How they did it
It's all about how right career decisions changed their lives.
Experiencing and learning global trends from rich diversity
| Aalok Mehta is currently pursuing his MBA at IESE, Barcelona and interning with Merrill Lynch in London. |
"Having worked in India and Africa in sales and marketing, I was looking to pursue an MBA to gain more cross functional and general management skills. I was also looking for a place that could help me fully understand global trends in the world economy.
IESE was a perfect fit, as internationalism is the hallmark of IESE. It's not just about having people from 50 nationalities in the class, but also about developing relationships with your team mates and learning about different cultures. My team is so multi-cultural that every continent, except Antarctica, is represented! Moreover, this team structure has helped me understand team dynamics better. This is pivotal in investment banking, the area in which I intend to work.
The small size of the class has facilitated formal, as well as informal, friendships. I could really feel the strong sense of bonding among us, when, at the Paris MBA Olympics this year, the whole contingent was cheering and supporting every IESE player. When I was playing my matches, for a moment, I felt like Ronaldinho with the ball, as the whole world cheered me on! For the past year, IESE has been a world full of learning, discovering, hard work and, above all, relationships."
IESE was a perfect fit, as internationalism is the hallmark of IESE. It's not just about having people from 50 nationalities in the class, but also about developing relationships with your team mates and learning about different cultures. My team is so multi-cultural that every continent, except Antarctica, is represented! Moreover, this team structure has helped me understand team dynamics better. This is pivotal in investment banking, the area in which I intend to work.
The small size of the class has facilitated formal, as well as informal, friendships. I could really feel the strong sense of bonding among us, when, at the Paris MBA Olympics this year, the whole contingent was cheering and supporting every IESE player. When I was playing my matches, for a moment, I felt like Ronaldinho with the ball, as the whole world cheered me on! For the past year, IESE has been a world full of learning, discovering, hard work and, above all, relationships."
Leveraging the powerful asset of 'Executive Partners'
| Biswaroop Chakraborty works as an investment banker in the Asset Backed Securities Group of HSBC Securities (USA), New York. |
"America's second oldest educational institute, William and Mary, is one of only eight US institutes of higher education designated a 'Public Ivy'. A 'Public Ivy' is a state-assisted institute, which offers superior education at a cost far below that of Ivy League schools. Its academic programme, placements and the executive partners are equally impressive, which make this institute a unique place to study.
I was about to join an MBA programme after six years of work experience. I needed a strong academic programme; a small school for me to freely interact with fellow students and professors. Next, I was looking for a school, which I could relate to. Finally, I wanted a school that could lay the foundation for my foray into the corporate world.
I had applied to four schools. William and Mary attracted me for many reasons. They painted a very realistic picture. I still remember the hour and a half discussion I had with Kathy Pattison and Amy Hughes on different aspects, ranging from placements for that year to H1-B visa quotas. They offered me a scholarship in the first year, a great incentive for an international student.
Their unique Executive Partners Programme was really exciting. Executive Partners are a truly powerful asset of the William & Mary MBA experience. They are a group of over 95, active and retired senior business executives from many different industries, whose experience and guidance are available to you in many ways, on a day-to-day basis. This provides a great opportunity for networking and experiential learning."
He has some tips for aspiring candidates in India
1) GMAT score is utterly important for admissions but is not the sole factor in determining your admission. Concentrate on your essays and your interviews to increase your admission chances.
2) Connect with the admissions office, current students and faculty members to get a realistic picture about each programme.
3) Focus on your strengths. This would be a key factor in selecting your school and also a future career
I was about to join an MBA programme after six years of work experience. I needed a strong academic programme; a small school for me to freely interact with fellow students and professors. Next, I was looking for a school, which I could relate to. Finally, I wanted a school that could lay the foundation for my foray into the corporate world.
I had applied to four schools. William and Mary attracted me for many reasons. They painted a very realistic picture. I still remember the hour and a half discussion I had with Kathy Pattison and Amy Hughes on different aspects, ranging from placements for that year to H1-B visa quotas. They offered me a scholarship in the first year, a great incentive for an international student.
