Baishali Debadarshini

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

“An engineer’s mind, a storyteller’s heart, an MBA’s vision – crafting mobility solutions for better tomorrows.”

Hometown: Dhenkanal, Odisha, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: My journey began under the hood as a mechanical engineer, a passion that quickly evolved into a deep fascination with the automotive world. Now, my path accelerates at the intersection of technology and strategy through my MBA at IIMB. While my career is focused on the macro-view of mobility, my personal time is dedicated to the micro-journeys that define it: capturing stories through my camera lens, navigating new cities with just a backpack, and decoding the rich language of local cuisine. Ultimately, my professional and personal lives are driven by the same force: a deep curiosity for how the world works, connects, and moves.

Undergraduate School and Major: CET, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Maruti Suzuki India Limited – Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of IIM Bangalore’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, IIMB’s competitive advantage is a powerful two-pronged approach to learning. First, the EPGP’s smaller cohort provides unparalleled opportunity for mentorship with its world-class faculty. Second, the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) extends this classroom globally. The fact that this all takes place on a campus that’s a dream come true, right in the heart of Bengaluru’s innovation ecosystem, makes the entire package unbeatable. That combination was the deciding factor.

On a personal level, sharing this intense journey with my spouse, Rajasilpi SP, in the same batch makes the entire experience uniquely special and profoundly life-changing. Our dinner conversations have transformed into strategy debates, and we are essentially co-authoring this pivotal chapter of our lives in real-time.

What has been your favourite course or extracurricular activity at IIM Bangalore? It’s difficult to choose just one, as a powerful trio of courses has collectively reshaped my perspective on business: Competition and Strategy taught by Professor R. Srinivasan, Decision Sciences by Professor Shankar Venkatagiri, and Operations Management by Professor Tarun Jain. Together, they form a complete strategic toolkit for any future leader.

What has been the most important lesson that you have learned from it?  The most important lesson has been learning to master the three distinct pillars of successful leadership: Strategic Positioning, Analytical Rigor, and Flawless Execution. From Strategy, I learned that today’s most powerful move is often not to compete harder, but to change the rules of the game entirely. Analysing a modern disruptor like Airbnb, for example, was a masterclass in this. We dissected how their platform-based distribution model bypassed traditional hotel chains and mapped the slow incumbent response from hospitality giants, giving me a timeless framework to decode the invisible forces shaping any market.

From Decision Sciences, I learned how to complement those strategic frameworks with Analytical Rigor. It gave me quantitative tools like decision trees and optimisation to validate a strategic direction and turn ambiguity into a clear, data-backed path forward.

And from Operations, I learned the science of Flawless Execution. It provided the frameworks to analyse any system, identify the critical bottleneck, and manage capacity to ensure that a great decision becomes a smooth, efficient reality.

Ultimately, the biggest takeaway is that true leadership requires weaving all three together.

What makes Bengaluru such as great place to earn your MBA? As the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is more than just a city: it’s a living, breathing ecosystem of ambition. As India’s undisputed innovation capital, the boundary between the classroom and the industry constantly blurs. You can study a supply chain case in the morning and meet with the startup that’s disrupting that very supply chain in the afternoon. There’s an ambient energy here, you feel it in the coffee shops buzzing with entrepreneurs and in the air of constant creation. For an MBA student focused on the future of technology and mobility, being at the epicentre of the action isn’t just an advantage; it’s an essential part of the learning experience.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: From the rustic streets of Odisha to the corridors of corporate India and now to the iconic stone walls of IIM Bangalore, my journey has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence. My biggest accomplishment was forging a path in a field where few women from my background had gone before. Growing up in a small town in Odisha, pursuing mechanical engineering, a field perceived as male-dominated, required me to challenge deep-set family and societal expectations. My determination paid off when I became the only female from Odisha’s 2018 mechanical engineering batches to be placed at Maruti Suzuki.

Thriving in that environment was the next challenge. I embraced it, earning three promotions in six years and culminating in my role as Manager. In that time, I filed two patents in vehicle safety and contributed to the design and development of some of the brand’s most successful models, including the Grand Vitara and Celerio. This journey wasn’t just about professional success; it was about proving to myself and others that passion and determination can dismantle any barrier. Looking back, I feel I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My goal coming into IIMB was to dive in headfirst and make an immediate impact. This journey was validated on day one when I was awarded the EPGP Merit Scholarship upon entry. This recognition gave me the confidence to contribute more broadly, and I was soon elected to the Branding Committee. I am honoured to be part of the team entrusted with a vital mission: uphold the brand’s legacy of excellence, humanize it by showcasing our students’ incredible journeys, and amplify our story to increase its global reach.

The most fulfilling experience, however, was applying my classroom learnings directly to a real-world challenge. As part of an entrepreneurship course, I worked with Mountain Grains, a social enterprise, to launch one of their products on an e-commerce platform. Seeing our strategy translate into tangible results for a mission-driven organization was a powerful reminder of how business can be a force for good. It was more than just a course project; it was about creating a sustainable market for dedicated farmers in remote Himalayan villages.

What is your class’s favorite hangout away from school? Why do you gather there? For a one-year MBA student, the campus itself becomes the centre of the universe! Honestly, our favourite spots are right here on campus. They aren’t just places we go to hang out; they’re where our MBA lives actually happen. Whether it’s a brainstorming session over a great cup of coffee at Prabhakar’s, quick snacks at Mitti Café, or a late-night debate over dinner at the night canteen, these spots are our sanctuaries. They are where friendships are forged, ideas are born, and the intense pressure of the MBA is balanced with a strong sense of community.

What do you hope to do after graduation? After dedicating over six years at Maruti Suzuki to understanding the intricacies of vehicle design and development, my goal is to pivot from building the product to shaping the strategy. The EPGP is the catalyst for this transformation. I aim to take on a leadership role within the mobility sector, where I can leverage my technical foundation and newfound strategic acumen to drive innovation, lead cross-functional teams, and contribute to the long-term vision of how our world moves.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into IIM Bangalore? If you are at crossroads, wondering if this intense, year-long immersion is worth it, my answer is an unequivocal “Yes.” Four months in, I can say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made; not just for the IIMB brand, but for the learning, the people, and the version of yourself you will discover here.

My advice would be three-fold:

Start early – not just for the GMAT, but for the crucial work of introspection your story deserves.

Look beyond the score – using your essays to show the admissions committee the person your numbers can’t.

Be authentic – as they aren’t looking for a perfect candidate, but a genuine person ready to grow.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2027: STUDENTS TODAY, LEADERS TOMORROW, INNOVATORS ALWAYS

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