Equinox 2012: The Annual Alumni Learning and Networking Event
October 20-21, 2012
Mohali
Morningstar Investment Conference
November 1-2, 2012
Mumbai
ISB Digital Summit 2012
November 9-10, 2012
Hyderabad
Anand Arvind from PGPMAX Class of 2010 is Vice President of Products at ManageMySpa where he is responsible for the product strategy and product development. Prior to this, Anand was VP, Engineering at SumTotal where he led a global development team building talent management applications used by many Fortune 500 companies, and used by more than 20 million end users. Arvind spoke to ISB Canvas about his stint here at the ISB and about how he is applying his learning from the programme.
What did you give up to be here? Was it a difficult decision?
Mine was an extreme case where I gave up my job to be at ISB. After working for over 15 years I did not see how I could manage ISB, work and family and do justice to all three through the program. I wanted to spend some time outside work to figure out what to do next, and it was worth it. While mine was an exception, many of my classmates managed the balancing act effectively through the PGPMAX programme.
Have the lessons helped you in your personal life as well as your professional life?
The programme and courses at ISB helped in approaching any problem in a very structured fashion, and on the personal front my wife says my negotiation skills have improved after the programme, enough said!
Can you recount any business decision that you made differently due to applying lessons learned at ISB?
I work in a start-up and am faced with challenges in different disciplines every day of the week – creating a product, determining how to offer it, pricing the product, and adjusting based on customer feedback, etc. The one thing I remember from all my pricing classes at ISB, was to go against the natural tendency to decrease price, but hold price or increase when you have a compelling value to provide.
What was your favourite moment here at ISB?
It is very difficult to identify one defining moment that was my favourite, as the whole programme was a great experience, and I looked forward to the terms at ISB.
Family’s support is extremely important for professional success. What are your thoughts on this? Who supported you in your decision?
Support of the family is critical to spend focused time at ISB and at work. You do not get time to do anything else but focus on classes when at ISB, and this is very apparent by the middle of the first term. My wife took care of everything at home while working on a full-time job, and I was fortunate enough that nobody at home got sick during my ISB terms.
If you were transported back to your old job in a time machine – what would you do differently because of your stint here?
I would have done this a few years ago as it does change how you approach solutions to problems.
Do you have any advice for future students?
You will only learn what you are willing to spend on the programme. You will also meet some amazing teachers, realise how little you know, how much there is to learn, and meet a set of classmates from very diverse backgrounds who will challenge you every step of the way, and become friends for life. So if you feel these are things you want to experience, consider the programme.