STAMFORD, CT (TIP): GOPIO-CT organized a highly successful Meet and Greet session with the new students enrolled at the University of Connecticut Business School on Friday, October 20th at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Stamford, CT. An Interactive Discussion Panel “Tips on How to Market Oneself and Succeed in America.” followed. It was moderated by GOPIO-CT President Dr. Jaya Daptardar MHA, Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer, Bridges Healthcare, Milford, CT. The program, coordinated by GOPIO Trustees Prasad Chintalapudi and Dr. Thomas Abraham, started with welcoming remarks by Chintalapudi. Chintalapudi shared his own experience of being an entrepreneur. He then introduced GOPIO Chairman Dr. Abraham for his greetings.

Dr. Abraham said, “America is the greatest country which provides opportunity to open up your mind and you can be whatever you want to become, whether a professional in a large corporation, or help to manage a hedge fund or as a scientist or professor or as an entrepreneur, so, go and grab the opportunities awaiting you.”

Prasad invited panelists and the moderator GOPIO-CT President Dr. Jaya Daptardar. The panelists were: Vijay Anand, CEO, Everest DX, Stamford, CT; Indira Yedavalli, Vice President, Franklin Templeton Investments, New York; Sushanth Krishnamurthy, Director of IT, UBS, Stamford, CT; Prashanthi Reddy, Esq, Immigration Attorney, New York, NY; Amit Lakhotia, Founding Principal ADH (A Real Estate Development and Management Company), Westport, CT; Padmini Viswanath, MPH, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager, Last Mile, New York City; Anand Chavan, Senior Director of S&P Global Market Intelligence, New York. Many GOPIO-CT members also attended, so the students had one to one interaction with senior GOPIO members. All the students at the event were introduced at the beginning of the panel discussion.

Each of the panelists were asked to talk about their journey to where they reached today and how earlier career choices lead them to where they are now. The panelists provided personal experience to their success. The panelists also provided guidance and inputs on educational preparation, resume preparation, necessary prior experience, what skills are the most important and transferable skills to acquire so as to market oneself to the American job market. A question/answer session followed.

Important questions were asked to immigration attorney Prashanti Reddy about do’s and don’ts for students from the immigration law perspective. Students were keen to get more information on the process to apply for a permanent visa. Multiple questions were asked by the students about the guidance for fresh grads who are looking for jobs in this tough job market. Panelists suggested to do networking with community, join linked and follow those in one’s filed of interest and utilize the alumni network of one’s graduating school from India. Many careers were discussed during the Q/A session, which ended with vote of thanks presented by GOPIO CT executive vice president Mahesh Jhangiani.

Over the last 17 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT – Global Organization of People of Indian Origin – serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of PIOs through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.