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The path for Misheel Ganbat, BS Information Systems and Operations Management ’19, has been filled with peaks and valleys amid a range of adventures.

But it’s been her resiliency and hope along the way that continue to make the journey more meaningful than any end goal. It started in her homeland of Mongolia, watching her parents build a successful bookstore from the ground up. “This was my first introduction to business and entrepreneurship, seeing them work day and night to get their business up and thriving,” she says. As Ganbat was preparing to begin high school, her parents decided to move to America for a better education for their children. Knowing that they were sacrificing their business and stability for her and her brother, she promised herself she would make it all worthwhile.

A few years later, Ganbat was intent on getting involved at Mason. “I joined the business fraternity and many other extracurriculars to meet people and learn the different career routes that my skills and passions could take me,” she says. With parents who didn’t attend college stateside, it was entirely up to her to create her own experiences and find the right resources.

Persevering and creating robust networks through genuine connection ultimately led to an internship at Ernst & Young (EY). It was comforting to learn they would have a full-time job waiting for her after graduation. But Ganbat’s parents were still struggling mightily to make out-of-pocket tuition payments, and she feared she wouldn’t graduate in time to accept the offer. Thankfully, her network paid off.

Christine Landoll, one of Ganbat’s professors, connected her with the right student support services handling scholarships and payment plans, all while providing ongoing advice and encouragement.

Following graduation, Ganbat began full-time as a technology advisory consultant at EY. Through the position, she gets to work for various Fortune 500 companies on their biggest technology implementations and digital transformations. “When I first started, I felt the imposter syndrome, not belonging and not feeling good enough. My co-workers were all extremely competent, many graduating from the nation’s premier schools,” she says.

“I began looking at my job as an ongoing mission that I get to do and could continually tweak based on my next goals, as consulting gives me the opportunity to try dfferent projects.” It took time, but she is learning to stand up and voice her opinion more, reminding herself there’s a reason she was selected for the job.

As a young alumna, Misheel Ganbat has fulfilled many of her immigrant family’s hopes. Through the highs and lows, she never folded. Her resilience and growth have led to evolving ambitions. “When I was in school, my only focus was on landing the most prestigious job possible,” she says. “Now I am thinking more about how to always do the right thing and help others along the way.” New and unique challenges will undoubtedly appear in Ganbat’s future, each serving as an invaluable lesson on her continuing journey.