Meet the MBAEx Class of 2024: Shubhankar Bhardwaj, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Shubhankar Bhardwaj

IIM Calcutta

School: City International School, Pune

“Aspiring Business Strategist with a knack for integrating technology and sustainability for a better future.”

Hometown: Patna, Bihar

Fun Fact About Yourself: In my 27 Years of existence, Calcutta is the 13th City I have lived in.

Undergraduate School and Major: SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Business Analyst at Quantiphi

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Calcutta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?  The live component of the programme really stands out for me. While the teaching methods of the programme is similar to that of the other colleges, the live project component helps me apply my learnings of class in the real world to solve business problems, ones that will actually impact firms and prepare myself better for my career before I graduate from here.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Calcutta? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? While is it difficult to choose from the many amazing courses that are taught here, my favorite would be Strategic Analysis and Choices. This course has not helped me understand how the best organizations in the world analyze their markets and make strategic choices. At the same time, we also present every case study that is taught in the class and apply our learning to answer the strategic decisions that the firm should take.

What has been the best part of studying business in Kolkata? Apart from being among the best business schools of the country, the culture and food of this city really stands out. Kolkata has a very different culture compared to many other big cities of the country and it feels like a breath of fresh air with the new experiences we get when We explore the culture, food, and history of this city.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment would be my transition from a simple business intelligence developer to consulting on business problems with international clients and help them leverage technology to improve their outcomes. This experience also proves valuable in my class where I am able to come up with innovative ideas where I can leverage technology to answer business questions that are discussed in class.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I would say that as the Strategy and Consulting Representative of the cohort, I am able to leverage my experience and learnings in the class and help my fellow students in applying strategic ideas to answer business questions.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? Park Street would be our go to place. It is centrally located and has amazing food and great legacy restaurants. Also, it is very near to many of the cultural and historical sites of the city.

What do you hope to do after graduation? Post-graduation, my hope is to work with business leaders, ideating and solving business problems with innovative solutions that only creates value for my customers but also help create a positive impact on the society and environment. With ESG and DEI necessary for building a sustainable planet for our future generations, I hope to build an expertise in it and leverage my learning at IIM Calcutta to help business leaders build a more inclusive and sustainable world.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Calcutta? Everyone has a unique story, bring out your best in your applications, prepare well, be honest and once you are here, IIM Calcutta will take of you and help you build the right set of skillsets that you need for the future you desire!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CALCUTTA MBAEX CLASS OF 2024