Arya Anand

Indian Institute of Management, Indore

“I help people bridge gaps between problems and solutions.”

Hometown: Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’d like to believe I am a good cook, using the right mix of spices in the kitchen and life.

Undergraduate School and Major: Mechanical Engineering from Chandigarh University

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Strategic Advisor at Career Builders

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Indore’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you? This is apart from the scintillating core curriculum at IIM Indore, designed to foster transformational leadership. I was impressed by the Industry Consulting Module, an opportunity to help an organization overcome a problem at hand, was one of the key reasons to take up the program.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Indore? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? I was more inclined towards strategy and aspects of sales and marketing before joining the course. However, I understood the nuances of organizational and leadership development through understanding the perspectives of working in groups and as an individual team leader/manager. Also, it strengthened my idea of fostering healthy relationships at the workplace, leading to higher engagement and motivation.

Apart from studies, IIM Indore focuses much on fostering a healthy environment, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment. A quick 45-minute workout helped me maintain my fitness goals.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Apart from joining IIM Indore, which is a golden star on my shoulder, I’ve helped hundreds of apprentices understand the nuances of sales and consumer understanding. Nothing is more satisfying than helping someone to excel in their professional space and achieve targets. I am grateful that I could add value to thousands of kids looking to carve their way into sales and marketing.

I also found myself in a position where digital transformation adoption and application helped save a business. One idea we worked on helped the organization escape troubled waters and sail again.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: One significant accomplishment could be being elected as the Branding Secretary for the EPGP program. Along with my team, we achieved colossal growth along all our social media platforms, which is a testament to the team’s sheer hard work and dedication.

The alums and program managers lauded the launch of certain first-of-its-kind branding events, which also speaks volumes about the efforts.

What has been your most memorable experience at IIM Indore? Why was it so special? The most memorable experience has been the International Immersion Program at SDA Bocconi. A shift of time zones, a shift of taste buds, a shift of cultures, and whatnot. The program has helped me understand the nuances of business in Europe, especially Italy, and helped me understand the Italian culture along with its excellence.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I plan on working on an amalgamation of my learnings at IIM Indore, along with leveraging my skills to help businesses shape the future. Many businesses I see have massive potential in terms of sizing and market cap; all they need to do is take some risks. I plan to help such businesses formulate transformation strategies and take the market head-on.

DON’T KNOW: MEET THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT INDORE EPGP CLASS OF 2024