Akbar Arsiwala

Hello! My name is Akbar and I'm originally from Northville, MI. From a young age, I knew that I wanted to serve and decided to attend the US Naval Academy. After graduation, I served for three years but unfortunately had a career-ending training accident. In the aftermath, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my goals and decided that I could make an impact in other ways.

After my transition out of uniform, I moved to Chicago to join a nonprofit that helps veterans reintegrate into their communities. While I loved the entrepreneurial, scrappy nature of my work, I quickly realized that I lacked the critical business skills to truly make lasting impact. After advice from mentors, I decided to look at going back to school.

When looking at different MBA programs, I prioritized three factors: Academic, Professional, and Personal Development. Ross won me over in all aspects. Whether it's the Action-Based Learning model, niche professional clubs like FitX, or the incredible comradery in the Armed Forces Group, Michigan Ross pushes me out of my comfort zone and helps me become the leader I aspire to be. Ask me about transitioning out of the military, finding purpose, making the pivot into tech from a non-traditional background, and where to find the best burrito in Ann Arbor!