Influential Woman · Higher Education

Swapna Bhargavi Gantasala

Student Success Coach, Southern Connecticut State University School of Business

Milford, CT

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Taxation and Accounting from Osmania University Degree Master's in Business Administration with Major in Finance and Marketing from Osmania University Degree Service Quality in Marketing from Sri Krishna Devaraya University

Her Story

About Swapna

I have been in higher education for over 20 years, though this is technically my second career. I began in banking, which lasted for a year before I moved to teaching. As a Student Success Coach at a university, my role involves meeting students one-on-one to provide life coaching and career coaching. I verify their resumes, help them set up LinkedIn profiles, manage their internship paperwork, and provide them with lists of opportunities. I also give them preparation for interviews and help them create their pitch about themselves. I work with companies to bring opportunities to students and collaborate with career services. I guide students through life design by getting their behavioral assessments done. I have 35 plus publications to my name, which I believe has driven who I am today. What I love most about my career is the students and trying to help them, being the bridge between what they are looking for and where they are right now.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Swapna

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my family, my husband, and my kids. I've always believed in myself, and I have been myself. I have never tried to impress anyone. If they get impressed, they get impressed. Otherwise, I try to be myself. That authenticity and self-belief, combined with the support of my family, is what has made me as successful as I have been in the past 20 years.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I have ever received is to get my PhD done so I could get into better acceptance and higher positions. This advice has clearly shaped my educational journey and career trajectory, as I went on to complete my PhD in marketing, which has contributed to my professional growth and the opportunities I've had in higher education.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My advice to women entering my industry is not to get judgmental about themselves. I believe I have seen many women trying to identify themselves as part of the community. If you're there, you're already there, so you don't have to justify, you don't have to re-identify yourself. You belong, and you should embrace that without constantly questioning your place or worth in the field.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest opportunity in my field right now is the transformation and keeping yourself updated with the upcoming technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning. However, the challenge at the same point of time is that because of a lot of aging crowd in the teaching fraternity, especially in the universities, getting them to accept the new technologies or the new introductions has been challenging. So while the technological advancement presents exciting opportunities, the resistance to change from established faculty members creates a significant hurdle.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

In my personal life, I want to be a perfect support for my family, whether it could be my parents or my kids. I don't want to be a person that they are not comfortable coming to. In my professional life, I replicate the same values. When a student comes to me, they should leave the room happy. They should feel the value that I have created for them when they are making a conversation with me. I try to get them to some understanding, some solution. That's what I value the most - being accessible, supportive, and creating genuine value for the people in my life, whether family or students.

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