Why SPJIMR? A Different Take - Koustubh Laha

While working in the startup, I was in close contact with a member of a non-profit organization that addressed the needs of the weaker section of the society, and in the process provided an opportunity for its members to enhance the knowledge and skills that assisted them in personal development. Economic theories such as ‘trickle-down effect’ closely relate to the pyramid we exist in. But, how much focus are we giving to the base of the pyramid or at the ground level? Are your actions in the real world socially relevant?

I would love to grab an opportunity to apply my knowledge and make a change in the lives of the weaker sections of the society. However, this opportunity rarely knocks on your door after you get into the corporate life. And if it does, you will just be faced with more dilemmas than a starting point. Thus, it needs to be a part of a period where you are dedicatedly investing time in developing yourself. We are spoilt brats in school. Sometimes it even continues till engineering. That leaves the masters as the only opportunity for this. The next big question: which B-school’s MBA program is socially relevant?

The answer to both are in S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), the name of a premier B-school I came across while I sat down to choose one. As per the website and the brochure, I realized that the two-year PGDM program is a complete innovation in masters of business management (MBA) education. You spend your entire 1^st year as a mentor to a kid (aptly named a Sitara) residing in the bottom of the pyramid. Your goal: Bring about a visible change in your Sitara’s life and equip him with skills to rise up the pyramid. At the end of your first year, you undertake a Development of Corporate Citizenship (DOCC) project that lasts for 6 weeks. This tests your ability to apply the knowledge you gained in your 1^st year to solve problems of NGOs operating in socially and economically disadvantaged sections of the society. No summer internships. SPJIMR breaks the convention by introducing autumn internships that take place during the second year when students have completed a majority of their specialization courses. For instance, a finance student goes into the industry for internship after completing major finance courses. Two ticks – experiential learning and socially relevant. This is exactly what I was looking for. What about you?

(Koustubh Laha is a PGDM 2015-17 student at SPJIMR, Mumbai specialising in Finance. Previously he was a senior associate at Hourglass Research.)