Deeyana Touserkani

After starting college as a public health major at Rutgers University, Deeyana Touserkani realized that she needed to correct course and return closer to home in Acton.  

A transfer to UMass Lowell (via a semester at Middlesex Community College) set her on a business path and helped her grow from a self-described introvert into a confident leader. 

As a finance student in the Manning School of Business, Touserkani has immersed herself in opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. She is president of the UML Sales Team, leading students through rigorous preparation for intercollegiate competitions.

“I didn’t know anything about sales when I started,” she says. “But the environment was so supportive and nonjudgmental. It gave me a space to try new things and push myself.”

That growth has translated into success. Touserkani finished second in a national Speed Sell competition in Oklahoma City and advanced to the final round of the Isenberg Sales Competition at UMass Amherst. 

“It feels like an obstacle course,” she says of sales competitions. “You’re constantly adapting, handling objections and advocating for your ideas.”

Touserkani is also secretary of the Real Estate Network Association, where she has expanded her professional network and explored industry trends. Through the organization, she attended a national real estate conference in Miami, gaining exposure to market insights and career pathways.

In a staff accounting internship at SourceCode, Touserkani worked on financial reporting, reconciliations and audit preparation — a role that helped her clarify her career direction.

“I realized I wanted to focus more on finance,” she says. 

Touserkani is also building a personal brand as a content creator, reaching a monthly audience of more than 160,000 on Pinterest. She applies lessons in data analytics and marketing strategy to grow her platform, tracking engagement and building an audience.

“It’s a way to combine creativity with data and strategy,” she says, noting that she has begun linking to products she uses to generate passive income.

Touserkani credits the Manning School with helping her develop a strong work ethic.

“There’s a real passion for learning here,” she says. “You see it in other students, and I feel it myself. I love to learn.”

Touserkani, whose family is from Iran, is keeping her options open as she begins her career, considering roles in finance or sales development.

“I’m very happy I chose business,” she says. “I feel really confident, and I’m always trying to learn and grow.”