Sandhya Iyer
Master of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communication
2016 Graduate
Where are you from, or where do you consider home?
India.
Three words to describe your experience at Northeastern:
Experiential. Strategic. Transformative.
What motivated you to continue through challenging times in obtaining your degree?
There were many moments when balancing graduate school, motherhood, and starting over in a new country felt overwhelming. I had been out of the workforce for five years, and when I began my journey at Northeastern, I was also raising a young daughter. Managing coursework, family responsibilities, and the uncertainty of rebuilding my career was not easy.
What kept me going was a clear sense of purpose. I wanted to invest in my education not only to create new opportunities for myself, but also to show my daughter the value of hard work, perseverance, and lifelong learning. My husband and I came to the United States as immigrants with the hope of building a better future. We wanted our daughter to grow up watching both of her parents work hard, continue learning, and never stop striving to become better versions of themselves.
Earning my master’s degree became about much more than an academic milestone. It became a promise to myself and an example for my daughter. I hoped that one day she would look back and understand that education, resilience, and determination are not just values we talked about. They were values we lived every day.
What has your journey revealed to you about yourself?
My journey at Northeastern University revealed that I was capable of far more than I had imagined. As an immigrant, coming to the United States was a profound cultural transformation. I wasn’t just adapting to a new country. I was learning how to find my voice, navigate a different professional culture, and rebuild my confidence.
At Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies, words like resilience, grit, and perseverance took on entirely new meaning. They were no longer just inspiring concepts. They became lived experiences. Every class, every project, and every collaboration challenged me to think differently, communicate more effectively, and grow into a stronger leader.
The education I received at CPS did more than earn me a master’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication and Project Management. It gave me the tools, confidence, and perspective to successfully integrate into the American workforce while staying true to my global identity. It taught me that my experiences as an immigrant were not obstacles to overcome, but strengths to embrace.
Experiential learning is a core component of a Northeastern education. Describe some of the highlights for you.
Experiential learning was one of the most transformative aspects of my Northeastern education. It bridged the gap between the classroom and the workplace, allowing me to apply what I was learning in real time while building confidence and professional relationships.
My co-op at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center became the defining experience of my graduate program. It gave me the opportunity to work on business development, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and international business attraction in one of Massachusetts’ most dynamic industries. I wasn’t just observing. I was contributing to meaningful projects that supported the growth of the state’s life sciences ecosystem.
The impact of that experience was immediate. Within months of completing my co-op, I was hired full time as a Senior Business Development Associate. Less than a year later, I was promoted to Associate Director of Business Development. Those opportunities would not have been possible without Northeastern’s emphasis on experiential learning and the confidence it gave employers in my ability to contribute from day one.
When I reflect on my Northeastern experience, I don’t just think about the degree I earned. I think about the confidence to reinvent myself, the courage to embrace new opportunities, and the belief that learning should never stop.
Sandhya Iyer
Is there anything else you wanted to say that we didn’t cover?
My co-op at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center opened the first door. It led to a full-time position, then a promotion to Associate Director of Business Development, and ultimately a career in economic development, tourism, strategic communications, and nonprofit leadership. Along the way, I had the privilege of leading transformational initiatives, building partnerships across government, academia, nonprofits, and the private sector, and creating programs that have strengthened communities and regional economies.
Today, as Executive Director of TiE Boston, I find myself giving back to the very profession that helped shape my career. One of the initiatives I am most proud of is founding the Economic Development Academy, a first-of-its-kind professional development program in Massachusetts created in partnership with UMass Lowell and MassEcon. The Academy is helping develop the next generation of economic development professionals by providing practical, real-world learning, much like the experiential education that shaped my own journey at Northeastern.
Outside of my professional career, I also fulfilled a lifelong dream by writing and publishing my first novel, Someday, Sometime. Storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do, whether I am building communities, leading organizations, or writing fiction. My book is another reminder that it is never too late to pursue a dream.
