Ramya Gopal

Former position at CEP
Associate Manager, Research

Length of tenure at CEP
4 years

What are you up to these days?
I’m a first-year MBA student at the Yale School of Management. However, business school hasn’t shaken my stalwart commitment to the social sector. I’m still involved in all things social impact: I serve on the board of a local microfinance organization, am part of a student impact investment team, and am consulting for a company in Mexico.

How did your time at CEP prepare you for what you’re doing now?
CEP has prepared me for business school in three ways — developing my understanding of the social sector, deepening my comfort with data analytics, and preparing me to be a “team player” (as hackneyed as that term has become, it’s actually incredibly valuable). CEP also provided me a model of what a healthy work culture looks like, and I carry that ethos with me.

What do you miss most about working at CEP?
The people! My colleagues became my close friends. I cherish those relationships even though we’re all pursuing our own paths. My former mentors at CEP are still my first stop for advice.

The snack closet might come in close second. The boardroom in the Cambridge office might be a third — its ceiling-to-floor windows offer beautiful views of the city.

Of course, I actually do miss the work itself.

What advice would you give someone about working at CEP?
One of my favorite parts of CEP’s culture was how open managers were to new ideas. If you join CEP, definitely spend time learning how to do the work — but then don’t be afraid to bring ideas for how to improve it or the organization.

Describe your perfect Sunday.
Ingredients for a perfect Sunday: Drinking a cup of coffee while reading The New Yorker/The Atlantic/The Economist(sometimes all three). And maybe a hike in the woods.