Alumni Inspiration- Journey of Boccononian at ABInBev
ABInBev is the world’s leading brewer bringing people together for a better world. For centuries, the experience of sharing a beer has brought people and cultures together. Their leading brands are Corona, Budweiser and Stella Artois. Celebrating different occasions of life, ABInBev has over 500 beer brands suited for different moments. They have a vast presence in over 100 countries with a global share of throat at 13.2% in the alcoholic beverages category which makes it the market leader. ABInBev is made of DREAMS, realised by its PEOPLE, propelled by its work CULTURE which forms the core values of the company. Kickstarting the campus hiring drive for the International Master in Business students, Mr. Serge De Vos, Head- ABInBev Operations and Mr. Dinesh Khanna, Head- Talent Attraction had come onboard to inspire the students to join their crew of talented and visionary people. Here’s some motivation from the alumni of SDA Bocconi Asia Center who are currently working with ABInBev, a people-centric company, are here to share their experience with us. Dhwani Shah – IMB Batch of 2018-2020 The decision to do my masters from SDA Bocconi Asia Center is something I look back at fondly. This two-year journey was a steep learning curve for me along with unforgettable memories. I was extremely happy with the way the curriculum and extra co-curricular were structured. SDA Bocconi Asia Center provided me with numerous leadership opportunities such as the Marketing Club and TEDxBocconiUMumbai, that enabled my overall growth. SDA Bocconi Asia Center leaves no stone unturned when it comes to giving corporate exposure to its students. I completed several live projects with brands such as L’Oréal and Costa Cruises as part of the curriculum.” I was particularly stoked with my summer internship opportunity at Reliance Brands Limited. I developed a deep understanding of the retail and luxury sector in India during my time there. To further add on to my learnings, I strongly recommend this course due to the Milan semester and its features. This semester allows you to choose the subjects you are most passionate about from a wide range of elective options. The four months I spent studying in a diverse classroom and collaborating with multi-cultural teams is an entire experience in itself, with an added benefit of travelling to numerous countries over the weekends. The faculty at SDA Bocconi is experienced and help you develop a global perspective towards business. All my collective experiences during these 6 trimesters led me to secure my dream job at ABInBev on Day zero. Currently, as a part of the marketing team of one of the biggest FMCG companies in the world, I work on the North American Zone and have been able to work on some key brands and campaigns. I’m thankful for this complete experience that has enabled me to grow into a better person, not just academically but personally as well. Darahas Palakollu – IMB Batch of 2018-2020 Hey, this is Darahas. I have taken up different ideals and designed my personality learning from my experiences, to reach SDA Bocconi Asia Center, to gain more in professionalism and personality. Having worked for EY India for a year before MBA, I found words of Prof. Seema stating ” This college is a microcosm of the corporate world” not very far away from the truth. Blended with Italian and Indian style of teaching, the experience here enriching and unique. Milan semester was a cherry on the top. By the end of my time here at college, I looked back and found an amazing group of people that will have my back forever and thanked the college for leaving lasting imprints. A wholesome experience of 2 years cannot get a better ending than being placed in AbInBev, straight out of campus. A wonderful opportunity provided by SDA Bocconi community and AbInBev, ensured that I was placed on my first attempt on Day zero. Joining as an Analyst at ABInBev, I can only be thankful for the opportunities provided to me across various specialisations, it gave me a year worth of experience in just 3 months. Working in operations and finance, I have learnt how to work with people, even on virtual mode during these difficult conditions. I know it only gets better, once normalcy returns. Joined along with 3 others at ABInBev, I feel an extreme sense of responsibility to uplift SDA Bocconi Asia Center brand higher than it already is. I believe that I am a product of SDA Bocconi Asia Center, and I must be the torchbearer of its reputation wherever I go. I thank SDA Bocconi Asia Center, not just for giving me the knowledge to sustain to live in this world, but for giving amazing people and sculpting my character, which will help me make this world a happy place. Hari Shankar Aggarwal The lingo of business is ubiquitous, yet only a few can discern its applicability. I used to belong to the same league. Then, a computer science engineer I embarked on a conquest to learn the nitty-gritty of the strategic world. SDA was extremely informed and one of the most plaudit choices I made. The choice was purely based on the adaptive learning culture with a more practical than theoretical approach with endless opportunities at one’s disposal. I used to think “Holistic” as my ideal single worded verbiage but post these two years I also believe in it, as a result of wholesome learning experience sprinkled with many practical live projects and internships. A glimpse of my resume can reflect the cross-domain knowledge and opportunities that this institution is adept in providing. I believe that SDA Bocconi Asia Center not only builds careers but also characters for every individual’s heyday and the credit goes to not just the Professors, Management or the Milan Semester but also the diversified cohort one is exposed to. There are only a handful of colleges in the country which can provide an international internship exposure in a company like Bauli, which enhanced
Alumni Spotlight Series’ Harshad Borde
