The Beginning: Of Dreams and Doubts
They say every spark begins with a quiet decision, mine was made under buzzing fluorescent lights, amid hums of machines, and the steady rhythm of shift handovers.
An electrical engineer by degree, I spent 3 intense, fulfilling years at Hindustan Unilever Limited. It wasn’t just a job; it was where I first learned the art of leadership, the grit behind production numbers, and the quiet pride in solving problems no one else dared to own. I led a team of 90 employees, handled night shifts, celebrated operational wins, and earned recognitions. But somewhere amidst the metrics, I heard a whisper — “Is this it?” That whisper turned into a calling.
Not loud, not rebellious, but firm.
It wasn’t dissatisfaction, it was hunger. A desire to grow beyond what I knew. I realized I wanted to understand brands, businesses, markets. But deciding to pivot wasn’t easy.
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The Leap: Letting Go with Gratitude
Quitting isn’t the right word - I prefer to say I stepped away with gratitude. Gratitude for the factory that shaped me. Gratitude for the lessons, the leadership, the resilience it taught me.
When I told people about my decision, responses poured in.
“No one clears CAT in the first attempt.”
“It’s too late now for an MBA.”
“You’ll regret leaving HUL.”
And for a moment, I almost believed them. But something in me - perhaps the same instinct that once made me take the night shift no one else wanted - said, “Try.” And that was enough.
The Hustle: Starting Late, Staying Steady
August 2024 - That was the month everything changed.
While many aspirants were already deep into revision, I was just beginning my serious preparation. Back in April, I had started researching B-schools - diving into cutoffs, profiles, interview processes, because I didn’t just want an MBA; I wanted to make an informed decision. But it was in August that I shifted gears, fully committing to the preparation journey with focus and intensity. But reality hit quickly. Every topic I touched felt like a mountain - Quant, DILR, VARC - each with its own set of struggles. I hadn’t touched a formula in years. The last time I’d dealt with numbers, it was OEE calculations on a factory floor - not permutation-combination puzzles on a screen. I wasn’t a student anymore. I was a working professional who had spent 3 years buried in dashboards, production targets, and leadership meetings. The shift back to academics was not smooth - it was jarring. I had forgotten the feel of textbooks. My brain, once trained for solving real-world manufacturing issues, now had to wrestle with geometry theorems and parajumbles. Every mock test became a battleground, they were harsh reminders of how far I had to go. Some days I was flying, solving questions like clockwork. Other days, I couldn’t solve a single set without second-guessing myself. The pressure of starting late loomed over me. I wasn’t just studying - I was battling time, doubt, and fear. I was navigating an emotional rollercoaster. I had voluntarily walked away from stability, and now every day felt like a gamble. I missed the structure of working life - the to-do lists, the team calls, the end-of-day satisfaction. This - this was all uncertainty, silence, and self-doubt.
It was lonely sometimes.
It was overwhelming most times.
And it was hard all the time.
But somewhere in that chaos, in that solitude, I kept going. Because while the destination was blurry, the reason was clear. And that was enough - to wake up, to revise, to start again.
The Tides: Doubts, Delays and the Waiting Game
Then came the exam day. A few hours, after months of madness. It ended in a blur.
But what followed was even harder — the wait.
The wait for results. The wait for shortlists. The what-ifs.
I overthought every percentile prediction, analyzed forums, reached out to strangers on LinkedIn for tips. I kept preparing for GD-PIs, brushing up current affairs, revising undergrad subjects, work experience answers, practicing WATs. It was a different kind of preparation now - less about formulas, more about introspection.
The Breakthrough: From Relief to a Dream Realised
The first spark of validation arrived — NMIMS Mumbai Core.
It wasn’t just a B-school admit. It was reassurance. I had a convert. I had proof that something had worked. That I wasn’t crazy to take the leap. I smiled. I relaxed, I was relieved.
And then, about a month later, came the email. Subject line: “Congratulations!”
I read it. Then read it again.
IIM Indore.
Yes - the same girl who started her prep in August. The one who was told she was late. The one who stepped away from a coveted job with nothing but belief in her gut. Yes, she made it.
The Reflection: Not Just a Result, but a Revolution
This wasn’t just a CAT story. It was a story of belief.
Belief that even if you start late, you can catch up.
Belief that it's okay to pause, restart, and choose differently.
Belief that you don't need everyone's approval - just your own quiet conviction.
From the shop floor to the B-school, from handling machines to handling case studies - this journey has been far from perfect. But it has been real, raw, and mine.
So here’s to late starts. To big leaps. To quiet victories.
And to the girl who dared
