Amravi Shah

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta

“Trying to strike the right balance between working in AI and making sure AI doesn’t replace me.”

Hometown: Borsad, Gujarat

Fun Fact About Yourself: If you walk into my room and find something handmade—high chances are, I made it. From crocheted cushion covers to hand-painted boxes in every nook and corner, I’m all about filling my space with things I love.

Undergraduate School and Major: International Institute of Information Technology, Pune – Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Data Scientist at Optum

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Calcutta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Something that made the choice of IIM Calcutta very purposeful and personal for me was the strong focus on analytics and quantitative rigor within the curriculum. Walking into the batch from a role that had everything to do with data, I was on the lookout for a place where my analytical skills would sharpen and strategic aspects of business would be a focus. It wasn’t only about knowing businesses, but deep diving in them through numbers and logic to take data driven business decisions.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Calcutta? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? I have found an inkling towards the Organization Behavior academic group. Out of all the courses offered so far, Human Behavior at Work has been my favorite. What truly fascinated me was understanding how different experiences across different life stages shape our personalities—how even childhood events can quietly influence the decisions we make today. A real eye-opener was learning about the subtle cognitive biases that guide our everyday behaviour, often without our awareness.

What has been the best part of studying business in Kolkata? There are two things that have stood out for me, the city of Kolkata itself, and our campus. Kolkata feels like a place with a soul, it has a quiet charm amidst the chaos. It doesn’t rush you, yet it makes you think. It’s a city where the past and future coexist—rich heritage tucked into every nook and corner, blending in effortlessly with the hustle of today’s day and age. It’s something you can only understand once you have experienced it. Waking up to the serene view of a lake from my room is something I really look forward to every morning. The few minutes of peace I get from watching the birds fly and ducks swim in the lake really sets the tone for the day. Between classes and amidst the constant hustle and bustle, walking by the lakes is like taking a mini pause. There’s a strange calm that keeps you grounded.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been finding the kind of work that lights me up from within—the kind where I end the day exhausted, yet genuinely excited to dive back in the next morning. It took countless trials and false starts to get here. This shift has changed the way I approach my role—not just focusing on day-to-day tasks, but thinking strategically about how my company can grow and innovate. It’s led me to work on products I deeply care about, and even file patents for ideas I’m proud to call my own.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest accomplishment and something I am proud of as an MBA student has been moving from a mindset of isolated execution to one of interconnected understanding. I used to approach tasks as standalone objectives—completing them well, but often without seeing the broader picture. Now, it’s not just about doing the work; it’s understanding the why behind it along with considering all the factors that play a role in the bigger vision. Whether it’s a marketing strategy, an operations model, or a financial decision, I’ve learned to see how each piece fits into a larger vision. That shift has fundamentally changed the way I engage—with coursework, with teams, and even with my own goals.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? Just a couple of minutes of walk from campus is a nice cozy café. It’s everything you need after a demanding day to unwind: it’s peaceful, cozy and gives you a home away from home vibe. After a hectic day when time flew by, in this café time slows down a bit. Let me not get started on the food, it’s amazing. But the hot chocolate is something I keep going back to.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I’ve always enjoyed solving complex problems—especially those that defy fixed templates. They allow me to experiment, iterate, and discover what truly works. My inclining has perfectly aligned with my work in data science, and after my MBA, I can’t wait to go back. This time the difference will be in the depth of understanding I’ve gained about how people connect with products, what truly motivates human decision-making and how they connect with products and experiences. I now aim to merge this human insight with my technical expertise to create not just intelligent systems, but intuitive ones—technology that listens, adapts, and fits seamlessly into people’s lives.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CALCUTTA MBAEX CLASS OF 2026

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