ICM student finds her place and helps others find theirs
Nesha Saru, When Neha Saru (Neha) first arrived in Winnipeg as an international student from Nepal, she wasn’t sure what to expect. What she found was a campus full of opportunities – and over time, she realised she wanted to help create those opportunities for others, too.
Neha is currently a 3rd-year co-op student at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business. She has had the opportunity of being involved in two student groups that have genuinely shaped her university experience: the Nepali Students’ Association (NSA) and the Asper Business Analytics Association (BAA).
As the founder and president of the NSA, Neha’s goal was simple – to create a space where Nepali students could feel at home, celebrate their culture, and support one another through the unique challenges of studying abroad. Seeing the association grow and be recognised by the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) in its first year has been one of Neha’s proudest moments at university. It showed her that when students come together around a shared purpose, real community is possible.
Through the Asper Business Analytics Association (BAA), Neha has had the chance to explore the intersection of business and data analytics – organising workshops, events like Biztek, collaborating with peers, stakeholders, and building skills that complement her studies in Finance and Accounting. Being recognised by UMSU alongside fellow members has been a wonderful reminder that student-driven initiatives truly matter on campus.
Before joining the University of Manitoba, Neha also spent over a year as a Peer Advising Manager at the International College of Manitoba (ICM), where she mentored new international students, helped them navigate academic and campus life, and planned events to ease their transition to Winnipeg. That role taught her the value of showing up for people – and it’s something she tries to carry into everything she does on campus today.
Advice from Neha
“To any student – whether you’re just starting at ICM or already navigating university life – don’t wait for the perfect moment to get involved. Join the club, start the conversation, or build something entirely new. The skills, friendships, and confidence you gain through community involvement will carry you further than you’d expect. University is so much richer when you’re part of something bigger than yourself – and it all starts with showing up. If you can think it, you can do it!”