Senior Speaker 2025: Megha Parikh

Megha Parikh experienced a transformative moment during her sophomore year at Isenberg, when she moderated the keynote fireside chat at the 2023 Women of Isenberg (WOI) Conference in front of an audience of 450 students and alumni. She recalled being nervous and excited about the opportunity to play such a pivotal role in the student-run conference, which has been growing more successful each year since its inception in 2014.

“That moment shaped me professionally,” said Parikh. “From preparing the content to thinking on the spot when things didn’t go exactly as planned. It reminded me to trust myself, lean into my strengths, and never shy away from challenges.”

Parikh has been honing her leadership skills ever since, and this spring was selected to represent the Class of 2025 as the featured student speaker at this year’s Senior Celebration on May 17. A double major in marketing and economics from Basking Ridge, N.J., she participated in the WOI Conference Planning Committee through all four years of her undergraduate studies, spending her senior year as its co-president. She called this year’s conference the most fulfilling experience she has had at Isenberg.

“Not only does this accomplishment show my commitment to empowering women in the workplace, but it also shows that I want to be part of something that truly inspires others and impacts their lives,” she said. “I am so grateful to have been involved in such a strong and everlasting community at Isenberg, and I look back on my time with WOI so fondly as my biggest accomplishment.”

Parikh emphasized the power of mentorship and community as key pillars of her four years at Isenberg, crediting the school’s faculty and alumni with helping her find a career path that inspires her. Alongside her work with the WOI and her academic achievements, she also served as vice president of finance for Delta Sigma Pi, Pi Rho Chapter, the premier co-ed business fraternity at UMass Amherst. For the past three years, Parikh worked in the Isenberg Undergraduate Programs Office as an Isenberg ambassador and spent four semesters as the lead teaching assistant for Marketing 301.

Looking Ahead

Parikh will begin her professional career as a media coordinator at PMG, a digital advertising agency in Dallas, Texas. (But before that, she’ll celebrate her graduation with a well-earned trip to Hawaii alongside her roommates.)

“While I’ll carry the lessons from the classroom into my future, it’s the people—professors, peers, and alumni—who have shaped my journey and will continue to guide me,” she said.

When asked what advice she would offer future Isenberg students, Parikh said the school provides students an important sense of belonging.

“Not only can you find niches within Isenberg, like WOI, to find your friends and like-minded people, but Isenberg also fosters a community for students,” she said. “Everyone is cheering you on and is rooting for you to succeed. Everyone is willing to help—you just need to ask.

“But my favorite part of being in Isenberg is that the person sitting next to you in class isn’t your competition; they’re your cheerleader,” she added. “That community being rooted in the business school is so special and has allowed us to focus on our growth, knowing we’ll always have people to count on.”

Parikh also encouraged future students to make full use of Isenberg’s extensive resources and to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth.

“Push yourself out of your comfort zone—that’s where the magic happens,” she said. “Isenberg gives you the tools to succeed, but it’s how you use them that sets you apart.”

To read about the 2025 Women of Isenberg Conference, visit:

• Women of Isenberg Co-Presidents Reflect on Leadership, Community, and Conference Impact
• 2025 Alumni Speakers Empower Next Generation Leaders