Gayathri Jayachandran

Why did you choose the MILR program?

With the world’s largest collection of scholars who concentrate on work and the working relationship, the ILR School stands out in its cutting-edge research pursuits, and I knew I would benefit immensely by being as close as possible to this knowledge powerhouse. Second, at the time I was aware of the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies program that provides students the connect with HR executives of Fortune 500 companies for best practices, insights, and even opportunities to do real world live case projects. Third, I was greatly impressed with the credentials and industry acceptance of the Cornell MILR community. Today I can say that it was easily one of the best decisions of my life.

What is your favorite part about the MILR program?

For one thing, it is the relationship that I shared with my seniors when I joined Cornell. The warmth and genuineness of it struck me, and this is not just limited to immediate seniors, but batches prior to that as well. At my end, I take care to give back the same warmth and friendship to my junior batches.

What is your favorite class so far?

Favorite classes and favorite professors – ‘Labor Markets and Income Distribution in Developing Economies’ by Professor Gary Fields and ‘Globalization and Human Resource Strategies’ by Professor Rosemary Batt.

What advice would you give to a prospective student?

First, MILR classes are taught by world-renowned faculty. It is a privilege to attend their classes. Enjoy your academics. Soak in the knowledge like a sponge. It will come in handy, when you are out to face the real world. Second, the MILR program attracts students from around the world. Time and again people talk about the relevance of building networks. While this is true, do invest in building genuine relationships. It could be a connection with your favorite faculty or a handful of friends, all of whom are going to be your support system in this journey. Two years is not a real long time, but there are going to be experiences aplenty.

Summer internship and location:

Citibank in New York, NY

What is the highlight from your summer internship?

Citibank CEO Michael Corbat walking in seconds before my final summer presentation started!!

Where will you be working full-time after you graduate?

Citibank in New York, NY

More About Gayathri

• Prior Education: BS in Civil Engineering from University of Kerala, India & MBA from IIM Calcutta, India
• Prior Work Experience: 4+ years of Business Strategy & Human Resources experience in India at product & e-commerce firms