Priyanka Gandhi

ESSEC Business School

“Always seeking to take the road less travelled… sipping coffee along the way of course!”

Hometown: Singapore

Fun fact about yourself: Growing up as a third-culture kid between Indonesia, Singapore, and Canada to Indian parents, has vastly shaped my outlook on the world and taught me the three pillars of life; family first, adversity in diversity, and the ability to find home anywhere in the world.

Undergraduate School and Degree: The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia -Bachelors of Commerce Majoring in Finance

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?
Senior Product Manager – Nordic Commercial Sales at Samsung in Stockholm, Sweden

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? NA as I am doing a 1 Year MBA

Where will you be working after graduation? As part of the 1-year Global MBA Program at ESSEC Business School, candidates complete the course at end of October. After graduation, I aim to transition into product & strategy consulting within the luxury fashion or hospitality industries. Given my passion for product management, marketing, and strategy operations in luxury – coupled with my background in premium product launches, market analytics, and global business strategy – will allow me to transfer my skills and expand my expertise making me a strong candidate for roles that require a blend of analytical rigor, product strategy and brand storytelling.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

International Experience Scholarship, Women Leaders Scholarship & High Potential Scholarship funded by ESSEC Business School 2024-2025

Harvard Global Case Competition 2025

IUCN Consulting Mission 2024

ESSEC Global MBA Ambassador

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Having participated in the Harvard Global Case Competition stands out as a key achievement. From having had the opportunity to represent ESSEC Business School and collaborating with a diverse and extremely talented team to learning how to independently work on a Mergers & Acquisition case, the Harvard Case Competition challenged me to apply strategic thinking and financial expertise on a global scale, reinforcing my ability to work under pressure and deliver impactful solutions—key skills for my future career trajectory.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? There are many aspects of my career I am proud of, doing. I have had the ability to work across different countries, covering global and regional markets, working with Finance, HR and Product Development, and Management. The most notable achievement however, has been the leap of faith I profoundly remember taking when I uprooted my life after obtaining my undergraduate degree in Australia and moved to a small town of 10,000 people called Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, Germany in 2017. Here, I pursued a graduate role at Electrolux as a Portfolio Business Analyst for the Global Product Line department.

Working for a global role directly with the director of the Global Product Line as a 22-year-old keen to learn about global market dynamics, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. Despite the fear of moving to a place completely unknown to me, where facing language and cultural barriers likely a possibility, I took a chapter from my father’s book. He has been my biggest inspiration and always says ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ – never shirking away from an opportunity that comes his way. This decision is one that I will profoundly remember for the rest of my life. It catapulted my career trajectory and landed me not only in the incredible city of Stockholm, but I was also the youngest Senior Product Manager at Samsung in the Nordics at the age of 27. Here, I independently led the commercial sales product strategy for a category of 200 products.

Why did you choose this business school? ESSEC Business School is one of the most prestigious institutions in France and is consistently ranked among the top business schools worldwide. The Global MBA program offers a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum that covers fundamental courses such as marketing management, accounting, and finance. It also offers advanced topics extremely relevant today such as sustainable transformation, digital disruption, and strategic management. This year, in particular, we have had the opportunity to participate in the Career Learning Labs, which provides an immersive experience in the industries that align with our career goals. I chose to focus on the luxury and finance concentrations as I plan to transition my career in that direction. Through the Career Learning Lab in Luxury, for example, we had the privilege of engaging with industry experts, gaining cutting-edge insights, and visiting leading companies such as LVMH Group, L’Oréal, and Ferragamo through global field trips organized by ESSEC in the UK, Italy and France. This experience has been invaluable for cohorts like me who are eager to enter the dynamic industry, effectively preparing us for our future careers, especially since I am eager to transition into the luxury industry and Paris sits in the center of it all.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Tommaso Ramus is a well renowned author who stands out as my favorite professor teaching Sustainability Transformation. His paper on “Coordinated Enactment: How Organizational Departments Work Together to Implement CSR” is especially notable. Moreover, his engaging teaching style and ability to bring sustainability theories comes to life in a way that feels both practical and personal. His class wasn’t just about frameworks, it was about real-world application, deep discussions, and connecting theory to impact.

