Prajoy Dutta

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

“A creator at heart, I enjoy painting a tapestry whether with words, numbers or both.”

Hometown: Pune, Maharashtra

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have always enjoyed the journey of discovering myself when I take the road less travelled. It 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.

I’m also an absolute av geek and have no qualms in admitting that I’m obsessed with everything related to airplanes and aviation. In fact, one of the highlights on my desk in my dorm room is a diagram from the industrial-design application of an airplane designed by Howard Hughes in 1944!

Undergraduate School and Major: Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Vahura, Senior Consultant (Strategic Consulting & Market Intelligence)

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Ahmedabad’s MBA programme that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, it was the opportunity to be part of IIMA’s storied and sustained legacy over the past 60+ years.

I was 15 years old when I first read a book titled “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” by Rashmi Bansal (PGP ’93). It captured the stories of 25 alumni from IIMA, and it is a book I have re-read countless times since then. However, it was the time prior to my business school applications when I finally realized that IIMA’s legacy is fortified within three key pillars: academics, alumni, and (most importantly) ambition.

Applying to and then subsequently deciding to attend IIMA was more than choosing the right B-school. For me it was the choice to be part of an ecosystem. 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 of support to prop myself up and start all over again.

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? We are just about 2.5 terms in, and it is already hard to choose any one course that has been singularly impactful in my journey here so far.

As a lawyer, one is taught about the concept of a grund norm, which is the fundamental rule that forms the underlying basis for a legal system. In a similar vein, I am increasingly discovering that the grund norm of my career lies at the heart of solving for increased trust within human interactions in business. To that end, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying our core courses on micro-economics, marketing and strategic human resource management.

What makes Ahmedabad such a great place to earn an MBA? This is, in fact, my second innings in Ahmedabad, given I had the good fortune of pursuing my undergraduate degree in the city as well. The industrious nature of the city, coupled with the fast-paced industrialization and the increasing popularity of GIFT City amongst foreign businesses, makes it an interesting time to study in Ahmedabad. Of course, one cannot discount the welcoming nature of the city and their love to experiment with food – an absolute delight for a foodie like me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While I have been fortunate to have been part of several impactful projects as a corporate lawyer and management consultant, the highlight has to be authoring the Best Law Firms to Work Report, 2022. This report was based on the first workplace culture and employee engagement survey exclusively focused on law firms in India. It brought forth the key drivers behind the “great resignation” in the post-COVID era, particularly within corporate law firms in India.

I was privileged to be part of a team that successfully executed every aspect of this initiative, right from survey design to analysis and publication of the report. While featured extensively across leading business dailies, what satisfied me the most was the subsequent impact of our work on workplace cultures across firms. Looking back, in many ways that may have been the genesis of my growing interest to solve for increased trust within human interactions in business.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: It has been building up the quiet confidence that I have the ability to get things done, no matter what the odds. I strongly believe it’s one of the most underrated aspects of what IIMA instills in each one of us, should we choose to accept it.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? It is seldom that we have gotten the opportunity to spend time outside campus. That said, the IIMA campus, especially the heritage block. It is beautiful and most of us enjoy hanging out within campus itself, either by getting together at Louis Khan Plaza or catching up at the Campus Café, that’s open until the early hours of the morning.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to go back to consulting within the realm of organizational development, with an aim to ultimately work on solving for trust within human interactions in businesses.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Ahmedabad? I would recommend every applicant to take the time to truly reflect on three fundamental “Whys”.

Why an MBA? Why now? And finally, why IIM Ahmedabad? You should invest time in the application process only when you are fully convinced of your answers to these questions. I say this because the IIMA process is slightly unlike other business schools – you have very limited time to write essays on three topics that demand a significant amount of self-reflection. Getting your three “Whys” in order would therefore help to first, structure your essays better and two, convince the interview panel that your decision to apply to IIMA is a well-reasoned one.

Being clear on the answer to your Whys also goes a long way towards retaining your conviction during the interview process. The interviews are conducted by seasoned professors and process is designed to filter out insincere applicants.

Finally, always remember to put forth your most authentic self through the entire process. Each of us has a unique path in our pursuit to reach a common goal. Celebrating and highlighting your individuality helps you stand out amongst other applicants and will go a long way towards ensuring a successful admit.

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