A Dream To Run Companies Ushered A Govt Employee To Be An IIM Student

“If you are so hooked on a dream, the dream will never let you sit Idle.”

My IIM story started in the third year of my undergrad in Automobile Engineering when we were asked in a CAT boot-up camp, “Do you know who runs most companies? It’s the MBA grads from premium B -schools of India, the IIMs.” This got stuck in my head, becoming the one key reason I couldn't get the Idea of the IIM experience off my head.

My father died when I was ten, and my mother raised me. So, when I got my job as a clerk in Kerala’s labor and skills department after graduation, I decided to start working and prepare for CAT simultaneously. It was always challenging managing both. Nobody around me expected me to do it except a couple of people. That was the job that financially supported me in my journey forward. At the same time, it allowed me to help my dreams financially.

I planned to continue the job for two years and then join an MBA. But a half-hearted preparation was taking me nowhere. And I failed in CAT in my first two attempts.

Then I stopped preparing altogether. I’d still register for CAT and write it. In the meantime, I got promoted to Assistant Manager in the department. I was comfortable, but as I told you before, I was hooked on the dream, and the sunk cost fallacy was kicking in. Then I understood it’s now or never. I know I won’t grow beyond a point in that setting, and I couldn’t allow myself to ‘Not take a good shot at it.’

I found my mentor in Mr. Renjith Joshua, a serial 100 percentile in CAT. She helped me throughout my preparation. My CAT percentile was in the 85 range. So I had to prepare well for the interview. I researched thoroughly on each college and found out where I fit. I got offers from many premium B-schools, including new IIMs. I confirmed IIM Nagpur based on various factors, including placements, infrastructure, culture, etc.

Coming back to academics after nearly five years of work experience, I was curious about how I would perform. Schedules were hectic, and deadlines were sacrosanct. But I understood that the better you try, the sooner you will be rewarded. An MBA is a marathon and not a sprint. Starting your MBA journey at 27 or 28 is ok; your experience will add to your advantage. I dreamt of IIM at 21 and got into one at 27, and that’s my long story short. Below are some things that I found on my journey to IIM Nagpur -

●      It’s never late to start over and achieve something you want to!

●      You should be able to support yourself and your dreams financially.

●      Hardest thing to do in life is to leave your comfort zone for your calling; once you’ve done it, you have won it.

●      Not everybody will understand your plans, so let them wonder and prove them in action.

●      Reaching your goal is not enough. Sustaining it takes great effort as well.

Good luck to all those who keep on trying to reach their goal.

Mithlaj Manzoor is a PGP-1 student of IIM Nagpur and an executive member of the Readers' SIG. He is an Automobile engineering graduate from the University of Kerala. He worked for the Government of Kerala for 52 months in various roles. He has a diverse experience in audits, project management etc. He looks forward to graduate in 2024 and pursuing an career in the strategy and consulting domain.