From the Classroom to the White House: The Power of a Portable Toolkit
We often think of business skills as something built for the corporate world, but what happens when you apply them to government? From the moment I stepped into the Ross School of Business, I knew that I wanted to serve in a role that would allow me to work at the intersection of business and public service.
At Michigan Ross, the phrase “building a better world through business” is the foundation we use when approaching problems. As someone who's always cared deeply about public service, Ross was the clear choice as an institution where I would get a well-rounded business education while keeping social impact at the center of it all.
A strong foundation isn’t just about having something to stand on; it’s about being able to build in complexity and uncertainty without it breaking. For me, that journey started a couple of years ago.
Bridging the Gap: Communications at USDS
In the summer of 2024, I served as the communications intern for the United States Digital Service in the Executive Office of the President. USDS brings in top talent from the private sector to work on high-impact problems across government, cutting through bureaucracy to make things simpler, quicker, and more effective for the American public.
My role at USDS was to assess how we could better communicate the office’s work and highlight its impact across a wide range of stakeholders. From the Executive Office of the President to the American public, USDS's reach was wide, and getting through to each audience required us to consider the motivations and needs of each individual. While this type of work is often viewed through a political lens, I came to realize that effectively reaching each audience depended on the same strategic thinking, audience awareness, and communication principles that drive strong businesses and organizations. 
As I audited social engagement across our platforms, I leveraged the deep analytical skills I learned in Business Analytics and Statistics (TO 301), using fundamental statistical tools to derive actionable insights from the data. As I used those insights to develop a content strategy for each of our stakeholders, I drew upon skills that I learned in Businesses and Leaders: The Positive Differences (BA 200), thinking critically and navigating ambiguity around stakeholder engagement.
By the end of my internship, I realized how closely the learning environment at Ross had mirrored real-world scenarios, equipping me with the skills and knowledge employers expect for success. To this day, interning at USDS has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I met amazing technologists, worked on incredible projects, and got to see the impact of our work on everyday Americans. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything and am immensely grateful for all the skills I learned at Ross, which allowed me to thrive in that environment.
Bringing it Home: Serving the State of Michigan
A few months after I came back to Ann Arbor, Governor Whitmer appointed me to the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. The commission advises the governor, state administration, and the legislature on issues relating to the Arab and Chaldean communities in Michigan, and promotes awareness of their culture and history.
While this work may not look like a traditional strategy case study, I reached for the same Ross toolkit: stakeholder mapping, prioritization, critical thinking, and positive business. Though it is a different environment with different stakeholders, serving on the commission has been yet another reminder that what Ross teaches you isn't tied to any one industry; it travels with you.
The Power of a Portable Toolkit
"Building a better world through business" is a mission statement, but it’s also a method. Ross has taught me that the tools you build in a strategy case, a marketing class, or a finance course aren’t locked inside the corporate world — they’re portable. They show up in federal agencies, state commissions, and corporations alike.
I’m far from the first to find this path; I look to Ross trailblazers and good friends like Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, MBA '19, and Michigan DHHS Chief Operating Officer David Knezek, MBA '22, who have spent years putting these same principles into practice as they lead at the highest levels of state and local government.
So, if you’re at Ross right now wondering if your path has to follow the most common industries, just know that it doesn’t. The education you’re receiving is much broader than you might think. No matter which path you choose, your Ross toolkit will be there to support you. Build it, use it, and lean into it.
And of course, Go Blue!
