. So, I developed a training project to support young entrepreneurs in creating sustainable startups. My project’s primary aim is to connect students and young adults age 18-35 with well-known entrepreneurs who can mentor and help them understand the important factors which need to be considered while planning a startup. The networking session with Mr. Fortunato Vega and Meridian International webinars really helped in designing my training project.
Keshvi pictured at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, WA.
In many cases, young entrepreneurs build unsustainable projects not because there is a problem with their ideas but because of flaws in design and execution. Their projects fail because they fail to tap industry expertise and fully understand the factors affecting their startups. We can reduce the chances of catastrophic failure by connecting young entrepreneurs with successful entrepreneurs in those industries to build a strong base for their startups. As a part of my training, I worked with the Entrepreneurs’ Club at my university, a student-driven organization helping to build a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship. We did some sector-based seminars wherein successful entrepreneurs gave insights about marketing, social entrepreneurship, and the food and hospitality sector. We also hosted informal networking sessions with speakers and participants after the events. Through this training, I want participants to understand the benefits of building sustainable networks because it is through these networks that individuals and organizations grow.
Keshvi (in front, fifth from right) at the SUSI Closing Ceremony in Washington D.C.
I had an opportunity to work with an amazing group of individuals who came together to plan and execute this set of seminars. The most important lesson was to not take things for granted and take up the responsibility and deliver the work you have promised to participants. After returning home from the SUSI program, I decided that I want to pursue finance and entrepreneurship in the future. I hope to work with young entrepreneurs and connect them with the mentors so that we have more successful startups.
Keshvi (right) celebrating the completion of the 2019 SUSI program with Ellen Frierson, FIUTS Manager of Education Programs.
SUSI programs promote a better understanding of the people, institutions, and culture of the United States among international students, teachers, and scholars. Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) are short-term academic programs for groups of undergraduate leaders, educators, and scholars from around the world. Hosted by academic institutions throughout the United States, these 5- to 6-week Institutes include an intensive academic residency and an integrated educational study tour. Extracurricular cultural and community activities help to broaden the participants’ understanding of U.S. society. Learn more about SUSI programs here.
Guest posts on the FIUTS blog represent the experiences and views of individual writers. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FIUTS or any organizations or institutions affiliated with our programs.