Gracious Nyamupachitu, Class of 2017
Major: Economics
Current Role: Marketing Operations Manager, Pinterest
Current Location: Dublin, Ireland
Home Country: Zimbabwe
Gracious Nyamupachitu
Pinteresting Career Move
Anyone who thinks econ majors are destined for a life of stock markets and number crunching has never met Class of 2017 alum Gracious Nyamupachitu. Part analytical, part artistic, and all-around trend spotter for one of the world’s biggest creative companies.
NYUAD: Nice to see you again, Gracious!
Gracious Nyamupachitu: Hello!
NYUAD: What’s a typical day like at Pinterest?
The best part about my job is that there’s no typical day! Everyday is different. My role is global so I start out working with people across Europe and end my day working with people just waking up in the US. I own a lot of projects and we’re currently looking at next year’s marketing plans.
NYUAD: What do you love most about your job?
I love working on projects that, in a month or two, I’ll be able to see out in the real world and be there as people experience it. I’m a connector. I can see the impact that my work has on people. It’s really exciting.
NYUAD: You were at Citibank before. What’s different now?
I started working at Citibank right after graduation, so I’d been there for about four years. Both Citibank and Pinterest are solving really important problems for people in the world. I think the main difference is that Pinterest is smaller so the relationships are easier to make. As a banker, I helped large companies achieve their finance goals, but now I’m in the creative space, working with individuals and creators and trying to get ahead of trends. It’s so interesting.
I graduated with an economics degree but also had creative outlets to explore other interests and talents. NYUAD prepared me for a world where I can switch up my entire routine and still be successful.
NYUAD: How do you think NYU Abu Dhabi prepared you for life today?
The culture and the classes.
NYUAD: What do you mean by that exactly?
By culture, I mean openness to trying new things. You’re encouraged to try things you’re not typically good at. That was really important when I was considering my career transition from Citibank to Pinterest. Yes, I graduated with an economics degree but I also had creative outlets to explore other interests and talents. When I got the Pinterest offer, I thought, NYUAD prepared me for a world where I can switch up my entire routine and still be successful.
The classes garnered my interests in doing something differently — deep learning from completely different fields.
NYUAD: What’s something you had to learn the hard way at NYU Abu Dhabi?
For me, it was people’s misconceptions about what it’s like to live and study in the Middle East. I always found myself having to explain myself. I felt misunderstood by people who’ve never been there. But, I have to say, that experience helped me grow. In my first year, it was difficult to relate to my friends studying in other countries but by year four I was solid.
NYUAD: What three words best describe your NYU Abu Dhabi experience?
Holistic. Eye-opening. Unforgettable.