Meet The Indian Institute Of Management Ahmedabad MBA Class Of 2025 by: Jeff Schmitt on January 31, 2025 | 34,784 Views January 31, 2025 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Getting in? That’s the easy part. Just ask any alum from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Get to class on time? That means you’re late, they say. The level of talent around them? Humbling, they admit. The pace: turbo-charged and draining. The workload: heavy and unrelenting. Viswanath Ramaswamy, a 2024 grad and P&Q MBA To Watch, clicks off the demands: “pre-reading, case analyses, post-class assignments, unexpected quizzes, and exams.” That doesn’t include syndicate meetings, extracurriculars, or job hunting, either. However, the IIM Ahmedabad experience also simulates what it takes to be a global manager. In doing so, the one-year PGPX equips grads with intangibles that employers crave: curiosity, flexibility, and toughness – not to mention a carefully-honed instinct to support their teammates, operate as a team, and make things happen. “Coming from a background as a doctor where I was accustomed to grueling 24-hour shifts,” explains ’24 alum Ambika Nautiyal. “I thought I understood what it meant to lead a fast-paced life. However, nothing quite prepared me for the relentless speed at which life moved at IIMA. What truly astonished me, though, was how seamlessly everyone, regardless of their diverse backgrounds, managed to adapt and align themselves with this pace.” Students at Vikram Sarabhai Library A PLACE TO “DREAM BIG” Survey Indian professionals and you’ll hear IIM Ahmedabad described as the aspiration, the destination, and the standard – a stamp of approval to employers and the gold standard for leadership education in India. It is home to over 40,000 alumni, including Infoedge’s Sanjee Bhikchandan, the World Bank’s Ajay Banga, and MakemyTrip’s Deep Kalra. LinkedIn ranks IIM Ahmedabad as the 19th-best business school in the world, while the IIRF lists it as the top business school in India thanks to posting the highest marks in job placement and teaching and curriculum. This translates into an educational institution that can “open doors which seemed shut tight before,” in the words of Akanksha Airan, a member of the Class of 2025. Her classmates echo similar sentiments, bandying terms like “prestige,” “brand value,” and “rich legacy.” Prerna Gupta frames IIMA as “a place one only hears of, but never actually gets into.” For Gaurav Khemchandani , the best part of the program has been access. “IIM-A also calls in a lot of illustrious Alumni through the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (and other Research Centers) calls at campus – from the likes of Aditya Gosh to Harsha Bhogle. These speakers add a lot of perspective and add to that feeling of invincibility.” Among Class of 2025 members, there were many reasons for enrolling in the PGPX program. Monika Upadhayaya cites the one-year format that enables students to reduce tuition costs and return to their careers sooner. She also rattles off world-class faculty, active alumni network, and potent case methodology too. In the end, the real appeal of IIMA for the class was the community and capabilities to spur their growth. “For me it was the choice to be part of an ecosystem,” writes Prajoy Dutta. “An ecosystem that allowed me to dream big and take giant leaps, with the reassurance that if I were ever to stumble or falter, I would always have the reassurance of relying on the three pillars [academics, alumni, and ambition] of support to prop myself up and start all over again.” Students in front of dorm STUDENTS FROM UNEXPECTED BACKGROUNDS For class members seeking versatile and accomplished peers, the IIMA PGPX Class of 2025 is the place to be. Look no further than Dutta, a management consultant and corporate lawyer who authored the Best Law Firms to Work Report for 2022, running the process from survey design to publication. That effort personifies who Dutta is: someone who isn’t afraid to take the road less traveled and tackle daunting projects. “[This] is what led me to graduate as the first lawyer in my family, work as a corporate-commercial lawyer in the media & entertainment industry, and convert my former profession into my passion – working pro-bono with folk-artists in India (including a Padma Shri awardee) to bridge the trust deficit in their dealings with mainstream media.” In fact, there were plenty of divergent roads that led the Class of 2025 to Ahmedabad. Take Monika Upadhayaya, who previously worked in the Intelligence Bureau as an assistant central intelligence officer. “The biggest accomplishment in my career so far was getting awarded the commendation certificate from the Joint Director (Senior IPS officer), Ministry of Home Affairs (GOI), for identifying anti-national organizations and gathering real time intelligence to further generate actionable leads in Counterintelligence operations.” The backside of the Vikram Sarabhai Library at IIMA FROM ARMY BOOTS TO PINSTRIPE SUITS Ajay Chahar is transitioning from being an officer in the Indian Army. An American-trained physicist, Chahar was tapped to teach radio communications and electronics warfare to every solider in the Armoured Corps, which includes 67 regiments. “When I began, I noticed that the existing curriculum hadn’t been updated in a few years. As the new kid on the block, I was tasked with revising our training program. This involved months of diligent work, where I gathered reports from deployed units to identify knowledge gaps and integrated the latest training methodologies. Along with my fellow instructors, we developed and introduced a new curriculum that was promptly accepted and implemented within the same year, significantly enhancing the training quality for the corps.” Chahar’s classmate, Manish Kohli, also served in the Indian Army as a director in planning, strategy, and operations. Formerly a helicopter pilot, he learned leadership from being a commanding officer – and the mistakes he made by operating “strictly by the book.” “The learnings were clear, when one is leading a team, he cannot be mechanical and treat people like robots,” he explains. “The leader needs to empathize with them both personally and professionally. I changed my style of command and that did the