Meet Duke Fuqua’s MBA Class of 2018

shashank-maheshwari-duke-fuqua-poetsandquants-classof2018

Shashank Maheshwari

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Striving to build a better world!!

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love flying aircrafts! There is nothing more serene than flying

Undergraduate School and Major: BITS Pilani, BE Electronics

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: (Sequential)

  1. Umbrella Protection Systems Pvt Ltd, Founder & CEO (2012 – 2014)
  2. Honeywell International Inc, Technology Business Partner (2014 – 2016)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I founded a venture, which designed, manufactured and distributed products that created a positive impact on the lives of people. These products and services made the lives of people simpler and more peaceful. They loved these products. There is nothing more intoxicating than knowing that people love something you built and are ready to pay for it and make it an integral part of their life. Creating such an impact in the lives of people around me has been the biggest accomplishment in my career.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Start early and reach out to as many people as possible. Talk to the admissions team, current students, and alumni to understand about the school and its culture. It is critically important to understand and reflect on what you are looking for from a business school at your current stage of career and if your target business school fulfills that. This can be in terms of your personal and professional goals during and post your MBA. It is also equally important to look into if your personality fits well with the school values. Business school is a big time money investment. You need to make sure you fit in well and have fun. I was amazed to see how responsive and supportive everyone was during my application process. Most importantly, be true to yourself and people around you throughout your application process. Personalize your application as much as possible for the admissions committee to know you well.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? When I was a kid, I once had an opportunity to interact with a Fuqua faculty member. It left a very positive and memorable impact on me. During my undergraduate days while working on different projects, I read multiple books and research work by different Fuqua faculty members. I was thoroughly impressed by the caliber, thought process and the kind of problems that the professors at the school were working on. The thought of learning from such professors instantaneously put Fuqua on the top schools of my list. Moving forward, when I connected with the students and alumni, they were very friendly and supportive. With my previous experience, I understood the importance of leadership and teamwork. With a strong focus on these attributes by the school, I realized that I could nurture these qualities at Fuqua. My decision was further reinforced and validated after I received admission. I felt extremely welcomed as part of the Fuqua family where I felt like everyone wanted to know about me. When I reached Fuqua, I was pleased to see the extremely diverse student body as I had expected. The application process including the interview at Fuqua itself was a great fun experience. I knew this was the right place for me!

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? After building a venture from scratch and working with the global top management of a Fortune 100 company, I understand the dynamics and challenges faced by a new and small ventures and the challenges faced by big Fortune 100 companies. I look forward to applying my learning from these experiences in solving industry problems. I currently look forward to consulting after my MBA.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? Someone who is goal oriented, passionate for his causes, and believes in creating impact;  Someone who takes action with strong planning.

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.