Rewati Bulusu

IIM Kozhikode

“A Mandela artist and a closet gourmet chef, who’d like to be remembered for her work in digital well-being space.”

Hometown: Nagpur, Maharashtra

Fun Fact About Yourself: I dig Korean series, hoard Kimchi, and have a crush on Jo Jung-suk. Visiting Seoul is on my bucket list!

Undergraduate School and Major: Nagpur University, Bachelor of Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

• Employer: Digicorp Pvt. Ltd.
• Role: Product Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Kozhikode’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I think of myself as someone who is firmly rooted in Indian values but groomed and sensitized in a global corporate world. So when I read about “Globalizing Indian Thoughts” – the tagline of IIMK – it really intrigued me. The Indian ability to improvise in the form of ‘jugaad’ characterize us, helping to come up with unique solutions to deliver value to customers. With that spirit in mind, and as India turns into a global superpower, I want to learn in an ecosystem that is influenced by international perspectives through insights found in Indian realities. For these reasons, IIMK became the obvious choice for me.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Kozhikode? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? Deciding on just one favorite is a challenging task, but I must say that Managing People and Performance in Organizations truly stood out to me. As part of the course, we had the opportunity to explore psychometric tests and delve into the intricacies of various personalities. This experience has added a fresh managerial perspective to my existing knowledge and will continue to shape my future endeavors. Additionally, the pre-readings, spanning from Peter Drucker’s Managing Oneself to Frederick Hezberg’s One More Time, provided valuable insights that prompted us to deeply reflect on the reasons behind our actions.

Lesson: While I have got great 360-degree reviews during my tenure, I have learned Hofstede’s Framework for analyzing work-related values among different cultures and now know that I can create much more impact while leading larger teams.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my last role, prior to the MBA as a fintech product manager, I was entrusted to create a platform with the capability of a payment gateway like RazorpayX, and an e-wallet functionality like Paytm Wallet. This was tailored specifically for the Kuwaiti market, where digital adoption is still in its nascent stage. It was a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with prominent conglomerate and identify the market’s needs, ultimately providing seamless invoice management and digital transactions for licensed and unlicensed merchants alike. While the challenges were significant, the satisfaction of delivering value to small and medium business owners was immensely gratifying.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Historically, I’ve had reservations about delving into the realm of stocks and shares. The prospect of studying them in a classroom only heightened my existing apprehension. Surprisingly, though, my perspective has shifted over time. Now ,I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to invest in an IPO for an Aerospace company named ideaForge.

What has been your most memorable experience at IIM Kozhikode? Why was it so special? During my MBA in Kerala, I had the opportunity to experience the vibrant Vishu celebration. Vishu is a cultural festival celebrating one of the two harvest seasons in Kerala, India. The day started early with the Vishukkani, which is the first thing one sees upon waking up on Vishu day. It is a ritual arrangement of auspicious items like rice, fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, and coins, all arranged in a vessel in front of a mirror. The Sadhya (feast) is a major part of all Kerala festivals, and special dishes called Vishu Kanji, Thoran, and Vishu katta are also made. The day was filled with prayers, laughs and fun-filled activities, making it a memorable experience. It was special because it was my first time draping a saree with a golden border worn by the locals.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? My journey in the IT industry has been incredibly fulfilling, offering valuable technical expertise and the ability to navigate through uncertain situations. Nevertheless, I started sensing a growing monotony and an inclination toward staying within my comfort zone. This saturation point led me to pursue my MBA. I felt the need to learn about organizational structure, financial acumen and operational excellence in an academic setting – essentially skills needed to run the whole show on your own!

I derive a lot of inspiration from Indra Nooyi, and just like her, I want to become a visionary leader in the Product space.

DON’T MISS: MEET IIM KOZHIKODE’S PGP-BL CLASS OF 2024