Previous Occupation: Marine Superintendent, International Andromeda Shipping, Monaco.
Present Occupation: CEO and Director, IMS Ship Management Pvt. Ltd.
Sector: Shipping, Dredging and Infrastructure, Marine Consulting
Work Experience: 16 years
Interests – Professional/Personal: Performance Motorcycles, Basketball and Squash

Tell us about yourself - your profile, recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression.
I am a professionally qualified Master Mariner with almost 13 years of pre-MBA work experience. After being in command of Ice Class vessels (ships that have a strengthened hull to enable them to navigate through sea ice) operating in polar latitudes, I worked as a marine superintendent inspecting and training officers on ice vessel operations. After having spent so many years facing the rolling and pitching of the seas, I decided to pursue an MBA with the objective of moving to the management cadre in a shore-based job. I wanted to continue in the shipping industry and hence focused my efforts at ISB accordingly.

Post ISB, I did not accept any offer from the Campus since they were not aligned to my desired career path. After due consideration, I joined as the COO of a Mumbai-based marine management company. Given the small scale and the family ownership structure, assessing the business structure and operations was not very difficult and I could identify the shortfalls in the company procedures. However, it took me some time to incorporate corrective measures and I continue to do so even today.

From a sea-faring world, I was suddenly catapulted into a corporate world with negotiations, strategy meetings, capital raising, budgeting, bidding, shutting down subsidiaries and floating new companies etc. The journey so far has been challenging but exhilarating, allowing me no time to exult in my achievements. My focus is to grow the organization and take it to the next level. I have managed to introduce an ESOP plan, which has ensured the alignment of individual goals with organizational goals. A satisfying outcome of running the company has been the ability to return to my alma mater to recruit for my company. Today, I function as the CEO and director of the company and along with my colleagues look forward to building a lasting business grounded in fair practices and highest work ethic with quality service offering.

How do you think the ISB has contributed to your career growth?
ISB has laid the foundation for developing my business acumen. With its students from different professional and educational background, I experienced a mini organization and its different functional units. I learnt a lot from interacting with students and professors by understanding their perspectives. I interacted with many people and tried to be a good listener by showing genuine interest in them. This has helped to broaden my horizon and build a strong professional and personal network. Being in ISB is a humbling experience – while the knowledge, expertise and achievement around you might make you feel diminutive, it also inspires you to strive for more.

The lessons from Professor Dishan Kamdar were very useful. Negotiation skills are very important in business and are also very difficult to master.

The grueling and diverse academic structure at ISB, prepared me to take on the challenge of working anywhere, even in areas that were not interesting. This has stood me in good stead. I have learnt that interest areas can change but the work entrusted to you or created by you depends on the evolving business situation. This will compel you to delve into work areas, towards which you may not be inclined or may not be your specialization but if you apply yourself, you will find that everything can be interesting.

ISB allowed me to move from being a functional specialist to being a businessman. This move was not simply a lateral move but a move into the top management level and ownership of a business house. I am currently involved in business decision making with clearly defined top line and bottom line responsibility, defining the strategy of the company and deciding which businesses to develop etc.

What is your vision for the School?
I see ISB as a premier business school with world class faculty and infrastructure. I want the School to be seen as a fertile ground for budding entrepreneurs. ISB should become the standard against which all B-schools are measured!

What are the strengths that the School can leverage upon and areas it can improve ?
The biggest strength for the ISB is the alumni network, which can be leveraged to secure access not only for placements but for knowledge sharing etc. The close association with Kellogg, Wharton and LBS should be leveraged to access world class faculty, cutting edge syllabus etc. Although the infrastructure is world class, it comes under pressure as the class size increases and it is imperative to maintain standards. ISB must make efforts to keep the alumni involved. It would be very beneficial if the alumni could remotely access the LRC. I have always felt the need for this facility. The IT – Center of Excellence, could handle this as a project.

How do you think alums can associate with the School or alum’s role in building the School
We all have experienced this situation - where students are initially quite certain about their focus areas but mid way through the program, they are less certain and finally during placement time, the market situation and dynamics take over adding to the uncertainty. The alumni should counsel the students and direct them so they don’t lose their focus.

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