I
grew up in Mumbai, pursued commerce at graduation and an MBA immediately after
from NMIMS, Mumbai. A short stint in corporate finance at HUL was followed by
over 15 years in consulting with Deloitte, Avalon Consulting, and SmartAnalyst
Inc. I worked with many Indian and global clients across different industries
on projects focusing on marketing strategy and business restructuring. My
career was progressing quite successfully when an entrepreneurial opportunity
came my way. As I have always relished challenges, I quit my corporate job and
founded a venture focusing on pre-employment skilling with an ex-colleague. On
paper, our business idea was rated very highly and we attracted a lot of
interest from investors but unfortunately our implementation was faulty and we
had to wind up the venture. However, when another opportunity emerged this time
on a after school skill building program for school going children, I couldn’t
resist and set up another venture. This venture ran successfully for over 1.5
years scaling to 4 instructors and over 500 students. I had to wind up this
venture in 2011 when my application for pursuing PhD was accepted. In 2015, I
submitted my thesis and was invited to join my alma mater, NMIMS, Mumbai, as
faculty in the Strategy department. I worked with the school for 6 years
teaching in the MBA, PhD, and Executive Education programs. Over the course of 6
years I engaged with close to 2000 students and developed and delivered various
highly appreciated and sought-after courses on strategy. I was chairing the
strategy department at NMIMS when I received an offer to join IFMR-GSB, the
business school at Krea University, a young and fast-growing university. The
chance to be part of a growth story was exciting, and I moved from Mumbai to
live and work in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, where the campus is located. I
currently chair the MBA programme and also continue to teach and research in
the strategy area.
My
research and consulting interests are in organisational agility and social
entrepreneurship and I have published research papers and cases based on my
research in acclaimed domestic and international journals
Thesis on strategic agility in the retail
banking sector
As a consultant, I worked on several assignments where we advised clients on
‘Go to market’ or ‘Market Entry’ strategies. The process of opportunity
identification, assessment, and conversion into a viable business proposition
is extremely complex and time-sensitive. Many times, we faced scenarios where
the opportunity existed, but the client faced various constraints in
capitalizing on it —resources, management time, organisation philosophy, etc.
Hence, I chose strategic agility, or how organisations can build agility into
their strategy-making processes. Now, banking is a tightly regulated and
controlled industry with very little scope for creative strategy-making. But
retail banking differs from corporate banking. Retail bankers have to think
like FMCG companies to attract customers to bank with them. You must have seen
film stars, sportspersons, and celebrities endorsing bank credit cards or loans
and also being brand ambassadors for chocolates, cars, and perfumes. I found
this mindset shift in a traditional industry very intriguing and worth
researching. Also, the context was the growing intense competition between the
different banks in India—PSU, private, MNC, and cooperative banks. So, it all
came together for my dissertation: understanding how retails banks could become
strategically agile.
Teaching through interactive sessions
encouraging self-learning and case studies
In the classroom, especially in postgraduate and executive education programs,
I act more like a facilitator than a teacher. I believe that students'
retention of knowledge they discover on their own is far better than teaching
them concepts and theories. My job is to show them the path to learning. This
approach is quite intense and demanding. My preparation time for each class is
nearly double the class duration. I go through textbooks, research articles,
trending news, and social and cultural phenomena to provide a holistic view of
the topic I am touching upon. I make copious notes for each session, running
into pages which I keep updating every time I teach a course.
I prescribe pre-work before most of my classes and expect students to come
prepared to class. All my classes are extremely interactive, as I believe in
participatory and collaborative learning. I use a lot of case studies and
examples in my classes and encourage questions. I ensure that my class is a
‘safe zone’ where students can express their opinions and seek clarification
without judgment.
Family, interests and passion
I am a certified performance coach and work with managers and
business leaders to overcome any roadblocks they may have to achieve their peak
performance. I am an avid reader and love thrillers and fantasy books. I
started writing fiction recently and have published my short stories as part of
various anthologies available on Amazon. I am married to an accountant and mother
of two grown-up sons.
Experience of an MBA Area or Program
Chairperson
As an Area Chairperson, I had to focus on strengthening the various offerings
of the area in terms of courses, workshops, and executive education. As Area
Chair, I had to work closely with the faculty including visiting faculty to
support all the programs of the school, allocate courses to faculty and support
them in the development and delivery of the same.
As Chairperson of the MBA Program, I have to ensure the smooth
conduct and delivery of the program. I am the first point of contact for
students on all matters relating to their progress in the program. One of my key
activities is to ensure that the MBA curriculum is aligned with the
expectations of the corporate world, enhances students’ chances of building
successful careers, and provides them with the requisite skills and
competencies to navigate work and life. I work closely with the Student Council
and the academic administration team to ensure smooth functioning of the
program.
Things to remember as an aspiring
business enthusiast
- It is important to constantly re-skill and up-skill to stay relevant.
- Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo—in business or personal life. Get out of your comfort zone, and you will be surprised at the opportunities you discover.
- Build networks and engage with your network. Staying connected is extremely important.
Post a Comment