efore COVID-19, life had already changed notably for Anshi Mathur (MBA ’20), but she didn’t skip a beat.
In 2017, when she started the Online MBA program at the W. P. Carey School of Business, Mathur was being treated for leukemia, which had temporarily robbed the lifelong musician of her ability to sing. She graduated from the MBA program in better health and had been selected to sing the alma mater at her convocation ceremony, but unfortunately was unable to do so because of COVID-19.
“The decision to pursue an MBA stemmed from my job position at my previous workplace,” she says. “Being the business development manager in a startup company opened my eyes to the intricacies involved in the world of business.
“Creating a culture where everyone feels empowered and valued has been very important to me throughout my professional and academic career. Therefore, I wanted to study business and learn more extensively how to successfully be a leader in the startup industry.”
Music — and singing, in particular — has been a part of Mathur’s life since she was very young.
She was inspired by her virtuoso mother, Sarup Mathur, who is a professional classical Indian singer and also a professor of special education in the division of educational leadership at ASU.
In addition to singing, Mathur also took piano and guitar lessons.
“Music is a healing, powerful, and expressive force,” Mathur says.
She says she’s always dreamed of becoming involved in the music and entertainment industry, but found it very difficult to navigate.
Associate Professor
of Management
“The reason behind aiming for two different pathways — senior management and music — is to open the line of multiple streams of pursuits, skill sets, and accomplishments,” Mathur says.
Mathur says her time in the MBA program has played a significant role in fine-tuning her for the next career stage.
In particular, two professors struck a chord with Mathur:
- In her Organizational Behavior course, Marcie LePine did an excellent job tying the concepts of psychology — which is Mathur’s undergraduate degree — with business.
- Antony Peloso’s Marketing Management and Product and Service Innovation course shaped Mathur’s approach in business and led her toward an area of emphasis in marketing.
“The program helped me develop an accurate view of my strengths and limitations,” she says. “My lens on professional success has been refined. I value this program for how it has helped me grow, cultivate skills, and have meaningful experiences.”
Because of the influence the MBA program had on her life, Mathur says graduating in spring 2020 was not the finale to her time at W. P. Carey.
Clinical Assistant
Professor of Marketing
Given that Mathur wasn’t able to sing the alma mater in 2020 due to the pandemic, she hopes to get that gig, too.
Discover Mathur’s music:
youtube.com/user/anshimathur1