Varun Awasthi

Hi, I’m Varun! I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and grew up in the suburbs of Seattle. I attended the University of Southern California (Fight On!) in Los Angeles. After graduating, I moved back to Seattle for several years before heading back down to San Francisco. 

Having spent my whole life running up and down the West Coast (best coast?), I knew that it would take something truly extraordinary to pull me away from the sunshine, beaches, and mild winters. When I discovered the full time MBA program at Ross, I was sold in a matter of minutes! I distinctly remember the feeling of excitement when I was accepted to the program. Several months later when I visited the campus for the first time, I was drawn by the strong sense of community in the program and wealth of opportunities to learn outside of the classroom, including (but not limited to!) the Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) program. I moved to Ann Arbor back in August, and it immediately felt like home! 

I completed my bachelor’s degree in global health with a minor in natural science. Like many of my fellow students, I do not come from a business background. I spent several years working as a clinical research coordinator in hospital settings and managed a diverse portfolio of studies. These included evaluating the effects of virtual reality and hypnosis on pain management, testing a phone app for detecting ear infections, and gathering qualitative research from individuals with cerebral palsy. Immediately before Ross, I was as a clinical data analyst at Flatiron Health, where I worked with a cross-functional team to develop oncology datasets for pharmaceutical clients to better understand treatment outcomes. 

Through these experiences, I discovered a passion for building and optimizing operational processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness. I hope to pivot my career into a role in consulting or tech that allows me to help organizations address these issues on a larger scale. If you have any questions about MBA applications or student life at Ross, please do not hesitate to contact me!