Kushagra Mundra

Indian School of Business

“Curious problem-solver, serial socialiser, “wannabe witty” people-centric person who thrives equally on cases, assignments, sports, cultural and parties.”

Hometown: Bhilwara, Rajasthan

Fun Fact About Yourself: A below-average dancer, yet knows 50+ signature steps (good enough to steal limelight xD); a terrible singer, yet knows lyrics of 100+ songs. That sums up my enthusiasm to try everything in life!

Undergraduate School and Major: IIT Bombay, B.Tech. (Civil Engineering)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EY Parthenon, Associate (Transaction Strategy & Execution)

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? What stood out most to me at ISB (beyond its most amazing peer group) were the experiential learning opportunities. Programs like Shadow-a-CEO, live consulting projects, study treks, and case and simulation-based pedagogy take learning beyond the classroom. It pushes students into real-world problem-solving and high-stakes decision-making. Having realised that I thrive not just in designing strategies but in executing them, this hands-on approach was a decisive factor in my choice.

Equally important was ISB’s vibrant culture of balancing intensity with celebration. In just one year, students organise 200+ events, host 300+ parties, tackle 400+ academic challenges, and discover 500+ creative ways to keep the community spirit alive, while creating infinite memories in the process. This unique blend of hustle and joy convinced me that ISB was the perfect fit.

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? It is hard to choose one, but I would say Orientation Week (O-week). In just 7 days, we went through orientations, introductory academics, a prank that had some of us in tears, sports tournaments, cultural competitions, fun games, and endless socialising. Everyone participated in everything with barely any time to prepare. In undergrad, we had a full month to rehearse for a dance competition, while here, more than fifty students from each section went on stage with just a day-and-a-half of practice. This was followed the very next day by Section’s Got Talent, Sports wars, marketing case comp, squid games and tons of other activities. The energy was chaotic, exhausting, yet very beautiful.

The biggest lesson I took away was that growth comes not from unlimited time but from stepping up when stakes are high and time is scarce. Even without perfect skills or preparation, going all in brings immense satisfaction, builds hunger to do better next time, and boosts confidence. O Week showed me that when people come together with energy and intent, what seems impossible becomes possible.

What makes Hyderabad/Mohali such as great place to earn your PGP? What makes Mohali such a great place to earn my PGP is not just the academics, but the sense of family that defines the campus. ISB Mohali is known for its closeness. People here are always there for each other, through both the highs and the lows. I have seen the campus come alive in celebration. Festivals are not just observed, they are lived in full spirit. From the colours of Onam to the rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi – from the energy of visarjan to the joy of Durga Puja and Navratri – every moment feels like home.

Even as I write this, friends are messaging me to come for the puja, while my best friend insists on teaching me garba steps for tonight’s celebration. When someone wins a national-level case competition, they are welcomed back with dhols and dancing, as if the entire campus shares in their victory. And when someone faces a low, the community shows its heart. When a classmate lost a locket gifted by his late mother, more than fifty people searched the campus premises. That kind of closeness is rare, and it is a privilege to experience.

For me, Mohali feels like the Gokuldham Society I watched growing up in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah – full of warmth, support, and joy, though with a bit more academic pressure. It is this sense of belonging that makes ISB Mohali such a special place to pursue my PGP

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been my journey of preparing for the IIT JEE at Kota, one of the toughest exams in the world. I was the youngest in my family, a pampered child who had never spent a single day away from my parents until 1st April 2015. My parents were initially against sending me to Kota, but I had a zid. They eventually agreed, making what I believe was the biggest sacrifice of their lives, proving to be a sharp turning point in my life.

I still remember the day my father dropped me off. Growing up, I always thought of him as strict, someone who never expressed emotions. But as he turned to leave, I saw him crying like a one-year-old child. That moment is etched in my memory down to every microsecond. It changed me completely. I decided then that I would give my best, no matter how hard it got, so that I would never do injustice to those tears.

Kota was not easy. The pressure was crushing. Some of my friends left within weeks, some skipped classes, and others lost their way in the sudden freedom. My batch got demoted twice. I still remember scoring (–2) out of 168 in a physics test. I was nowhere close to the top 500 ranks in coaching, but I held on. I chose the right friends, drew strength from my idol Virat Kohli’s consistency, and kept working on my weaknesses. I saw intelligent peers stumble because they lacked effort, and average students rose through sheer perseverance. That was my biggest lesson: that consistency beats talent when talent stops working hard. After two years of relentless effort, I finally cleared JEE and got into my dream college, IIT Bombay. I got my dad to see the result before me, and this time! I saw him celebrating like a child, 10x happier than I was. My journey had begun with his tears and ended with his joy. It had also come full circle with my mother, who had started this journey praying in front of God for my well-being, and after the result, was again praying in gratitude and seeking blessings for the life ahead.

That journey, full of struggles and learnings, is my biggest accomplishment because it has shaped me into who I am today. It taught me resilience, the value of consistency, and the power of never giving up, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a PGP student so far: My biggest accomplishment as a PGP student so far has not been a single event or victory, but the journey of managing it all in Term 3. It was a phase where everything seemed to converge at once. We put in huge efforts for case competitions, reaching finals, but not winning. I lost one of the section wars in the very last round of a sport I was good at. I gave my all to every group assignment, yet the scores did not always reflect the effort. Academics were proving to be tougher, placement discussions started. On top of it all, our club organised five back-to-back sessions.

There were many sleepless nights, moments of breakdown, but also moments of rising up again. What made it possible was the support of people around me, who made sure that no one was left to go through it alone. And despite the intensity, I still managed to laugh, celebrate, and have fun moments with my closest friends.

For me, being able to give more than 100% across academics, competitions, clubs, and friendships without the favourable results, while still staying sane, has been transformative. It has taught me multi-tasking at an entirely new level, boosted my confidence to tackle even tougher challenges ahead, and most importantly, reminded me that it is not the wins alone that matter, but the resilience, the lessons, and the memories along the way.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? Our class’s favourite hangout away from school is Sukhna Lake. We do not go there every day, but whenever we do, it feels special. Sometimes it is for an early morning walk or run, sometimes for evening chai and snacks, and sometimes simply to sit by the water and watch the sunset after a long week. Each visit feels different. Some days it is filled with light-hearted banter and laughter, other days it turns into deeper conversations about careers, friendships, or life. We have taken countless photos, shared food from the stalls nearby, and simply enjoyed being away from the noise of academics for a while. We gather there because it offers a pause from the relentless pace of ISB. It gives us calm, space, and a chance to make memories that are all the more precious because they happen outside the classroom. That is why Sukhna Lake has become our class’s favourite hangout.

What do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I hope to channel the values that have shaped me so far – consistent effort, the ability to connect with people, and the drive to create meaningful impact – into my professional journey. I see myself stepping into a managerial role where I can solve complex business problems end-to-end. What excites me most is the opportunity to not just analyse issues, but to design solutions, align diverse stakeholders, and see those solutions come to life.

Wherever I go, I want to build strong relationships by socialising and networking because I believe people are at the centre of every success story. Over time, I aspire to grow into leadership positions where I can combine strategic thinking with execution, helping organisations navigate uncertainty, scale sustainably, and create value for all stakeholders. For me, the true measure of success after ISB will not only be career progression, but also the impact I am able to leave on people, teams, and businesses along the way.

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

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