Aditi Biswas

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Problem solver, compassionate leader, curious about the business world.”

Hometown: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love building LEGO models. My husband gifted me 1969 pieces (yes, the moon-landing year!) LEGO model of a NASA Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket last Christmas, and I built it in less than five hours!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pune, India for undergraduate and Purdue University for MS in Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Honda Performance Development, Design Engineer

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

I love exploring different lakes in the area via the city’s extensive bike path network! Currently, I am learning to bike in the Minnesota winter. I am also impressed by the variety of restaurants and multiple food truck festivals the city offers.

The Twin Cities is an excellent place for MBA students due to its vibrant business community. From Fortune 500 companies to small startups and social ventures, one will always find a firm from their interest area. Throughout the semester, I have visited different companies and interacted with our alumni to understand their company culture and assess my fit.

Carlson MBA spends a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites you most about your Enterprise program? I have enrolled in Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE) as it will provide me a platform to apply my strategic thinking skills for a real-world business problem. I am interested in working with clients in the nonprofit and social sectors. I am most excited about the coaching and mentoring provided by CCE’s directors and advisory board members from renowned consulting firms.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Apart from the experiential learning and location, our school’s world-class faculty and extensive alumni network were the key motives behind my decision. I was excited by the wide range of core and elective course offerings, such as management of innovation and change, responsible supply chain management, financial management, etc., that fit my career interests.

Before applying, I had reached out to Carlson School MBA alumni in the Twin Cities area to learn about their experience. All alumni equivocally acknowledged the Carlson School’s personalized and immersive education experience. Their willingness and commitment to educating me about the MBA program reflected the Carlson School’s strong relationship with its ex-students. I decided to be a part of such an open and collaborative environment.

What course, club, or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Carlson? It is hard to pick one! Out of my core classes, I enjoyed learning Economics the most. Notably, the classroom discussions on the externalities, the prisoner’s dilemma, and how it applies to the real world were intriguing. I enjoy being a volunteer consultant for the Graduate Volunteer Consultants (GVC) on the student club side. Every semester, we get an opportunity to apply our business knowledge to help local nonprofit organizations succeed. I try not to miss a chance to learn and collaborate with my talented friends from diverse backgrounds.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was a rewarding experience to be a part of the Indianapolis 500 race-winning team in 2020 at Honda Performance Development (HPD)! As a design engineer, I worked on the valvetrain and camshaft development for Honda’s IndyCar series engines. I enjoyed interacting with talented engineers in a fast-paced and challenging environment. I closely witnessed the impact of decisive leadership on the team spirit and how we went from losing the race by 0.21 seconds in the prior year to dominating the racetrack in 2020’s Indy 500 race! I am proud of my contributions to the team’s victory. I learned a valuable lesson on how a synergistic mix of effective leadership, innovative strategy, motivated employees, and a robust execution plan brings success to an organization.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My accomplishment as an MBA student is my relationships with my classmates. Every interaction with friends from my core group and cohort teach me valuable lessons. As a Forte Ambassador, I am also actively involved in creating a stronger community of women leaders at Carlson.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Carlson MBA program? Talk to different teams at the Carlson MBA program to find if it is the right fit for you. The Carlson program has a supportive and collaborative environment. Ask questions to current students and alumni to gain insights into student life. Look for the student clubs that interest you and talk to their board members to know more about the club and how you can help. If you feel unsure about your admission prospects because of ‘the one thing’ in your profile, don’t hesitate to reach out to the admissions committee, and I am sure you will find a solution!