Major Saurabh Samvedi

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

“From combat boots to business suits.”

Hometown: Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I gave myself electric shocks and treated my hyperhidrosis (sweaty palms syndrome) to get into the army. My inner mad scientist took over and made this machine at home.

Undergraduate School and Major: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Bachelor of Technology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Indian Army, Major

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Bangalore’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The Comprehensive Project, hands-down. For someone like me, who came from a sector far removed from business, the opportunity to work on a live business project under the mentorship of an IIM Professor was very tantalizing. I have always believed in getting my hands dirty and this was a perfect opportunity to do so before landing up in corporate.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Bangalore? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? The study area of Decision Science was the game-changer for me. The things you can do with data, the stories you can tell, and the otherwise elusive facts that you can uncover; it is no less than magic.

What makes Bengaluru such a great place to earn your MBA? A few things, actually. Bengaluru has a young and vibrant crowd. Whether you are a start-up guy or a corporate honcho, you’ll find your type of people here. Making connections is easy and the people are very welcoming. You’ll never face a dearth of people you could turn to for assistance. In addition, Bengaluru has some great places to chill and blow some steam off. Whether you are a pub-person or a cafe-goer, you’ll find your spot in Bengaluru. And finally, Bengaluru’s core competence: The Weather. Exhilarated? Go out and enjoy the weather. Morose? Yeah, you guessed it – go out and enjoy the weather.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had a young enlisted soldier in my unit who dreamt of converting to an Officer. It would change his entire world – higher salary, higher standard of living and most importantly, higher social status. I decided to train him for the Army Cadet College (ACC) for this conversion. Although the acceptance rate for ACC is woeful – a mere 1.5%, I was confident that Satish could make it; he held a B.Sc. degree and could converse in rudimentary English (a rarity). To start with, I appointed him my Sahayak (translation – helper; authorized to every officer to help with daily tasks) – to spend more time with him. Secondly, as the Adjutant of the Battalion, I appointed Satish as my runner, to keep him in the administrative office – conversing with officers every day and understanding the functioning of the Battalion. Thirdly, I started preparing him for the subsequent Services Selection Board (SSB). I trained him for two years and in June 2022, he passed the SSB on his second attempt. He joined the ACC in December 2022, and will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in December 2026.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Just the fact that I can now tear down products to get to their absolute root, appreciate (and formulate) business strategies and marketing campaigns, and write case studies is an accomplishment in itself.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? 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.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I like to have full ownership of my projects. I hope to land up in a Product Manager role, unbounded by domain.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Bangalore? My Commander in Jammu sector, Brigadier Anil Kakade Sena Medal, would often say, “Keep it simple, stupid.” This is something that I have really grown to appreciate. Whether it be a war plan or your strategy to get into IIM Bangalore – Keep. It. Simple. Focus on GMAT. Got a GMAT score above 700? Good, now prepare your application well, give yourself time to think – at least a month. Best ideas often come when you are not stressed. Got an interview call? Great, now prepare for the interview. Focus hard on the old and the rather rambunctious question – Why an MBA? This is not only for the interview, this is for your own self; trust me, pretty soon you’ll be asking the same question to yourself! You must know yourself. Your strengths, your weaknesses, what do you bring to the class, your invaluable experience. You must look inwards, not outwards. Inside is inspiration. Outside is just noise.

DON’T MISS: MEET IIM BANGALORE’S EPGP CLASS OF 2025