'I Have Always Tried Doing Things Away From The Ordinary' - Isha Chhabria - Best 50 - Class of 2016

I am Isha Chhabria, a 2nd-year student at IIM Kozhikode pursuing PGDM. I believe I should be considered for being one of the top 50 profiles from the batch of 2016 because I have always tried doing things away from the ordinary in order to gain varied experiences in life. A 2010 Economics graduate from Lady Shri Ram College, I worked with Nomura’s Listed Derivatives team post college for 2 years. However in 2012, I decided to head back home, take a break and be involved in something different. I ended up volunteering as a tutor in a blind school for girls in my hometown. I taught the girls English and often recorded course materials on tape for their convenience. A year later, I came across an extremely risky yet fascinating opportunity. Although initially a little sceptic of seizing the opportunity, I ultimately did and became a Founding Member of a socio-political organization by the name Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG). The organization played a pivotal role in the Lok Sabha campaign of Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India through electoral analytics, social media and voter engagement. That one year in CAG not only pushed me to my limits but also gave me a once in a lifetime experience, one I will cherish for years to come!

I like experimenting to keep my excitement quotient up. Having said this, I have never compromised on my studies and my journey on the career path I envision for myself. I interned with Deloitte this summer where I was awarded the Applause Award for outstanding work (awarded to 6 out of 29 interns) which culminated in a pre-placement offer. While I am still an eligible candidate seeking a job post MBA, I am sure the adventurous side of me will always make certain that I involve myself in wide-ranging things every now and then. I believe this is what makes me unique!

What have you done at your Post-Grad/Business School/Undergrad level that makes you stand out from the crowd?

I feel my involvement in various different kinds of societies and activities helps me stand out from the crowd in general. As already mentioned, I was a part of various societies in college such as the Economics Journal Editorial Committee, AIESEC in Delhi University, HIVE and the Placements Committee. Further, I was also involved in social awareness through NAZ and CRY Yuva.
In IIM K, I am involved with the Women in Management chapter which is bring forward pertinent issues being faced by women in the field of management through talks and interactive sessions.

What have you done in your life that you are the proudest of?

I think I am most proud of the fact that I dared to enter in a very different domain such a politics at the age of 23 and worked tirelessly in a field I had no experience of. I was a Founding Member of Citizens for Accountable Governance and was deeply involved in the campaign management of Shri Narendra Modi’s 2014 election campaign. As a part of the team, we worked on analytics reports which were used for locality canvassing and to stalk out village/town level strategies. We also successfully organized events such as Chai pe Charcha and the 3D Rallies. When I look back and realize that I had a part to play in that historic win, it gives me a sense of pride. Working in that fast paced, complex environment was an experience of a lifetime.

Meet the rest of India’s 50 Most Employable Management Graduates from the Class of 2016 here.