Building Impact: From MIS Student to Development Technology Co-op

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Also pursuing MS in business analytics and ai '27

What is great about your co-op?

My co-op at Wegmans as a Development Technology Co-op was a truly unique experience. I joined the Development (Real Estate,Design, Construction,etc) team with no prior construction background and was welcomed into one of the most supportive teams I could have asked for. My supervisor, Chris met with me every week to check on my progress and make sure I had everything I needed to succeed. Different team members took the time to teach me model coordination and how Revit is used in design process, guided me through editing the ACC guideline that eventually grew into an 80+ page department-wide reference document, introduced me to Power BI and Capital Planning, and walked me through the various asset lifecycles from end to end.

Beyond the people, the range of responsibilities I took made this experience exceptional. I helped map out the asset lifecycle workflows in Visio to help other teams, coordinated across departments to contribute to a business continuity plan, assisted with budgeting, and helped maintain digital twin, all within one of the most well-known and respected grocery brands in the United States.

In what ways has Saunders/RIT prepared you for the job market?

Saunders prepared me in ways I didn't fully realize until I was deep in the work. Every tool and framework I learned in the classroom showed up on the job in some form, Visio for mapping complex asset lifecycle workflows, Agile for staying on top of multiple projects, and data analysis for contributing meaningfully. What surprised me most, was how much the soft skills mattered. RIT's emphasis on communication and professional presentation gave me the confidence to collaborate with seasoned construction managers, present technical documentations, and to coordinate across departments. Saunders doesn't just teach you what to do, it teaches you how to show up.

Why did you decide to attend Saunders College of Business at RIT?

I came to RIT through a 2=2 partnership between VIT in India and RIT, which allowed me to complete my first two years at VIT, Chennai and transfer into my third year at Saunders. What drew me to this path was Saunders' strong MIS program that blends business and technology in a practical way, and RIT's co-op program, the opportunity to gain real work experience as part of my degree was something I didn't want to pass up. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made.

What do you feel is the most distinctive advantage gained from your Saunders experience?

The ability to walk into the unknown and still deliver. Coming through the VIT-RIT 2=2 program, I already had a global perspective, but Saunders gave me the skills, confidence and adaptability to turn that perspective into real impact. I came to the US not knowing much about Wegmans, with no background in Construction whatsoever. Yet I found myself migrating digital twins, authoring an 80+ page technical guideline, assisting with business continuity plan, and working alongside industry professionals who had decades of experience. Saunders taught me that the only thing that matters is your ability to learn and adapt. That's something I'll carry far beyond graduation.