Dipan Talukdar

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta

“An optimist who believes: mathematics, logic and compassion can solve the toughest problem on Earth.”

Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal

Fun Fact About Yourself: Traveling – keeps me going. Like, literally, and metaphorically. During tough days, I keep myself motivated at work, thinking and planning about my next tour. With some divine intervention, my decade of association with Indian Oil Corporation involved a lot of travelling to the remotest parts of India. I sometimes journal my travels, to keep an account of the countless experiences that have shaped my personality over years.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Manager (Retail Sales) at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd

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? What excited me most was IIMC’s dynamic curriculum, which regularly introduces new elective courses and continually updates existing ones to reflect the latest developments. I was also particularly drawn to the Annual Business Conclave “Lattice,” which connects industry experts, academic leaders, and students to explore key trends, challenges, and innovations. Moreover, the international immersion at top European B-schools will broaden my perspective on global economic scenarios.

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? At the risk of sounding overwhelmed with 10 favorite courses so far, I am awed by all of them. However, I felt most connected to Macroeconomics, which helped me understand how the world works—from inflation to interest rates to government budgets – linking policy decisions to real-world impact and giving me a bird’s eye view. It is like solving a puzzle: lots of moving parts, but one coherent system.

What has been the best part of studying business in Kolkata? The lush greenery, the serenity surrounding the seven lakes, tea-fueled debates, and the sound of silence interrupted only by the chirpings of birds – all of this balances out the constant adrenaline rush and sleepless nights.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Early in my career in 2014–15, I voluntarily took up the responsibility as the Coordinator of Car Nicobar, A&N Islands, for the implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG Consumers Scheme. Despite significant challenges like illiteracy, lack of bank accounts, and absence of essential documents such as Aadhaar and residence proof, we steadily addressed each hurdle. After eight months of sustained effort, we achieved 100% implementation of the scheme. This whole initiative was later recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest cash benefit program by number of households.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: On the 1st week of joining as an MBAEx student, we were thrown into a grilling competition turning ideas into impact – The Start-up Garage – a virtual set-up, giving real thrill and engagement. At the end of two amazing days & two sleepless nights, filled with high-energy pitches, our team earned the 1st Runner’s up position.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? On the rare occasions when we can manage a couple of hours during weekends, we hover around the endless rows of new and second-hand bookshops at College Street. It’s a historic hub surrounded by iconic institutions like Presidency University and Coffee House, where science blends with creativity in the most seamless way possible. The place is both inspiring and humbling and truly defines what Calcutta is known for: knowledge, culture and vibrance.

What do you hope to do after graduation? Leveraging the 11 years of Oil & Gas experience, and the knowledge gained at IIMC, I hope to step into a consulting domain (management consulting and strategy consulting). I aspire to become a domain expert in energy, operations, and infrastructure, focusing on sustainability and circular economy and balancing growth with responsibility.

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

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