My MBA story: how a rocket scientist changed trajectory

In my previous lifetime, I was a rocket scientist in India’s space programme. I was component of the team that constructed satellite-start automobiles, or rockets, and made some of the telemetry modules that helped carry India’s space probe to Mars in 2014. It was an enjoyable lifetime and all through my 7 a long time at the Indian Place Investigate Organisation I labored with some of India’s brightest minds.

Then in 2016 I turned a mother and decided to devote my year’s maternity leave in Australia, exactly where my spouse labored. Perhaps it was motherhood or the crack from my old lifetime, but I turned quite intrigued in discovering new matters. My daughter was a fantastic sleeper and I started looking through a great deal. But alternatively of science, I commenced discovering about politics, business enterprise and economics, and realised I was missing out on a great deal of matters. That was my “aha” minute.

By the time my daughter was about 8 months old, I had decided to acquire the plunge and go to business enterprise university. I wanted to settle in Australia, and the Australian Graduate Faculty of Administration (AGSM) in Sydney is the ideal university right here, with a quite solid [alumni] community. On prime of that I gained a fantastic scholarship that coated seventy five per cent of my costs, with no which I would not have been ready to do an MBA.

The system lasted 18 months and there had been about 55 college students from some twenty nations. The alumni community is excellent. Any time I am in require, there is somebody who can support me out. We also had the prospect to do internships, which was super beneficial, as I had not labored in a company ecosystem prior to. Then there is the understanding that I attained from market gurus who arrived to teach our lessons.

My initial system was to find a work in investment decision banking, for the reason that I assumed my quant history would be of fantastic use. I adore numbers and my electives had been all maths-hefty topics this kind of as company finance. But I realised right after a although that a transition into banking would be challenging with no a history in finance, so when the worldwide enterprise funds agency Antler arrived to AGSM, I jumped at the prospect to construct my possess start out-up.

I was privileged to turn into component of Antler’s initial Sydney cohort of entrepreneurs that it trains and supports. Together with a companion, I commenced developing a business in the electrical energy sector. It was a excellent thought, but the business enterprise didn’t acquire off as we had prepared. We unsuccessful.

I hope to start out my possess business again . . . and be profitable. Working your possess business enterprise is addictive

I realised I did not have the correct techniques or adequately deep understanding about Australian industries. To convert the situation all over, I decided to shift in direction of a profession in consulting, exactly where I would be ready to fill this practical experience gap in just a shorter time. At AGSM I liked fixing the circumstance studies that had been component of our interview schooling for consultancy careers, and I had presently regarded as it as a pragmatic route to performing one thing I love.

In March, I joined Kearney, the consulting agency, as an associate. I actually savored developing my possess business, however — each morning was so enjoyable — and in 5 or 7 a long time I hope to start out my possess business again . . . and be profitable. Working your possess business enterprise is addictive.

The alumni community at AGSM is however valuable. It is a solid base that I can generally convert to for support. When I had to get ready my start out-up pitch, for case in point, I gained support from alumni in the energy sector and in enterprise funds, which was actually awesome.

I sometimes miss my old lifetime as a scientist, but I have moved on. I savored it, I realized one thing, but I was in my ease and comfort zone. Deciding on business enterprise university was a turning stage in my lifetime. Ideal now I am outside the house my ease and comfort zone in a challenging and intensive ecosystem — I have actually had to move up my video game, which I love a great deal.