Shiv Shwetha Kalyanasundaram

IMD Business School

“Passionate about shaping the future with data, collective wisdom, and prudence – no crystal balls needed!”

Hometown: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Fun fact about yourself: I write poems in both English and Tamil and have won many competitions. Also, I can memorize and recite essays and even 30-minute speeches with precision. However, when it comes to reciting my own poems on stage, my mind often goes blank after the first line. This has happened to me a couple of times. Perhaps poetry is meant to be felt rather than recalled.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

1. Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
SASTRA University, India (2014–2018)

Accolades:

• Best Outgoing Student (2018)
• Best Student in the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2017)
• Dean’s Scholarship Recipient (2014–2018)

2. Master’s in Business Analytics
Warwick Business School, UK (2020–2021)

Accolades:

• Top 10% of the Graduating Cohort (2021)
• Special Appreciation for Outstanding Dissertation

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I worked as a Data Science Consultant at PA Consulting in London, where I led end-to-end data science projects for major corporate clients. In my most recent project, I collaborated with Unilever’s R&D team to develop an AI-powered engine that accelerates product innovation. I managed a global team of seven data scientists and engineers to design the data architecture and develop data science models over a unified data layer. We successfully piloted the project across two product lines.

Within a year of joining PA Consulting, I received a promotion and earned three awards for technical excellence, leadership, and collaboration in maintaining a seven-digit revenue stream. This experience reinforced my passion for using AI to address real-world business challenges and ultimately inspired me to pursue an MBA.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Instead of a traditional internship, I pursued a part-time role as a Business Development Manager at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Soil Mechanics Laboratory (LMS) in Switzerland and applied my MBA learnings in a real-world setting. I worked on bringing a groundbreaking in-situ stress measurement technology from the lab to market.

My focus was to craft a practical and scalable go-to-market strategy, conducting market analysis, mapping value chains, shaping business models, and crafting financial projections and pricing strategies. This journey continued alongside my studies from summer until February 2025. By the end, I had helped develop a comprehensive proposal that could support funding applications and industry awards, turning research innovation into a commercially viable solution.

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be joining Hexagon (Switzerland) as an Analytics Specialist through its leadership program. Based in Zurich, I will be a member of the extended management team. In this role, I will use AI and advanced analytics to improve strategic decision-making and drive impactful business outcomes, initially focusing on the Finance and HR departments.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Receiving the Nestlé Scholarship for Women 2024 and graduating with honors were significant milestones in my MBA journey, highlighting both my academic excellence and leadership abilities. I played an important role in organizing Careers Week for AI and tech companies, which connected MBA graduates with industry leaders. Mentorship has also been crucial in my experience; I provided guidance to prospective students by sharing insights from my experiences in the IMD MBA program and discussing the evolving business landscape in Switzerland.

My passion for the impact of AI on businesses led me to engage with over 40 executives, primarily through the IMD alumni network, facilitating meaningful conversations on AI adoption. The insights gained from these discussions helped shape a blueprint for AI implementation that leaders found highly relevant in their digital transformation efforts.

I am committed to empowering women in STEM, a passion that began at PA Consulting and continues today. Additionally, I delivered talks on applied AI to more than 150 academic staff and students in India, raising awareness of digital literacy and the influence of AI. Through mentorship, industry engagement, and thought leadership, I strive to make a lasting impact beyond my MBA experience.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Graduating with honors was my proudest achievement, not only for the recognition but also for the journey it represented. Coming from a technical background, transitioning into a fast-paced business program was both exciting and overwhelming. At first, I questioned whether I truly belonged. The shift from deep technical expertise to broad business decision-making felt unfamiliar, and I imposed pressure on myself to get everything right.

