Previous Occupation: Marketing Manager, Airtel digital TV, Bharti Airtel Ltd
Present Occupation: Senior Manager (Commercial & Business Planning), Vodafone Global Enterprise (VGE), Vodafone Essar Ltd
Sector: Telecommunications; Media & Entertainment
Work Experience: 8 years
Interests – Professional/Personal: I am an avid reader and love reading management books as it provides a good insight on successful paths taken by others and also lessons from their mistakes. Other than that, I am a good cook and make some awesome onion, capsicum, cheese omelettes, which I learnt at ISB.

Tell us about yourself – your profile, recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression
I pursued Chemical Engineering at Panjab University, Chandigarh before graduating from ISB in 2007 with majors in strategic marketing and entrepreneurship.

Post ISB, I worked for a four years in the telecom sector with the two giants – Vodafone Essar and Bharti Airtel, Currently, I am working with Vodafone Essar Ltd in their corporate office in Mumbai, handling the commercial and business planning function nationally in the Vodafone Global Enterprise (VGE) India team. The VGE business unit provides end-to-end telecom solutions to fortune 500 customers across the globe. Prior to Vodafone, I was spearheading the launch of Airtel digital TV, the Direct-to-home (DTH) arm of Bharti Airtel. I joined Bharti Airtel from campus in May 2007 and was a lateral recruit in the “Young Leader” programme of Bharti Airtel.

Key take-away from the ISB?
Biggest takeaway from ISB has been my ever-growing network of 3000+ alumni, working in the best organisations across the world and my lifetime access to globally-renowned faculty mentoring me as I walk up the corporate ladder.

How do you think the ISB has contributed to your career growth?
ISB has been the single biggest contributing factor to my successful career till date. The School has exposed me to marketing & financial fundamentals and global sales & marketing best practices by professors who are living legends in their respective domains. I have been fortunate to be a part of an elite group of smart, motivated and successful individuals, and cherish their life-long friendship and professional association.

What is your vision for the School?
My vision is for the School to not only prepare future leaders for the corporate world but also future politicians, bureaucrats and social entrepreneurs.

What are the strengths that the School can leverage upon and areas it can improve ?
The School can and should leverage two of its biggest assets – the alumni community and faculty – to initiate research-driven solutions for the operational and strategic challenges faced by the managers and economies of today. This would be a win-win proposition for the School, alumni, faculty and the society as a whole.

How do you think alums can associate with the School or alum’s role in building the School ?
I strongly believe that to a large extent, alums owe their professional and personal success to the School and therefore should leave no stone unturned to support ISB in whatever little way they can. They can give inputs on the curriculum, assist students with placements, internships or special projects in their organisations, and help the school get the best incoming talent by being brand ambassadors of ISB.

What is the area you can contribute in?
I have been actively involved in all the School-driven activities, be it interviewing candidates for the incoming class, presenting knowledge sessions on telecom for the students, or assisting and guiding students in placements. I will continue to give back to the School in whatever little way I can through these small acts.

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