What I appreciated most was how he managed to create an interactive learning environment that drew in even the most introverted students. His ability to spark discussions, challenge perspectives, and ensure every voice in the room was heard made his class truly unique and captivating. He also covered a diverse range of case studies from luxury to tech to manufacturing, showing how sustainability is a business imperative across industries – not just a corporate buzzword.

Beyond the content, his teaching left me with a lasting insight: sustainability isn’t just about doing good, it’s about creating value, building resilient businesses, and making strategic decisions that balance profit with long-term impact. His class reshaped how I view responsible business leadership and reinforced my passion for integrating sustainability into corporate strategy.

Tommaso’s class is also a reflection of ESSEC Business School’s mission, which is to prepare leaders that are ready to address contemporary economic, environmental, and social challenges. At ESSEC, the focus extends beyond incubating the future leader; it is also making a commitment towards social responsibility and the pursuit of transformative change in the business world through sustainable and ethical practices.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Ayse Önçüler, who is a distinguished Professor at ESSEC Business School, taught my favorite course, Decision Making and Negotiations. She earned both her Master’s and PhD degrees from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining ESSEC in 2008, she spent a decade as a faculty member at INSEAD. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on managerial decision-making, risk management, and negotiations, which she delivers across various executive education programs and company-specific workshops. Her academic research focuses on decision-making under uncertainty, with applications ranging from managerial investments to consumer behavior. Her work has been published in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Journal of Economic Psychology, and Management Science, and has been reviewed in media outlets like the Financial Times and CFO Europe.

The course was an incredibly well-structured and engaging, providing both theoretical and practical insights into how we make decisions and negotiate effectively. We explored three invaluable perspectives: Normative (how people should make decisions), Descriptive (how people actually make decisions), and Prescriptive (how to bridge the gap between rational and intuitive thinking). What made this course truly exceptional was Ayse’s passion, kindness, and professionalism. She has an incredible ability to break down complex concepts into clear, actionable strategies. Every session was a mix of theory and practice, with daily case studies that allowed us to apply what we learned in real-world scenarios.

One of the most valuable takeaways from the course was understanding that BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) is the most powerful asset in any negotiation. Even more, don’t treat negotiation as a zero-sum game, with only one party winning because it is possible to find a common ground with open communication where both parties have a win-win. Whether in corporate settings or everyday life, understanding these key takeaways will serve me with the crucial tools and confidence needed, serving me well throughout my career.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of the most enriching experiences during the Global MBA at ESSEC was the Global Field Trip to London. This trip provided an incredible opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders, explore global business trends, and gain firsthand insights into the luxury and finance world. Visiting top-tier companies such as Barclays, PUIG Group, Benefit, and Bloomberg and participating in interactive sessions allowed me to understand how businesses navigate strategy, transformation, and innovation in an international landscape.

Beyond the learning experience, what made this trip truly memorable was the networking and collaboration with classmates, professors, and industry experts.  The dynamic mix of case discussions, company visits, and cultural immersion reinforced the importance of adaptability and strategic thinking—key skills for my career aspirations. London, with its position as a global business hub, was the perfect setting to explore how luxury, finance, and consulting intersect in a rapidly evolving market. This experience also gave us insight on how to navigate the dynamic job market in London, which was truly valuable.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, it would be to take even more advantage of networking opportunities in the luxury industry. ESSEC Business School’s alumni network truly extends to every corner of the world. While I have engaged deeply with ESSEC’s ecosystem, balancing coursework, competitions, and my ambassador role, I intend to make more time for the remaining part of my MBA to put greater focus on connecting with luxury industry leaders through mentorships or hands-on projects.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Paris is the epicenter of luxury, a melting pot of art and culture, and a city that breathes history and innovation. Beyond its grandeur, what I love most was the blend of tradition and modernity—from attending fashion industry events to discovering museums and hidden cafés where artists and entrepreneurs exchange ideas. Living in Paris truly enriched my understanding of the global luxury market while also offering an unparalleled culturally diverse experience.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it?

