For many students, choosing a major or career path can be overwhelming. Some may feel pressured to have everything figured out as they step into college, but the journey of UConn class of 2016 alumna Lila was anything but straightforward. Fueled by her ambition to seek financial independence and guided by persistence and flexibility, she was able to transform uncertainty into success.
Lila originally began her studies at UConn Hartford as a pre-pharmacy student. After reflecting on her science courses, especially biology, she realized that the classes were not aligned with her interests and strengths.
Instead of forcing herself to continue, she opened herself to new opportunities. As a First-Generation Student, she wanted to gain a fuller understanding of all the academic and career options that were available to her. Without a clear roadmap, she narrowed down her options by crossing majors she knew she would not enjoy. Through that process, she eventually settled on Finance. Seeking more opportunities and resources after her sophomore year, Lila transferred to UConn Storrs.
Long before college, Lila learned to be disciplined and hardworking as she helped her parents run their family-owned restaurant. She continued to do so throughout the entirety of her time at UConn, balancing academics, extracurriculars, and work. As a commuter, each 40-minute trip to school left her with limited time, and Lila would often complete assignments and study for exams at the restaurant. Despite the demanding schedule, she was determined to make the most of her college experience.
Lila got involved in as many ways as she could and sought out opportunities that would help her grow personally and professionally. Lila worked as an administrative assistant for the business graduate school, giving her exposure to a more professional work setting, as well as a notetaker for the Center for Students with Disabilities. Outside of student employment, she became treasurer for the Undergraduate Student Government and was involved with many Asian American cultural clubs.
Beginning in high school, Lila volunteered at Saint Francis Hospital, originally to support her pre-pharmacy goals. As her goals evolved, she transitioned to volunteering within the hospital’s finance department. There, she filed claim disputes and gained experience in finance operations that helped her understand the ways she can translate her skills into her career.
Despite these experiences, she felt intimidated about getting career opportunities as she lacked role models in the competitive finance world, and the interview process was also a nerve-wracking challenge to get used to. She turned to networking and relationship-building and worked to improve her professional development. Lila also participated in the INROADS program, after discovering a pamphlet at the School of Business, that supported students of color with leadership workshops, mentoring, and internship placement. INROADS had rooms of up to hundreds of students at a time, and Lila made an effort to connect with as many people as she could. Through the program, she was able to gain professional development and connections to many employers that actively seek diverse talent.
Her persistence paid off after attending a career fair. During her junior year, she was able to land an internship at United Technologies Corporation (now RTX) as a Business Controls Intern. This opportunity became a launching pad that led her to getting into a competitive full-time leadership development rotational program with Pratt & Whitney after graduation.
Today, Lila is a Senior Fleet Manager at Pratt & Whitney, where she oversees airline contracts and manages operations and profitability across fleets. One piece of advice that she emphasized:
“Believe in yourself and say ‘yes’ to more things to expose yourself. I constantly said yes to things that were outside of my comfort zone, but I am where I am today because of those experiences”
She wants to reassure students that they don’t need to have everything figured out and to be empowered to redefine goals when necessary. Her story is a reminder that success rarely follows a straight line. Sometimes, the path forward is built through trial, error, and the courage to keep adapting.
