Mamta Kumari

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

“Shy but never shied away from taking risks.”

Hometown: Ranchi, Jharkhand

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an avid trekker and have completed many treks till date. Toughest trek I summitted was Stok Kangri, which stands at an elevation of 20,100 feet.

Undergraduate School and Major: BIT Sindri, Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Steel Authority of India Limited, Manager

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 flexibility to choose from multiple electives and opportunity to learn from some of the finest faculty were the reason I chose IIM Bangalore.

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? I enjoyed the Macroeconomics course taught by Prof Chetan Subramanyam. I was awe-struck by his ability to deliver each concept in simpler way. It is said that MBA is all about applying classroom learning into real world problems. He helped me understand the nuances of economics and how to put those classroom learnings into real world problems.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The Buddy Project. In 2012, when I joined Steel Authority of India Limited/ Bokaro steel plant, there were very few women employees in the total workforce. The majority of them were in administrative role as working on shop floor in a male-dominated industry had its own set of challenges. And with each passing year, more and more women were opting out of shop floor roles, a necessity to ascend the career ladder.

I tried to understand the challenges faced by women on the shop floor and the rationale behind the department switch. Ultimately, I came up with a program called “Buddy Project”. Under this project, each junior was mapped with a senior so that they get their issues addressed. This also gave the young women confidence and moral boost to not only stay but also thrive in their jobs. Over the years, I saw the women working on shop floor increase in number.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: After 11-year hiatus having hit the plateau of learning, I was anxious of future. I wanted to explore new career options, but was equally apprehensive of the effort I had to put in given the comfort zone I was in. However, the idea of sharing the classroom with the country’s brightest mind excited me enough to break the mental barrier of self-doubt.  I think, for me, that was the biggest accomplishment.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? It has been almost three months in Bangalore and all I was having was South Indian food. I just wanted to take a break and give a nice north Indian treat to my palate. That is when I discovered Rakshana Bakery. So, if you don’t find me in class, you know where to look for me!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? In 10 years of work experience, I have worked at two different manufacturing industries. Initially, I worked for automobile industry as production engineer for engine assembly line and then, joined Steel industry and currently serving as technology consultant. As a tech consultant, I was responsible for providing solutions for issues related to process. While working on a project related to establishment of new repair line for torpedo ladle car, I gained an overview of project management, technology development, and budgeting. I felt that the analytical and problem-solving skills I’ve acquired in the past 10 years is enough for the current role. To move into the decision-making role, I needed a better understanding of the nitty-gritty of business. I researched and asked my friends to discover the right way forward. After 8 months of digging deep and understanding the various job roles available, I was convinced of pursuing MBA.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Bangalore? MBA is a big decision. So, just don’t get carried away in the tide of peer-pressure. Introspect about the reasons you want to do an MBA. Then communicate through your unique story – where you come from and where you want to go.

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