Student Spotlight: Zara Akhter

Now in her second year as CEO of Business Student Senate, Global Supply Chain and Information Systems Management student Zara Akhter says her involvement in the senate and on campus is responsible for the skills and confidence she has today.

Akhter has a long history of student and community involvement, including managing food drives for Gleaners, campaigning to write cards to nursing home residents and volunteering at blood drives and Noel Night.

“I think it’s really easy to just attend class and go home especially because WSU is a commuter-focused school, but getting involved has really helped my confidence and made it easier for me to talk to recruiters and network,” she said. “It’s really helped me succeed as a whole and helped me build a lot of the skills I need.”

She has also spent her time as a student working at internships including Habitat for Humanity Detroit, DTE Energy and General Motors, where she worked on their global customs and trade team. She plans to work in a supply chain co-op position at DENSO until her expected graduation date of May 2018.

Her responsibilities as CEO of Business Student Senate include working as a liaison between Business Student Senate and advisors, faculty and students as well as promoting the senate as an organization.

One successful promotional event was an event with CEO of Emagine Entertainment and WSU alumnus Paul Glantz. She said she counts this event as one of her most successful moments as CEO because members enjoyed it, and “we got to hear from someone who started in the same place we did.”

Akhter recommends all students of the Mike Ilitch School of Business get involved with the senate, because members get a chance to meet and learn from employers and the senate serves as the face of the business school.

Business Student Senate will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 for an informational meeting and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 for a general body meeting, both in the Rini Room in the Prentis Building (Room 202).