Soham Sengupta

Indian School of Business

“Problem-solver by profession, storyteller at heart.”

Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m usually the guy dragging people into impromptu TT matches or chai breaks at 2 a.m.

Undergraduate School and Major: Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur; Civil Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: ZS Associates, Associate Consultant

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? For me, it was the one-year accelerated format combined with ISB’s strong consulting ecosystem. Coming from a consulting background in digital marketing, I knew I wanted to pivot into management consulting post-MBA. ISB’s tight linkages with top consulting firms, its alumni network, and the chance to gain breadth of exposure in such an intense, immersive year made it the perfect choice. It wasn’t just about speed—it was about maximising learning and opportunities within that year.

What has been your favourite course or extracurricular activity at the Indian School of Business? What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it?

My favourite extracurricular activity has been the O-week competitions. It was the first time we met our batchmates, got assigned to sections, and competed against the other sections across various events. This ranged from filmmaking to football to setting up food stalls and selling delicious dishes. It was the best possible introduction to ISB that we could have had.

What makes Hyderabad/Mohali such a great place to earn your PGP?

Hyderabad strikes the perfect balance between academic intensity and cultural vibrancy. The ISB campus itself feels like an oasis—serene, green, and self-contained, yet only a short ride away from the bustling city. Whether it’s exploring Hyderabad’s historic old city, savouring biryani, or just enjoying the warmth of the local culture, the city adds an extra flavour to the PGP experience that goes well beyond the classroom.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At ZS Associates, I led a marketing operations project for a global pharma client, where I was tasked with building a new system from scratch – something our firm had never done before. With no internal playbook, I trained myself outside of work hours, hired contractual developers, and rallied my team to deliver a system that was eventually scaled across the client’s markets. It was a turning point where I realised that courage and ownership often matter more than prior expertise.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a PGP student so far: So far, my proudest accomplishment has been mentoring peers through consulting case prep while also running for leadership roles on campus. ISB is designed to stretch you thin, but being able to give back to classmates, see their progress, and still pursue my own goals has been immensely rewarding.

What is your class’s favourite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? We don’t usually hang out ‘away from school’. But yes, we do hang out outside the world of academia in the quads of various friends. Often after finishing our lectures, we would gather in the quad of one of our friends and just have a good time discussing gossip about the campus, which party was the best, or maybe just questioning our life choices. But that is usually my favourite hangout time with my friends.

What do you hope to do after graduation? In the short term, I plan to join a top management consulting firm to deepen my problem-solving skills and gain exposure across industries. Long-term, my goal is to elevate Indian businesses through strategic marketing transformation, enabling them to compete globally with stronger brand building and digital adoption. ISB is my launchpad for both of these steps.

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