Diana Carneiro

A very good morning to my fellow graduates, esteemed faculty, staff and beloved family members — especially those like mine who have traveled across continents to celebrate this milestone with us. It is truly an honor to be here with all of you today.

Let me take you back to the first day we stepped foot on this University, our eyes glistening with aspirations and our backpacks full of nervous energy about our future and also about what to cook for dinner. This batch has been through so much from a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse to the advent and swift dominance of artificial intelligence. We have dealt with numerous curve balls and somehow staggered our way to the finish line.

Through this exhilarating journey of assignment deadlines, exam pressure and the occasional, “I forgot my Comet Card on exam day” panic, not only did we earn a prestigious feather in our caps in the form of our master’s degrees, but we also learned to call this place home! And built a life here — because we had the courage to start over.

Speaking of starting over, let me give you a little sneak peek into my life, about three years back. I was fresh out of college with a coveted title in one of the world’s leading banks. Fancy title, plush office, high-net-worth clients — the kind of job that makes relatives, especially Desi uncles — the ones who are focused on ranks — smile approvingly. On paper and in society, I fit in. But something felt off. Deep down, I knew this was not where I belonged. My passion lies in crafting brand stories that resonate — operating at the intersection of insight and imagination, where strategy meets storytelling — at the very essence of marketing. So, I did the thing that most people, including me, fear the most — I started over.

Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”

Looking back now, I see it. Every decision that led me to this day, every time I questioned if I was throwing away a perfectly good career — all of it was a dot. A dot that led me here to pursue a master’s in marketing analytics. Not something I stumbled upon but something I chased down with my whole heart. To a product-marketing job I love. To the version of myself I always suspected existed — but hadn’t met yet.

And here’s what I want to tell everyone sitting here today who’s unsure about their next step: it’s OK not to have it all figured out. Most of us are building the plane while flying it — held together with duct tape, a little prayer and a LinkedIn subscription we hope pays off. So, if you’re in a place that fits but doesn’t belong to you — listen to that little voice in your gut and have the courage to start over. Always go with your gut!

On this note, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management, now our esteemed alma mater, for providing us with the foundation to embark on a ridiculously successful future.

To all my friends — those who lit up the spirited nights out offering support without judgment and powered through the late-night study sessions, ensuring that we succeeded together — I am profoundly grateful.

To my parents and all the families present — thank you for trusting our decisions even when you did not fully understand it.

To my fiancé, Sid, who is also graduating today — thank you for walking this journey with me, with goals we set together and a future we’ve always dared to imagine.

And finally, to the Class of 2025. We did it, and we will do it all over again! Because the world doesn’t just need people who fit in — it needs people who are bold enough to find where they truly belong. So, as we leave today, may your inbox be filled with congratulatory messages. May you be presented with so many opportunities that you struggle to pick which ones to choose. And may your reality stretch far beyond your biggest, bravest dreams. Go find your place — not the one you were told to choose, but the one that feels like home.

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Diana Carneiro came to UT Dallas from Mumbai, India, and is graduating as a scholar with high distinction with a Master of Science in marketing. During her time here, Carneiro served as president of the Marketing Student Leadership Council and was honored with the OWLIE Award for Student Mentor of the Year. She is also a proud recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship, recognized for her academic achievement and campus involvement. Outside of the University, Carneiro works as a product marketing manager at GOPI Corporation, where she contributes to projects like Will-Call, a voice-activated device designed for individuals with limited mobility. She also produces “The Business of AI in Healthcare” podcast, which explores the evolving role of technology in healthcare.