Rhea Lhila from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has earned her place among the 50 Most Employable MBA Graduates from the Class of 2026. Her story is about resilience, empathy, and a quiet yet powerful determination to make every opportunity meaningful. Scroll down to discover how Rhea’s blend of discipline, adaptability, and compassion has shaped her journey from Kolkata’s classrooms to one of India’s most prestigious business schools.
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The Ascent: From Kolkata to IIM Calcutta
Born and raised in a close-knit joint family in Kolkata, Rhea grew up surrounded by values of sincerity, empathy, and resilience that continue to guide her personal and professional life. At The BSS School, she not only excelled academically but also led as Director of the Interact Club, organizing large-scale school events that introduced her early to the art of teamwork and leadership.
Her journey at St. Xavier’s College, where she pursued Economics, reflected a balance of intellect and creativity. While mastering quantitative concepts, she also expressed her artistic side through the Bollywood Dance Team, finding joy in collaboration and rhythm.
Professionally, Rhea’s curiosity for business operations led her to BM Agencies, where she joined as a Management Trainee. There, she introduced digital solutions that improved process efficiency and reduced manual bottlenecks. Her drive to learn soon extended beyond her role, motivating her to pursue finance as a career path — a decision that culminated in her joining IIM Calcutta and clearing CFA Level 1 and both levels of the FRM certification.
For Rhea, these achievements represent more than academic milestones. Clearing FRM during her undergraduate years while managing multiple commitments taught her the importance of structure, consistency, and focus under pressure. It was not just a test of skill but a lesson in perseverance — one that continues to shape her professional identity.
The Inner Core: Empathy, Resilience, and Adaptability
Rhea’s greatest strengths lie in her ability to stay composed through challenges, adapt quickly to change, and connect with people at a human level. She describes resilience as her foundation — the ability to stay steady when the path gets uncertain. Whether navigating high workloads or personal challenges, she approaches each situation with calm focus and determination.
Her adaptability allows her to work comfortably in varied environments, from digital transformation projects to high-intensity investment banking teams. This flexibility is complemented by empathy, a quality that makes her a trusted team member. She listens, understands, and bridges perspectives, creating harmony in group settings.
A moment that captures Rhea’s empathy occurred during her school years. During a birthday celebration, she noticed children nearby scavenging for food while her friends casually wasted cake. That moment of discomfort led her to initiate a change — convincing her friends to stop the practice and instead donate leftover food. What began as a small gesture grew into a lasting tradition. For Rhea, this incident reinforced that meaningful change often starts with awareness and the courage to act differently, even when it feels inconvenient.
The Employable Edge in a Human + AI World
In today’s business environment, where AI transforms how decisions are made, Rhea’s employable edge lies in her ability to combine analytical reasoning with human judgment. She believes that while data can reveal patterns, real insight comes from interpretation — asking the right questions and understanding context.
Her academic grounding in finance, strengthened by the FRM and CFA curriculum, equips her to analyze risk and value in numbers. But what sets her apart is her ability to translate analysis into strategy that considers people and long-term impact. At BM Agencies, she demonstrated this by evaluating operational data through both quantitative and human lenses, ensuring that digital transitions worked smoothly for employees.
During her internship at Rothschild & Co., Rhea experienced the fast-paced world of front-end investment banking. Working long hours on live deals, she found not exhaustion, but fulfillment. The intensity honed her discipline, reinforced her love for finance, and revealed her capacity to perform under sustained pressure.
Rhea Lhila stands out as a professional who combines structure with empathy and logic with intuition. She brings to every role the calm of preparation, the curiosity to learn, and the will to make a difference. For future employers, she represents a dependable, thoughtful, and high-performing talent ready to thrive in a world where human insight remains the ultimate differentiator.
