Neil Nevgi

National University of Singapore, NUS Business School

“E-mobility enthusiast with an entrepreneurial mindset, driving the future of clean, connected and shared transport.”

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: From being hospitalized for severe dehydration after my first ever 10km run, I have now completed four half-marathons. Next target is to complete a full marathon in 2021 and still look photogenic at the finish line.

Undergraduate School and Major: Purdue University, Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Founding member at BatteryPool, a startup that builds SaaS platforms to manage EV fleets.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA curriculum or activities that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? With COVID impacting the way learning institutions operated, I was hesitant to join an online MBA program. I strongly believe that in-person interactions and networking opportunities make MBA degrees valuable. During my admissions journey, I observed that NUS recognized these concerns and was committed to delivering a traditional on-campus learning experience. This was made evident by their decision to delay the intake by five months. Two months into my program, nearly all my batchmates are on campus, making it easy to connect with them both inside and outside the classroom.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? Diversity. My classmates come from a spectrum of nationalities, educational backgrounds, and professional experiences. The value of this diversity is evident when my classmates are able to bring their own perspective to lessons backed by their unique experiences. For instance, during an Accounting class, a peer explained the audit services offered by their consultancy and the conflicts faced when interacting with clients, thus bringing an in-practice view to theory.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As founding member of my startup, BatteryPool, I grew the company to $40k revenue, helped raise $125k in seed capital and directly generated employment for over 20 people.

We began the business in 2019 by bootstrapping 20 vehicles to operate on a rent-to-own model. With insights into the challenges of managing EV fleets, we made a key decision to build technology products for other operators instead of being an operator ourselves. As a result of this crucial pivot, we have attracted global clients.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Since the commencement of my MBA journey, I have seized several opportunities to participate in case competitions that focus on a range of topics like supply chain resiliency, sustainability, and financial management.

What has been the biggest surprise in your first months of business school I was certainly not prepared for the number of WhatsApp groups that would be created amongst our batchmates. While it can be overwhelming to see 200+ notifications after being away from my phone for a couple of hours, the many groups are also reflective of the varied interests of the cohort. I’m glad to be a part of the informal meets and activities that are planned every week.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The majority of my career has revolved around Engineering & Operations. My recent start-up exposure taught me the necessity to build expertise on the growth side of business – specifically in Sales & Marketing. I will be able to accelerate this transformation through the NUS MBA by choosing electives that broaden my skill-sets and by learning from my talented and experienced peers.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? NTU

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