2017 MBAs To Watch: Ashima Goyal, Warwick Business School

Ashima Goyal

Warwick Business School

“Passionate, insatiable and inquisitive. Striving for challenges, solving problems and opportunities to create a difference.”

Age: 25

Hometown: Jaipur, India

Fun fact about yourself: I went to hike a difficult track in the Himalayan region of India without any winter wear and stayed overnight in a camp in freezing -5°C just to prove a point that girls are stronger than people think they are.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Computer Engineer, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Consultant, Deloitte

Where did you intern during the summer of 2016? Not yet decided

Where will you be working after graduation? Not yet decided

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Director of WBS HealthCare Case Challenge 2017 – A two-day yearly Case Study Challenge hosted by Warwick Business School and supported by GE Healthcare where more than 12 international business school teams work on the innovative solutions for the burning problems troubling the HealthCare industry.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? As part of the Operations Management project, I, with my group, decided to identify the operational challenges and recommend changes to improve efficiency for a Café where we all used to eat and hang out every day. We worked for two weeks holding discussions and interviews with the café staff. We submitted our recommendations and they actually implemented it. Witnessing the changes suggested was a great achievement. Oh, we did get the highest marks in the assignment as well.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Establishing my own CSR “Mighty Angels” while I was working with Deloitte in India. “Mighty Angels” was targeted at betterment of women and girls living in shelter homes of Delhi NCR region. I, with a group of volunteers, designed and conceptualized a year-round program aimed at imparting vocational training, self-defence techniques, basic elementary education and instilling motivation. Over 1000 women and girls benefitted from this program over 3 years and even though I am not around, my team is taking this program forward.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? John Colley undoubtedly. I never had an urge to yawn or look at my phone while he taught Strategy. I completed all my pre-readings and could not keep quiet in the lecture because that class made me realise why I am doing my MBA in the first place.

What was your favorite MBA Course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it? Leadership Plus module: I got to know most about myself when put under pressure and in difficult situations. I now know that why I am the way I am and surprisingly it is backed up by a theory.

Why did you choose this business school? I wanted to do a one year MBA program with fairly medium size cohort and rich in global representation. Warwick Business School sufficed all my criteria and I am glad I chose it.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? The ease of communication with everyone and how accessible and friendly all the staff members are. Also, the richness in MBA cohort in terms of culture, professional background and experiences makes you learn so much from everyone.

What was the most surprising thing about business school for you? The culture and warmth and the level of professionalism shown by everyone here. The personal attention given to each individual is commendable and completely reinforces the school’s commitment.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program?Be yourself. Think about how you can convince the admission committee that the future classmates will be able to learn from you as much as you can learn from them.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That the one-year MBA program usually rushes all the modules or it is not advisable. I completely disagree. It is hectic but for me as a person it’s exciting. It keeps me ticking and keeps me motivated throughout.

What was your biggest regret in business school? No regrets as of now. I wish I could extend the experience here with current class to the next year though. Also, my classmates wanted me to teach Zumba at the school and I am taking that suggestion seriously now.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admire all the women in my cohort who have given birth to babies just before coming here and some of them have their babies living with them. I think that is really admirable amidst one-year MBA program.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I was a little girl and my advice on a certain business issue was discarded quoting that I know nothing about business.”

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…opening my fitness dance studio chain.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience?

I would let the students create bizarre business plans of their own choice in collaboration with faculties for a whole week and hold a Dragon Den as a closing ceremony.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want to make my significant contribution to businesses and in turn create an impact to a larger population as a result of the change/improvisation strategically and be there to witness while it materializes. Also, I want to open my own Fitness Dance Studio in the longer run.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I want to thank God, my family and friends who have been with me through thick and thin.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? She was there not only when she was needed but also when she thought she was needed.

Favorite book: The FountainHead and Chanakya’s Chant (I have read this book 17 times and every time I read it, it gave a new perspective)

Favorite movie or television show: Big Bang Theory and House of Cards

Favorite musical performer: Maroon 5

Favorite vacation spot: Bora Bora Islands

Hobbies? Dance, Sports, writing blogs, poems and short stories and reading books.

What made Ashima Goyal such an invaluable addition to the class of 2017?

“Created a CSR programme within Deloitte called “Mighty Angels” which was targeted at the helping vulnerable women who were uneducated, homeless and has suffered abuse. This programme was run in the National Capital Region of India. Led over 150 professionals from Deloitte to design, develop and deliver the year-round activity plan including Self Defence trainings, motivational and hygiene sessions and fun activities. To date over 1000 women and girls have benefitted from the programme, even since starting the full-time MBA.”

Monica Garcia-Romero

Careers Manager

 

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: THE STORIES OF 100 EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATES FROM THE CLASS OF 2017