Mr. Harshad Borde is currently working as a Data Science Consultant at Virtusa. He has 3 years of challenging experience in IBM Watson, R, and Tableau. He has developed expertise in managing both the business and technical aspects of a project. He has interned as a Marketing and Risk Analytics Intern at SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd. He has gained significant experience as a Data Engineer at Syntel. He enjoys traveling. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments I have several notable accomplishments in my career, so it is tough to pick one. I will take the most recent one. Within a few months of joining Virtusa, I was entrusted with one of key analytics initiative which improved the way Virtusa forecasts its revenue. I think I have grown personally as well as professionally during my MBA at SDA Bocconi Asia Center. SDA Bocconi Asia Center faculties have structured their coursework very precisely. I was fascinated by the use of Statistics and Analytics after attending classes of Prof. Luigi Tava and Prof. Poli. Courses of both the professors were highly relevant and I still find the material useful even in my professional career. Various Thought Leaders in Analytics and AI used to visit campus for guest sessions and summits which helped me get an in-depth understanding of practical use cases.Currently, I am a part of strategic analytics team at Virtusa. We have to analyze multidimensional data coming from HR, Finance, Sales, Revenue and Resource Management. We have to connect the dots and advise the top management for various business problems. In this team, I get a chance to work with decision makers, understand their thought process which helps me polish my corporate strategy skills. What have been the biggest challenges in your career? When you step out of a B-school, you are expected to match the pace of the corporate world very quickly. Live projects which I got at SDA Bocconi Asia Center helped me to be a quick learner and work across the teams. Looking back, what would you say was the most challenging aspect of SDA Bocconi Asia Center? How would you advise others who may be facing that challenge? The most challenging aspect I came across was working with international students at Bocconi in Milan for various subjects. I got an opportunity to work with students from Canada, Spain, Portugal, and Russia. Discussion with them helped me develop a truly international perspective. I would suggest students to proactively solve international case studies with the Consulting Club. It will help you to develop knowledge of various frameworks which can be applied to several business cases. My relationship with my colleagues is cordial. From day one, they have been helpful and have supported me wholeheartedly. The funniest thing is that I am the only Non-IIM guy in my team. What advice would you give to younger alumni or current students who aspire to follow a similar career path? Milan semester is not a Europe vacation trip. Spend time on looking for live projects than visiting Europe. SDA Bocconi provides a lot of opportunities for getting job/internships there. Take help from professors to get live projects in Milan. Professor Paola was very helpful to me for securing an analytics-related live project at Bocconi FinTech Lab. There are so many fond memories at MISB Bocconi. My roommates and I would often visit college campus on weekends for studies. But after that in the evening, we have watched more movies on Bocconi classroom projector than on my laptop :PSDA Bocconi Asia Center Team has always focused on the personal and professional growth of the students. It is very flexible when it comes to students needs. In my case, after getting placed, Virtusa requested me to join even before my MBA classes were completed (Feb End). Faculties honoured this request and designed separate projects for my remaining courses. This kind of flexibility is rarely seen in other Indian B-Schools. What do you enjoy doing with your free time? Family? Hobbies? Interests? I like to spend time with my family and friends. On weekends, I also like to explore Karnataka and Kerala. I have also developed a habit of doodling these days.
The ROI of an MISB Education
Rarely does a discussion on business schools arise today without three words also coming up: return on investment. And with good reason, too. With expensive tuition fees and an increasingly competitive job market, how do you know if your decision to attend a b-school will pay off in the long run? At MISB Bocconi, we understand these concerns and actively strive to keep value as a hallmark of everything we do. Our grads head out into the world prepared not only to innovate and lead, but also to immediately begin reaping the rewards of a premier international b-school education. The Esteemed Bocconi Name The prestigious Bocconi name has long been synonymous with exceptional quality. In fact, SDA Bocconi’s full-time MBA program was included on The Economist’s global line-up of good-value MBAs, claiming the fourth place spot in terms of ROI, with tuition and forgone salary factored in. As the only offshore campus of Bocconi, MISB offers all of the benefits of a Bocconi education in the heart of Mumbai. In other words, our students walk away with the knowledge, skills, and international outlook needed not only to succeed in today’s dynamic marketplace, but to take on intense leadership roles. Numbers That Speak for Themselves One look at our 2015 placement report delivers an eye-opening picture of what MISB students stand to gain when entering the workforce following completion of the PGPB. Some of our success stats include: a 100 percent employment rate among placement-seeking grads a 175 percent average salary increase from pre- to post-PGPB an average compensation of INR 10.23 Lakhs 3.5 job openings per student In short, when we say our alumni are positioned to succeed in the workplace, we’re not just pulling random numbers out of the air to make a compelling sales pitch. Our placement records speak for themselves. From Our Alumni And then, there’s what alumni like Smiti Mohan and Manish Pathak have to say. From improved conflict management skills to lifelong professional and personal networks, an MISB Bocconi degree continues to give back as our alumni progress through in their careers. While these experiences might not be quantifiable in dollars, they’re undeniable and tangible in their own right. At MISB Bocconi, we like nothing more than the chance to address the pertinent issue of ROI with prospective MBA students. Why? Because we know that we deliver — and then some — ensuring that our students get the biggest bang for their buck with the PGPB.
