Meet Imperial College’s MBA Class Of 2025: Arathi Nair

Arathi Nair

Imperial College Business School 

Hometown: Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a certified advanced scuba diver (I once shared a very awkward moment underwater with a nurse shark when diving in the Maldives – it stared at me like I was trespassing in its living room! The ocean has its moments when it humbles you!)

Undergraduate School and Major: B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering, IGDTUW, Delhi

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Vice President, Goldman Sachs

What were some of the key motivating factors behind pursuing your MBA, and why did this seem like the right time for you? As a Potterhead, a favourite quote I hold from the Harry Potter series goes; ‘It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.’ The decision to pursue an MBA was rooted in the realization that my journey in software development, while fulfilling, was incomplete. You know what they say about not seeing the forest for the trees? I found myself wanting to step back from the code and see the bigger business picture. 

The lightbulb moment came with my promotion to VP. Suddenly, I wasn’t just debugging systems – I was debugging business problems. Like upgrading software, the MBA felt like the natural next step in my career. After six years of building robust systems and leading engineering teams, I wanted to build something bigger – a bridge between technology and business strategy. Imperial, sitting at the intersection of innovation and business excellence, felt like the perfect ‘development environment’ for this next phase.

What have been your first impressions of the Imperial MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Imperial story.
First impressions last a lifetime, and my cohort does not disappoint! Coming from a tech background where I was often one of few women in the room, it’s refreshing to be part of such a diverse group. Our class has everyone, from teachers to civil servants to entrepreneurs, representing over 20 nationalities (think UN but with more spreadsheets and caffeine!). The alumni are incredibly warm and driven. Despite their achievements, there’s a genuine sense of humility and a spirit of collaboration. 

My favourite Imperial moment so far happened during our first week. As part of our team-building exercises, I found myself trying to construct a makeshift tower with newspapers with my study group. There I was, the former Goldman Sachs developer who usually built digital architectures, attempting to build a physical one with office supplies! The irony wasn’t lost on us. What started as a simple exercise turned into a hilarious yet profound lesson in teamwork – our bridge might have been wobbly, but our team bonding was rock solid. It’s these moments that remind me why I chose Imperial – there’s this infectious energy that makes even the most challenging days feel like an adventure.

Aside from your classmates, what were one or two key aspects of Imperial’s MBA program that led you to choose this business school and why were they so important to you? Coming from the fintech world, I wasn’t looking for just any MBA – I wanted one that could speak both ‘tech’ and ‘business’ fluently. The school’s Imperial Innovation Challenge particularly caught my eye. Having spent years building price verification systems and optimization strategies, I was drawn to the idea of working with Imperial’s researchers to commercialize breakthrough technologies. It felt like the perfect bridge between my engineering past and business future.

But what really sealed the deal? The flexible curriculum. After years of rigid code structures and technical specifications, I loved that Imperial lets you customize your learning journey. With over 40 electives to choose from, I can deep-dive into areas like AI strategy while building core business fundamentals. It’s like having root access to your own education – you get to configure it exactly the way you want!

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA? Four months in London and I’m already living that ‘city that never sleeps’ life (sorry, New York!). One day I’m brainstorming case studies at a Canary Wharf office, the next I’m diving into product management workshops in another corner of the city. Coming from Bengaluru’s tech scene, it’s like an upgrade – the possibilities are endless!

The magic of London? Picture this; last week I found myself explaining price verification algorithms over street food in Brick Lane to a bunch of entrepreneurs in real estate. That’s London for you – where conversations about work can seamlessly transition into debates about the best Sunday roast in town! These moments can’t be scripted. The city is packed with such opportunities! Every coffee shop conversation could turn into your next big break, every meetup could spark your next big idea.

What module, club or activity excites you the most at Imperial? If you’d told me six months ago that I’d be excited about building a startup, I would have laughed in my office. Me? The structured developer? No way! Enter Imperial’s “Entrepreneurial Journey” module – this six-month program is basically a startup bootcamp. The module throws us into the deep end – from customer discovery to investor pitches. Working with a team to transform an idea into a viable business plan has sparked something I never expected. EJ pushes us to validate business ideas with real market research and user feedback. The best part? We get to pitch to real investors for a £5,000 prize. My inner engineer loves that we’re applying data-driven approaches to validate ideas, while my emerging entrepreneur self gets excited about creating something from scratch.

