About Megha
Previous Degree: BS in Psychology and Health Science
Previous University: Northeastern University
Q: Tell me a bit about yourself.
A: I started undergrad on the pre-med track, but over time, I found myself drawn to the business side of psychology and mental health. A big part of that shift came from my experience with Mosaic, Northeastern's entrepreneurial network of student-led organizations, within the Center for Entrepreneurship Education. Mosaic introduced me to the intersection of business and healthcare. Throughout my undergrad, I stayed involved in Mosaic. After I graduated, I started as the Mosaic Fellow while pursuing my Graduate Certificate in Business Administration through the D'Amore-McKim School of Business. My dream is to build my own mental healthcare practice one day, and having a solid foundation in business is key to making that happen. Because of this, I decided to continue my education and stack the credits I earned in my certificate towards the Part-Time MBA program. Thanks to my education at Northeastern and work with Mosaic, I've also started working at a mental health startup!
Q: How did Northeastern's Mosaic influence you?
A: Mosaic changed my career track and gave me so much, including an incredible community to lean on. We as staff often describe it as the “United Nations of Northeastern entrepreneurship.” It's a collaborative network of interdisciplinary, student-led organizations from across the university, all focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.
I first got involved during my freshman year when a friend invited me to a healthcare-focused event for Mosaic's healthcare innovation organization, ViTAL. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I ended up hearing a female founder speak about building a business in the healthcare space. Her story, resilience, and success in a male-dominated industry deeply inspired me.
From there, I started going to events hosted by ViTAL, and I eventually joined ViTAL's executive board. I ended my time in ViTAL with being the executive director during my senior year, where the Mosaic fellow at the time became my mentor. He encouraged me to consider the graduate certificate program, as he had done, and apply for the Mosaic Fellowship. The Fellowship is a one-year, donor-funded position with Mosaic, where the Fellow works closely alongside executive directors of Mosaic's organizations and offers mentorship to the students involved. That mentorship role and my experience as a Fellow solidified my decision to pursue an MBA.
Q: What prompted the shift from health sciences to business?
A: Although I dedicated a lot of time to the pre-med track—including two co-ops in the medical field—I began questioning whether it was the right path for me. During my co-ops, I worked with clinicians in primary care and dermatology and saw the effects of healthcare problems on adolescent mental health. These issues stuck out to me, but seeing our patients grow and supporting their progress on their journeys was incredibly fulfilling.
That experience sparked my passion for mental healthcare and got me interested in the challenges patients face, especially around healthcare access in the U.S. That's what led me to switch my major to a combined psychology and health sciences degree. At the same time, my exposure to healthcare innovation through Mosaic opened my eyes to the business side of healthcare, and I realized that's where I could pursue my varied interests.
Q: How did you cultivate your interest in entrepreneurship?
A: My experience with Mosaic is at the core of it all. Being immersed in a community of innovators, learners, and entrepreneurial thinkers really sparked something in me. Mosaic gave me an amazing interdisciplinary space where I could connect my interests in psychology and health science with real-world innovation. I've always known I wanted to eventually run my own mental health practice and be able to support underrepresented patients navigate our healthcare industry. To achieve that, I needed an in-depth understanding of business. I was a little intimidated by the idea of diving into the business world at first, but Mosaic helped me build my confidence to pursue my goals.
Q: Were you able to stack your graduate certificate credits into an MBA?
A: The transition from the Graduate Certificate to the Part-Time MBA has been really smooth—and super valuable. The ability to apply, or “stack”, credits from my certificate towards my MBA made for an efficient, seamless process.
I really enjoyed my first MBA class about Leading People and Organizations, which ended up becoming one of my concentrations. My second concentration is International Business, which has supported me in my job, as our entrepreneurial organizations grow across the Global University System.
I've been able to apply the lessons I learn in the classroom directly to the work I'm doing, which is a great practical application. I also really enjoy the community aspect of the Part-Time program. Everyone in the Part-Time program is here because they want to be, and that kind of motivation is contagious in the classroom. Being part of this community and collaborating with individuals across so many fields and in different stages of life has been inspiring. Thank you to my peers, professors, and the Center for Entrepreneurship team for supporting me on this journey!
Q: What advice would you give to a future D'Amore-McKim student?
A: Have confidence in yourself and know that you belong in this space. If you were given the opportunity to do something, you already belong and deserve it. And if you need some support, a mentor goes a long way – whether that's a peer, supervisor, friend, or academic advisor. From academic advising to the Graduate Career Center to the many graduate clubs and organizations, the D'Amore-McKim community is supportive and helpful with every decision you make.
