Shubhankar Gautam Dongre
Class of 2008

Tell us a little about your family background/ history. How has it influenced you?
I had a typical middle class upbringing in Mumbai, with a very strong culture of respect and responsibility. A top class education and the will to learn through life is a primary family value. My parents spared no expense in sending me to the best of educational institutes. As a result, I did my schooling at the prestigious Bombay Scottish School, studied Engineering from VJTI, received my MBA from ISB and my Law degree from Mumbai University.

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards/ special projects)
On a personal front, I've always been a sportsperson and an artist. I've always been an integral part of my school and college's football teams, playing across India. I also played Mumbai Division football as an adult. I've enjoyed completing the celebrated Mumbai Marathons on multiple occasions. I'm also trained in Snow Boarding and am being certified as a deep sea diver.
Professionally, my most rewarding moment is now. I've co-founded and run a successful tech-venture in Commercial Real Estate called Propstack. We've recently been invested in by UK's largest media group, DMG. It's an exciting period for Propstack and we're expanding rapidly.

Tell us about your profile prior to attending ISB and recap your professional life after ISB, including your career progression
After 2.5 years of work experience, I joined ISB where, compared to my peers, I relatively inexperienced. However, my first job at Fractal Analytics (probably India's largest analytics firm today) played a huge role in my career progression. After ISB, I joined JLL in their Capital Markets team. This was the other hugely influential experience that shaped my career and brought me to where I am today.
Pre-ISB, I had Analytics experience. Post-ISB, I gained Commercial Real Estate experience. ISB bound it all together, and resulted in the founding of Propstack.

How do you think your time at ISB has contributed to your career and personal growth?
Immensely. As we progress in our careers, life becomes more about management (primarily of people). Meeting colleagues from a multitude of quality backgrounds and simply spending an entire year with them, with the ISB curriculum binding us all, has been an unparalleled experience.

What do you enjoy most about your current career position?
Passionately sharing my vision of Propstack with the world (which plays a huge role in the sale of Propstack products – I head Sales).

Briefly describe a typical day at work, in a way that illuminates the kind of challenges and opportunities your role involves.
Management is key, or else most of my day is wasted just organising what I need to do. I plan my day the evening prior, before I end the day. The next day I walk into the office and have my days note in front of me, listing tasks by priority. I make an effort to finish them ASAP – most of the administrative work anyway. That leaves the rest of the day free for contingencies and unanticipated management tasks (both internal & external), that do take up most of my time.

What is the next new thing in the industry or vertical you are working in? Are there any trends that you can identify?
I'm focusing on bringing much sought after transparency to Indian Real Estate. Everybody wants it, but no one is making it happen. At Propstack, we are. The most obvious trend is that India is going digital, at a ridiculous pace. It’s something that cannot be avoided or ignored. Propstack has also adopted a digital platform - largely out of necessity - cutting all time inefficiencies.

What was the main highlight or most memorable aspect of your programme at the ISB? –
The carefully handpicked, high quality peers (students).

If you could offer a word of advice to the current class at ISB, what would it be?
Make a plan. Think long term. Avoid short term fixes. Plan for what really makes you happy.

How do you feel you can contribute to ISB?
It makes me very proud. It's a big deal for me. ISB is a presitigious institution and to be able to contribute, even in the most minuscule measure, would be heartwarming – a feeling I may not be able to express in words.