My MBA story: how a rocket scientist changed trajectory
In my earlier lifestyle, I was a rocket scientist in India’s room programme. I was aspect of the crew that constructed satellite-start motor vehicles, or rockets, and developed some of the telemetry modules that helped have India’s room probe to Mars in 2014. It was an exciting lifestyle and all through my 7 decades at the Indian Space Investigate Organisation I labored with some of India’s brightest minds.
Then in 2016 I became a mother and determined to devote my year’s maternity go away in Australia, the place my partner labored. Maybe it was motherhood or the crack from my outdated lifestyle, but I became quite intrigued in learning new issues. My daughter was a fantastic sleeper and I started studying a ton. But as an alternative of science, I commenced learning about politics, business and economics, and realised I was lacking out on a ton of issues. That was my “aha” moment.
By the time my daughter was about 8 months outdated, I experienced determined to acquire the plunge and go to business university. I required to settle in Australia, and the Australian Graduate University of Management (AGSM) in Sydney is the ideal university right here, with a quite solid [alumni] community. On prime of that I been given a fantastic scholarship that included seventy five per cent of my costs, without the need of which I would not have been capable to do an MBA.
The course lasted 18 months and there were about 55 learners from some twenty countries. The alumni community is terrific. Any time I am in will need, there is another person who can help me out. We also experienced the possibility to do internships, which was super useful, as I experienced not labored in a company atmosphere before. Then there is the expertise that I obtained from field pros who arrived to train our classes.
My very first prepare was to come across a task in financial investment banking, mainly because I considered my quant qualifications would be of fantastic use. I appreciate figures and my electives were all maths-significant subjects these as company finance. But I realised soon after a whilst that a transition into banking would be hard without the need of a qualifications in finance, so when the global enterprise money organization Antler arrived to AGSM, I jumped at the possibility to create my very own start off-up.
I was privileged to come to be aspect of Antler’s very first Sydney cohort of business owners that it trains and supports. With each other with a associate, I commenced setting up a enterprise in the electrical strength sector. It was a terrific idea, but the business didn’t acquire off as we experienced planned. We unsuccessful.
I realised I did not have the correct competencies or adequately deep expertise about Australian industries. To transform the situation all around, I determined to move in the direction of a career in consulting, the place I would be capable to fill this encounter gap in a shorter time. At AGSM I liked fixing the situation scientific tests that were aspect of our job interview education for consultancy positions, and I experienced previously regarded it as a pragmatic route to performing a little something I love.
In March, I joined Kearney, the consulting organization, as an affiliate. I really loved setting up my very own enterprise, even though — every single early morning was so exciting — and in five or 7 decades I hope to start off my very own enterprise again . . . and be profitable. Working your very own business is addictive.
The alumni community at AGSM is however handy. It is a solid foundation that I can normally transform to for help. When I experienced to get ready my start off-up pitch, for case in point, I been given help from alumni in the strength sector and in enterprise money, which was really cool.
I often miss out on my outdated lifestyle as a scientist, but I have moved on. I loved it, I realized a little something, but I was in my convenience zone. Deciding upon business university was a turning issue in my lifestyle. Appropriate now I am outdoors my convenience zone in a challenging and intensive atmosphere — I have really experienced to phase up my activity, which I love a ton.
