Viveka Mandava - Stern ‘22
Where are you from? I grew up in Ohio and have been in NYC for 6 years.
What was your background before Stern? I started off working in politics for a few years after college, through both consulting and campaigns, and then moved into social impact afterwards, first at 21st Century Fox and later at General Assembly.
Why did you choose to pursue an MBA? Why Stern? I wanted to pivot from general corporate social impact to supply chain sustainability specifically within the apparel industry. Location was a primary factor in deciding on Stern since almost every fashion brand in the world has office presence in New York. I was also really impressed that Stern was home to both the Center for Sustainable Business and Center for Business and Human Rights (I had followed Professor Posner’s research on garment workers and labor rights earlier in my career.) I also loved all of my interactions with students and alum during the application process - everyone was so genuinely kind and helpful.
What did you do to explore careers in your first year and what was most helpful? I relied on CSB programming and the job board, OCD and club-organized panels (I was most involved with SISA and LuxRet), LinkedIn, and coffee chats. I used the 2nd connection feature heavily on LinkedIn to either ask my contacts to connect me with people they know, or would just email people directly asking if they’d be willing to share their time with me. I was really surprised by the positive response rate - just keep your notes short and clear with a very appreciative tone, and remember to pay it forward when you’re in their shoes later!
What do you wish you’d done differently / what advice do you have for MBA1s or prospective students?
I wish I had taken more time to actually learn Excel! I always assumed I’d just somehow “know it” by the end of business school via osmosis or something, but since I wasn’t recruiting for finance or consulting, I didn’t actually have that many opportunities to practice and absorb the skills I wanted.
Keep meeting new people! It’s easy to form groups during orientation and stay in them for the next two years, but step out of your comfort zone every now and then and ask someone new to join for coffee or happy hour - that’s why you’re all there!
When you’re feeling stressed, sleep and water will usually help you more than trying to push through your regenerating to-do list.
What was your internship recruiting process like? Candidly, recruiting itself was stressful, but I’m here to tell you that it always always works out. I was looking for an internship that touched either supply chain sustainability or apparel, but really wanted both. I also knew there was a solid chance I would create an internship for myself, since very few apparel companies offer MBA internships (though it does seem to be growing). I kept a list of brands that I admired and looked for any type of connection, but I ended up getting my internship by cold emailing a specific project pitch to the hiring inbox of a company I was obsessed with, which they responded positively to!
Tell us a little bit about where you interned and the work you did over the summer. What skills were most helpful? What did you learn? I spent my summer at Hill House Home (home of the Nap Dress!) creating a sustainability roadmap with detailed strategies and tactics. I ended up staying on part-time for my MBA2 year, working with the supply chain and production team to build their social auditing program. Communication skills and relationship management are so important, and so is knowing how to keep asking questions - you’re there to contribute but also to learn as much as you can! I learned about supply chain, sourcing, garment manufacturing, and supplier relationships, which is helping me so much in my current role.
What are you up to post-MBA? I joined Express as a Manager sitting within the Supply Chain & Sourcing department here in NYC. I’m responsible for supply chain transparency, social auditing of our global factories, measuring and managing water/carbon footprints, and all other initiatives that touch product sustainability. I’m really thrilled to be here and can’t wait to see how my role and my team’s work unfolds down the line.
What have been your favorite classes at Stern (SISA focused or otherwise)?
Corporate Governance with Profs Scott and Brenner (cross-listed with the Law School) taught me so much about business ethics and decision-making as it relates to board leadership, investor relations, shareholder/stakeholder engagement and activism, and risk management
Marketing & Sustainability with Prof Bollinger had a lot of great guest speakers and was one of the most open, thoughtful, and supportive learning environments I’ve ever been in.
How has SISA played a role in your Stern experience? I met some of my closest friends through SISA! It’s very enriching to have a group of people around you with similar interests and values who will also push you to keep expanding your own thought horizons. It’s so easy to spiral into anxiety when you’re questioning things like what growth actually means on a depleted planet facing the consequences of climate change, or the impact of offshoring on labor and human rights, but my SISA pals always kept (and continue to keep!) me grounded and focused on just putting one foot in front of the other. None of us can, or should, take on this mental/emotional workload alone.
What would you say to a prospective student who is interested in exploring careers in social impact or sustainability? Keep your eyes and ears wide open, always. These fields are constantly evolving under the weight of new research and lessons learned from trying new things and making mistakes. Becoming a subject matter expert in the topics you’re interested in will make you invaluable to your future employer, and the great thing is that all you really need is Google and a good pair of blue light glasses. Reach out to people whose careers you respect or want to emulate, learn from them and stay in touch with them! Remember that no one’s paths are linear - you should explore different roles and industries as much as you want until you find something that really excites and fulfills you… and always say no to greenwashing!
