NJIT Business Major Charis Hwang Lines Up PwC Role - But First, a Master's

Charis Hwang packed a lot into her four years studying business at New Jersey Institute of Technology, including three internships and a cooperative educational experience.

That thick undergraduate resumé may explain why even before completing an accelerated master’s program, she landed a job with global consulting firm PwC. In fact, her last internship, during the summer of 2021, was at PwC, where she found a calling.

“What I really loved about my internship was that each day was never quite the same, I was working on tasks with direct impact for our client and I was constantly communicating with different stakeholders throughout the project,” said Hwang, who's from Somerset, N.J.

In early 2023, Hwang will become a technology consulting associate within PwC’s Salesforce practice in New York City. First, though, she’ll complete a master’s in management at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management after earning a bachelor’s in business with a concentration in management information systems and a minor in computer science. In an interview, Hwang reflects on her work experiences, mentors and life as a Dorman Honors Scholar.

What made you stand out to the hiring committee at PwC?
What I think set me apart from other applicants and even other interns during my time with PwC were my experience with Salesforce, a resumé that spanned multiple industries and functions — including sales, consumer goods, banking and tech — and my strong foundation of having both business and technical education.

How did internships or co-ops help you?
I interned with ConnectOne Bank the summer after my freshman year, where I was a Salesforce intern. As my first work experience, I appreciate that it was an environment of lower stakes, being a smaller organization with a small intern class. I was able to familiarize myself and pop into cubicles of our internal Salesforce users from various departments, which allowed me to quickly grasp both the scale and potential of Salesforce and how the day-to-day responsibilities in their roles all fit together.

You also had a co-op at a startup in Newark.
Yes, Riskcast Solutions, which sells construction management software. I was a business development representative, doing market research and generating leads. I had to quickly learn how the construction industry operated and all the jargon and terminology to connect with prospective leads and customers on how leveraging technology would benefit their businesses.

And at Reckitt, you were part of a global corporation.
I was a finance intern, working on a supply chain team on the hygiene side. I quickly realized I was not interested in a career in corporate finance, though I worked with brands like Lysol that were especially relevant in the height of the pandemic. My business classes taught me all about how functions of a business come together, but it wasn't until my time at Reckitt that I fully grasped that concept.

What did you cherish most about Albert Dorman Honors College?
I love the community that ADHC has given me. Most of my friendships have resulted from living in the residence hall with the majority of my first-year ADHC class and having Dean [Louis] Hamilton and his team in the same building reinforces the available support provided to me within the Honors College.

Who were your biggest mentors at the Martin Tuchman School of Management?
Dean Oya Tukel and Assistant Dean Melodi Guilbault. Dr. Guilbault always ensures that those working with her feel heard and valued. I learned from Dr. G that true leaders inspire and support others while still giving them agency. From Dean Tukel, I learned the importance of asking for and knowing exactly what I want and not being afraid to do so, whether going directly to request funds from a board member or leading a student council with varied opinions. She taught me how to conduct myself in a room and ensure I am taken seriously as a woman in business.