Making a Major Move

For Sitanshu Goyal (MEM ‘23) and his family, there was no turning back.

It was the summer of 2022, and Goyal just resigned from his position as principal engineer with Samsung Engineering. His family sold just about everything that once filled their home in India. 

Goyal and his wife and daughter packed up their lives and moved more than 8,000 miles to Evanston so Goyal could join Northwestern's Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program. The decision was made so he could elevate himself professionally.

Thanks to MEM, he's done just that.

Goyal, who graduated in December, is an assistant project manager with renewable energy company Invenergy.

“It was undeniably challenging. Our move to the United States marked a one-way road,” Goyal said. “I am deeply grateful for my family's unwavering support throughout this journey, a testament to their belief in my dreams and capabilities.”

Goyal's role supports project managers who oversee the complete lifecycle of renewable energy projects. That has him working on multiple projects, including what will eventually be the nation’s largest working solar facility in Texas and performing due diligence on an acquisition for another solar project in Wisconsin.

The opportunity to join Invenergy came directly from Goyal's MEM experience. Invenergy chief operating officer James Murphy was a guest speaker in Goyal’s NUvention: Energy class — a course offered by Northwestern's Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation — and the two struck up a conversation during a break.

“Meeting James and learning about Invenergy’s stellar growth catalyzed my enthusiasm,” Goyal said. “The impressive journey of the company, evolving from a small startup to a prominent leader in the renewable energy sector, stuck with me.”

Goyal is now putting into practice what he learned in that class — taught by MEM director Mark Werwath and Industry Advisory Board member Ian Wiese (MEM '18) — and other MEM courses. The most important lesson Goyal took away from the program is the ability to extract himself from the weeds of a project to figure out what truly is important.

“As aspiring business leaders, targeting elements that significantly impact the business is paramount, and having a bird’s-eye view is indispensable,” he said. “The program facilitated this perspective by equipping me with essential tools, including finance, accounting, strategy, marketing, and more.”

Goyal wields those tools daily at Invenergy. He said accounting concepts learned through the program help him analyze cash flow statements and evaluate revenue opportunities. The program’s negotiations course helped him hone his skills and quickly turned him into a vital asset on the team that prepares and manages contracts.

“These practical applications underscore the direct and tangible impact of the lessons I gained at MEM,” he said. “I consistently apply the valuable lessons acquired during the program.”

Goyal took calculated risks when he and his family uprooted their lives. Now that they're settled — with Goyal having a new degree and a new job — he's transitioned from being a MEM student to a MEM advocate.

To make the most of MEM, he recommends prospective students — particularly international students — enter the program with a vision for what they want to accomplish and a plan for how MEM can make that goal a reality.

“There are tremendous opportunities, but only if you have a plan in place,” he said. “Establishing connections with target companies and acquiring the specific skill set for desired positions is crucial. Staying informed about market trends and diversifying one's skill set through a range of courses provides a competitive edge in the job market.”