Kashish Krishan Sharma

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta

“Former Marine Engineer, on the fleet of tankers of International Oil Major, Chevron.”

Hometown: Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir

Fun Fact About Yourself:  State level sportsman, Trained Firefighter and Medical First-Aid Respondent

Undergraduate School and Major: BITS Pilani – BS Marine Engineering, Tolani Maritime Institute

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Second Engineer at Chevron Corporation

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? IIM Calcutta is one of the few business schools in the country to have integrated aspects of climate change and sustainable development, with the core tenets of business including financing, investment, and operations within its MBA program. Professionally, the need to decarbonize logistics and supply chains, making them more sustainable, has been a pivot in my own career. To this end, I was looking for a management program which could provide me the knowledge and framework for sustainable business and management practices. The alignment of my expectations from an MBA program and the IIM-C MBAEx program’s approach to sustainable business practices, made it my naturally preferred option.

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? One of the most interesting courses that I have pursued so far at IIM-C has been that on Human Behavior at Work (HBW), which has allowed me to understand and hone my interpersonal skills, crucial for a career in the corporate sector. My previous line of work was such that I had to spend months at-sea, isolated in the middle of the ocean, away from all forms of social interaction. This necessitated that I focus on the development of certain soft skills, to perform, collaborate and grow within an organization. The HBW course at IIM-C helped me develop critical insights and tools, useful for sharpening my interpersonal skills, communication and leadership abilities.

What has been the best part of studying business in Kolkata?IIM Calcutta is the country’s top-most business school located in the strategically important port city of Kolkata. This has provided me with the opportunity of visiting the dock systems at the port, observing their operations, and understanding their challenges. This has also allowed me to develop an overview of port management and operations in India.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have worked with Chevron for over 14 years, managing its Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) handling oil cargo operations, with an annual turnover of about $25 million, and managing a budget of $500,000 for maintenance/consumables, per voyage. At sea, the margin of error between life and death situations is very small. I have been operating at the crossroads of global geopolitics and major black swan events. During COVID-19, I was onboard for nearly nine months, ensuring oil supply continuity, while uplifting morale of the crew stranded at-sea due to lockdowns. This helped avoid potential losses worth hundreds of million dollars for the company.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest challenge as an MBA student has also been my biggest accomplishment so far. Having spent more than a decade away at sea, getting back to school, with its rigorous curriculum and hectic class schedule, seemed like a mammoth task. But I give myself credit for putting my best foot forward and successfully navigating the challenges of a business school. I devoted all my time and energies in getting abreast with the classes and the courses, while also integrating my working knowledge with the classroom teachings to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subjects.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? My favorite hangout spot must be the lake view on campus. Popular as the school with seven lakes, I usually enjoy sitting on one of the benches beside the lakes. This reminds me of the times I spent at sea, staring at the ocean, finding comfort amidst the chaos.

What do you hope to do after graduation? Post-MBA I intend to take up roles within the operations and supply chains sectors, bringing together my extensive work experience in the domain of maritime supply chains and the knowledge and skills in the domain of operations and supply chains management. I intend to integrate my working knowledge of supply chains and logistics with businesses, to create strategic value and drive competitive advantage.

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

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