Satwik Beernelly

Michigan State University, Broad College of Business

“I am a creative, analytical thinker who thrives in teams working toward data-driven solutions.”

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am always up for discussions or debates.

Undergraduate School and Major: BITS Pilani, India

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Founder, FirstKraft Private Limited

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I have always wanted to pursue an MBA focused on Supply Chain Management. MSU’s top-ranked Supply Chain program, coupled with the MSU-MBA’s team-oriented structure, was a perfect fit for my learning style and career goals.

What has surprised you the most about the Broad MBA program? The way the Broad MBA program has adapted to the current scenario has surprised me the most. I did not expect such a flawless or smooth transition. With COVID-19, Broad and students have had to adapt and pivot in unprecedented ways. Students and staff’s resilience and all our commitment toward learning have been an integral part of maintaining an engaging learning environment even in a difficult situation. I was unsure what this semester or school year would look like, but I can say that I have been pleasantly surprised and learned so much in the process. I look forward to what is in store in the coming semesters.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates’ friendly and accommodating nature has been refreshing. I expected the transition from India to the U.S. to be tough, especially with COVID-19 and virtual learning, but I have never felt left out. The sense of community that is anchored in the ongoing collaboration and teamwork within our program has allowed me to build strong connections with my classmates, even virtually.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The opportunity to create a meaningful impact on people’s lives through my NGO -SCIO Benevolent foundation has been my biggest accomplishment in my career so far. In this endeavour, we were able to help more than 33,000 people through various initiatives like career impact counseling, medical camps, and awareness camps on topics like “the importance of girl child education.”

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Establishing meaningful connections with my peers and networking with industry leaders has been one of my most significant accomplishments as an MBA student. Networking can be daunting, especially navigating this process in a new state and country. I am proud of the connections I have made and the relationships I have built. I look forward to growing my professional and personal network.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have spent the past four years of my career dedicated to entrepreneurship. Initially, I felt equipped with the proper business acumen to lead my organization. As my journey progressed, I realized the benefits of obtaining formal business knowledge to perform in competitive and fast-paced business environments.  From my MBA experience, I hope to gain real-world experiences that I would be able to leverage later in my life.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? Failing forward has been a large part of my journey toward my MBA. In my entrepreneurial endeavours, I made a couple of financial mistakes that resulted in lost profits. I learned and grew from those mistakes. In the process, I realized that I wanted to develop my business skills and understanding by going for my MBA.

Now in business school, I can make many real-world connections to my time as an entrepreneur, whether in my finance class talking about investment strategies or in supply chain talking about process optimizations. The hands-on experiential learning has allowed me to derive a better understanding of academic concepts.

DON’T MISS: MEET MICHIGAN STATE’S MBA CLASS OF 2022