My MBA story: how a rocket scientist changed trajectory

In my past life, I was a rocket scientist in India’s house programme. I was component of the crew that crafted satellite-launch vehicles, or rockets, and made some of the telemetry modules that helped carry India’s house probe to Mars in 2014. It was an thrilling life and throughout my 7 a long time at the Indian Area Research Organisation I labored with some of India’s brightest minds.

Then in 2016 I turned a mother and determined to devote my year’s maternity leave in Australia, where my spouse labored. Possibly it was motherhood or the crack from my previous life, but I turned extremely fascinated in discovering new items. My daughter was a good sleeper and I commenced reading a great deal. But rather of science, I commenced discovering about politics, business and economics, and realised I was lacking out on a great deal of items. That was my “aha” second.

By the time my daughter was about 8 months previous, I had determined to acquire the plunge and go to business college. I wished to settle in Australia, and the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) in Sydney is the most effective college in this article, with a extremely solid [alumni] community. On leading of that I been given a good scholarship that lined 75 for every cent of my costs, devoid of which I would not have been capable to do an MBA.

The program lasted eighteen months and there had been about 55 pupils from some 20 nations around the world. The alumni community is fantastic. Anytime I am in have to have, there is an individual who can assistance me out. We also had the possibility to do internships, which was tremendous practical, as I had not labored in a company environment before. Then there is the information that I gained from marketplace pros who came to teach our lessons.

My 1st approach was to come across a career in expense banking, mainly because I assumed my quant track record would be of good use. I appreciate numbers and my electives had been all maths-heavy topics this kind of as company finance. But I realised immediately after a even though that a changeover into banking would be complicated devoid of a track record in finance, so when the worldwide enterprise funds company Antler came to AGSM, I jumped at the possibility to establish my very own commence-up.

I was lucky to become component of Antler’s 1st Sydney cohort of entrepreneurs that it trains and supports. Together with a husband or wife, I commenced developing a corporation in the electrical electrical power sector. It was a fantastic idea, but the business didn’t acquire off as we had planned. We failed.

I hope to commence my very own corporation again . . . and be prosperous. Jogging your very own business is addictive

I realised I did not have the ideal competencies or adequately deep information about Australian industries. To transform the scenario all over, I determined to go towards a career in consulting, where I would be capable to fill this practical experience gap inside of a brief time. At AGSM I loved resolving the circumstance scientific studies that had been component of our interview teaching for consultancy employment, and I had already viewed as it as a pragmatic route to doing something I enjoy.

In March, I joined Kearney, the consulting company, as an affiliate. I definitely liked developing my very own corporation, nevertheless — each individual early morning was so thrilling — and in five or 7 a long time I hope to commence my very own corporation again . . . and be prosperous. Jogging your very own business is addictive.

The alumni community at AGSM is however practical. It is a solid base that I can always transform to for assistance. When I had to prepare my commence-up pitch, for example, I been given assistance from alumni in the electrical power sector and in enterprise funds, which was definitely neat.

I sometimes overlook my previous life as a scientist, but I have moved on. I liked it, I attained something, but I was in my consolation zone. Selecting business college was a turning position in my life. Correct now I am outside the house my consolation zone in a challenging and intensive environment — I have definitely had to move up my sport, which I enjoy a great deal.