Mouli Majumder, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MSM Class of 2026
Age: 24
Hometown: Bengal, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Bachelor of Technology in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, IIT Roorkee
Pre-MSM Work Experience: Data Scientist at Fractal Analytics (2 years), where I consulted for my client Visa Financial Services. My role focused on building large-scale data solutions for merchant analytics and brand identification, working with big data across multiple global regions. I closely collaborated with cross-functional teams and saw firsthand how data directly shapes business decisions at scale.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I come from a deeply technical background, and while I truly enjoyed problem-solving through data and analytics, I wanted to know the bigger picture, how businesses grow, how leaders make decisions, and how strategy truly works in the real world. At Fractal, while working with a client like Visa, I could see how even the smallest analytical insight could influence large business outcomes. That experience made me realize that I didn’t just want to support business decisions, I wanted to be part of shaping them. Now feels like the right time because I’ve gained enough professional exposure to clearly understand my strengths, my gaps and the direction I want to move in and MSM fits right into this.
Why did you choose Carnegie Mellon Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Carnegie Mellon Tepper because it felt like the perfect bridge between my analytical background and my future leadership goals. Tepper’s strong focus on data-driven decision-making and cohesive cohort immediately stood out to me because in a small cohort you can get to know your peers better. I knew that Carnegie Mellon is one of the best in computers science and follows an analytical approach in its business school which was exactly what I was looking for.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the class?
I bring a mix of problem solving and analytical mindset to the classroom where I try to quantify every concept or derive metrics for evaluating different perspectives. In business we have to deal with data to make any decision and the doors that can be opened by just understanding it are astonishing.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love reading webtoons.
Post-MSM Career Interests:
After the MSM, I plan to work in management consulting or business strategy roles in tech companies, where I can combine my analytical background with strategic problem-solving. In the long run, I hope to grow into leadership roles.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would be as authentic as possible and try to be clear on how I fit into CMU’s ecosystem. Being as specific as possible while answering questions and highlighting my nonacademic interests.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would do better research on the course I am applying to and know more about my faculties so that I can give a better idea of my interests to the admission committee.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could, and what helped you get through it?
The constant editing and self-doubt during essay writing were the hardest parts. What helped me push through was talking to mentors, trusting my story and reminding myself why I was doing this in the first place.
What is your initial impression of the Carnegie Mellon Tepper students/culture/community?
My first impression is that Tepper students are driven, grounded and genuinely kind. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and there are so many resources available which if properly utilized can make a big difference.
What is one thing you have learned about Carnegie Mellon Tepper that has surprised you?
What surprised me the most is how approachable and invested the faculty and career teams are. The level of personalized guidance and mentorship makes the experience feel very supportive rather than overwhelming.
