Previous Occupation: Strategy Business Development Manager at Nokia Siemens Networks
Present Occupation: Head of Marketing and Communications, India region at Nokia Siemens Networks
Sector: Telecom
Work Experience: 10 years
Interests – professional/personal: Painting and graphic designing, reading business journals and meeting new people

Tell us about yourself – your profile, recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression
In the last decade, I have had the unique opportunity to work across a variety of roles and functions, primarily in the telecom industry. I started out as one of the few women network engineers on the field (sometimes even climbed telecom towers!) and gradually moved into architecting pre-sales and techno-commercial solutions for companies such as Siemens and Nortel Networks and engaging with almost all telecom operators in India.

Post ISB, my career fast-tracked. I spent time doing sales at Cisco, then took up a strategy and business development role at Nokia Siemens Networks. Since January 2010, I have been heading Marketing and Communications for India at Nokia Siemens Networks. I am also fortunate to have been part of two exciting start-up firms till date and I believe it is my entrepreneurial spirit that keeps me going in both in my professional and personal life.

Describe your fondest memory at ISB
My three-month exchange programme at Kellogg! It turned out to be one of the best things I’ve chosen for myself till date! I also got to study (and party) with some great professors, work on some world-class projects, learn a whole new culture and make wonderful friends. I can say that if ISB has given me a whole new perspective of looking at life and work, my spring semester at Kellogg has added a special color to that outlook!

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?
Firstly, I am glad I did not focus too much on grades (though luckily, they were just enough for me to qualify for the ISB Torchbearer Award!). Instead, I spent my time only on the subjects I genuinely enjoyed. This proved to be a healthy, stress-free approach that helped me balance my time better and also develop an area of expertise. On the flip side though, I honestly think I should have paid more attention to the finance classes, even though they weren’t on my love list. I still find myself referring to the finance notes from school! With some experience, I have learnt that it is not enough to be a “jack of all trades” OR a “master of one” – you need to be a “master of some” and a “jack of all”!

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?
Yes, indeed, I see two big changes post ISB.
One – Balance. I think I have learnt how to value time and juggle work-life balance much better. The experiences at ISB have redefined the meaning of success for me – Now, I define success as “a little bit of everything” and make an effort to strike a personal and professional balance in life, with enough time, where I do nothing!

Two – Simplification. I have gone back to the basics in my thinking approach. I am not shy of asking obvious questions like “why, what and how” to myself and others before evaluating any ideas, decisions or opinions. And I have found that sometimes, these are the most difficult questions to answer! A constant quest for simplification is definitely one of my post-ISB behaviours!

ISB has also made me realise that there is an ocean of genius around that is constantly shaping me and the fact that I need to be aware of and ready to evolve from these influences.

How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
ISB education has been more than just a degree for me. It was an experience that taught me how to take charge of my career. A degree on paper might fade away with time, but the personal and professional personality that ISB has lent me, will surely enable my career to reach new heights. Learning with the best minds and the diverse mix of talents at ISB has made me a more well-rounded, dynamic and mature professional – which are some of the important soft-skills valued at the leadership level in the corporate world. Currently, I am one of the 20 leadership team members of our 15000-strong organisation, and I find  that I am using my experience and lessons from ISB in my role on a daily basis – be it for the marketing and communications function I own, or for company-level matters. Thank you ISB!

If you have to sum up ISB in one word
Definitive

What are the areas that you can contribute in to ISB?
Every alum I know is a proud one and I think he/she lives the brand of ISB and exudes its values every day. That's the simplest role that alums play in building the School. Of course, there are more engaging channels which I believe alums should partake in - alumni referral programmes, admissions support, information sessions, CV guidance, mock-placement preparations, etc. The ultimate contribution, I believe, is in becoming recruiters of ISB graduates. I have been actively working with CAS to explore opportunities for ISB students in my current organisation and my team as well. NSN has many ISB alums now, and one of them has just joined my team!

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