Tell us a little bit about yourself and your professional life after the ISB?

I graduated from REC Trichy in May 1996 as the best outgoing student of the Electrical & Electronics Engineering department. My interest in computers and the vast opportunities in the IT industry, prompted me to take up a campus job as Systems Programmer in Siemens Communication Software, Bangalore. In order to enrich myself with international exposure and consulting experience, I moved to the US in July 2000 and joined Cysive, a company specialising in building e-Commerce systems. In Cysive, I got the opportunity to work closely with customers from different industries and learn about their business processes.

I had close to five and half years of experience in the IT industry and this had helped my sales team in their efforts to win new businesses. I was able to successfully establish myself as a Technical Leader. In recent years, I wanted to move away from software development and transition towards business development and management. And also I was keen on returning to India and pursuing business education. Luckily for me, ISB started just then. Closely following news about the ISB, I was convinced that the ISB was the only institution in India providing management education on the lines of top business schools in the US, giving importance to work experience.

I believed that the ISB was equipped with world-class faculty, well thought out curricula readily applicable to the real world, active corporate involvement and diverse student background, which would provide me with the right environment to pursue my business education.

Can you share with us your experience of being at the ISB as a couple?

Yes, that was the unique thing about us. Prakash and I studied in the ISB together – we were the first couple to do that. The ISB being an intense one year programme, having a spouse pursuing the same programme helped a great deal. There was constant encouragement and an understanding of the hard work involved. In a way, the ISB experience as a couple was a great way to discuss concepts, share and learn together as a team

Tell us about your life at the ISB.

The ISB experience was enriching in every way. Best part of the ISB is the faculty. Global faculty teaching cutting-edge research was stimulating. It is a once in a life time opportunity to be associated with such thought leaders. Apart from that, the biggest learning was from my peer group. We had people from varied backgrounds – from IIT gold medallists, to IAS officers, to doctors and CA toppers. I was humbled in front of such achievers.

Our batch, being small, was very easy to connect with. Being just the second batch at the ISB, , we were responsible for shaping some of the policies and the School us gave complete freedom to participate and be involved in such activities. This culture of having the key stakeholders – i.e. students and alums, involved, still continues and this is a big strength and equally an asset of the School.

As an alum, what do you think is an area you can contribute in?

I try to contribute in whichever way I can. Post-ISB, I have been with Cognizant for 6+ years and am usually involved in any interaction between my organisation and the School, be it recruitment or discussion on executive education etc. Several current year students usually get in touch with me to coach them regarding IT roles available or provide inputs about their resumes or coach them for interviews. Several prospective students too approach me to help in regards to admission at the ISB. I am a regular participant of the Chennai Chapter for the ISB information sessions and also ensure that I participate in the School admission interviews.