trick. Also, in the initial six months, I was trying to copy my predecessors and follow their style of command. I learned that one cannot simply cut, copy, and paste a template. You need to devise your own methods in order to succeed.” Students at IIMA’s Student Activities Block (SAB) BRINGING GRAND THEFT AUTO VI TO LIFE Manik Garg transitioned from being a medical doctor to a general manager, leading the development and rollout of an organ transplant device that supported patients with end-stage lung diseases. Akanksha Airan, a chartered accountant, helped manage global statutory reporting for the London Stock Exchange Group. And Prerna Luthra has technically lived her dream, landing a job as a software engineer for IBM in New York City. “I had always envisioned working there, especially after their Watson computer system competed on Jeopardy,” Luthra explains. “I also always wanted to work in New York City, and when IBM leased the Astor Place building in Manhattan, it felt like a dream coming true. I would imagine myself working there day and night, not realizing that this dream would soon become a reality.” Vaibhav Kasturia, a Deloitte consultant, made his name in academia. Finding a flaw in Google’s processing of ambiguous queries, he spent three years developing a paper that was ultimately accepted at one of the world’s top conferences for data mining and analysis. In contrast, Gaurav Khemchandani won the Shipping Line Ideathon, which resulted in his elevation to being his company’s “Innovation Evangelist.” At Rockstar Games’ Indian studio, Ritwik Mukherjee was the first coder on Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated games of the year. “I poured my heart and soul into the development process, collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the industry and tackling complex challenges,” he writes. “The culmination of our efforts came when the trailer for GTA VI was released. I had already left the company by that time, but I still got goosebumps as it crossed all viewing records within hours. Seeing the trailer go viral, witnessing the overwhelming response from fans, and realizing the impact of our work was an incredibly proud moment. It was a testament to our hard work, creativity, and unwavering dedication.” Ravi J Matthai Auditorium at IIMA UNLEARNING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED Since joining the Class of 2025, Mukherjee has devoted himself to teaching mathematics to his cohort members. It is a service greatly appreciated considering the program’s rigor. Manik Garg jokes that the school means business when it comes to academics. That’s why many class members describe surviving the early months – and the confidence they gained – as their biggest accomplishments in the program. At IIMA, you not only have your academics, but there’s much more with so many events going on at any given moment; your plate is full, and you must learn how to prioritize,” Garg adds. “Through all this, I have developed better time management skills by managing a demanding schedule of assignments, readings, group projects, never-ending quizzes, and other personal commitments. The journey has further improved my analytical thinking and decision-making skills, allowing me to contribute more effectively.” It has also changed how some students view themselves, be it their capabilities or their place in the larger world. “I came from a very core government organization whose sole focus was National security,” writes Monika Upadhayaya. “From working in a high-stake environment on sensitive tasks to learning Business courses, the self-transformation I have been through is my biggest accomplishment so far. How I am redefining myself as a student, after working for over 9 years, is something I am really proud of. It is easier to learn but to unlearn and then learn takes effort and I have put all my effort into pursuing MBA so that when I look back, I could proudly say that I gave my 100%.” Students heading to class THE BEST PLACES TO HANG OUT Outside work and school, Upadhayaya describes herself as a “certified mountaineer, a biker, and an enthusiastic traveler” who has climbed Mount Fuji. Away from the business school, you can find her at Bhavesh’s Tea Shop, which has historically been a spot where IIMA students congregate for 2 a.m. brainstorms and assignments over teas and snacks. “[Bhavesh Bhai is] one of the most well-known figures on campus,” adds Ritwik Mukherjee. “We gather at his place for his famous iced tea, lemon juice, and a variety of snacks. This is where our most important and heartfelt conversations unfold. Bhavesh Bhai’s spot is more than just a hangout; it’s a cherished part of our IIM-A experience that everyone holds dear.” Another popular spot is Louis Kahn Plaza on the old campus – or LKP for short. Prerna Luthra hypes its “greenery and open space,” while Manish Kohli takes his wife and son there for walks. In fact, Ajay Chahar views LKP less as a place and more of a spirit. “Its central location makes it a natural meeting point. Whether you’re heading to the library or catching a basketball game, you’re likely to bump into someone you know. Often, these chance encounters turn into spontaneous Ultimate Frisbee sessions. The plaza serves as a vibrant crossroads where academic pursuits meet leisure, making it the ideal place for us to unwind and connect outside the classroom.” Of course, there is the Sabarmati Riverfront for a class hangout. Ambika Nautiyal, a ’24 grad, commends how clean the river is, while Akanksha Airan loves how “calm and breezy” it is – and free too! More than that, Gaurav Khemchandani adds, the riverfront reflects the biggest lessons they are gaining from their cases. “The chirpings of Flamingos, bronze-winged Jacanas and grey-headed Swamphens are music to the ears,” he writes. “More so, the riverfront is a mini-business-school where one can see food carts trying to sell food and salespersons persuading customers to buy their wares. The menus showcase how bundles are used not only by big businesses, but also by the humble businesspersons of Ahmedabad – how customer delight is always the focus and how operations must be managed because the customer won’t wait.” Next Page: An Interview with the PGPX Chairperson Page 3: Profiles of 12 PGPX Students Continue ReadingPage 1 of 3 1 2 3