For Hiba Khan, Manish Kumar, and Shantanu Shivam, the choice of doing an MBA came in naturally when they became sure of their interest areas. And, at IMT Ghaziabad, they got a multitude of opportunities to choose from. From getting acquainted with the skills that would require in the future of workplaces to understanding the world of corporates better through relevant internship experiences, these students are now en-route to joining their dream companies out of B-school. Read the excerpts of the interview here:
Hiba Khan,
MBA, Marketing @ IMT G
Q) From a B.Tech to opting for marketing at IMT Ghaziabad. Did your Business management minor in engineering days play any role in your decision? How has been the experience with IMT G?
Technology is an inseparable vehicle in all parts of life. Having a curiosity for it, I pursued my BTech in Computer and Communications. I wanted to build my technical skills via the degree, and worked on holistic development by joining the psychology club, debating, and organizing events. Having a knack for communication and people skills, I decided to take up a minor in Business Management to check whether I am cut out for that. Surely, the courses piqued my interest in learning more, and that helped finalize my decision of pursuing an MBA.
IMT G has been an exciting journey so far. It helped me learn and grow in many ways- from experienced professors, peers with diverse backgrounds, competitions, and being a placement committee member learning never stopped.
Q.) You were the Campus winner of the Titan Elevate challenge and have interned with companies like Bajaj Auto from campus. How has this experience overall added marketing skills and helped you be ready for future endeavors?
Participating in B-school competitions is an integral part of your MBA life. Through them, I was able to apply my theoretical classroom learnings to the real-world problems of industries. Not only that, it helped my competitive nature, find a stage and learn from the unique ideas other teams put forward. Titan Elevate was an exciting challenge of creating an employer branding strategy for Gen Z. This set about a great journey of exploring the customers of the future, that most of us will want to connect with, in the coming years, and finding solutions that are both desirable and feasible.
During my internship with Bajaj Auto, I was given the space to implement innovative solutions and networks across the organization. In the first week, my mentor told me: “I want you to fail and learn”, and I believe that was my biggest gain- a better understanding of myself and what kind of organizations I want to be associated with in the future.
Q.) You are a believer or critical and creative thinking. Do you think marketing provides you with both and how would you leverage your experience with IMT G in honing this further?
You hear that critical and creative thinking are functions of two different sides of the brain, but often both need to co-exist. Marketing is a great example of this symbiosis of thought. At first, I considered marketing to be 'in the right place at the right time for the right person. But at IMT I learned that all of that is just one concept: 4Ps. Marketing is a very complex discipline tapping into the design, innovation, psychology, research, and strategy. IMT G has carefully designed courses to help us navigate through these topics using case studies and introspective discussions. Guest lectures from industry leaders help gain unparalleled insights and inspiration. Best said by one of my professors at IMT G: “Management is both an art and science; MBA teaches you the science part.
Manish Kumar,
PGDM in BFS @ IMT G
Q.) Why did you choose to take up BFS as your specialization from IMT G?
Because of the huge scope of growth and steep learning curve in this field. With my interest in Fintech coupled with my technical background, Banking and Finance came as a natural choice. Like other industries, firms, and their professionals, the financial sector has also evolved its practices and processes to best serve its customers.
In this scenario, the role of a competent and experienced tech workforce with good business acumen becomes very important. Bill Gates once said, “Banking is necessary, banks are not” and this argument is not far from turning into reality. Techies will have a major role to play in this Technology-driven transformation of financial services and thus my decision to pursue the BFS course from IMT G.
Q.) The banking and finance industry is undergoing a sea change in the digital world that we are living in today. How effective do you think is the BFS program at IMT G, that can prepare the future leaders of tomorrow?
PGDM in BFS program offered by IMT is exclusively tailored for creating professionals who are industry-ready and can very well be regarded as the reference training program in India. The banking and financial services industry is going through unprecedented change, and digitization is here to stay. Moreover, supervision and quality standards have increased, and sustainability has become the cornerstone in any strategic decision. This gives rise to new risks and opportunities. All these issues are extensively addressed in the program.
The curriculum is designed in such a way that lays the foundation of essentials and fundamentals on banking and finance that professionals need and is followed by a deep dive into digital transformation. The BFS program trains and prepares students in such a way that they learn, imbibe and internalize these qualities and emerge as the leader of the future.
Q.) You have interned with Credit Suisse as part of your BFS program. What were some of the major learning and how do you see yourself shaping after the course?
I interned at Credit Suisse in the Credit risk department and the mode of the internship was virtual in nature. Credit Suisse Group is a leading financial services company, advising clients in all aspects of finance, across the globe and around the clock. Initially, I was really concerned and apprehensive due to its virtual nature.
But, I couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling experience both in terms of learning and support. The HR team made sure that the experience was really smooth. Moreover, the internship projects were designed in such a way that ensured I get sufficient exposure to tools and databases so that the final deliverable is not just some theoretical paper but something that has some tangible value for the firm. Despite the long working hours, my teammates were always very supportive and always devoted extra hours from their otherwise busy to help me with my queries. This motivated me to work with more diligence. I learned about credit risk factors and various concepts related to credit risk. Apart from the projects, leadership talks and interactions with senior-level executives helped me gain insight into their outlook on the nitty-gritty of financial firms.
At last, I would say that despite the constraints of a virtual internship, the overall experience was very enriching and full of countless learnings.
Shantanu Shivam
MBA, Finance @IMT Ghaziabad
Q.) Finance was a completely new domain for you when you roped yourself in at IMT G. What made you choose Finance as your major for MBA?
After my stint as Treasurer of the Student Union, I started getting a knack for Finance. Then I got exposure to the share markets which I started liking, and eventually, I was able to relate and understand the nuances of the market. So, it felt like a logical choice for me to go for a Masters in Finance at IMT Ghaziabad.
Q.) You have interned and converted a PPO from Goldman Sachs from campus. Tell us about your learning and experience in these two years and how has your idea of finance changed?
As I heard before Joining IMT that it never sleeps, and that was the case for me. The first year was extremely hectic as I had to do a lot of catching up with the concepts of finance.
Finance was new, plus the committee work was challenging as well. But being a member of the placement committee taught me a lot. Managing academics to Managing companies coming on campus, it gave me an overall MBA life perspective.
I’m a sportsperson and the moment you rope yourself into a B-school, you assume that your life will revolve mostly around academics and presentations. But at IMT G, the active sports culture kept me going and helped me focus better.
All the plans for the second year at IMT got shattered because of Covid-19. But, things got better. My internship with Goldman Sachs came as a game-changer for me as I learned the nuances of a busy corporate life there and acquired skills that I never thought would come my way.
Q.) What next for Shantanu and what is that one message that you want to give to all the aspirants out there, confused about the choices they need to make?
Next for me is to go to Goldman Sachs, live my dream there, work hard, and learn all the new things I can.
And, my message would be for engineers and specifically for Mechanical Engineers. Because at this crossroad there is no going back with your decisions. Like everyone, I also felt that a master’s in Finance is not for me and I was very skeptical about making this career choice. But believe me, I have been there and done that. With persistence and hard work along with the support of friends and teachers, you can sail through smoothly.
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