Chhavi Malhotra

Indian Institute of Management, Indore

“A placid person who appreciates beauty in small things in everyday life and finds wonder in discovering new things and exploring my surroundings.”

Hometown: Faridabad, Haryana

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a Buddhist practitioner and believe in uplifting and empowering people living in a low-life state.

Undergraduate School and Major: M.Tech – Biotechnology from Amity University, Noida

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Educator, Fr. Agnel Group of Institutions

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? After living in a cocoon as an educator for 9+ years, this caterpillar wanted to break open and transform into a butterfly ready to fly and conquer the world. IIM Indore’s one-year Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) seemed to be a perfect fit. The pedagogy, which is a judicious mix of lectures, case discussions, project work, role-play, seminar presentations, management games, and simulations, would help me understand the nuances of business and transform me for leadership positions. The international module offered by SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy, would give me an opportunity to learn from professors from a foreign university, understand global business practices, and enhance my ability to work in a cross-cultural environment.

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? My favorite course so far has been Corporate Strategy. We dissect a case, analyze, and try to understand the reasoning behind a certain decision. It has helped me broaden my thought process. The professor’s way of approaching a case would open the doors of our minds and enable us to view the case from a different perspective. This has expanded my understanding of critically evaluating a business problem from multiple dimensions.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My career has had many accomplishments. For an educator, the biggest accomplishment is when their students succeed. I have mentored many students to come out of their shells and push them beyond their limits to achieve what they thought was impossible. Some students could develop their oratory skills, while some have been able to improve their academic scores. Students reaching out to you to share their achievements even after years of graduating is a testament to what I have achieved in my career.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Studying in a diverse cohort has allowed me to develop an open mind and made me receptive to the ideas of others. Having moved out of home for the first time and staying in a hostel, this program has exposed me to different facets of life. My previous experience of working with people coming from different walks of life has helped me be empathetic to the ones in need.

Another accomplishment is developing an analytical mindset through case discussions. Coming from a background where business concepts are rarely used, this program has given me a holistic understanding of business and built my self-confidence to be a future leader.

What has been your most memorable experience at IIM Indore? Why was it so special? A memory of IIM Indore that I will cherish forever is the early morning view from my room. Each morning, as I would open my window, I could see trees blowing in gentle breeze, peacocks making loud sounds… I would sit with my cup of warm water at the window and immerse myself in the beauty of nature, enjoying the fresh air. This would also be the time when I would say my affirmations for the day!

What do you hope to do after graduation? I view MBA as a worthy investment to start the next phase of my career. After graduation, I look forward to a product manager role where I can use the skills acquired in my MBA and past experience to make sound decisions and effectively communicate and collaborate with various stakeholders.

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