Hi! My name is Saharsh Talwar and I just recently completed my first year at the University of Pittsburgh. I am currently pursuing dual degrees in Natural Sciences and Economics, with minors in Chemistry, Sociology, and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. My professional goal is to attend medical school and become a surgeon in the future. In terms of specific fields of surgery, I am open to everything and anything; there are so many options to choose from and I want to wait until I get some more experience to really solidify my interests.

I was born and raised in Reading, PA, located about an hour west of Philadelphia. I came to Pitt because of the countless opportunities available to pre-medical students, and I have not been disappointed. Pitt is amazing and my favorite things about being a Pitt student are the multitude of resources available at my disposal. Along with the countless clinical opportunities in our surrounding hospitals, I love that Pitt provides a strong community and support base that is always willing to help. I like to talk to all of my advisors, weigh their opinions, and come to a final decision regarding my future with their input. The platform that Pitt provides is invaluable and irreplaceable; I would be lost without it!

When the weather is nice, I like to spend my free time playing tennis. I usually play with my family or my friends back home but would love to start playing at Pitt once everything starts to open up (hopefully soon). Additionally, I like to play a lot of chess, something I have been doing more of in quarantine. Although I’m not the best, I am extremely competitive, and I love the challenging aspects of the game. I also enjoy stock trading, watching TikToks, and hanging out with my friends.

I chose to participate in this course for one simple reason: to further my potential as a leader. Recently, I completed the Panther Leadership Academy curriculum, an intensive 20-week course designed for students to develop their leadership philosophy and gain the knowledge necessary to become effective leaders. However, due to the nature of the program, I have focused more on how I can make an impact at Pitt and the organizations residing on campus. I want to be able to expand my reach and learn about how I can continue my development as a leader in a variety of situations, especially as a professional. I believe the Leadership in a Global Context program provides the perfect platform to explore and develop my leadership ability. 

My primary objective, through this program, is to identify my weaknesses and improve upon them. Ideally, I would like to focus on the aspects of communication in a global setting. My desire is to learn how to overcome a language barrier and act as a leader among people in different environments from a variety of backgrounds. Additionally, I want to learn how to network and collaborate with those who are different than me. Cross-cultural collaboration is essential to gaining the knowledge necessary in increasing my effectiveness as a communicator, leader, and team member. I desire to learn about other cultures to cultivate an inclusive environment designed for success. 

My personal definition of leadership revolves around collaboration. I believe a leader should be able to bring out the best in a team, create an inclusive environment where every individual feels safe and ready to contribute, and keep them focused and motivated. Collaboration and effective communication are necessary traits for a productive team. I hope to focus on these leadership traits and develop them through the next couple of weeks.