<p>Ruchi Zaveri's career path highlights the benefits of following your curiosity and taking risks. From her early work as a jewelry designer and then the owner of her own home decor business, Zaveri is now a Technical Project Manager at JP Morgan Chase. She chose this direction after seeing how necessary project management was in her business and consequently enrolling at NYU SPS for an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-project-management.html" title="MS in Project Management">MS in Project Management</a>. We recently spoke to Zaveri&nbsp;about her professional journey, finding opportunities in surprising ways, and learning on the fly.</p>

<p>Hailing from the culturally rich city of Baroda, India, Zaveri&nbsp;majored in jewelry design for her undergraduate degree and turned her love of art into a home decor business. It wasn't until she really found herself deep within the daily workings of her business that she discovered a new interest that piqued her curiosity.</p> <p>&quot;It was during my entrepreneurial journey that I understood the importance of project management,&quot; she says. With a newfound appreciation for the role project management plays as the glue and foundation for projects and businesses alike, Zaveri&nbsp;made the courageous decision to pivot careers and move to New York City to enroll in the MS in Project Management at NYU SPS.</p> <p>Zaveri's inquisitive nature and desire led her to NYU SPS, where she became fully immersed in the community.</p>

<p>At NYU SPS, Zaveri&nbsp;found opportunities to learn from both professors and students, taking on leadership roles and jobs that allowed her to grow both personally and professionally.</p> <p>As the president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://engage.nyu.edu/organization/sps-project-management-student-network" title="Project Management Student Network">Project Management Student Network</a>, and working at NYU IT as an IT project coordinator, Zaveri&nbsp;credits the program for giving her the resources and experiences to develop not only hard skills, but also soft skills such as confidence and interpersonal management skills through hands-on learning. &quot;It was due to the program that I had the skills to perform at such a challenging level,&quot; she shares, &quot;My introduction to Project Management in IT…helped put the skills I learned in the classroom to actual use. I had the opportunity to work with field experts and learn from their experience.&quot;</p> <p>Zaveri&nbsp;cites her professors as major sources of support and inspiration, and emphasizes the value of mentorship on her professional journey. She also acknowledges the culturally diverse student body as another source of enrichment, which speaks volumes to the importance of community in personal and professional development. &quot;I would say they were some of the best months of my life,&quot; Zaveri&nbsp;reminisces. Zaveri's time at NYU SPS is a testament to the vast number of resources and opportunities that are available to students.</p>

<p>For Zaveri&nbsp;, the greatest driving force of success is seizing every opportunity to learn. Zaveri's most valuable lessons in her professional journey aren't necessarily just about the technical skills, the real-life experiences, or the classroom curriculum (although all extremely foundational), but rather how they all come together to give her the tools to keep learning and pushing herself in this new career frontier. She faces challenges such as balancing interpersonal relationships with peers while keeping them accountable and meeting deadlines, as well as more concrete issues, like changing policies, mitigating long-term risks, and network security threats.</p> <p>But these aren't so much barriers for Zaveri&nbsp;as much as they are moments for problem-solving and chances to grow. &quot;This helps me learn constantly,&quot; she says, and builds upon newfound skills and experiences to tackle new problems or difficult projects. The ability to learn and adapt quickly to any situation, environment, or responsibility is an invaluable skill that she was able to develop and practice with the support of the NYU SPS community.</p>

<p>Lastly, Zaveri&nbsp;leaves us with some parting wisdom. Her first piece of advice for students is to make the most of university resources, such as opportunities and career services. &quot;I wish I focused more on networking as that is beneficial when we have to start looking for jobs,&quot; she says. On a practical note, she advises to start searching for jobs six months before graduation.</p> <p>Her second piece of advice is broader in scope and can be applied to the macro–center learning in every experience and interaction you encounter–especially at NYU SPS. &quot;Make learning your best friend, and don't hesitate in asking questions,&quot; Zaveri&nbsp;says, &quot;There is so much I have learned while interacting with people, learning about their experience taught me more than what I read in the books.&quot;</p> <p>We are so excited to see what Zaveri&nbsp;finds next in her professional and personal journey. Explore where an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-project-management.html" title="MS in Project Management">MS in Project Management</a> can take you.</p>