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Abhishek Chandra
Class of 2008
Founder - Eduwiser publishing group, Srijan classes and Srijan Education
Present Occupation: Founder - Eduwiser publishing group, Srijan classes and Srijan Education
Sector: Publishing, education, media
Work Experience: 4.5 years after ISB, 6 years in all
Interests – Professional/Personal: Professional: Writing novels, educational books, articles for different websites/magazines on various topics, entrepreneurship
Personal: Travelling, playing squash
Can you tell us a little about your family background/history?
My wife is a graduate in biochemistry and an MBA. She used to work in a pharmaceutical company handling the entire corporate marketing. Now, she helps me at Eduwiser.
My father is one of the best mathematicians in India and almost everyone who is into education knows him. He has authored more than 30 books in mathematics. He is a professor at Patna University.
My mother is a homemaker.
My elder brother is a graduate from IIT Kanpur and is currently a partner at my firms mentioned above. My younger brother is a graduate from Manipal Institute of Technology and is currently working with Wipro.
My father’s profile and my elder brother’s admission into an IIT had left me with no option but to qualify for IIT’s joint entrance examination.
Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards\special projects)
I have remained among the toppers in school and was ranked 3rd in my state in my Higher Secondary Examination. At IIT Roorkee, I received merit scholarship, won 1st prize at concept car design contest, captained my squash team to a gold medal win and cricket team to silver medal win in annual sports tournaments, won silver medal in carom and more.
While at Larsen & Toubro Limited, I had conceptualised and designed two structures for the defence sector that were first of their kinds in the world. I was rated the topmost performer among my peers and was selected into the management leadership program of the company within nine months of my employment. I also delivered presentations on work done by a senior colleague (who was absent due to unavoidable circumstances) and helped L&T bag a MOU of USD 20 million.
I was in the Dean’s merit list (core terms) at ISB.
I have already set-up three firms each of which are running successfully. I have also authored best-selling books in Mathematics for IIT-JEE aspirants and have recently co-authored a fiction title called Emoticons – Short Stories on Emotions.
Tell us about your profile pre ISB, and recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression?
I was a mechanical engineering graduate from IIT Roorkee. After my graduation, I joined Larsen & Toubro Limited as a graduate engineer trainee and was soon made project leader. I was also managing an educational training institute in Delhi since the time I started my course at IIT. I had already written a book in Mathematics for IIT-JEE aspirants by then. I had also started earning money by doing freelance projects.
After ISB, I joined Oliver Wyman in their Dubai office as a management consultant. After working there for about six months, I started my publishing firm called Eduwiser publishing group. Since then, I have started two other firms in the educational sector. All three firms are doing great with Eduwiser considered one of the highest quality brands in the market. I have also co-authored two other books in the educational sector and another one in the fiction category.
Describe your fondest memory at ISB?
Drinking beer all night long in the garden sometimes with my fiancé and at other times, with a girl (who was 4 years my senior at IIT but my class-mate at ISB), and talking about everything under the sun!
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?After ISB, I have always had a structured way of thinking and this has helped me a lot. I was also an introvert and did not mingle with people easily but ISB has changed me for the better. However, my structured approach even in personal matters often irritates my family members.
How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
It has equipped me with everything I was missing, in order to take up any business challenge. ISB has given me knowledge of different areas like marketing, finance, operations, HR, etc. without which I could not have set-up my ventures.
With ISB in my CV, I have an enviable brand association that has helped me in my entrepreneurial venture. Wherever I go to meet clients, the clients get impressed and treat me with respect.
If you have to sum up ISB in one word:
Mother (it has done for me whatever a mother does for her child – taught me, helped me whenever I have needed, encouraged me, instilled confidence in me, etc.)
What was the main highlight of your programme at the ISB?
One of the highest paying jobs with so little work experience (my ISB mates who had disparaged me because I was one of the youngest in my batch, received a befitting reply) and a family-like alumni network
Word of advice for the current class?
Do not ignore networking.
What was your favourite course/class at ISB and why?
Marketing strategy, primarily because of the simulation exercise in which we had to manage various products.
Was there anyone during your time at ISB who acted as a mentor for you? Tell us a little about this relationship and why it was valuable?
Ruchi Kalra of Mckinsey acted as my mentor for a month. She had come to ISB for a Mckinsey Info-session and noticed me during the presentation. She conducted my CV reviews and answered my numerous queries that helped a lot. However, it was unfortunate that Mckinsey was the only firm that did not shortlist me for interviews. Each of the rest did.
Another person was my ISB batch-mate Neha Iyengar who provided me with tips to crack consulting case interviews.
What are the areas that you can contribute in to ISB?
First could be delivering lectures on Entrepreneurship.
Second could be motivating ISB students/alumni to start-up their ventures.
Third is increasing brand awareness of ISB. This is what I am already doing by mentioning ISB’s name in my novel’s characters’ profiles.
What do you enjoy most about your current career position?
It constantly bombards me with new challenges each time stretching my envelope of capabilities, enriching my experience and making me an even better person, both professionally and personally.
What is the next new thing in the industry or vertical you are working in? Any trends that you can see?
Digitisation is the newest thing that is happening with e-book sales picking up faster than one’s expectations. We have already ventured into it.