Palak Bharti

Class of '25
Pronouns: She/Her
Currently Studying: MS Marketing Analytics
Member (Clubs): The Front Yard (TFY), Pace Ad Club, IDM Lab

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Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

I chose Pace and Lubin because the combination just clicked for me. Coming from the digital payments world, being in the Financial District—surrounded by fintech firms, banks, and startups—felt strategic.

On top of that, Lubin’s rankings, industry reputation, and honest reviews from students made it clear the program wasn’t just “marketing analytics on paper.” People kept saying the same thing: you actually learn, you get opportunities, and the professors push you to grow. I experienced that firsthand over the past two years.

So, between the location, the credibility, and the real-world focus, it felt like the smartest place to build my next chapter in the U.S.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student?

Clubs and campus groups have shaped my experience more than anything else. The Front Yard isn’t technically a student club, but it’s probably had the biggest impact. It pushed my thinking, expanded my network, and honestly made me operate more like an entrepreneur than a student. The kind of people and industry leaders you meet there is unmatched.

Pace Ad Club gave me a completely different lens. They’re one of the most coordinated teams on campus, and working with them helped me understand the undergraduate ecosystem and how student-driven marketing actually works.

And IDM Lab was my bridge to real-world marketing. I worked directly with a company, delivered a project that mattered, and built a contact I still value.

So overall, these spaces didn’t just “enrich” my student life—they pushed me to think bigger, work smarter, and plug into the real world while still on campus.

What drew you to take on leadership roles in clubs like AMA, and how have those experiences shaped your time at Pace?

Being an international student at Pace has been both grounding and genuinely motivating. Every day I step into New York City, the first feeling I get is gratitude—because studying here still feels like a privilege I worked hard for.

What’s made the biggest difference is the people. Several professors have been incredibly supportive from day one and having faculty who truly believe in you does more for your confidence than any handbook or orientation ever could.

Beyond academics, Pace gives you room to integrate, experiment, and grow. Whether through events, projects, or communities like The Front Yard, you never feel boxed in as an “international student.” You just feel like someone who has the space to build a meaningful career and life here.

You have multiple on campus jobs, how has that elevated your college experience?

Having multiple on-campus roles has genuinely shaped my Pace experience. The Front Yard has been a huge part of that journey—from volunteering last summer to now working as a student assistant. It exposed me to talks, panels, workshops, and fireside chats that taught me how deeply entrepreneurship and social good intersect.

Working with Professor Harosh has been especially meaningful. He treats me like a colleague, gives me the freedom to think and build, and that trust has opened doors I never expected—including meeting people like Siya Raj Purohit (OpenAI), Daniel Lubetzky (CEO of Kind), Ed Latimore, and Daryl Davis (the man is legendary). I also managed The Front Yard’s Instagram this semester and saw real growth in engagement and followers, which helped me refine my creative voice.

Volunteering during New York Tech Week—eight events in five days—pushed me to operate at a high pace, coordinate across teams, and grow both personally and professionally.

My second role as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Pradeep Gopalakrishnan has added an equally important dimension to my learning. Every week feels like stepping into a strategic lab. We discuss marketing frameworks, real business cases, and current industry shifts, and I always walk out with a new insight. Being part of his research process has strengthened how I analyze data, structure arguments, and think like an academic as well as a marketer. It’s the kind of mentorship where someone genuinely invests in your growth—and that has challenged me to raise my own standards.

Together, these roles have given me a 360° college experience: creative, analytical, entrepreneurial, and hands-on. They’ve made my time at Pace not just busy, but deeply meaningful.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite opportunity at Pace has really been the range of experiences I’ve been able to collect. The Experiential Learning Lab—a one-day hackathon—exposed me to organizations I never imagined I’d work with as a student: American Technology Services, NJ Transit, MTA, and more. It pushed me to solve problems quickly, think creatively, and collaborate under pressure.

Outside of that, the Broadband Equity Case Competition wasn’t officially through Pace, but it came to me because I’m here—and it ended up being one of the biggest learning curves of my program. It taught me how to combine analytics, storytelling, and real-world strategy in a way that actually impacts communities—and how to lead and manage a team.

And of course, The Front Yard has been the heartbeat of my Pace experience. Whether it’s events, panels, or meeting incredible speakers, it’s where I’ve grown the most—personally and professionally. In fact, volunteering at one of the TFY events directly led to my summer internship—proof that showing up truly does change your trajectory.

Together, these opportunities made Pace feel much bigger than just a campus—it felt like a launchpad.

Use New York City. Step outside campus, go to panels, meet founders, show up at meetups. This city is a live classroom—and the more you plug into it, the faster you grow.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

Don’t wait for permission. Pace rewards the people who raise their hand first.

Show up to events even when you're tired, talk to professors even when you feel shy, and take opportunities even if you think you're “not ready yet.” Every big moment I’ve had here—The Front Yard, hackathons, case competitions, research roles—happened because I said yes before I had it all figured out.

Also, build real relationships with professors. Lubin has faculty who genuinely invest in you if you show initiative. Some of my biggest breakthroughs came from those conversations.

And finally? Use New York City. Step outside campus, go to panels, meet founders, show up at meetups. This city is a live classroom—and the more you plug into it, the faster you grow.

In short: be curious, be visible, and be a little brave. It compounds fast.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife, to me, means learning in motion.

It’s not just classes and grades—it’s the mix of academics, real-world projects, New York City energy, and the people who push you to think bigger. It’s walking into a lecture, walking out with a new framework, and applying it that same week at The Front Yard events, case competitions, or research work.

It’s professors who genuinely believe in you, peers who challenge you, and a campus that feels plugged directly into the business world. Most importantly, #LubinLife is about growth—fast, uncomfortable, exciting, and constant. It’s the version of you that shows up when ambition meets opportunity.

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