Sandhya says she wouldn’t be the businesswoman she is today if it weren’t for the four years she spent teaching at her TFA placement school. 

Q & A

Why did you apply to TFA instead of starting your business career after college?

TFA was the perfect option because it allowed me to improve my leadership skills while committing to a meaningful cause. Also, the post-corps opportunities were tremendous, and I didn’t feel pressured to make a final decision on my career right away. I believe pushing yourself to seek out varied experiences is important, and TFA was a great fit for me.

What were some of the major lessons you learned during the corps?

The corps taught me how to analyze complex issues more deeply and made me recognize that the world is not black and white. Inequality and contradictions exist. It’s up to the individual to continue learning about the world, asking questions, and building relationships with people from different communities.

Is there something about being a corps member that has uniquely prepared you to be a leader that you may not get in another field?

As a corps member, you learn to focus almost entirely on others’ success—instead of your own. As a manager, I am no longer an individual contributor. My entire success stems straight from my team’s success. Adopting this mindset can be challenging, but TFA showed me this approach is far more rewarding.