My MBA story: how a rocket scientist changed trajectory

In my prior lifetime, I was a rocket scientist in India’s area programme. I was component of the workforce that built satellite-start motor vehicles, or rockets, and designed some of the telemetry modules that assisted carry India’s area probe to Mars in 2014. It was an enjoyable lifetime and through my 7 years at the Indian House Investigate Organisation I labored with some of India’s brightest minds.

Then in 2016 I turned a mom and made the decision to expend my year’s maternity depart in Australia, in which my husband labored. Perhaps it was motherhood or the split from my aged lifetime, but I turned incredibly fascinated in understanding new points. My daughter was a fantastic sleeper and I started out reading a large amount. But as a substitute of science, I began understanding about politics, organization and economics, and realised I was lacking out on a large amount of points. That was my “aha” minute.

By the time my daughter was about 8 months aged, I experienced made the decision to acquire the plunge and go to organization university. I preferred to settle in Australia, and the Australian Graduate Faculty of Administration (AGSM) in Sydney is the most effective university right here, with a incredibly sturdy [alumni] community. On top rated of that I gained a fantastic scholarship that coated 75 for each cent of my service fees, without having which I would not have been equipped to do an MBA.

The training course lasted 18 months and there were being about fifty five students from some twenty international locations. The alumni community is great. Any time I am in have to have, there is a person who can enable me out. We also experienced the opportunity to do internships, which was super beneficial, as I experienced not labored in a company ecosystem ahead of. Then there is the know-how that I attained from marketplace industry experts who arrived to educate our lessons.

My first prepare was to discover a occupation in financial investment banking, mainly because I considered my quant background would be of fantastic use. I appreciate quantities and my electives were being all maths-heavy subjects these types of as company finance. But I realised right after a though that a transition into banking would be complicated without having a background in finance, so when the global undertaking funds company Antler arrived to AGSM, I jumped at the opportunity to create my possess begin-up.

I was fortuitous to become component of Antler’s first Sydney cohort of entrepreneurs that it trains and supports. Jointly with a partner, I began making a enterprise in the electrical power sector. It was a great idea, but the organization did not acquire off as we experienced prepared. We unsuccessful.

I hope to begin my possess enterprise again . . . and be effective. Managing your possess organization is addictive

I realised I did not have the right skills or adequately deep know-how about Australian industries. To flip the condition all-around, I made the decision to transfer in direction of a job in consulting, in which I would be equipped to fill this working experience hole inside a quick time. At AGSM I loved solving the case scientific tests that were being component of our interview schooling for consultancy positions, and I experienced already considered it as a pragmatic route to accomplishing a little something I love.

In March, I joined Kearney, the consulting company, as an affiliate. I truly enjoyed making my possess enterprise, though — each morning was so enjoyable — and in 5 or 7 years I hope to begin my possess enterprise again . . . and be effective. Managing your possess organization is addictive.

The alumni community at AGSM is even now handy. It is a sturdy base that I can normally flip to for enable. When I experienced to get ready my begin-up pitch, for instance, I gained enable from alumni in the power sector and in undertaking funds, which was truly great.

I often pass up my aged lifetime as a scientist, but I have moved on. I enjoyed it, I realized a little something, but I was in my convenience zone. Picking organization university was a turning place in my lifetime. Proper now I am outside my convenience zone in a demanding and intensive ecosystem — I have truly experienced to action up my match, which I love a large amount.