Mandira Karmakar

University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business

“Architect and singer, Top-10 reality show finalist, Rolling Stone featured, with 100K+ social media followers.”

Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have sung for Bollywood movies and have performed across both India and the US for over 200K audiences!

Undergraduate School and Major: National Institute of Technology Rourkela – Bachelor of Architecture

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Professional Singer, Performer and Entrepreneur at the Indian Music industry

What makes Austin such a great place to earn an MBA? Austin is one of the fastest growing city in the U.S., with all big companies establishing offices or relocating their headquarters here, which makes it one of the best places offering amazing opportunities. The city’s strong business environment also promotes entrepreneurial mindset that relates with mine. Additionally if someone wants to work in the consulting or tech industry, this city has a lot of opportunities. In fact, McCombs does a great job connecting the students to  the recruiters, pretty early in the cycle.

Culturally, Austin being the live music capital of the world, offers me with the luxury to stay true to my passion while moving my professional career ahead. The city is always moving and has a vibe, be it music, food, pride parades or the football games! So, in my opinion, Austin offers the perfect blend of professional and personal growth- best of both worlds and I could not have made a better decision!

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Texas McCombs’ MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? While the career prospects, professors and ROI were the important aspects of choosing McCombs, one major criteria was the collaborative nature of the community, and I can’t stress on this enough!

I wanted to be a part of a business school that fosters growth and healthy competition without creating negativity. I spoke to around 10 people from the McCombs Ambassador Committee and two alumni and attended multiple virtual info sessions, while simultaneously comparing other programs. The clear conclusion was that Longhorns truly care – not just about each other and alumni, but also about the prospective students, which completely aligned with my values. I even received referrals from candidates of the classes of ’24 and ’25, who actively supported me throughout my admissions process! Meeting Tina Mabley and Patrick Olson during an event further solidified my desire to join McCombs. It’s that communal spirit of having each other’s backs that made all the difference for me.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Texas McCombs? While it’s difficult to choose between so many great things happening, I think the best courses for me so far have been Finance and Microeconomics, and the best club has been the Graduate Consulting Group (GCG).

Our professor, Dr. Hatfield (a Stanford alumnus), is incredibly engaging. He explains complex microeconomic concepts using real-life examples and ensures everyone participates. Having subject expertise is one thing, but keeping an entire class engaged for two hours is truly a skill worth mastering. When it comes to Finance, I have to mention that, coming from a non-finance background,I have received incredible support from Professor Joe Hahn. He’s always there to clarify every doubt I’ve had, and he’s definitely one of the most supportive professors I’ve encountered.

Apart from that, I’ve really enjoyed the sessions of the Graduate Consulting Group. I had never done a case before or even heard the term “casing.” Sitting in a room with 100 candidates from diverse backgrounds, working together to solve business problems by sharing real-life perspectives, has been really exciting. Additionally, the mentors have interned with MBB firms themselves, which brings even more confidence and makes the sessions insightful.

Also, how could I forget? Aside from all the career-related factors, the tailgates are an experience you absolutely can’t miss. They’re such a fun and unique part of the McCombs culture—definitely something that adds to the whole MBA journey!

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Texas McCombs was the right program for you? Why? While deciding on the key factors for recruitment, I relied on a couple of trusted resources. First, the school’s employment report, which showcased impressive historical data. The most effective approach, however, was speaking directly with students. I reached out to several candidates, especially international students, to understand McCombs’ recruitment scenario. I was particularly impressed by the recruitment ratio compared to other schools, and the return on investment was a major highlight for me.

Additionally, I learned that McCombs excels at bringing top consulting firms to campus for student interactions, which was important to me since consulting is my primary focus. Austin’s growing business landscape, along with the proximity of established companies in Dallas and Houston, further reinforced my confidence in McCombs’ recruitment opportunities.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I see my career as a rollercoaster ride with many ups-and-downs. If I had to pinpoint my biggest accomplishment, it would be establishing my own brand in India from scratch. Growing up in a small, remote area with limited opportunities, I worked my way up to compete on a top reality show alongside incredibly talented people. From there, I went on to perform with celebrities, sing for Bollywood, and conduct music tours that reached thousands of people globally. It took me 26 years of dedication to achieve this. Now, balancing that success while preparing for business school marks the next exciting chapter in my journey. I’m glad I’m a longhorn!

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience at McCombs successful? Looking ahead two years, I believe my MBA experience at McCombs will be successful if it brings both professional and personal growth. Professionally, I expect to gain the skills and connections needed to excel at a top consulting firm, something McCombs is actively preparing me for with its strong curriculum, renowned professors and networking events.

Personally, being part of such a diverse cohort will help me improve in areas like time management, prioritization, and relationship-building. On top of that, I’m looking forward to fully immersing myself in the McCombs culture, from engaging in football traditions to cherishing every moment spent in Rowling Hall. That blend of career advancement and personal development will make my MBA journey a success.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE TEXAS MCCOMBS MBA CLASS OF 2026