IMD’s leadership stream played a crucial role in helping me navigate this part of my journey. It allowed me to uncover blind spots, particularly my perfectionist tendencies, and taught me to embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it. I learned to trust myself, step outside my comfort zone, and face challenges head-on, which prepared me for what was coming after. Graduating with honors became more than just an academic milestone; it reinforced my confidence to take on leadership roles in business with conviction and to navigate complexity with a stronger sense of self.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my proudest achievements was conceptualizing and launching Data Transformation as a Service (DTaaS) at HSBC as a fresh graduate. DTaaS was an AI-powered ETL solution that cut implementation costs by 80% and reduced time-to-market by 50%. I was involved in every step, from building the prototype and securing approvals to addressing leadership concerns and ensuring a seamless rollout. Taking such an idea from concept to full-scale implementation in a complex global organization was rare, especially for someone just starting their career.

The success of DTaaS earned me four awards, including Star Performer, Innovation Star, Technologist of the Quarter, and Outstanding Performance as a Team. More importantly, it led to the creation of an internal R&D team, where I mentored eight graduates to develop six prototype solutions in less than 60% of the initially proposed timeline. When I started my career at HSBC, I had no expectations other than learning how the corporate world operates. However, I ended up providing software solutions that made a significant impact early on. This made me more ambitious and there is no going back.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose IMD for its deep, hands-on approach to leadership development. I wanted a program that did not just teach leadership in theory, but challenged me to refine it through real-world experience. IMD’s small, collaborative cohort and personalized coaching offered the kind of environment where I could navigate complex decisions, influence diverse teams, and adapt to uncertainty with confidence.

My past experiences have already shown me that leadership is built in high-pressure environments, not in textbooks. IMD stood out because of its immersive learning, where I could work on real business challenges, engage directly with global executives, and receive targeted coaching to push my growth. The strong alumni network further reinforced my decision, as I saw the kind of leaders the school had shaped.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite professor was David Bach, now the President of IMD, who taught strategy beyond the market for our cohort. The first time I attended his lecture was before I even joined IMD, at an alumni event in London. At that time, I believed that strategy was developed within a company, focusing on internal operations and market positioning. However, he introduced a broader and more dynamic perspective, emphasizing that businesses must navigate external forces such as regulations, geopolitics, and societal expectations to remain competitive, especially in today’s environment. That session left a lasting impression on me and influenced my decision to join IMD.

What made his teaching exceptional was his ability to train our minds to connect the dots. Through case discussions, simulations, and analysis of real-world news, he demonstrated how external factors shape business decisions and how leaders must anticipate, adapt, and influence these forces, as businesses are part of a larger, evolving ecosystem. His lectures were all about thinking like decision-makers in an ever-changing landscape.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Finance was my favorite course during the MBA. I have always seen finance as the strategic driving force of a company, working closely with every department to support critical decisions. What made it even more fascinating was how naturally it connected with my background in data science and AI, both relying on numbers, algorithms, and models to define real-world outcomes.

Our professor, Arturo Bris, had the ability to blend humor with practical examples that made complex concepts intuitive and engaging. More than just learning finance, I saw its impact firsthand, which ultimately inspired me to pivot my career towards applying AI in the finance sector at Hexagon after my MBA.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event was the integrative exercise, an intense and fast-paced simulation held at the end of every major milestone. Just like real-world business challenges, teams had to apply everything we had learned in finance, marketing, operations, and strategy under pressure. Beyond testing technical knowledge, it was a true leadership challenge. The complexity of the tasks meant that only a well-coordinated team, where everyone contributed as both a leader and a collaborator, could succeed.

Over the year, we faced three such simulations, each pushing us to think critically, make bold decisions, and handle uncertainty. The final exercise was a defining moment for me. Our team worked together effortlessly, like the parts of a well-oiled machine, and achieved a record-breaking score. Overall, integrative exercises epitomized the strength of experiential learning at IMD, where we were constantly challenged to apply theory in real-world scenarios, preparing us to lead with confidence in high-pressure environments.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I wish I had made more time for social connections alongside my academic growth. Coming from a non-business background, I was eager to build a strong foundation in core subjects, and with the intensity of the program, I often prioritized coursework.

