Ankita Khandelwal

Indian School of Business

“From root canals to root causes- my journey from dentistry to decision-making.”

Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Fun Fact About Yourself: My cafe bucket list is longer than my travel bucket list. I judge new cities by their best cappuccino.

Undergraduate School and Major: Masters of Dental Surgery, Manipal University

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Clove Dental, Clinic Head and Branch Manager, Navi Mumbai

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Indian School of Business’ PGP programming that led you to choose this school, and why was it so important to you? The one-year format of ISB’s PGP was the deciding factor for me. Coming from dentistry, I wanted a rigorous program that could accelerate my transition into business without taking me out of the workforce for two years. The compressed, high-intensity structure promised both depth and breadth, delivering world-class academics, leadership opportunities, and industry exposure in a single year. That balance of speed and substance made ISB the right choice for me, and living it has shown me how much transformation is possible in just 12 months.

What has been your favorite course or extracurricular activity at the Indian School of Business? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it? “Real influence isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the questions that unlock better ones.”

Leading the Healthcare Special Interest Group (SIG) at ISB has been my most energising experience so far. It was a space where my past life as a dentist met my present as a business leader. Whether curating fireside chats with industry visionaries, launching collaborations across campus clubs, or guiding classmates exploring careers in healthcare, I discovered how the real power of leadership at ISB lies in sparking meaningful dialogue.

The biggest lesson? Unlike the clinical world, where certainty is prized, business leadership at ISB is about humility, alignment, and co-creation. True progress happens when diverse voices come together, and the best ideas are revealed through shared questioning, not solo expertise. This shift has redefined my view of leadership: at ISB, it’s not about commanding the room, but about making space for others to shine.

This collaborative, inclusive approach is what makes ISB and my role as SIG lead so special. It has shown me that the most transformational growth thrives on curiosity, conversation, and community.

What makes Hyderabad/Mohali such a great place to earn your PGP? Hyderabad has been the ideal backdrop for my PGP. The campus is a melting pot of perspectives, where living and learning alongside 400+ peers pushes you to grow, no matter your background. As a former dentist aiming for impact in healthcare, I was especially drawn to Hyderabad’s proximity to leading players in pharma, life sciences, and tech. Every industry talk and competition felt plugged into the real world.

But what truly makes ISB unique is the intensity of its residential life: conversations aren’t limited to classrooms; late-night debates and project sprints make this year a transformative experience.

The result? My healthcare ambitions were sharpened, but I also learned as much from classmates in finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship as from doctors and scientists. ISB Hyderabad truly serves as both a sectoral powerhouse and a launchpad for any leader seeking growth at the intersection of ideas, industries, and impact.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment was not a number, but a moment. As a practising dentist, I once treated a patient who had hidden her smile for years due to severe dental damage. She returned weeks later—not for another appointment, but simply to thank me for giving her back her confidence. She said that she could finally eat comfortably and laugh without hesitation. That experience reminded me that real impact is measured not by scale, but by lives transformed. It continues to guide how I define success, both in healthcare and beyond.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a PGP student so far: My biggest accomplishment at ISB has been tackling Predictive Analytics in Decision Making, one of the most rigorous courses here. Coming from dentistry, I hadn’t touched quantitative subjects in over 12 years. Instead of avoiding the challenge, I leaned into it – relearning statistics and building new modelling skills from scratch. More than the grade, the real win was building the self-belief to approach problems outside my comfort zone, and proving to myself that adaptability and hard work can overcome any learning curve. That experience has not only changed how I see data, but how I see my own potential to stretch and thrive even in the most unfamiliar territory.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? Our class’s favorite hangout away from school is Niloufer Café, a place famous for its Irani chai and Osmania biscuits. It’s just close enough for an easy escape from campus, yet far enough to feel like we’ve hit pause on the PGP whirlwind. After tough weeks, we gather there to debrief and decompress, hashing out the highs-and-lows of case competitions, swapping stories, or just planning our next adventure, all over endless rounds of tea. Over time, Niloufer has become much more than a café to us; it’s become a tradition and a sanctuary. The real draw isn’t just the chai, but the camaraderie it brews, reminding us that the best memories at ISB are the ones made together.

What do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I hope to leverage my background in dentistry and my newly-honed business skills to drive innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology. My goal is to join a forward-thinking healthcare consulting or strategy team, where I can help reimagine patient experiences, optimise hospital operations, and expand access to quality care, especially in emerging markets.

Long-term, I see myself building or leading healthcare ventures that bridge gaps between medicine, technology, and business, transforming not just systems but also lives. This journey is about scaling my impact: going from individual patient care to shaping the future of healthcare delivery on a much broader canvas.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PGP CLASS OF 2026

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