Looking at your admissions process, what was the moment when you realized Imperial was the right programfor you? Why? My ‘aha’ moment came during a virtual coffee chat with a current student – another developer turned MBA candidate. While I had researched all the rankings and stats, hearing her talk about Imperial’s unique blend of tech and business hit differently.

She spoke about collaborating with climate tech startups through the Enterprise Lab, and how Imperial’s deep STEM roots meant professors actually got excited when students brought technical solutions to business problems.

The deal was sealed during my admissions interview. I mentioned my work experience – and we ended up having this amazing discussion about how financial technology could transform emerging markets. That’s when I knew – Imperial wasn’t trying to churn out generic MBAs. They were building something more interesting: business leaders who could speak both languages. And that, was pretty compelling value proposition!

What are two things you have learned at your School that have surprised you so far — one academic and one non-academic? Academically – studying under professors like Jonathan Haskel OBE and Franklin Allen FBA feels like watching a live masterclass on the economy. Professor Haskel casually dropped insights from his time as the economic regulator for Stansted airport to explain user costs, while Professor Allen shared real-world examples from his time advising banks! These aren’t just theoretical frameworks – they’re living, breathing economic decisions shaping our world right now. 

The non-academic revelation hit me during our first-term group project. In my tech career, I’d always been the ‘fixer’ – give me a problem, I’ll find a solution. At Imperial, I learned to step back and listen. During one particularly heated debate about our project approach, I caught myself trying to impose what I thought was the solution. Then I paused, took a breath, and asked my teammates: ‘What are we really trying to solve here?’ That simple question changed everything. Sometimes leadership means knowing when not to jump into problem-solving mode.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. My proudest moment came in late 2023 when I was promoted to Vice President at Goldman Sachs. As India’s Regional Tech Lead in Price Verification Engineering, I led a transformation that went way beyond just writing code. My team built a new Architecture Review Board that slashed infrastructure costs by £140K annually. We also refactored the way the firm selected price vendors, saving another £194K. The numbers were great, but the real win? Watching my team of six engineers grow into confident technical leaders.

What makes this accomplishment special was proving that technical expertise and business impact could go hand in hand. Every optimization we implemented, every process we automated, showed that engineers could speak the language of business. And as someone who started as a fresh graduate writing code, becoming a leader who could bridge both worlds felt like completing the ultimate integration test – and passing with flying colours!

Looking ahead one year, what would make your MBA experience successful? Success for me looks like a three-point framework (I’m studying for consulting case interviews and those structured thinking workshops are working!).
First, I want to evolve from a tech specialist into a business leader who can drive digital transformation. Those years optimizing financial systems taught me how technology can revolutionize business – now I want to shape the strategy behind it.

Second, I’m eager to pay it forward. At Goldman, I mentored girls in STEM from underprivileged backgrounds as part of the firm’s CSR efforts. I would want to continue this impact through clubs, initiatives that bridge the gender gap in technology and business. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I want to surprise myself. Whether it’s pitching a startup idea in the Entrepreneurial Journey module (something I never imagined doing!) or discovering new passions through the modules here.

A year from now, if I can look back and see that I’ve pushed beyond my comfort zone, built lasting relationships with my amazing classmates, and found my unique voice as a leader – that’s when I’ll know this MBA journey was worth every minute.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Imperial’s MBA program? I would list out what I did: 

First up, do your research beyond just browsing the website. I connected with current students through LinkedIn, attended virtual coffee chats, and even found an alum in my Goldman Sachs office. These conversations gave me insights no brochure could offer.

Don’t try to fit some imaginary ‘perfect candidate’ mould – just be you! Imperial values authenticity – they want to know your real story. I worried my heavy tech background might be too niche, but during my interview, it sparked fascinating discussions about digital transformation in finance.

Finally, be clear about why Imperial, why now, and why you.  Communicate who you are and what drives you! Be specific – what projects were you involved in? What lessons did you learn? 

Don’t underestimate the power of preparation. Take the time to carefully craft your essays and seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or peers. Each application is an opportunity to showcase your unique perspective, so make sure you present yourself in the best light possible.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE ENTIRE IMPERIAL COLLEGE MBA CLASS OF 2025