Maansi Kumar’18 followed an interdisciplinary path during her time as an undergraduate student. While majoring in Economics, she also completed minors in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Chinese Studies, bringing a broader social and global perspective to her economic training.
Maansi entered college interested in economics for its practical value, but her connection to the field deepened over time. A turning point came in Development Economics with Dr. Krause. Seeing a young woman teaching economics with such passion and conviction left a lasting impression on Maansi and expanded her sense of what was possible within the field. Dr. Krause often used real stories to explain economic theory, which made difficult ideas easier to understand and more relatable. The class also focused on practical work. Through case studies and policy briefs similar to those used in NGOs and international organizations, Maansi gained skills she could see herself using outside the classroom. Building on that foundation, she began intentionally connecting her coursework in economics with her minor in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Courses such as gender economics introduced her to questions she felt remained underexplored, deepening her motivation and clarifying the kind of work she was interested in exploring.
Another memorable experience came through a summer research project with Dr. Moledina, where she explored mobility studies. The project invited her to think about movement not simply as travel, but as something shaped by financial and geographic constraints. Texts such as Drawing from the City highlighted how financial hardship and geographic limitations affect opportunity, prompting her to rethink what mobility really means. The project helped her see how mobility connects to economic and social realities in ways she had not fully considered before.
Beyond the classroom, Maansi was deeply involved in campus life. She served as President of the International Student Association and co-chaired the South Asia Committee, roles that allowed her to support and represent diverse student communities. She also worked across several campus offices, including the Dean of Students Office and APEX, and served as a Resident Assistant. Within the Economics department, she contributed as a research assistant and teaching assistant, gaining early experience in academic collaboration.
After graduating, she began working as a Research Assistant at the Indian Consulate in Houston, researching topics related to politics and economics. Much of her work focused on bilateral trade between India and the United States, as well as broader diplomatic issues. The role allowed her to apply her academic training to real-world policy contexts and deepen her understanding of international economic relations.
After her time at the consulate, Maansi returned to India and chose to explore the startup sector, joining a young company in a content-focused role. Over time, her responsibilities expanded beyond writing. The startup’s flexible structure allowed her to work across three different teams and gain experience in multiple areas of the organization. Eventually, she felt ready to reconnect more directly with economic research. That decision led her to pursue a master’s degree in Economics at Lund University. During her master’s program, she reconnected with the kind of economic research she had found most fulfilling.
Near the end of her master’s program, she reached out to a startup incubator in Lund to ask about opportunities and offered to begin as an intern to see if it was the right fit. Even after several years of professional experience, she was open to stepping into a learning role if it meant continuing to grow. That mindset has shaped much of her path. Today, she continues working in the startup space, where the collaborative environment keeps her curious and engaged. She is currently part of a team developing a social media app. Although she joined hoping to gain more hands-on coding experience, her background in marketing quickly became an asset. In her first weeks, she has worked on marketing strategy and website design, and she plans to move more into app development soon. Her interest in coding, however, did not begin with this role. Throughout 2024, she completed workshops and advanced training in Python, building technical skills alongside her professional work.
When she thinks back on her time at Wooster, she says the skills that have stayed with her most are often the everyday ones. Learning how to truly listen and ask follow-up questions has made a big difference in her professional life. She also values clear communication and believes it is better to admit when you do not know something than trying to navigate uncertainty alone. She also talks about learning how to work with people who think differently from her. At Wooster, she found herself in conversations and situations that were new and sometimes uncomfortable, but those moments helped her learn how to listen and grow from disagreement. That experience continues to influence the way she collaborates today. Time management is another skill she traces back to her college years. Balancing classes, research, jobs, and campus involvement taught her how to stay organized without feeling overwhelmed. She adds that the support of professors and advisors made a real difference, helping her learn how to plan ahead and manage everything she had on her plate.
When asked what advice she would give current students, Maansi encourages them to focus on what truly interests them. Economics is a broad field, she says, and it can be more meaningful to build strong knowledge in one area rather than trying to be good at everything. Whether that is finance, development, or another focus, she believes students should pay attention to what they enjoy and what they are naturally good at. For those thinking about graduate school, she adds that advanced economics can be technical and demanding. Going into it with a clear sense of what you like about the subject can make a big difference. At the same time, she reminds students that an economics degree can lead in many directions. Being honest with yourself about what motivates you is what helps you decide what comes next.