Celebrating Our 2024-2025 Sanger Student Ambassadors

Rajeshwari Gorthi, MBA ’25, has continually evolved as a leader throughout her career, beginning with technical expertise and expanding into guiding and inspiring teams to achieve collective goals. Her leadership journey began with leading small software development teams, where she learned the importance of empathy, communication, and adapting her approach to team dynamics. With mentorship, leadership training, and challenging projects, Rajeshwari developed her ability to drive success through collaboration and clear communication. Her MBA experience at Ross, including the Leadership Crisis Challenge, has further shaped her leadership by enhancing her crisis management skills and her ability to lead inclusive teams that drive innovation.

Emily Stuller, MS ’25, began her leadership journey unexpectedly as the president of her elementary school in 4th grade, where she first tasted leadership as a lighthearted endeavor. Over the years, her experiences, including playing team sports, have deepened her understanding that true leadership is about serving and uplifting others rather than seeking individual accolades. In her role as a lead instructor at a Florida Keys non-profit, Emily embraced servant leadership, supported by a mentor who inspired her to lead with empathy and resilience. At Michigan, her transformative experience as part of the Ross Leaders Academy strengthened her dedication to emotional intelligence and building supportive leadership communities.

Ricardo Peres-da-Silva, BBA ’25, began his leadership journey at age 16, growing his small business, Haverford Swim Lessons LLC, while stepping out of his comfort zone. At Ross, he quickly embraced leadership opportunities, taking on roles in Net Impact, his professional fraternities, and Business+Impact, while participating in Sanger programs like the Leadership Crisis Challenge and Story Lab. These experiences helped him develop the confidence to make decisions, assert his voice, and explore unconventional paths like his internship and semester exchange. Ricardo now has a clear career direction, having networked with 50+ professionals and built key leadership skills that will help him achieve his aspirations.

Arya Sunil, Pre-Med/BA ’25, is an outgoing individual who thrives working with diverse groups of people, a skill honed during his time as a stylist at Banana Republic where he helped clients express their identities through style. As an Eagle Scout, Arya has led numerous leadership training sessions, including serving as the lead for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) in Michigan, where he developed event planning and servant leadership skills. His research work at the Michigan Medical School’s Department of Pharmacology has deepened his critical thinking, problem-solving, and ability to seek guidance when needed. Arya aspires to further develop his unique interpersonal leadership style and continue growing through impactful leadership opportunities.

Kanika Saxena, MBA ’25, joined the program with the goal of enhancing her leadership skills and preparing for a management role. Building her confidence to lead, she found real progress while pursuing the Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement (MRLE), where she used the Michigan Model of Leadership to evaluate and refine her leadership style. Through programs like the Leadership Crisis Challenge and Story Lab, Kanika gained valuable hands-on experience and received constructive feedback that helped her develop key soft skills. She now views herself as halfway through her leadership journey, committed to further integrating these skills to become a more effective and confident leader.

Since beginning her MBA journey in May 2023, Indhu Venugopal, MBA ’25, has transformed her understanding of leadership from a title that is reserved for a select few to a skill that anyone can develop. Her experiences at the Sanger Leadership Center, including Story Lab, Ross Leaders Academy, and the Leadership Crisis Challenge, have equipped her with valuable tools to lead with confidence and adaptability. These experiences helped Indhu grow into a high-performing leader, enhancing her decision-making, empathy, and communication skills. She remains committed to developing  her leadership capabilities and uplifting those around her.