Janet Mary

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

“People describe me as a firecracker, I may appear innocent and unsuspecting, but you’ll be in for a surprise!”

Hometown: Bangalore, Karnataka

Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy dancing, right from crazy local Tapanguth, to formal Latin Ballroom.

Undergraduate School and Major: National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deputy Design Manager, Enamor Lingerie

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Bangalore’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The opportunity to learn from world-renowned faculty in such a scenic, yet familiar campus! Being in Bangalore gives me some sense of familiarity and comfort while everything else is out of my comfort zone!

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Bangalore? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? While a lot of the courses offered have been enlightening to a whole new level, participating in various competitions with my classmates and groupies has been unsurmountable in terms of learning and bonding! Any opportunity I get to academically associate with my experienced and diverse cohort is precious!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While promotions, performance incentives and media visibility have been key motivating factors, being able to support the underprivileged strata of society through providing employment to the diminishing handloom and craft industry of India has been most rewarding to me, personally.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Overcoming my own perception that I am not capable of certain things. This program at IIMB has, more than anything else, instilled deep self-belief and I feel more equipped than ever to deal with any challenge! Being the batch representative of EPGP only further drove this change!

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? HighTide, a restobar right opposite the campus entry. It is an understated venue with ample roof-top space that allows us to unwind and be ourselves!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? Being a Design Manager for the last 7 years, I have dealt with only fashion products and felt my scope was very limited in terms of what the industry had to offer. The need to widen my scope of expertise and become a generalist, led me to pursue an MBA. After graduation, I hope to explore Product in other industries like IT, education, healthcare, etc.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Bangalore? Give it your best possible shot, be extremely well-prepared and simply believe!