If I could do it again, I would find a better balance, making space for more informal moments while still focusing on my learning. The friendships and networks built during an MBA are just as valuable as the knowledge gained, and I would have loved to be even more present to reinforce those personal connections.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Zootopia brilliantly captures the spirit of modern business, especially in the fast-evolving AI space. The story follows a determined protagonist who challenges norms, navigates uncertainty, and pushes forward despite obstacles. This reflects the AI-driven business landscape, where organizations embrace a startup mindset, relying on resilience, adaptability, and bold thinking to stay ahead. The key lesson is that those who dare to think differently are the ones who drive progress and shape the future.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? IMD has effectively integrated AI into the MBA experience through digital labs, elective courses, and industry-led lectures, providing us with hands-on exposure to AI and analytics. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of explainability in AI. Essential topics such as data privacy, ethical AI usage, and cybersecurity risks were thoroughly covered, ensuring that we understood the challenges and responsibilities associated with implementing AI in business as we prepare to take on leadership roles.

Beyond the coursework, IMD is continuously evolving its approach to AI. Starting with the next batch of students, an AI-powered app will be introduced to help facilitate more efficient revision of course material. While I did not personally use the app, I appreciate the effort to meaningfully integrate AI into the learning experience and offer it lifelong.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It is difficult to name just one, as my classmates shaped so much of my learning experience. Veronica Durando’s empathy, Jakob Johansson’s innovative ideas, and Ananya Bala’s relentless curiosity were truly inspiring. Thiago Nascimento and Beatriz Monreal brought energy to every discussion with their social skills, while Isabel Fernandez Acin’s collaborative leadership and Frederikke Due Olsen’s thought-provoking insights challenged perspectives and enriched our learning. Dimas Hardi Saputra had an incredible knack for crafting sharp presentations, and Laras Sandra Sindora was one of the kindest people in our cohort. The lighthearted conversations with Jinny Phornsaichol and Dita Amallya often led to deep self-reflection, adding another layer to my growth.

Each of them, along with many others, pushed me to think differently, collaborate better, and embrace new perspectives. Their collective strengths made this journey truly enriching.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. I aspire to build and lead high-performing teams that use AI and strong data foundations to drive business transformation in a large corporation. Eventually, I want to become a Chief Data Officer, ensuring that the data office is not just a support function but the backbone of decision-making. By fostering a data-driven culture, I aim to empower executives with reliable insights that drive growth, innovation, and efficiency. Hexagon has given me a strong start, bringing me one step closer to this goal.

2. Beyond the corporate world, I am passionate about reviving precision agriculture in India to support farmers. Traditional Indian farming was deeply scientific, but climate change and modern practices have disrupted its effectiveness. Indigenous knowledge still holds immense value. My vision is to digitally simulate and refine these ancestral methods, reintroduce native crops, and create sustainable solutions. In ancient India, food was medicine, and I hope to restore that philosophy through data-driven agriculture that benefits both farmers and food sustainability.

What made Shiv Shwetha Kalyanasundaram such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Shiv has an unquenchable thirst for learning and growing. She was always among the first to raise a hand in class with well-informed, contextualised questions and comments that would further the discussion. She was also willing to take risks and experiment with new leadership behaviours, epitomising a growth mindset and getting the absolute most out of her MBA experience.

Shiv’s passion and energy were contagious and her eagerness to adopt new ideas and develop them into something tangibly useful set her apart both as an individual and as a team player. She simultaneously took great pride in her work, while still remaining humble. For example, encouraged by our Careers’ department to prepare discussion materials for networking, she blended her own experience and her MBA learning to develop a presentation deck on how to implement and manage AI change within organisations. She then shared this deck with other students interested in using her framework for their own networking.

Shiv’s efforts were well rewarded with two outstanding career opportunities, and we are delighted that she has chosen to join Hexagon in an impactful data and AI management role.”

David Bach
President of IMD
Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy

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