Manish Kohli

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

“The yearning for learning new things never ceases.”

Hometown: Dehradun, Uttarakhand (IND)

Fun Fact About Yourself: During my tenure in Army Aviation as a helicopter pilot, I once flew into a thick cloud, completely losing orientation (worst feeling a pilot could get). Those were the most savage 30 seconds of my life where I almost said, “Hello! God!”

Undergraduate School and Major:

1. MSc (Defence and Strategic Studies), University of Madras
2. Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Communication), Dr BR Ambedkar University (Formerly Agra University)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Indian Army, Director (Planning/ Strategy / Operations)

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Ahmedabad’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?  When I grew up, the MBA in India was only synonymous with IIMA. Nothing comes close to this school when we talk management. That’s what resonated with me while I planned my transition from the military. In turn, what makes IIMA so special is the faculty and the professors, period! After joining IIMA, I realized very soon that every day in the morning, I look forward to every class when the professors stand in the well of the class and opens his bag of erudition in the most eloquent and fathomable ways. The ever-so-elusive concepts of finance, management, and marketing get unraveled in a scrutable manner through the case-based pedagogy. The academic rigor and the challenge to internalize new things every day indeed gives a new high and the aroma of IIMA is fraught with such situations. Continuous learning has been my mantra and I have always tried to learn new things. Therefore, I truly relish this environment every day. For me, the yearning for learning would only cease with my last breath.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Ahmedabad? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? As I mentioned, all the subjects get something new to the table, but Microeconomics and Financial Markets have intrigued me the most. The concepts of economics and their close intuitive linkages with the society unbraid a different visage of the subject that kept us on our toes. Numbers have also been something very special to me. Financial Markets has been a revelation that brings pure mathematics and the concepts of finance to the fore. Apart from academics, I have also enjoyed the Saturday Night parties and the Soul Curry – an initiative where the meeting of minds happens openly.

What makes Ahmedabad such a great place to earn an MBA? Ahmedabad is the city that breeds entrepreneurs. It is heartening to see housewives from middle and upper middle-class families put up their small eateriesand stalls on SBR Road on weekends to woo customers by their special Gujarati culinary skills and earn for themselves. I believe apart from the heat Ahmedabad is the ideal place for IIMA.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: They say you always pass failure on your way to success.

The most challenging appointment in any army officer’s life is that of a Commanding Officer (CO) of a unit. I took over command of my new unit and was bubbling with enthusiasm, armed with the knowledge obtained through various courses. I hoped to be an excellent CO, but within 3-4 months I realized that things were not going the CO’s way. This was because after some minor back-to-back setbacks came a rude shock of one of my troops committing suicide.

After much deliberation, I realized that I was commanding the unit strictly by the book. I was making almost no effort to connect with my command or empathize with them. Realizing my mistake, I decided to connect with my troops and Viola! things began improving.

In Aug 2020, my unit was ordered to mobilize amidst a national emergency. The unit was operationally ready within no time. The infectious enthusiasm led the advance party covering 50 Km to join the battle. However, they were stopped enroute to avoid escalation. The unit’s operational readiness was commended by all in the hierarchy and was a litmus test for the CO.

What had changed from a command failure to this success? The learnings were clear, when one is leading a team, he cannot be mechanical and treat people like robots. 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.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:  An MBA course teaches one a plethora of skills. It is not only the academic skills, but also things like time management and prioritization. Though I am learning the ropes in all spheres, I was truly humbled when I was awarded with the Entry Scholarship by IIMA. The institute recognized the diversity and the versatile viewpoint I bring to the table.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there?  The Louis Kahn Plaza on the Old Campus is a testimony to the legacy of this great institute. I thoroughly enjoy a stroll on the lawns of LKP with my wife and my 20-month-old son. Apart from LKP, the sports facilities in the college are world class. The gym, swimming pool, floodlight-lit football ground, and squash, tennis, and basketball courts are indeed envious to own by any institute. I enjoy my early morning sojourns in the sports area.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I would like to leverage the incredible platform IIMA has provided me to undertake a role in tech. Being an engineer, tech companies have a special calling for me. I would like to get a role in strategy, business development or project management where I can deliver results for the company through the skills that I have acquired. I also belong to family and relatives who are businessmen and entrepreneurs, and I would love to emulate them after gaining the relevant experience in the corporate sector.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Ahmedabad?  I would advise the MBA aspirants two things. First, get done with things (GMAT/ GRE) as early as possible to give yourself adequate time for applications and interview preparation. The last-minute rush will only worsen the situation. Second, be very, very truthful in your applications and interviews. The Profs who interview are seasoned gentlemen and ladies. They can easily see-through made-up story, so there is no point faking it. I would rather say an answer like ‘I don’t know’, would be much better than beating around the bush.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AHMEDABAD MBA CLASS OF 2025