Previous Occupation: Branch Manager, Weber Shandwick
Present Occupation: Head, University Branding and Relations, Amazon
Sector: E-commerce
Work Experience: 8 years
Interests – Professional/ Personal:
Professional: My interests lie in Training and Development and Internal Consulting.

Personal: I a motor sports freak and one of the few certified Marshals for Formula 1 from India. I am also into theatre and spend my time arranging or attending various workshops. I have a degree in audio production, and playing with sounds is a hobby.

Can you tell us a little about your family background/ history?
I was brought up in the beautiful terrain of the Northeast as my father, who is a retired PSU professional, was posted there. My mother is a housewife and I come from a Bengali family for whom and laughter is the most important thing for sustenance.

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards/ special projects).
Professionally, I have seen more failures than successes. Though successes have come few and far between, I have been fortunate enough to be recognised at various levels for my contributions to my organisation. Some of these are:

• Cannes Award (Public Service category) for managing the public service campaign to spread awareness on the use of condoms in rural India.
• GSK Global Award on leading and executing a 75-city campaign on Women Health for Mother Horlicks.
• International Award for my contribution towards an industry-academia initiative through Honeywell Noble Laureate Campaign in five countries.
• Star Employee of the year in Southeast Asia for two consecutive years.

On a personal note, I was among the first and the few from India to be certified as an official Marshal for Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix.

Apart from that, I am active in the theatre circuit in Kolkata and have been involved in various post-production activities in alternative Bengali movies.

Tell us about your profile pre-ISB, and recap your professional life after ISB, including your career progression.
Before I came to ISB, I was a marketing consultant managing a branch for the International Public Group. My role was primarily managing business development (BD) and operations of my branch in Bangalore as well as training and development of key resources. However, I wanted to have an overall view of business, and hence, felt the need to do an MBA. I have been fortunate enough to shift roles and functions in my career post-ISB and move on to a senior national role focused on academia relations and development.

Describe your fondest memory of ISB.
There are too many to list. Graduation day remains the fondest. I was the Director, Career Academic Council for Co2013, and had the challenge of managing the first-ever integrated placement across two campuses. As a class, we had faced quite a challenging time in all respects; however, graduation day made me realise how hard we had toiled and that we had ultimately succeeded in pulling through the year in a united and dignified manner, upholding the philosophy and vision of our school in the truest sense.

In your personal life, how have you changed post-ISB? Do you see yourself doing something differently because you went to ISB? What has left a lasting impression?
My perspectives have changed. I have learned to view things from the other side. The ability to not be surprised by whatever is thrown at you and empathising with others’ problems are some lessons I have learnt here.

How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
The shift in function at my level would not have been possible without my learnings at ISB. My softer skills have improved and I’ve networked more than ever. The sheer opportunity to be able to meet and interact with so many individuals during that year was a learning that has been second to none.

If you have to sum up ISB in one word: 
Eye-opener

What was the main highlight of your programme at the ISB?
Peer support. The year at ISB is a tough one. It is very easy to get lost in the mêlée. It is difficult to pull through without your friends and peers supporting you all the time. You might not make 200 friends, but you will make at least 20 friends for life. Despite the competitiveness, ISB remains a community that is well knit and is always eager to share and help, which is the key to success when you are away from your dear ones.

Word of advice for the current class?
Do not think of ISB as a one-year stepping stone to your dream job. Rather, focus on bringing out the best in you. It is an ideal place to discover yourself. You would be surprised at what you can achieve which you had thought impossible before coming here. One needs to relax and enjoy the work at hand. Results will automatically follow.

What was your favourite course/ class at ISB and why?
Investment Analysis by Professor Omesh Kini. He made a non-finance person like myself evaluate M&As and made me an expert in investments.

Was there anyone during your time at ISB who acted as a mentor for you? Tell us a little about this relationship and why it was valuable.
Not anyone in particular. I had a group of friends who were my best critics and kept me grounded. However, I would like to mention my family who always supported me during tough times.

What are the areas in which you can contribute to ISB?
Having been a student leader and office holder, I would like to continue to contribute to the school in the areas of mentoring, career guidance, admissions and recruitment.

© 2013 Indian School of Business, Disclaimer.