Oriana Rubaina Sequeira 

Warwick Business School 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I’m outgoing, creative, organised and helpful. I work hard and smart. Love adventure, fashion and food.

Hometown: Bangalore, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy travelling the world and have visited over 25 countries. I’ve dabbled in fun activities like riding an ostrich and stroking a leopard in South Africa, hot air ballooning in Turkey, attending a cooking class in Cambodia, parasailing & snorkeling in Thailand, etc.

Undergraduate School and Major: Christ University, Bachelor of Business Management with a Major in Finance.

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Goldman Sachs Services India, Asset Servicing Operations Division.

In reverse chronological order:

Team Manager

Associate

Financial Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Three months after joining Goldman Sachs, as a young Analyst, I was selected over other seniors for a three-month international assignment to migrate a part of the operations from our Hong Kong to our Bangalore office. I had the opportunity to network with senior business leaders and to master these new functions. This global exposure also gave me a chance to work with people across different cultural backgrounds. Back in India, I was responsible for setting up and training a new team and ensuring a smooth transition without any glitches. The icing on the cake was a note of commendation from our MD for a job well done.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in the program so far: I have been selected as a member of our Finance Committee from a class of 81 students. With a penchant for finance, it is my keen desire to facilitate a further academia-industry connect for WBS with the banking & finance fraternity, through the organising of events, webinars, etc.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  I would like to share my thoughts on the admissions interview. This is an extremely important process, as it is the only one that allows the selection committee to engage in two-way communication. It would be good to prepare yourself on some of the common questions that could be asked, like describe yourself, interests, and work experience. Why have you chosen to do an MBA? What interests you about this business school, and how will the program help you in your career progression?

It is essential for you to just be yourself and to project your true personality, strengths and ambitions. It is also critical to communicate what you can contribute to the program, and how you can help the university in its various extra-curricular activities. Remember, don’t over-sell yourself! Just be honest, confident and impressive, while clearly demonstrating why you should be the chosen one.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  The one key factor why I chose to do an MBA at WBS was the excellent ‘Transformational Learning Experience’ afforded by the university. This included the course curriculum, pedagogy, faculty, and the diverse cohort.

What attracted me was the unconventional modules like Innovation & Creativity, Managing in a new world, Entrepreneurship & Strategic Evaluation and a=Analysis, etc. which are subjects that would greatly equip me in today’s business world. The teaching style in the classroom, of practical learning and skill development was another key influencer. This was possible thanks to the many Professors of Practice, who combine their academic knowledge with vast industry experience. Lastly, the diverse cohort consisting of people from so many nations, cultures, industries and work experiences, would be an invaluable exposure for me.

What would success look like to you after you graduate from business school? It has always been my ambition to work in various international locations. So, success for me would be to work abroad for an investment bank of global repute in a senior front-end role, successfully leading a team of professionals, by leveraging the theoretical and practical skillsets acquired at WBS.