3 People, 3 Questions: Fall 2020
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Joffrey Wilson
'99 BSB, Director of Inclusion and Diversity at Mortenson
What are you reading?
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. This book highlights housing policy and unconstitutional laws that created opportunity for some and left others out. As we talk about racial equality, this book provides a great example of the systems that have been in place that have created inequity. This book is also important because it highlights the importance of policy to drive change.
What's your favorite website?
The Ringer. It’s a mixture of pop culture and sports. They cover everything from Game of Thrones to Anthony Bourdain and mock NBA Drafts. A lot of range!
What's your dream job?
I’ve volunteered with kids for the last 20-plus years, coaching both basketball and football. I see sports as a great way to connect with kids, teach leadership skills, and solve problems. When I retire, I’ll likely find a position as a sports director for a youth program.
Deeksha Jha
'19 MSBA, Data Scientist
What are you reading?
The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen. Lately, I have been missing my home country a lot. I first read this book a decade ago and revisiting it now takes me back to simpler and happier times. This collection of essays highlights India’s identity through its history, and how debate, dialogue, and intellectual pluralism shaped the country. It smashes stereotypes and celebrates India in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s a different perception of India that needs to be read.
What's your favorite website?
Refinery29 — especially the “Work & Money” section.
What's your dream job?
A dream job of mine would be where I can combine my artistic creativity and analytical skills to contribute to society.
Rachna Shah
Professor, Supply Chain Operations
What are you reading?
I am re-reading Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom by Katherine Eban. The book paints a damning portrait of the generic drug industry using the 2013 Ranbaxy Scandal as the setting. It highlights the willingness of pharmaceutical companies to promote substandard and potentially harmful agents and the thinning edge of U.S. regulatory power in a rapidly globalizing pharmaceutical industry. The book substantiates my research, and is a must-read, particularly for generic drug consumers.
What's your favorite website?
They’re not so much a website, but there are a few podcasts I follow diligently. Land of the Giants and Work Life by Adam Grant have insightful stories. I don’t follow comedy much, and standup comedy even less, but Patriot Act by Hasan Minhaj (on Netflix, bad language alert) is surprisingly good for its astute observations about the society we live in.
What's your dream job?
I am in my dream job. Full disclosure—I worked for a management consulting firm between my MBA and PhD, and loved it. But, being a faculty in a Big 10 university setting is more fulfilling in every possible way. Here, I am constantly surrounded by some of the smartest, most intelligent, and dynamic people. Besides teaching and researching, I can travel, and work with managers and/or policymakers—the opportunities in my role are limitless. Imagination and available time are the only constraints.
This article appeared in the Fall 2020 alumni magazine
The year 2020 has brought forth unprecedented change. In this issue of our alumni magazine, we explore these changes and the Carlson School’s role in it.