Their unique Executive Partners Programme was really exciting. Executive Partners are a truly powerful asset of the William & Mary MBA experience. They are a group of over 95, active and retired senior business executives from many different industries, whose experience and guidance are available to you in many ways, on a day-to-day basis. This provides a great opportunity for networking and experiential learning."
He has some tips for aspiring candidates in India
1) GMAT score is utterly important for admissions but is not the sole factor in determining your admission. Concentrate on your essays and your interviews to increase your admission chances.
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2) Connect with the admissions office, current students and faculty members to get a realistic picture about each programme.
3) Focus on your strengths. This would be a key factor in selecting your school and also a future career
A dream come true...
| Siddhartha Pandey is a manager in the consumer packaged goods industry at Frito-Lay, Canada - PepsiCo Inc in their supply chain. |
I chose the Schulich MBA in order to acquire a global perspective, a fresh set of business skills and deeper management insights. Having worked for five years in manufacturing, following my engineering degree, I knew obtaining an MBA would help accelerate my career. I chose the Schulich School of Business in Canada for its innovative and diverse programming and its location in Toronto - one of the world's best learning environments because of its highly cosmopolitan nature and diverse population.
Schulich's numerous scholarships, fellowships and bursaries, set it apart from other schools. Having lived in one of the most under-developed states of India, I could never have imagined travelling halfway around the globe to study in one of North America's prestigious institutes. Gaining admission to Schulich was a dream come true and receiving the International Student Fellowship award, lessened the financial burden. It's innovative courses, international faculty and diverse student body prepared me for a competitive, fast-paced corporate environment in a global multinational like PepsiCo.
Schulich's MBA and International MBA graduates are recruited by leading companies from around the world, representing a wide range of industries and sectors. Schulich works closely with students and corporate stakeholders through their state-of-the-art Career Development Centre and through partnerships with recruiters. The proof is in the results - over 92 per cent of Schulich graduates obtain employment within 90 days of graduation.
Schulich's numerous scholarships, fellowships and bursaries, set it apart from other schools. Having lived in one of the most under-developed states of India, I could never have imagined travelling halfway around the globe to study in one of North America's prestigious institutes. Gaining admission to Schulich was a dream come true and receiving the International Student Fellowship award, lessened the financial burden. It's innovative courses, international faculty and diverse student body prepared me for a competitive, fast-paced corporate environment in a global multinational like PepsiCo.
Schulich's MBA and International MBA graduates are recruited by leading companies from around the world, representing a wide range of industries and sectors. Schulich works closely with students and corporate stakeholders through their state-of-the-art Career Development Centre and through partnerships with recruiters. The proof is in the results - over 92 per cent of Schulich graduates obtain employment within 90 days of graduation.
Nurturing entrepreneurs
| Sushee Perumal has a short-haul charter airline service business. |
When Sushee Perumal came to Canada's Queen's School of Business, he had an engineering degree, a commercial pilot's license, and the dauntless spirit of an entrepreneur. Just one year later, the 29-year-old also has a promising new business - a short-haul charter airline service - poised for take-off, with $60,000 in investors' support under its wings.
Perumal was in the right place to bring his dream to life. Queen's MBA is an intense 12-month programme, an experience he likens to 'drinking water from a fire hydrant'. The comprehensive curriculum, particularly the 'Managing New Ventures' course, helped the young entrepreneur hone a viable business plan for his brainchild.
The proof - Perumal earned $10,000 in the MBA programme's New Ventures Project competition, $50,000 in Kingston's First Capital Challenge (a competition for local entrepreneurs), and an internship in the Queen's School of Business 'Dare to Dream' programme.
The Dare to Dream Internship provides recipients with financial backing, business contacts and faculty advice as they launch their business ventures.
Perumal was in the right place to bring his dream to life. Queen's MBA is an intense 12-month programme, an experience he likens to 'drinking water from a fire hydrant'. The comprehensive curriculum, particularly the 'Managing New Ventures' course, helped the young entrepreneur hone a viable business plan for his brainchild.
The proof - Perumal earned $10,000 in the MBA programme's New Ventures Project competition, $50,000 in Kingston's First Capital Challenge (a competition for local entrepreneurs), and an internship in the Queen's School of Business 'Dare to Dream' programme.
The Dare to Dream Internship provides recipients with financial backing, business contacts and faculty advice as they launch their business ventures.
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