From SAP to public service

Raksha Sharma ’16 has always been drawn to learning—and to using knowledge to understand how systems work. After earning an MBA in Nepal, she chose to pursue a second MBA at Central Michigan University, this time focusing on Information Systems and SAP.

“The SAP concentration felt like a perfect fit,” she said. “With new technologies and now the shift into the GenAI landscape, we constantly need to learn and unlearn concepts.”

At CMU, she found courses that strengthened her analytical abilities and a teaching environment that reshaped how she viewed learning.

“I appreciated how we engage students with discussion boards, assignments and interactive participation,” she said. “Those methods made a lasting impact on how I view teaching and learning.”

A shift toward public service

Sharma expected to continue into a data-management role, but her curiosity moved her toward a different set of questions, ones rooted in organizations, policy and community impact.

“I realized that what I enjoy most is understanding how organizations function, how policies shape decision-making and how systems interact with people,” she said.

That realization led her to pursue a PhD in Public Administration at Virginia Tech, where she now studies the evolving landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion in public-sector hiring. “My research focuses on how policy changes shape perceptions of merit, representation and administrative discretion,” she said.

Carrying CMU forward

The skills she built during her MBA, discipline, communication and structured problem-solving remain central to her doctoral work.

“The MBA taught me how to manage multiple responsibilities and stay disciplined,” she said. “Those skills have been essential in a PhD program.”

What motivates her most, she said, is simply having the chance to do meaningful work every day.

Advice for future CMU students

Sharma’s advice reflects the same curiosity and intentionality that shaped her own academic path—from business and technology to public service and research.

She encourages CMU MBA students to remain open as their interests evolve and to fully engage with the learning environment around them.

“Be open to learning both inside and outside the classroom,” she said. “The skills and relationships you build will stay with you.” That openness, she noted, goes beyond coursework. Building connections with peers and faculty, asking questions, and exploring ideas outside a defined career path can help students better understand where their strengths and interests align.

Sharma also emphasized the importance of balance as students navigate rigorous programs and ambitious goals.

“Work–life balance is key to sustaining productivity and well-being,” she said.

For her, those habits—curiosity, connection and balance—have been just as essential as technical expertise in supporting long-term growth.

A future of service to public institutions

Sharma hopes to become a tenured professor and contribute research that strengthens public institutions, particularly around recruitment and workforce development.

“I hope my work will help public organizations adopt more impartial and effective practices,” she said.

Her journey, from Nepal to CMU to a doctoral program reflects a simple through line: a belief that learning can shape systems, communities and opportunities.

And for Sharma, that purpose makes every step worth it.