I always knew that I would come back to the west coast someday. But I didn't know that it would wind up being so soon, nor that the reason that would bring me back would be more school. Clearly life had plans for me.

I'm currently working on my MBA at Stanford, and getting adjusted to being broke. And wondering what I'm going to do when I graduate. Business school might be a nice all-purpose degree, but it's also a not-nice all-purpose degree. It's great to retreat for two years to focus on learning about business holistically, and hone your interpersonal skills, but you don't necessarily qualify for anything more--or anything else. But I'm here because I want those two years to learn and grow, and raise the ante on myself, so to speak. I believe b-school is a very effective setting for this kind of movement, especially the Stanford GSB.

Before b-school, I was Special Assistant to the CEO of Panera Bread Co., and before that, I was a retail marketing casewriter at Harvard Business School. I graduated summa from Boston College with a BA in Philosophy and Human Development, and a minor in Organizational Behavior.

My current interests include the representation (i.e. mis-representation) of Asian foods in American foodservice, the representation (i.e. mis-representation) of young career women in the media, and figuring out how the career development needs of young Asian Americans can be better articulated to Asian parents and non-Asian career development counselors.

Books have overflowed from my nightstand to all over my room on the floor. School readings have dominated these last few weeks (Blink, Guns Germs and Steel, and The White Man's Burden, among others). I'm hoping to start on Life of Pi, which a coworker gave to me as a goodbye gift. I have made the momentous decision to let my New Yorker subscription expire after six wonderful years. But I'm thrilled to say that I am now a proud subscriber of the SF Symphony. This season's program is fabulous.

If any of the above piques your interest to the point where you'd like to reach out, please do! Always happy to meet new folks, especially those who share my interests.

Best to all.

10 October 2007

Archive: May 2006
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Contact Arar at arar[at]asianamericanx[dot]com