Aditi Sharma

Indian School of Business

“First-generation ex-military officer, pet mom, runner, and adventure seeker, navigating MBA waves at ISB.”

Hometown: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Fun Fact About Yourself:  When MBA stress started chasing me, I ran 100 kilometers including five 10 kilometer runs in September, hoping it wouldn’t catch up. Spoiler alert: it’s still chasing me and I’m still running!

Undergraduate School and Major: Uttar Pradesh Technical University, B.Tech. Electrical and Electronics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deputy Commandant, Indian Coast Guard, Supply Chain Manager-Collins Aerospace

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Indian School of Business MBA programming that led you to choose this school and why was it so important to you? The most distinguishing factor of the ISB MBA is the professionally-run Career Advancement Services team. They work with multiple stakeholders – students and corporates – to facilitate student placements and help them make meaningful shifts in their career. This is unique in the business school landscape in India and was one of the key reasons why I chose ISB for my MBA.

What has been your favourite course or extracurricular activity at the Indian School of Business? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? Running for Club President in Term 1 has been one of my favourite experiences at ISB so far. I went from drafting a manifesto that reflected my vision to flooding in boxes with reasons why I was the right candidate, to engaging with people one-on-one to garner their support. It was the ultimate icebreaker. Although I’m usually a bit reserved, the MBA journey is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, and this experience reminded me of one key lesson: whatever you do, dive in for the experience, not just the results. During the process, the support from my flatmates—who’d known me for barely 15 days—showed me the true essence of peer-to-peer support and learning at ISB, building lasting friendships along the way.

What makes Hyderabad such a great place to earn your MBA? Recently, during the ISB Leadership Summit’s keynote address by the Telangana Chief Minister, he talked about ISB students being the brand ambassadors for Hyderabad. His vision to develop Hyderabad as a $600 billion city and make Hyderabad compete with global cities like London, Paris, Tokyo and Seoul says a lot about the city’s promising future for future leaders.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been participating in anti-smuggling operations in Jakhau, a small village near the India-Pak border in Gujarat, and supporting flood and cyclone relief efforts in Murud Janjira, Maharashtra. These experiences taught me the true meaning of resilience, teamwork, and the impact of serving communities in critical times. Working alongside a dedicated team, I learned how to think on my feet, make quick decisions under pressure, and adapt to unpredictable situations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: When I got my ISB admission offer, I was ecstatic, thinking my career struggles were over. But reality hit before we joined ISB and received our pre-reads. The WhatsApp group buzzed with talk of ‘Debits’ and ‘Credits’—everyone sounded like an expert, and I was lost. While I appeared excited, I was terrified, realizing I’d be tackling accounting with CAs, statistics with IITians, and economics with DU toppers. Looking back, I believe surviving among some of the country’s brightest minds and learning from them rather than competing has been my biggest accomplishment as an MBA student.

What is your class’s favourite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? With just one year to explore this campus, we rarely venture beyond its gates, yet we’ve found our sanctuary right here: the ISB Ring Road. It’s our class’s favourite spot, where students stroll until 4 am, taking in the stunning architecture of the main building and the iconic Student Villages towers under the quiet night sky. There’s a picturesque staircase connecting the ring road to the main building. Each time I pass it, I pause, taking a moment to soak in the beauty and feel grateful to be a part of this school and this incredible cohort.

What do you hope to do after graduation? Equipped with business knowledge in my arsenal after graduation, I aim to step into senior leadership roles in corporate General Management, Operations, or Supply Chain. In the long run, I hope to support my fellow Armed Forces veterans in their transition to the MBA and corporate world, just as my seniors guided me through my journey from military to civilian life.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PGP CLASS OF 2025