My MBA story: how a rocket scientist changed trajectory

In my preceding everyday living, I was a rocket scientist in India’s house programme. I was section of the staff that created satellite-launch vehicles, or rockets, and intended some of the telemetry modules that aided have India’s house probe to Mars in 2014. It was an thrilling everyday living and during my 7 yrs at the Indian Area Research Organisation I labored with some of India’s brightest minds.

Then in 2016 I grew to become a mom and determined to shell out my year’s maternity depart in Australia, exactly where my husband labored. Probably it was motherhood or the crack from my outdated everyday living, but I grew to become extremely intrigued in learning new factors. My daughter was a good sleeper and I started out studying a good deal. But rather of science, I began learning about politics, organization and economics, and realised I was lacking out on a good deal of factors. That was my “aha” minute.

By the time my daughter was about 8 months outdated, I had determined to get the plunge and go to organization school. I required to settle in Australia, and the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) in Sydney is the best school listed here, with a extremely solid [alumni] network. On leading of that I received a good scholarship that included seventy five for every cent of my expenses, with out which I would not have been capable to do an MBA.

The program lasted 18 months and there were being about 55 college students from some 20 international locations. The alumni network is fantastic. Anytime I am in need, there is a person who can support me out. We also had the chance to do internships, which was tremendous practical, as I had not labored in a corporate setting in advance of. Then there is the know-how that I received from industry industry experts who arrived to educate our courses.

My initial prepare was to come across a position in financial commitment banking, due to the fact I assumed my quant history would be of good use. I adore quantities and my electives were being all maths-significant subjects these kinds of as corporate finance. But I realised just after a even though that a changeover into banking would be hard with out a history in finance, so when the worldwide undertaking money company Antler arrived to AGSM, I jumped at the chance to develop my very own get started-up.

I was fortuitous to turn into section of Antler’s initial Sydney cohort of entrepreneurs that it trains and supports. With each other with a companion, I began constructing a organization in the electrical power sector. It was a fantastic notion, but the organization didn’t get off as we had prepared. We failed.

I hope to get started my very own organization again . . . and be effective. Working your very own organization is addictive

I realised I did not have the suitable skills or sufficiently deep know-how about Australian industries. To convert the circumstance close to, I determined to move toward a profession in consulting, exactly where I would be capable to fill this knowledge gap inside of a brief time. At AGSM I cherished resolving the case experiments that were being section of our job interview education for consultancy careers, and I had previously regarded as it as a pragmatic route to carrying out one thing I love.

In March, I joined Kearney, the consulting company, as an associate. I definitely appreciated constructing my very own organization, though — each and every early morning was so thrilling — and in five or 7 yrs I hope to get started my very own organization again . . . and be effective. Working your very own organization is addictive.

The alumni network at AGSM is continue to practical. It is a solid base that I can always convert to for support. When I had to get ready my get started-up pitch, for case in point, I received support from alumni in the power sector and in undertaking money, which was definitely great.

I at times pass up my outdated everyday living as a scientist, but I have moved on. I appreciated it, I accomplished one thing, but I was in my consolation zone. Picking organization school was a turning issue in my everyday living. Proper now I am outside the house my consolation zone in a hard and intense setting — I have definitely had to stage up my recreation, which I love a good deal.