Meet IIM Bangalore’s EPGP Class Of 2025

“The Hogwarts of India.”

That’s how Lekha Juliana David, an EPGP student, describes the campus of IIM Bangalore. Picture sun-drenched, spacious walkways – granite walls and smooth stone floors. Clean, cool, cozy…always welcoming. Outdoors, you’ll find courtyards, gardens, and woods – green and spacious – providing a sense of peace and promise. In David’s words, the 100-acre campus is her class’s “own little kingdom.”

Personally, David enjoys the beaches near the sports ground. Her EPGP classmate, Chitrakshi Kumar, clicks off benefits like a “fully-equipped sports center and a 24-hour canteen” (that technicallyl closes at 4 a.m.). Such amenities make the IIM Bangalore campus the “place to B” as the saying goes among the EPGP Class of 2025.

“Many of us enjoy leisurely walks, badminton matches, or refreshing swims, rarely feeling the need to leave the school grounds,” Kumar adds. “In the pleasant Bangalore weather, post-dinner strolls around the campus are a cherished pastime. It not only helps in unwinding and destressing, but also gives us an opportunity to discuss the  latest cases and developments, fostering intellectual exchange and camaraderie. Living in such a green campus, who needs to visit Cubbon Park or Lalbagh for a walk?”

A PLACE TO LEARN…AND LIVE

Bharatvaaj Ravi lists the open-air theater as his favorite spot on campus. Like Kumar, he believes his surroundings enable the class to perform more successfully and connect more deeply. “Under the bright moon, during the devilish hours of midnight, a bunch of us gather there to chat about anything and everything,” he adds. “Despite the roller coaster ride of our course, this spot offers a slice of solace and a haven of peace before we dive back into the grind. It’s a place where we can unwind, connect, and recharge amidst the chaos of our MBA journey.”

Despite living on a campus described by some as an “oasis”, you’ll still find the Class of 2025 venturing beyond the gates. Right outside campus, there is Mykos, a Greek restaurant where many class members gather on Fridays, says Bhagyeshwari Chauhan. Abhishek Singh Tomar points to the Uru Brewery, though he still has a soft spot for Haneena’s on campus. At the same time, Pawan Dudeja nominates Amul, another on-campus haunt, as the class’s favorite hangout.

“The aroma of oregano and cheese simply pulls you towards it, offering a perfect place to destress with friends. We often chit-chat over a cup of tea and some delicious pizza, making it a cherished part of my IIMB experience.”

In the end, explains Saurabh Samvedi, it is more the people and the state of mind permeating the campus that makes all the difference at IIM Bangalore. “The company matters more than the location. We’re as happy in Lal Bagh Botanical Garden as we are in Hard Rock Cafe. That’s the great thing about MBA – you’re in it together. Everyone goes through the same cycles, just at different times.”

Samvedi jokingly describes his EPGP journey as “from combat boots to business suits.” Before business school, he served as a major in the Indian Army. His classmates have also left a mark before making the transition to business school. Milan Mitra, a product manager in the tech space, shepherded through several patents in HVAC installation and operation. Another product manager, Tanya Gupta, launched a new line for a SaaS platform that connected the front of house and back kitchens in restaurants. By the same token, Manan Mittal started a well-known venture at 24…and sold it five years later.

“I was following my passion for video games and wanted to build something that could increase its popularity and bring in people who had never been able to afford to play games. So, I launched The Gaming Project, India’s first Cloud Gaming Platform. Through the ups-and-downs of the startup, I was able to raise a seed round, scale the company from ideation to revenue and finally sold it to a company looking to enter the same space.”

Mittal has certainly had some thought-provoking conversations with Bhagyeshwari Chauhan. After earning an engineering degree in college, she switched to marketing, eventually advising early-stage startups. Sidhant Goel, a Level III CFA, was fast-tracked to senior consultant at PwC India, even earning high praise from the CEO of one of the world’s biggest communications companies. And Lekha Juliana David takes pride in rising up the ranks of the male-dominated automotive industry over eight years, topping out as a lead engineer at the Ford Motor Company.

“I have worked across some of the world’s largest companies: Ford, Renault, and Stellantis (Fiat-Chrysler). I  have managed both technical and leadership positions for one the most consequential technology for the industry’s future (AD-ADAS: Autonomous Drive – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). I have also developed a range of products and automation tools that were used globally, pushing the technology forward while saving costs.”

MAJOR CAREER PIVOTS

In high school, Swapnil Kumar dreamed of following his father’s footsteps and enlisting in the Indian military. Unable to become an Air Force fighter pilot, he pivoted to the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), which paved his way to becoming a scientist.

“I was directly absorbed into the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organization) largest center responsible for Launch Vehicle (Rockets) development. Serving there was a dream come true. I feel privileged to have had the chance to serve where great leaders like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam have served.”

Pawan Dudeja represents another story of a successful career switch in the EPGP Class of 2025. After earning a degree in Civil Engineering, Dudeja decided to pursue a career in finance. Clearly, he knows how to make an impression. His lack of finance expeience was offset by his insightfulness as he landed a position with Apollo Global Management, the world’s third-largest private equity firm.

“I quickly adapted and demonstrated my capabilities, handling one of their largest portfolios,” Dudeja explains. “Within just one year of joining as an Associate, I was promoted to Associate Director. This promotion was a significant milestone for me, as it validated my ability to excel in a new industry and instilled a lot of confidence in myself.”

