The Business School at WPI Celebrates Outstanding Graduates Poised to Transform Technology and Business

As another academic year draws to a close at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, The Business School proudly recognizes an exceptional cohort of graduates who embody WPI’s commitment to innovation at the intersection of technology and business. 

These impressive members of the Class of 2025 have distinguished themselves through academic excellence, entrepreneurial initiative, and a deep understanding of how technological advances can drive business transformation. These future leaders have not only mastered complex business frameworks but have also developed the technical expertise that is the hallmark of a WPI education.

As they prepare to launch their careers, we invited three standout graduates of The Business School to share their experiences, insights, and future aspirations in the following Q&A.

Seyda Usalan

Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering

What’s the most valuable thing that your experience at The Business School has taught you?

My experience at The Business School has taught me how to bridge technical expertise with strategic business thinking to solve real-world challenges in impactful ways.

What was your favorite business course and why?

Growing and Managing New Ventures. I was lucky to take the course when it was taught by two instructors with very different backgrounds: one from entrepreneurship and one from corporate leadership. Seeing how they approached problems and decision-making from different angles made the class uniquely insightful.

What was your Major Qualifying Project (MQP) on?

My MQP was in collaboration with Fidelity Investments, where we built a full-stack data analytics tool to optimize the conversion of interns to full-time hires. The tool matched interns to managers based on historical success data, aiming to improve hiring efficiency and reduce costs.

What are your plans or goals after graduation?

I’m looking to begin my career at a financial services or fintech company where I can continue to grow and apply what I’ve learned.

Hanifa Yusif

Master of Operations and Supply Chain Analytics

What’s the most valuable thing that your experience at The Business School has taught you? 

Put yourself out there, be courageous, seek greater achievements, network, and collaborate for success.

What was your favorite business course and why? 

I have multiple favorites, but the ones that stood out the most are Negotiations, Lean & Six Sigma, and Teaming and Organizing for Innovations.

What are your plans or goals after graduation? 

I want to work and start up businesses on the side.

Sarat Buasai

Master of Science in Business Analytics

What’s the most valuable thing that your experience at The Business School has taught you?

How to be goal-oriented, plan the process, and adapt along the way.

What was your favorite business course and why?

Business Intelligence because it provided hands-on and project-based learning with practical tools like Tableau as well as skills like data analysis and project management.

What was your master’s capstone project on? 

My master’s project was on providing data-driven insights to a Paraguayan company using customer segmentation and brand coverage analysis.

What are your plans or goals after graduation?

Working for a pharmaceutical company.

In a world increasingly defined by digital transformation, these graduates represent a new generation of business professionals equipped to navigate and reshape industries across the globe. From developing data-driven business strategies to leveraging artificial intelligence for operational efficiency, they have demonstrated the synergy of business savvy and STEM expertise that defines The Business School at WPI. 

Congratulations to Seyda, Hanifa, Sarat, and all members of the Class of 2025!