How We Went From Students To Professional Mixers

As we wrapped up our first speed networking event, I was going around the room chatting with people and gathering feedback. One thing someone said really stuck with me:

“It was fun meeting students, but I wish I could’ve connected with some professionals too.”

That’s when it hit me — most students already have friends. They meet people in class, in dorms, through clubs. Meeting more Nepali students in Boston is a nice to have, not a must have.

But the chance to meet Nepali professionals? That’s different. That hits deeper.

Because at the end of the day, why are students here in the first place? To build a life. A career. A future.

So, we launched our next initiative: NSA Boston’s first student-professional mixer.

By this time, I had already been attending multiple networking events around Boston — hosted by other groups, industries, and cultural orgs. And I had a clear vision:

I didn’t just want to host another event.
I wanted to bring premium networking into the Nepali scene.

A high-vibe space. Classy venue. Food, drinks, real conversations. Where people walk in curious and leave inspired.

We booked a beautiful lounge smacked up in Boston, kept the entry cost super accessible (cost-plus model — just enough to break even), and made sure everything in the room felt intentional.

We expected maybe 50 attendees.

Nearly 65 showed up.

Students from Harvard, MIT, Suffolk, Tufts, Bentley, and more.
Professionals from Microsoft, EY, restaurant owners, real estate investors, creatives — all under one roof.

That Was Our Signal.

That night, we knew this wasn’t just an event.
It was a movement.

A new standard.
A new kind of space.
And honestly — a new chapter for NSA Boston.