Chayanika Misra

“From a near-drowning experience, I became a scuba diver”

Hometown: Kolkata, India

Undergraduate School and Major: Vellore Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Technology (Electronics)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Software Engineer II, Zepto

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree?

The diversity of careers here is incredible. London has a place for every career path, whether it is finance, consulting, sustainability or tech. Many people undertake an MBA to help achieve a career transition, and London is one of the best places for that because you can move into almost any industry.

From switching roles, gaining leadership skills, growing their network or starting a business, studying an MBA in London supports all these goals. The city has a strong job market, constant networking events and access to top companies. The ecosystem of startups is big; it has many early-stage companies, accelerators and investors.

This is where Imperial fits perfectly: inside London’s innovation and tech cluster, it connects students directly with founders, VCs and industry experts. Whether someone wants to transition into a new industry, to grow faster in their current one or to build a startup, London and Imperial create the ideal atmosphere to make that happen.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Imperial Business School’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

The key part of the Full-Time MBA programme that made Imperial Business School my top choice was its STEM-driven and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The intersection of STEM and business at Imperial means that the MBA is connected to the Engineering and Computing faculties. This interconnection was so important to me because I want to create tech-driven ventures and work closely with people who understand the ins and outs of AI and product development. At Imperial, you get direct access to these communities.

Another big factor was the entrepreneurship support you can receive through the Imperial Enterprise Lab. I have already used the idea surgeries they offer, have connected with likeminded people and utilised resources that have helped me sharpen my business ideas.

On top of these extracurricular opportunities, the curriculum also provides a Global Experience Week to Chile, Kenya or Denmark that will help me understand how business is carried out in different cultural contexts. Furthermore, exchange partnerships with schools such as HEC, St. Gallen and ESADE further open the doors to global learning at Imperial.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Imperial Business School?

The module that excites me the most at Imperial Business School is Financial and Management Accounting. Professor Danielle teaches the subject like a story, which makes it easy to understand. I still remember the analogy of revenue as a pie and costs as insects eating that pie. It made accounting feel clear and memorable.

I am also very excited about my role as the President of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Careers Club. It is my first time stepping into a leadership role and organising large events. Working with a team has helped me build my management skills and confidence.

Beyond academics, I enjoy the entrepreneurship activities at Imperial. Events like Community Collider and innovation competitions such as WE Innovate give me a chance to form teams, test ideas and meet people with strong entrepreneurial energy.

These modules, clubs and activities make my MBA experience engaging and aligned with my interests in leadership and entrepreneurship.

The Imperial MBA is known to strike a balance between core business knowledge and skills that emphasize vision, judgment, and innovation. What area do you hope to strengthen during your year of business school and why?

During my year at Imperial Business School, I want to strengthen two areas that are important for my long-term goal of starting my own venture.

First, I want to deepen my core business knowledge, especially in finance. Modules such as Corporate Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital and Global Strategy will help me understand how companies are valued, how to evaluate investments and how to make strategic decisions in a global market. Coming from a technical background, building this financial and strategic foundation is very important for me.

Second, I want to build stronger leadership and team-building skills. I am already working on this as the President of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Careers Club, where I organise events and lead a diverse team. I am also learning through competitions and collaborative projects, which push me to communicate clearly, motivate people and work under pressure.

Strengthening both business knowledge and leadership skills will help me become a more confident decision-maker and prepare me to build and scale my own venture after the MBA.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026?

My unique quality is that I always push myself to grow, even when something feels uncomfortable or difficult. I used to be an introvert who avoided many new situations, but while growing in my career, I realised how important a growth mindset is. I now bring that mindset into my MBA. Whether it is pitching an idea, speaking up in class or trying something completely new, I choose to do the hard things because that is how I learn the most.

I also stay open to opportunities. An Imperial alum and entrepreneur once told me that you never know what leads to what, and I have taken that advice seriously. Even activities I used to avoid, like networking, I now approach with intention because they help me grow. This openness has already helped me meet new people, become a club leader and take part in competitions like Turner MIINT and WE Innovate.

I feel that this mix of growth mindset and openness makes me a positive contributor to the Class of 2026. It helps me support my classmates, take initiative in group work and bring curiosity and enthusiasm into everything we do together.

The Imperial MBA is also known for its strong emphasis on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Why does the program’s focus on technological insights and mindful leadership appeal to you? How have been able to leverage this approach in your career so far?

The programme’s strong focus on technology and mindful leadership compliments my technical background – an area I would like to remain closely connected to as I build on my business skills. Imperial Business School gives me the space to do that. Resources provided by both the programme and wider Imperial community offer the kind of support needed to keep my technical knowledge strong while learning how to develop my ideas into real ventures.

I have also been able to organise networking events through my leadership of the Careers Club, which helped me learn how to bring people together, network and understand how founders think. The Imperial alumni community is also full of entrepreneurial minds, and they always are willing to guide us.

When you think of Imperial, what is the first word that comes to mind? 

Collaboration. Imperial brings together people from all around the world, from many different backgrounds. My cohort is unmatched in its diversity.

On top of this, Imperial Business School provides an ecosystem where you can collaborate with engineering, medicine, design and business minds – networking, exchanging ideas and learning from each other is effortless.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest accomplishment so far is getting into Imperial and being able to do everything I had hoped to do a year ago. When I was preparing for the GMAT, I wrote in my application that I wanted to engage with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Careers Club. Today, I am the President of that club, which feels like a full-circle moment for me.

I had always been interested in investment and was doing it as a hobby, but joining the Student Investment Fund let me develop those skills in a professional way. These experiences make me feel optimistic that I am taking the right steps for my career and building the foundation I need for my future goals.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Imperial Business School’s MBA program?

I would pass on the advice that one of my seniors gave to me: “say yes to opportunities, you never know what leads to what”.

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