At Salesforce, 2022 grad puts finance degree to work
Krishna Patel ’22 is grateful for a Carthage education that has given her a “huge leg up” in her dream job at Salesforce, a leader in customer relationship management software and applications.
Working alongside graduates of larger universities, she fits in well. A multi-track degree from Carthage — a major in finance with minors in data science and economics — gave Ms. Patel the essential skills she needs to prioritize, analyze, and report.
“Data visualization is such a powerful tool,” she says. “Carthage courses have proved indispensable; they have really helped me gain insights and be smart about how I work.”
That’s just one example of how Carthage was a good fit with her restless desire to learn and excel. Carthage provided a springboard for coveted summer internships in sales, and she valued the College’s attentive and supportive atmosphere.
She often lingered after classes for continued conversations with faculty.
“One thing I tell Carthage students: Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she says. “No one will tell you no.”
Working on campus at the Aspire Center, the College’s career development office, she channeled her graphic design expertise into print and digital marketing materials. Her Carthage experience further extended to activities that included vice president of the Asian-Pacific American Coalition at Carthage, peer coach, tutor, and member of the Data Science Club.
As for her passion for hard work and high achievement, Ms. Patel is quick to give credit to her parents. Immigrants from India, they built a new life for their family and now own multiple businesses.
“Seeing how they succeeded is very motivating,” she says. “My siblings and I always wanted to mirror their success.”
She hopes she can, in turn, use the opportunities offered by Carthage to inspire other women who are considering a career in business.
“I work in an industry that’s not noted for its diversity,” Ms. Patel says. “If I can inspire other women and people of color to follow a path into business, that would be a meaningful measure of success.”