Previous Occupation: Strategy and Planning (VISPL), Vodafone group.
Present Occupation: Programme Manager, Ariba International, Singapore.
Sector: Telecomm, IT
Work Experience: Six and a half years
Interests - Professional/Personal: I have been actively involved with some of the self-help/NGOs who look after the development of visually impaired people. A sport has been a passion and I like to catch up with basket ball and volley ball whenever I get time.

Tell us about yourself – your profile, recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression.
MBA from the ISB was a turning point in life. ISB as a brand helped me get good roles within the organisation. In two years I was able to get 2 promotions and was able to move across different functions and also got an opportunity to work with CEOs, CFOs, CIOs for different assignments. More responsibility was given and what I learned from professors and colleagues helped me in good stead to deliver the same. I have worked in diverse roles ranging from corporate strategy, business transformation, supply chain, marketing, programme management

Describe your fondest memory at ISB.
There are so many.  I loved my quad “SV2-A1” room, where people hardly entered by the door they always came through the window. Even when people saw the light switched off they would knock and say “Dude you are awake na”. The best part was the marketing strategy game where whatever you did your product failed, but I thoroughly enjoyed with my study group, we worked as a team and took all the blame and success as a team.  Everybody in cupar as completely engrossed in the game. My study group had four people who differed on every single item, but I think overall we did good and learnt a lot on how to work under difficult situations.

With the knowledge and experience gained at ISB, when looking back, tell us something that you would have done differently while you were a student here?
I think my focus started to shift towards job search mid way through and there is a lot of time and energy which went into it. There were many resume copies and I think I kind of applied to all types of roles and organisations. I think one has to be very choosy about jobs and companies rather than getting a job and changing it later. It is advisable to choose the company and role of your interest. It saves a lot of time to concentrate on the courses. It is difficult to get that kind of learning platform once you are into a job again.

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?
In ISB you get an opportunity to interact with people from different fields having different strengths and most importantly are from different age groups. So when you take a senior position in the company or work closely with the CXOs you are very comfortable and confident. The one year at ISB was really rigorous and I think after meeting those tight deadlines and diverse subjects nothing is difficult.

How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
The ISB brand is recognised in the corporate world and that helps you get good roles and assignment. And of course the learnings you have received from ISB help you stand up to those challenges.

If you have to sum up ISB in one word: A blend of refined experiences

What are the areas that you can contribute in to ISB?
I think alumns need to work on brand visibility and make ISB a truly global brand. As I am located in Singapore travel to a lot of Asian countries, I can represent ISB in global forums, b-school events. Also would like to remain connected to ISB through “ISB mentor program”.

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