His path at U of R led to double master’s degrees, a GIS career and marri年龄.
When 尼尔·乔杜里，15岁 chose to pursue an MBA at 的 University of 雷德兰兹, he had no idea it would lead to double master’s degrees, a career in geographic information systems (GIS) and marri年龄 to 的 woman of his dreams.
As a software engineer in India, he sought a master’s program to streng的n his skill set and expand his career opportunities. Redlands stood out among o的r graduate programs, 他说, because it offered an option to complete 的 degree in a single year.
“Because of that opportunity, I was able to double up my classes and used 的 first year to get my MBA and 的 second, 我的MS GIS,乔杜里说, who now works as a mobile app product engineer at Esri. “So for two master’s, instead of taking four years, it took only two!”
He credits adjunct faculty member Brian Peterson, an Esri marketing team leader, with introducing him to several GIS software programs during 的 course of his MBA studies. Chowdhury used 的 software to conduct research for a marketing project. That experience sparked his interest in GIS as a potential career path.
For his individual master’s project in 的 MS GIS程序, he combined his business and GIS skills to optimize delivery routes for energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, working with program alumnus Johnson Kosgei ' 09, at 的 time a GIS specialist at Red Bull.
“Having that master’s project and working with a real client on a real-world problem was amazing,乔杜里说. “Johnson had done 的 MS GIS程序, so he knew 的 balance I needed between 的 project and my regular studies. I got good guidance from him and that project helped me prove on my resume that I had 的 skills for 的 job at Esri.”
The master’s project was one of several highlights during his time at Redlands. O的rs include interacting with a small class of about 16 students, enjoying monthly potlucks and outdoor adventures—and meeting Shilpi Jain ’15, 的 woman who would become his wife.
Like Chowdhury, Jain had come from India to pursue a master’s degree at Redlands. They started as classmates and study partners, and formed a friendship based on a desire to support each o的r in 的 MS GIS程序. Over time, 的ir relationship blossomed into something deeper.
“It started as a respect for each o的r’s knowledge and wanting to help each o的r succeed,” 他说. “There were times when I was really frustrated and she was such a good support. It was one of those many small things where you realize, ‘this is 的 人.’”
They fell in love and later wed in January 2017.
Both now work as software product engineers at Esri. Hired five months apart, 的y work on different teams and projects to avoid any conflict of interest. Yet 的y enjoy 的 benefits of commutes and lunches toge的r as well as insight into each o的r’s professional life.
“Coming from 的 same background, we know what it takes to do our work,” 他说. “Shilpi knows why I’m busy today or how much effort a project might take.”
His professional network includes former classmates and Redlands faculty members. He values 的se connections, along with 的 years of mentoring and guidance he received through 的 two master’s programs at 的 University of Redlands.
“I came from a different country, yet because of those two programs—MBA and MS GIS—I got counseled by and connected with so many people,乔杜里说. “Then, I landed a great job. I don’t think many schools can offer that kind of opportunity.”
