Alumni Spotlight: Neha Chaparala

How has your career unfolded and how did participating in 21CL help prepare you for your next steps going to college, taking on a new leadership role in community/college and after?

My career has been nothing short of a roller coaster! I had dreamt of being a physician and pursuing a career in the medical field for as long as I could remember, however, that dream evolved with my participation in 21CL. When I became a 21st Century Leader, I was exposed to multiple different career paths that sparked new interests! It was while attending my first 21CL summer camp, the Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) in 2017, that I discovered my interest in business and in building relationships. This interest grew the more I continued to network with 21CL alumni and when attending college. At the end of my junior year at UGA, I realized that I wholeheartedly had interest in pursuing the intersection of business and healthcare. With the help of 21st Century Leaders, I was able to secure an internship as a Health Consulting Analyst at Mercer in the summer of 2022! Following this internship, I landed a full-time job at the firm’s NYC office as a Health Consulting Analyst. I worked at the firm for 2 years and recently switched to a firm called Sequoia Consulting Group to continue pursuing healthcare consulting. 

What’s your memorable or ‘aha’ moment during your time at 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peer, speaking in public for the first time, etc.)

The most memorable moment I had during my time at 21CL was definitely the day at 2017 SYLI that was focused on networking. I had always been a shy individual, afraid to ask questions and explore opportunities, however 21CL truly helped and guided me to become the most effective networking professional I could be! After attending that summer institute in 2017, I spent the rest of my summer reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn and other networking platforms to learn more about their profession and reach out for opportunities. I was able to take these experiences into the following summer at my second 21CL camp (EarthCare) where I showed up ready to learn even more! I am still very grateful for the leadership skills that I learned and that I continue to use in my career!

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? 

Absolutely, 21CL assisted me in developing a servant leadership style! I have been applying the servant leadership qualities since attending 21CL leadership institutes. I remember when I was still in high school and didn’t appreciate the importance of team-work, however, in learning servant leaderships qualities, I realized that I could only be an effective leader while ensuring that all my team members felt heard and included! 

I have also certainly made my own “tweaks” in the way I approach servant leadership over the years, however, I have always found that consistently ensuring that my team members and I are aligned on the same goal while equally feeling heard has made me an effective leader. 

Why do you believe programs like 21CL are important? And what advice would you give to a current or future student?

I believe that programs like 21CL help students  to get appropriate exposure to different career opportunities and acquire great leadership skills. I have noticed that a lot of students are limited in their perception of career choices and often find themselves stuck between choices that they are not truly passionate about. With the wide range of education and alumni networking that 21CL provides, so many students across GA can gain insight into how many different paths they can take after high school and beyond! Additionally, even in my current career, I find myself using 21CL techniques whether it comes to public speaking or working with different styles of people! I would tell any current or future 21CL student to truly go “all-in” into the program. It’s truly such a privilege to have access to such a robust and accessible program. I am always so proud to be a 21CL alumna!