Student Placement Co-ordinator, SDA Bocconi Asia Center
You have worked with Ernst & Young as an Advanced Associate for almost two years. What aspects of this B-School helped you make your decision of pursuing an MBA/IMB program?
Being part of a global team in Ernst & Young taught me some really valuable lessons. I realized that diversity and global exposure are necessary for learning and development, building networks, and eventually making a career in the corporate world. Hence, these were the most important parameters that I kept in my mind while applying for a B-school.
SDA Bocconi Asia Center checked all my boxes – top-notch global faculty, extensive curriculum, international exposure, and a multicultural environment. Moreover, SDA Bocconi is one of the highest-ranked B-schools in management worldwide, with vast opportunities and a great alumni network.
You are a student placement coordinator at SDAB and were part of EY and Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy projects. Tell us a bit about the exposure you got in these projects?
The role of a student placement coordinator has greatly boosted my confidence. I have become more proactive and good at multi-tasking. Since the role involves interacting with top leadership regularly, I feel comfortable when I work on various projects with different organizations. Currently, I am working on a project with EY Milan that is extremely exciting and involves a lot of research and strategy development.
Last year, I worked on a project with Intesa Sanpaolo, which is the largest banking group in Italy. It was a part of the Business Process Management and Modelling course in Bocconi Milan. The overall experience was exhilarating; we all were from different time zones which made it more challenging!
You did your internship at Deloitte in the Client and Market growth department. What were some of the learning you took back, working at a consulting firm of this stature?
Even though it was a virtual summer internship due to the pandemic, it was nothing less than an in-office one. Deloitte made sure that I have a super comfortable onboarding experience. My mentor, buddy, and team members were extremely supportive, and I was provided all the necessary training before the work was allocated to me.
I learned a great deal during those two months. Although, I have past working experience in the Big Four, this time it was completely different because I joined Deloitte as an MBA/IMB student. The expectations were high, the projects and the timelines were challenging, and a lot of stakeholders were involved. I learned that it is extremely important to stay focused and sharp and deal with the change in a positive manner.
From interactions with international faculty, global projects, and internship roles, how has SDA Bocconi Asia Center helped you in building your profile?
All the opportunities provided by SDA Bocconi Asia Center has helped me immensely in building a great profile. I have noticed a tremendous change in me from my first day in SDABAC. One of the things that I love about my college is the focus that the professors put on the practical experience. In every course, we work on group projects or simulations that prepare us for the real world.
Working on these projects has also helped me gain some useful hard skills like analytics, project management, and presentation skills, which are essential to survive in the corporate world these days.
Mansi was a CFA student who decided to opt for the IMB program at SDA Bocconi Asia Center. What are your career goals and how have you been progressing so far?
Consulting has always been my dream job. I started pursuing CFA before I joined the SDA Bocconi Asia Center because strong financial knowledge is very important to excel as a consultant. Soon after, I joined the rigorous IMB program, because I wanted to gain managerial skills and be one step closer to achieving my dream job.
In the last two years, I have been constantly pushing myself to seek out new opportunities, learn new skills, and develop an analytical mindset to prepare myself for future challenges.
Sumedha Kudsia
Luxury Club President, SDA Bocconi Asia Center
A B.Com degree from the University of Delhi and then getting placed at KPMG. How did you arrive at a decision to pursue an MBA/IMB?
The B.Com degree is quite versatile as it gives you exposure to the subjects of Business, Marketing, Economics, Accountancy, etc. I always had an inclination towards Marketing subjects and I was certain that I wanted to make a career in this field. I realized an MBA degree would ensure that I was equipped with the right skill-set to make this a reality.
Why did you find the IMB program at SDA Bocconi to be a right fit for you, when you were looking for B-schools?
Quality education and top-notch faculty were some of the most important criteria in my selection of B-Schools. The MBA program at SDA Bocconi Asia Center seemed to have both. The institute lives up to its promise of delivering international standards of education right here in India.
The cherry on top was definitely the specialization semester in Milan which enables students to maximize the learning opportunities.
While you also started a YouTube channel providing makeup tutorials, was this linked to your career interests in Retail Cosmetics, Luxury? How has the SDA Bocconi Asia Center helped you develop or further your interests in Luxury management?
I started my YouTube Channel as a makeup enthusiast which then led to the development of strong interest and inclination towards the Luxury Industry. SDA Bocconi Asia Center gave me the opportunity to opt for Luxury Management courses. This gave me the platform to enhance my knowledge and understanding of the Retail and Luxury Industry. The college also has a Luxury Club which is a hub for Luxury enthusiasts like myself. The campus often hosts Guest lectures by Industry experts from top Indian and International Luxury Brands which gave me an insight into the real-world of Luxury.
Thus, the college has played a crucial role, not only in helping me build my competencies suited for this industry but in gaining hands-on experience by providing opportunities to work with Luxury brands for internships and live projects
You not only became the president of the Luxury Club at SDABAC but also bagged an internship with Luxottica and the House of Anita Dongre as well. How has your experience been during all these stints?
It was extremely enriching and fulfilling. At Luxottica, I worked as a Market Research Intern. I researched extensively about the future of the Luxury Industry with regards to the advent of Digital.
At House of Anita Dongre, I worked towards developing strategies to enhance the brand’s social media presence. Although the profiles are contrasting, I was able to extract a lot from both internships in terms of personal learning and development. Both the roles require different expertise and skillsets which also meant that I was exposed to a host of learning opportunities. Both the brands are also leaders in their respective segments which helped me acquire an understanding of the best practices followed by market leaders.
You are currently doing an internship with Swarovski, a company well known for Fashion, jewelry, and glasses. With so many internships from luxury brands worldwide, how do you think you have shaped up as a professional gearing to go in the luxury world out there?
One of the objectives I wanted to fulfill during my IMB journey was to gain hands-on experience in the field of Marketing. Interning with a host of luxury brands, both Indian and International gave me an insight into the application of the concepts and theories our professors taught in the classroom.
These internships helped me to work with Industry professionals on a day-to-day basis. I was not only able to expand my skill-set but also work under pressure and meet deadlines. I feel this forms a solid foundation and a great starting point for my corporate life ahead.
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