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Meet JSOM Student Saher Lakhani
Saher Lakhani is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Global Business and Bachelor of Science in Marketing double-major at the Naveen Jindal School of Management and she is expected to graduate in Spring 2024.
Lakhani has completed a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She is a recipient of the Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Global Excellence Scholarship, the Peter Buffett Scholarship and is recognized on the Dean’s List.
Coming to UT Dallas and Choosing JSOMs
During the college application process, Lakhani exclusively applied to Texas schools.
“I was determined to stay in Texas, for undergrad at least. So, I only considered UT Dallas and UT Austin,” she said.
Initially, Lakhani was set to attend UT Austin, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed her plans in 2020.
“My dad was a strong advocate for UTD for various reasons, and the uncertainty brought by COVID solidified that decision,” she said. “I was grateful for UTD’s generous scholarship offer, which covered all expenses and more.”
Ultimately, Lakhani was drawn to UT Dallas by the scholarship offer, the appeal of reputable programs she had been accepted into and the proximity to her home and family in Dallas.
“I’m so grateful that I chose to attend UTD. It feels like the place I was supposed to be,” she said.
Involved on Campus
Lakhani has actively participated in various campus organizations, including the Davidson Management Honors Program (DMHP), Collegium V (CV), Delta Sigma Pi, and the Professional Program in Marketing (PPM).
“DMHP was pivotal in shaping my college experience,” she said. “CV allowed me to interact with individuals from diverse disciplines and discover classes I wouldn’t have explored otherwise.”
Lakhani has found enrichment through mentorship programs, both as a mentee and a mentor.
“As a freshman during COVID, my mentors from DMHP and the Freshman Mentor Program quickly became some of my first college friends,” she said. “Interacting with them virtually was basically my only outlet for new social interaction at the time. I enjoyed and benefited from it so much that I wanted to create that experience for someone else. That’s why I decided to become a mentor.”
Lakhani was a DJ for Radio UTD, hosting a weekly show where she shared her love for music. Through this organization, Lakhani had the opportunity to do media coverage for one of her favorite bands, Cigarettes After Sex (CAS).
“They arranged tickets for me, and I found myself literally in the front row of the CAS concert, taking pictures for them,” she said. “It was so surreal.”
Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Success
Lakhani believes time management is essential, yet a tough skill to tackle.
“In college, it seems like there’s an endless list of responsibilities — academics, work, extracurriculars, well-being and more,” she said.
Lakhani has to remind herself that perfection isn’t attainable but to try her best and strive for balance instead.
“Work hard and prioritize things,” she said, “but try and make time to take care of yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Engage in hobbies and activities that interest you. This time won’t come back. While juggling it all, remind yourself to savor the present moment and cherish the journey, the highs and lows. It will pass before you know it. Though feeling overwhelmed is natural, everything has a way of working out. This is just the beginning and there’s a whole exciting life waiting ahead of you.”
Additionally, Lakhani highlights the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to seize opportunities despite the unknown.
“Even if it’s scary, those who do take the step despite their fears,” she said.
While challenges often accompany new experiences, Lakhani believes they are rewarding and worth it. She treasures her semester abroad in Grenoble, France, and her internship in Nairobi, Kenya, considering them priceless experiences.
“It was beyond anything I could have imagined,” she said. “I never thought I’d have such opportunities when I started college.”
Mentorship Along the Way
Lakhani has been grateful for the guidance of faculty and staff at UT Dallas.
“I am so thankful for my DMHP faculty, Brittney and Krystyna. I love them. They’ve been a great comfort and support academically, professionally and personally,” she said.
Lakhani also had high praise for several professors throughout her college career.
“I truly appreciate when a professor genuinely cares about their students — we can tell,” she said.
Wisdom for Fellow Students
Lakhani has benefited from the many resources, experiences and opportunities available as a college student and encourages others to seek out those perks.
“As a student, you get so much readily available to you,” she said. “Take advantage of that.”
Lakhani believes college is much more than academics — you learn more about yourself, others, and the world around you, and all these things continue to evolve.
Lakhani acknowledges that difficult situations, mistakes, rejection and what seems like failure are inevitable.
“Zoom out and recognize that these experiences shape and develop you and serve a greater purpose,” she said. “Reframing your mindset is hard but helpful, seeing rejection as redirection and failure as a catalyst for growth.”
Lakhani encourages her fellow students to strive for growth within themselves. Lakhani was introduced to the Japanese business term of Kaizen — to strive for continuous improvement — and sees it as a relevant personal philosophy.
“Look to others for inspiration but try to only compare yourself to who you were yesterday,” she said. “Everyone’s path is unique, and it is essential to be grateful for your own and focus on what you have.”
Looking to the Future
While Lakhani will graduate this coming spring, she views her education as just beginning.
“For me, it’s just like a constant journey,” she said. “Even after college, I still want to try and seek out opportunities to learn and grow. I hope to explore diverse work experiences for a bit and then pursue higher education once I kind of figure out exactly what I want to specialize in. But I definitely want to continue education throughout my life.”
Lakhani looks to the future with optimism and feels indebted to God and her community as she prepares to walk the stage. She urges her fellow students to nurture their relationships, value empathy and be there for others to lean on in true community.
“It’s important to be independent, but it is good to have help from other people,” she said. “You can’t and don’t have to do it all alone. For me, family is huge, and they are my rock. The friends I’ve made along the way have brought me joy and laughter. My religious community has provided support and stability. All these communities and connections are so special to me and have added so much richness to my life. If you haven’t found that community yet, that’s valid too. You’re also figuring yourself out. The right people will come, whether for a chapter or long term.”
