Growing up in Connecticut surrounded by Husky pride, Julia Ghagare knew the UConn School of Business would be a perfect fit. In her time as a marketing major, Ghagare was surprised by the strong sense of connection she has experienced on the seemingly enormous campus of UConn Storrs. While participating in different groups, including serving as president of UConn Women in Business and outreach chair of marketing strategy for SUBOG, Ghagare has grown as a student and a leader. These experiences have all helped prepare her for the next chapter – a position in the marketing development program with Nestlé.

Why did you choose UConn?

As a Connecticut resident, I grew up surrounded by UConn’s school spirit. I knew that UConn’s large campus would come with unique opportunities and a diverse community to take part in. I also knew that the School of Business had a strong reputation and experienced assortment of faculty. Those factors coupled with in-state tuition made UConn the perfect choice for me, and I would never change a thing.

What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?

I’m a marketing major. I evaluated my strengths and knew I wanted to enter a customer-facing field that used relationship building, strategy, and consumer research. I especially liked the idea of working with consumer-packaged goods brands, as their marketing has always been the most interesting to me. I wanted to use marketing to work for brands that have a positive impact on people’s well-being. Marketing is also extremely versatile, giving me the option to explore anything from sales to brand management to social media management to research and data analytics.

Did you have a favorite professor or class?

My favorite professor at UConn is Professor Bill Ryan in the Marketing Department. I first met him at UConn Bound Day in Spring 2022 and met with him every semester after that. He helped me get my first internship in sales and introduced me to brand management as a career path. He also helped me apply to the P&G Standout Emerging Leaders Camp in the fall of my sophomore year, prepped me for all of my interviews, and shaped my understanding of brand management to ultimately get the internship. When I didn’t receive a full-time return offer, Professor Ryan was the first one who told me to trust my skills, experience, and passion for marketing. He encouraged me that I could still end up in brand management at a different CPG company. After this encouragement, I interviewed and received the full-time offer for the marketing development program at Nestlé to become a brand manager.

Professor Ryan is the true representation of a mentor and sponsor who shaped my journey at UConn. I only took one class with him (MKTG 3454, Fall 2025), but I was learning from his expertise in all eight of my semesters at UConn. He is an incredible professor who cares deeply about his students and does everything in his power to connect them with alumni and early career opportunities. I’m grateful to have been his student and mentee. 

What activities were you involved in as a student?

I was involved with Women in Business, the Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG), and the Financial Literacy Innovation Program. As president of UConn Women in Business, I learned the career interests of 200+ members and invited 70+ speakers to network with the organization. I also led as director of the 2nd annual UConn Women in Business Conference 2026: Her Seat at the Table. The event hosted 310 attendees to celebrate Women’s History Month and the importance of diversity at the “table” as women leaders of various identities and industries.

As the outreach chair of marketing strategy in SUBOG, I ran social media accounts with 16k+ followers and managed a $35,000 budget for advertising and programming. I organized six collaborative events with cultural organizations on campus, including “World of Food” to educate 300+ students on cuisines and cultures from five countries representing five continents.

I was also a Track 2 and Track 1 instructor for the Financial Literacy Innovation Program (FLIP), where I taught financial literacy skills to high school students from underrepresented areas of Connecticut. I loved these roles because they allowed me to give back directly to the student body and make a positive impact on their college experiences.

What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

Something that surprised me about UConn was how small the campus ends up feeling by the end of four years. With an enormous campus and student body, I initially thought I’d be a small fish in a big pond. That wasn’t the case at all, as all of campus is extremely interconnected. There are so many pockets for learning communities, clubs, sports, and events on campus that make you feel like you’re a part of something larger than yourself, and they help you evolve as a student, young professional, and global citizen.

What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?

After graduation, I will be working at Nestlé in their marketing development program in Arlington, Virginia. I hope to start a consumer-packaged goods brand of my own one day.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?

UConn has prepared me for my next chapter in life by growing my skills in networking, showing curiosity, and thinking strategically. I’ve picked this up in my classes, leadership roles, and experiential learning opportunities. In my marketing classes, like Strategic Brand Management and Marketing Planning and Strategy, I got to consult for consumer-packaged goods brands and apply learnings from my foundational marketing classes. I feel more equipped for my new role at Nestlé because of this. Leading teams and working with executive board members in SUBOG and Women in Business taught me how to collaborate with others to achieve goals. Trips to the LinkedIn headquarters in NYC, the Women in Business Conference at Harvard Business School, and even studying business abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea all pushed me to build relationships with others and ask good questions.

Any advice for incoming students?

Take initiative and hit the ground running. UConn is a school where opportunities are endless, only as long as you go after them. Go to club meetings that interest you, make yourself known, and apply to the executive board positions. Go to the company networking events and build your dream career from the ground up. Go to the social events and the basketball games and the dining hall with the people you meet on the first day. Putting yourself out there may seem intimidating at a new school, but you will come away with so many great experiences, friends, and memories.

What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?

Everyone should get to know Carol at the front desk of Whitney Dining Hall. She’s the sweetest person ever and will always welcome a conversation. A few other students and I created “The Carol Club,” since we have yap sessions with her every time we see her. She’s consoled me through bad exams, celebrated with me for winning awards, and was always there to catch up about the week for the last three years.

What will always make you think of UConn?

Winning basketball games, hanging out in the SUBOG office, and movie nights in classrooms with my best friends.