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With a background in materials and biomedical engineering, I hoped that Harvard Business School (HBS) would provide the business acumen and leadership skills necessary to pivot into strategic roles within large organizations. My goal was to move beyond the task-oriented nature of my previous work and embrace opportunities that required navigating ambiguity, making decisions, and leading teams.

HBS delivered in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated. The case method challenged me to think critically, while courses in marketing, finance, and strategy opened entirely new perspectives. I had never received formal training in those areas—everything was new. Learning those frameworks was a huge leap forward, and I still use them every day. I also leaned on career resources like mock interviews and coaching, which helped me refine my approach and ultimately return to a large corporate environment in a product management role.

Building Business and Family

In 2020, while still working my day job, I founded Dapper Barons—a company specializing in low-sugar liqueurs and cocktails. In addition to maintaining a full-time role, I’ve found myself dedicating significant energy and passion to growing this personal venture. It’s been an entirely new challenge—one that’s required me to step outside my comfort zone, make high-stakes decisions, and operate in an unfamiliar industry. I’ve found immense satisfaction in building something from the ground up.

Reflecting on Success

Having spent so much time reflecting on my personal and professional goals, I’ve started to rethink what success means to me. Early in my career, I measured success in terms of titles, promotions, and compensation—a constant upward trajectory. That mindset was reinforced by the social comparisons that often accompany a competitive business school environment.

I’m beginning to define success through a new lens—one that places more value on time, autonomy, and personal fulfillment. Looking back, I wish I had taken more risks earlier in my career. I was so focused on quickly paying off loans and maximizing earnings instead of defining success more on my own terms and recognizing the immense value of time. I’ve learned that a career path doesn’t have to be linear to be fulfilling, and sometimes the greatest rewards come from forging your own unconventional journey.

What Comes Next?

As I navigate this dual career path, I don’t yet know what the future holds for my two professional pursuits. While my product management role provides stability, my entrepreneurial venture fuels my passion. Will Dapper Barons become my full-time focus, or will I continue balancing both worlds? I don’t know what comes next, but I do know that my definition of success will continue to be shaped not by titles or income, but by the ability to spend my time on what truly matters.