Story Behind The Rebrand

From “Student Association” to a Broader Mission

When we first launched NSA Boston, it stood for Nepali Student Association Boston. The goal was simple and clear — to create a community for Nepali students studying in Boston. We saw the need. We felt the gap. And we were ready to fill it.

But after just our second event, something unexpected happened.

More and more working professionals started showing up. In fact, almost 85% of our attendees weren’t students — they were full-time professionals. That hit me hard.

People were resonating with what we were building. The mixers, the panels, the community energy — it wasn’t just helping students. It was empowering the entire Nepali community in Boston.

The Problem? Perception.

Despite the real impact we were making, the word “Student” in our name was limiting us.

Every time I talked to someone new, they’d ask:

“Oh, isn’t that just for students?”

And because of that perception, a lot of professionals — the people we were actually serving — assumed our events weren’t for them. Some never even showed up.

We knew then — we had to pivot.

The Name Dilemma

We brainstormed a ton of new names. But nothing quite hit. No matter what we tried, “NSA” just felt right. It had already become recognizable. It had a ring to it. So the question became: how do we keep the essence of NSA, but evolve its meaning?

That’s when Oshina Bharati, one of our team members, pitched:

Nepali Society of America.

It clicked instantly.

Because by now, that’s exactly what we had become. A society. A platform. A space that wasn’t just for students — but for students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders across generations.

Change Is Never Easy — But It Was Necessary

Yes, it was a bit tough to rebrand. “Student Association” was already embedded in people’s minds. But like anything else, I knew that with time and consistency, perceptions change.

Now, when someone hears “NSA Boston,” we want them to think:

“That’s the premium professional platform for Nepalis in Boston.”

Because that’s the community we’re building — and the one we’ll keep expanding.