STARTING FROM SCRATCH AND MAKING SOMETHING BIG

No one would be surprised that Chitrakshi Kumar ended up on the IIM Bangalore campus, which the New York Times Style Magazine named one of the “25 Most Significant Works of Post-War Architecture”. After all, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a master’s in Urban Planning. Her biggest achievement, she says, was developing skills that prepared her to excel at IIM Bangalore.

“After completing my master’s, I joined Godrej Properties, South Zone, in Design Strategy,” Kumar tells P&Q. “As the youngest member of my team, I led my first project, which involved developing over 1,500 residences and earned the Best Design Initiative award. With the support of my managers, I led Design Management for the project, overseeing everything from technical due diligence to construction documentation. This challenging yet rewarding experience allowed me to work with cross-functional teams of internal and external stakeholders, significantly honing my interpersonal and leadership skills. It reinforced my confidence in my ability to perform as an efficient business manager, adept at navigating complex demands.”

Most recently, Abhishek Singh Tomar worked for Torrent Pharmaceutics as the deputy general manager in the Office of CSO. Before that, he worked in the CEO’s office at Medikabazaar, a $650 million dollar B2B health-tech firm. “I led an 8-member team to establish India’s first online platform for buying and selling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This involved working directly with the CEO and presenting our progress and strategic plans to the Board of Directors. Our platform was designed to streamline the procurement process for mid-to-small sized pharmaceutical companies, ensuring timely access to high-quality APIs. Through our collaborative efforts, we successfully launched the platform, which achieved a monthly revenue of $2 million. Our work not only transformed the way APIs are traded in India, but also set a new standard for efficiency and transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain, which is currently highly fragmented with small players.”

What does Singh Tomar do when he isn’t disrupting the healthcare industry? “I’m a certified Paraglider with 10+ solo flights and a certified Scuba Diver with 5+ diving sessions across India and Thailand. I went on a solo backpacking trip across Central Europe covering 5 countries in 18 days on my 25th birthday.”

STUDENT FAVORITES: CASE COMPETITIONS AND STRATEGY CLASS

Thus far, the Class of 2025 has kept plenty busy at IIM Bangalore, an EPGP program synonymous with academic rigor and practical experience. Bhagyeshwari Chauhan, for one, has already developed a minimum viable product (MVP) in her Entrepreneurship Management course to support elders living alone. For Pawan Dudeja, a highlight has been reaching the final round of the Trend Brewery team competition sponsored by Heineken. Manan Mittal also found these events particularly valuable after her team finished 5th in the National Case Competition for Product Management.

“The problem statement gave a blank canvas to us to be as creative as possible in coming up with a solution,” Mannan explains. “It was an exercise which allowed us to consider all the angles that a [project manager] has to look at in the real world, from customer research, to feature prioritizations, to UI/UX design. I was able to apply a lot of the learnings from my courses being taught here as well as my previous experience as a founder.”

Among the most popular courses at IIM Bangalore’s EPGP program, Competition and Strategy jumps to the top of the list. Taught by legendary professor R Srinivasan, the program exposes students to a wide range of frameworks and industries, says Abhishek Singh Tomar. Even more, the course’s impact lingers far after the final exam.

“[The] course helped me look at businesses from a completely different perspective,” observes Lekha Juliana David. “It made me curious of every single product around me. When I pick up any product now, I immediately research on the business. I got to appreciate the efforts, the story, and the entrepreneurial pursuit and toil behind every product rather than just being a typical customer who buys, consumes, and forgets.”

Similarly, Chitrakshi Kumar has found that the lessons from her Entrepreneurial Management course apply to far more than simply envisioning, launching, and scaling ventures. “It taught me that even the smallest problem holds potential, every idea deserves exploration, and resilience is key to success. Embracing failure, much like successful startups, is crucial for achieving greatness, both for personal growth and professional achievement. [It] cultivated my creative problem-solving abilities, emphasizing the importance of turning ideas into actionable plans. Whether or not I pursue an entrepreneurial path, I’ve come to understand that innovative thinking, supported by strategic planning, is indispensable in any business venture.”

LEARNING TO LOVE CHAOS

For Lekha Juliana David, the real benefit of the EPGP program has been learning how to “celebrate chaos” – something she had avoided previously in her career. “I was shocked to realize how many cross-functional activities we had to juggle simultaneously and achieve closure in an extremely tight-paced and a high-stakes environment- which theoretically was close to impossible. Through the months, I learned to balance, embrace and frankly-to enjoy this uncertainty and juggle everything much more perfectly.”

This mastery of chaos filters into other aspecs of life, adds Bharatvaaj Ravi, a “chess master” and father of three. “I’ve been fortunate enough to manage the rigorous MBA curriculum, while not missing my twins’ first steps and milestones (which are priceless to me). Balancing the intense demands of the program, with its relentless schedule and constant pressure, often feels like madness. Despite the late-night study sessions, weekend group projects, and back-to-back classes, I make it a point to prioritize family time. This balance is my greatest accomplishment as an MBA student—proving that even amidst the chaos, I can still cherish the irreplaceable moments with my children.”

Admidst the chaos, the Class of 2025 has picked up some hobbies. Manan Mittal lists squash as his new passion. The biggest lesson: “Keep hitting the ball.” For Sidhant Goel, the stress reliever has been table tennis. “[I have] participated in multiple tournaments. Beyond the joy of the game itself, the most important lesson I’ve learned from it is the value of persistence and continuous improvement.”

Next Page: Q&A with Vanitha Anand, Senior Executive in the EPGP Office

Page 3: Profiles of 12 members of the Class of 2025