One show that resonates with the realities of business is Succession. While it dramatizes corporate power struggles, it accurately portrays the complexities of leadership, decision-making, the delicate balance of strategy, and the importance of personal relationships in high-stakes industries. What struck me most was how emotional intelligence and long-term vision often matter just as much as financial acumen. It reinforced my belief that success in business isn’t just about making the right calls—it’s about navigating competing interests, managing egos, and building trust & resilience.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? At ESSEC, the importance and use of AI is incorporated in a wide array of courses such as marketing, digital disruption, and business strategy courses. The Global MBA also includes data science courses where we learnt how to use Tableau, Power BI, and Python. One of the most impactful experiences from Python was using AI-driven market research tools to analyze consumer trends. It helped me understand how AI can provide efficient yet deep consumer insights, allowing brands to craft more personalized experiences and predictive strategies. My biggest takeaway was that while AI is a powerful tool, its effectiveness depends on human intuition and strategic interpretation—technology alone doesn’t replace decision-making, but instead helps enhance it.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The Global MBA cohort comes from a diverse range of backgrounds from engineering to architecture to law and finance. With representation from over 20 nationalities the class has evolved into a vibrant and dynamic platform to exchange and sharing of knowledge, where I have truly gained valuable insights and skill sets from my peers, enriching my learning experience and broadening my mindset.

The classmate I admire most is Hanzhuo Zou, truly brilliant and intellectual individual with a unique ability to make even the most complex topics engaging and entertaining. His presentations are unmatched—effortlessly combining sharp insights with humor, making every session informative and enjoyable, while maintaining utmost professionality. Watching him command a room with his wit and clarity has been inspiring, and I’ve learned that business communication doesn’t have to be rigid to be impactful.

Beyond his intellect, what makes Hanzhuo truly admirable is his kindness and deep sense of purpose. While many pursue MBAs to climb the corporate ladder, he has chosen a different path—dedicating himself to NGOs and using his business knowledge to drive real change. His commitment to making the world a better place is not just talk, it’s a core part of who he is. Seeing someone with such talent and potential channel it toward meaningful, selfless work is both impressive and humbling, and I am truly fortunate to have found a friend in him.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I want to drive the major strategic transformation for a global luxury brand whether through market expansion, digital innovation, or a bold product rebranding initiative. I want to be at the forefront of shaping a brand’s future to create meaningful, sustainable high-impact. At the same time, I want to lead a diverse and cross-functional team by leveraging my global mindset and experience, which is the epitome of making impactful change for me.

Second, I aspire to gain deep expertise in the luxury industry, mastering key skills such as product strategy, brand growth, digital innovation, and business transformation. With a strong foundation in product management and market analytics, I want to refine my ability to shape luxury brands by developing strategies that drive both heritage preservation and modern consumer engagement to drive impactful strategies.

Over the next decade, I plan to work across different facets of the industry—whether through consulting, in-house strategy roles, or transformation projects—building a holistic understanding of how luxury brands evolve in an increasingly digital and experience-driven world. Eventually, my ambition is to transition into consulting at a senior level, leveraging my expertise to guide brands through innovation, expansion, and sustainable growth. The luxury industry is at a fascinating crossroads, and I want to be at the forefront of shaping its future.

What made Priyanka such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Priyanka has been an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025, bringing a strong product management background, global experience, and clear professional goals. With eight years in business analytics, market launches, and strategic sales at top global companies, she has a proven track record of driving growth and managing teams. Beyond her professional background, Priyanka stands out for her ability to connect with everyone in the cohort. She is highly sociable, fostering an inclusive atmosphere, whether in academic settings or more informal gatherings. Her teamwork skills make her a reliable and collaborative presence in group projects and activities. Having lived and worked in Singapore, Australia, the USA, Germany, Sweden, and now France, she offers a truly global perspective and multicultural adaptability. Her contributions to sessions of the Career Learning Lab in Luxury and her selection to represent the ESSEC MBA for the 2025 Harvard Global Case Competition further highlight her dedication and impact in our MBA program.”

Daphné Mathieu
Global MBA Talent Center Manager

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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