Alumni Spotlight: Meet Manish Pathak, Class of 2014
Tomorrow’s business leaders looking to further enrich their knowledge and career prospects have many options when it comes to choosing between academic programs. So how do they make this very important decision — one with the power and potential to shape the rest of their professional lives? We’re delighted to have PGPB Class of 2014 alumnus, Manish Pathak, share his story with us, including what first drew him to MISB, as well as how the programme continues to help him strive toward his investment banking goals. The Path to MISB A passion for finance led Manish to consider business school, but MISB Bocconi’s eminent faculty, research-based ethos, and innovative curriculum drew him to the PGPB. And while he fondly recalls his time in Mumbai, his most memorable MISB experience actually took place thousands of miles away. As Manish’s first international experience, the four-month semester at Milan’s prestigious University Bocconi enriched both his personal and professional growth and development. With 35 electives in Manish’s Finance major alone (and more than 200 overall), the Milan semester offered him the unprecedented opportunity to study real-world, multi-billion dollar business deals under the guidance of faculty members who had been directly involved with the transactions. Factor in the dynamic dialogue happening among the programme’s diverse student body, and it’s no surprise that Manish speaks so highly of his time in the programme. From MISB to the Workforce Currently working in Hong Kong at Generali Investments, Asia as part of a portfolio management team looking after an investment of US $ 800 million, Manish is responsible for investments in both government bonds and corporate credits across Asia. He credits the balanced PGPB programme with helping him learn the art of management, including for business, money and time — fundamental skills which transferred to the workplace. Manish also speaks of the healthy team spirit and work/life balance at Generali Investments, Asia. These are things that we take very seriously at MISB as well. Looking Back, Looking Ahead Manish keeps up with his PGPB classmates via phone and Facebook, and also looks forward to catching up with them at alumni mixers across the country. In fact, in addition to understanding the industry and its expectations, Manish cites maintaining these connections — as well as embracing new networking opportunities within the industry — as a critical part of creating new business opportunities.
Alumni Spotlight: Meet Smiti Mohan, Class of 2014
By now you may be wondering what MISB can do for you. While there’s no way to know exactly how the PGPB can change your life, there are plenty of people who can tell you how it changed theirs. We’re talking about our growing body of illustrious alumni. We’re pleased to be debuting a new series here at the MISB blog: the Alumni Spotlight series, in which we invite alumni to share their thoughts on what MISB means to them. We’re kicking things off by talking with Smiti Mohan, a member of our inaugural graduating class and currently a consultant with Hector & Streak Consulting Private Limited. The Route to the PGPB Smiti became a part of the MISB community in 2011 after considering MBA programs in Europe, Dubai and India. Initially drawn by SDA Bocconi’s repute and high rankings, she was further intrigued by the launch of its first international campus. She explains, It offered the best of both worlds: I got to learn about the global best practices while applying it in the ever dynamic and vibrant Indian context. When asked what prospective MBA students should look for when choosing a program, Smiti puts four things above all else: the school pedigree internationally, quality of alumni network, exposure to international corporates, and faculty profiles. She found each of these and more during her PGPB days. Finding a Home at MISB Looking back on her PGPB days Smiti says, MISB is home to me. The marketeer in me always associates the best brands to feelings, and home is the feeling I have when I hear the name MISB. Why? Because even though it’s been a year since I walked out of those gates a graduate, MISB welcomes me with open arms every single time I go back, like my family would. Smiti also values the strong friendships made during the program — friends, she says, who continue to support each other in extraordinary ways, both personally and professionally. Embracing a Bright Future After multiple offers through MISB’s campus placements, Smiti chose to pursue a career in HR consulting, where she has committed herself to learning everything she can about the business, its clients, and the industry at large. She credits MISB with significantly altering her work process — particularly the extensive soft skills learned, practiced and honed at the international level. Smiti also cites keener insights into the client’s business environment through understanding of key business performance variables and improved conflict management skills as big takeaways from the PGPB experience. She says, I think MISB taught me not only to wear but also walk around in the manager’s shoes comfortably. Today, Smiti takes great pride in being part of the PGPB-1 legacy. When I look back, she concludes, I know I will never be the same individual I was when I first walked through those gates. This is what MISB does to you. It makes you stand with your head held high; proud of your accomplishments, sure of what you’ve learnt, ready to take on whatever life throws at you because of all these people who have your back. If you have any queries or questions about PGPB and Life at MISB Bocconi, please write to Smiti Mohan at smiti.mohan@sdabocconiasiacenter.com