Student Q&A: Jags Jhawar Reflects on Positive Experience in Business Management, MBA Programs

Meet Jags Jhawar '24 '25

Majors/Programs: Business Management, MBA
College Activities: Point Park Men's Basketball, attending Point Park games and theatre shows
Hometown: Jalandhar, Punjab, India
High School: L.B.S. Jalandhar
Now Living In: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dream Job: Working in the sports industry
Hobbies & Interests: Basketball, photography, traveling and cooking

"I would recommend Point Park to a prospective student because of its prominent Downtown Pittsburgh location, which provides students with access to networking opportunities, internships and a wide range of cultural experiences."

Jags Jhawar '24 '25

Why did you choose Point Park University?

I was scouted to play on the Point Park Men's Basketball team, and my career goals align with what Point Park offers. I'm interested in a career in the sports industry focused on analytics, data and research. I want to implement different data-based strategies to grow sports locally and internationally. For example, basketball is not very popular in my hometown in India, and I'd like to explore strategies to grow the sport. I'm excited to learn and gain as much knowledge as I can to implement sports analytics as a professional.

How did the business management program allow you to pursue your various interests?

The business management program has helped me build a broad foundation and skillset, which has allowed me to explore various disciplines and integrate them with my interests. I was interested in marketing, analytics and sports management, which may seem like totally different disciplines, but the flexibility of the business management program helped me tailor my coursework and experiences to my interests and goals.

Coming from India, I felt like I understood a lot of business concepts, but this program polished that skillset. As I completed different courses and connected with my professors, I felt like I put myself in a better position for internships. Business is such a vast world, and Pittsburgh is a great place to pursue it. Even from my perspective as an athlete, sports is a business and in Pittsburgh, we're surrounded by professional teams that provide experiential learning opportunities to students.

Pictured is Jags Jhawar. Submitted photo. — Jags Jhawar is a member of the Point Park men's basketball team. Submitted photo.

What experiential learning opportunities have you completed?

To fulfill my electives, I took several Sports, Arts, Entertainment & Music Business (SAEM) courses that included real-world learning experiences. Professors Robert Derda and Paige Beal really helped me out. In one class, we had to pick a company to contact for a job shadowing experience, and they connected me with James Santilli, former vice president of marketing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The experience made me more passionate about entering the sports industry, and I learned that many Point Park alumni work for the Penguins.

I also took an SAEM event management course with Melinda Colaizzi, who founded Women Who Rock, an organization that advocates for women in music and women's health awareness. I worked behind the scenes for a Women Who Rock pop-up event.

Lastly, I completed an internship with an immersive gym startup in New York City called Roam149. We hosted events around the New York City Marathon to promote their products and services to runners, and it piqued my interest in business operations management.

Why did you enroll in Point Park's MBA program, and how has it fostered your personal and professional growth?

I had another year left to play basketball, and my coaches were supportive of me taking that next step in my education. As an athlete, time to play a sport as a career is limited, and having my MBA will just give me an extra boost. When I found out Point Park offered a business analytics concentration, I was as happy as I could be. It's exactly what I want to do.

Point Park's MBA program has helped me expand my business knowledge in key areas such as finance, marketing, analytics and more. The courses I've found the most valuable are Business Analytics, as well as Data Analytics and Visualization. They align with my career goal of becoming a sports analyst.

The MBA program gave me an opportunity to interact with diverse professionals, peers and professors who are established in different industries, which further opens the door for mentorship and networking. Personally, the MBA program helped me become more confident in solving real-world problems and gave me a global perspective.

How has your involvement in athletics enhanced your college experience?

Being involved in athletics has boosted my confidence, which has benefitted me in my sport and as a human being. It has also helped me grow my confidence in my academic pursuits. Everything I learn, I try to connect it to my life on and off the court.

Pictured is the Point Park men's basketball team celebrating their 2024 River States Conference championship win. Submitted photo. — Pictured is Jags Jhawar, second from left, second row, celebrating with the Point Park men's basketball team after their 2024 River States Conference championship win. Point Park is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Submitted photo.

Which faculty and staff members have had a significant impact on you?

Professor Robert Derda has always had a positive impact on me. He helped me clarify my career goals, and he is advising me with my next career steps. Professor Jeffrey Seaman, who teaches applied computer science courses, has also had an impact on me. His courses are hands-on, and we use a lot of different software and tools to generate data analyses and visualizations. Head basketball coach Kevin Reynolds has always been a supportive mentor. He has helped me become a better version of myself on and off the court.

How would you describe the sense of community at Point Park?

Point Park being in Downtown Pittsburgh offers a vibrant, inclusive community. The various organizations here, such as the Office of Student Life and SAIL, are continuously working to enhance the student experience by hosting and organizing student activities and offering helpful services and resources.

What’s it like being an international student at Point Park?

Point Park offers a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. Being an international student, it’s challenging to transition into a new experience in a different country. The ISSE office helped me a lot with understanding different rules and regulations and visa compliance. They have provided ongoing support during my time here.

What do you like about living and learning in Downtown Pittsburgh?

It's a well-connected city. There are many universities here, which makes it more of a college town. Being here on campus among people from all over the world with different identities and backgrounds is also a benefit.

The arts scene in Pittsburgh is excellent. I like visiting the museums around town, such as the Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

I love photography, and I enjoy photographing Pittsburgh's architecture and nature. I've even taken a photography class for one of my electives. Point Park offers a lot of different courses so you can bring your interests into your academics.

Why would you recommend Point Park to a prospective student?

I would recommend Point Park to a prospective student because of its prominent Downtown Pittsburgh location, which provides students with access to networking opportunities, internships and a wide range of cultural experiences.