a. Why are you pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life?

While pursuing my graduation from IIT Bombay in Engineering Physics, I got exposure to a lot of business oriented activities through my internships in a couple of startups and work as coordinator for institute Entrepreneurship club. Over the graduation years, through these diverse experiences, I realized that my long term career interest lie more towards a business oriented work. While, I did feel the need for a business degree that would give me necessary knowledge and tools for a successful business career, I felt that a firsthand experience in corporate sector would really help me understand the areas of my interest and the kind of learning that I should seek in them. This led to my work experience in the field of credit risk domain in two organizations over the past 3.5 years. First experience has been in a small sized firm, named Global analytics where my work has primarily been in the field of predictive analytics and statistical modeling catering to clients in payday lending industry. After having worked in subprime markets for Global analytics for 2 years, I have been working for JP Morgan Chase, since last 1.4 years in prime markets for credit cards division in bustout fraud team. Both the work experiences have given me understanding of quantitative and strategic requirements in credit business as well as understanding of two very diverse organizational frameworks. Through a multitude of experiences, I have been able to get good direction into what I seek from a business school education. First thing that has prompted me to seek a business education has been the exposure to analytically challenging business problems and application ofvarious mathematical concepts for solving them. As part of modeling and research teams, I have built complex statistical models for building strategies and done focused research towards addressing particularly challenging data and modeling issues. But, working with highly qualified and experienced people in the field, I have felt that the actual learning that I can gain as part of work experience would only be tip of an iceberg, in comparison to what I can get by doing formal courses in quantitative methods. Moreover, doing so under the backdrop of business application is absolutely imperative for assuming thought leadership role in any quantitatively driven industry. Another thing that has prompted me to seek formal business education is my interest in understanding risk management and finance at theoretical level. Through extensive trainings in risk management, I have been exposed to various banking activities and the need and scope of risk management in it. I have learnt about credit and market risk management in activities like secured lending, corporate finance, capital structuring, interbank transactions, trade financing, transactions in foreign exchange,and other instruments like stocks, and underlying options and derivatives. Using the trainings, self-study and interactions with people working in various divisions of my organization, I have learnt about the nuances of retail, corporate and investment banking. Now I want to learn comprehensively about the field of finance as part of academics in business education. At the same time, I want exposure to general management and strategy courses, which I feel are necessary to contribute at a macroscopic level to any business. I am from an engineering background and most of my learning about various processes in the business has been on the job. I feel that only a business degree can give me the well-rounded education that I seek at this point in my career.

b. Define your short and long term career goals post MBA. After my MBA, I would like to work in a global investment bank, if possible my present employer, in the corporate finance division in US markets. This stems from my interest in getting a sound practical understanding of how corporations generate capital to run and develop business, and manage their assets. Working in an investment bank at worlds most mature markets, would provide me opportunity to comprehend the workings of capital markets, and understand complex financial transactions from capital structuring through equities, debt and securities, to mergers and acquisitions and moreover, will also give me strategic understanding of various industry sectors. Over the years, as I gain the necessary expertise, I would look to shift my base to Indian markets. With strong academic grooming at GSB and a command over my field of work, I would look to evolve into a more strategic role and have a deeper understanding of the Indian markets. My long term goal is have my own financial services firm in India which works towards raising capital investments for small to mid sized businesses. India is one of the worlds foremost emerging economies, and over the coming decades a lot of capital would be pumped into it. I want to be a part of Indias growth by specializing in the field of investment management and providing able guidance to setting up and growth of businesses in India. I would be particularly interested in working in investment sector for education industry. In a growing economy like India, education is one of the most promising sectors for investments. Currently, India has worlds largest population in 0-24 age group, numbering more than 400 Million. The task of educating such a large population is being carried out by primarily by government through its school infrastructure and large budgetary outlays. But, the supply of resources is however much below the requisite level and leaves a shortfall which would have to be filled by private players. Having been fortunate enough to receive high quality education and experienced the impact that it has in realizing ones potential and uplifting ones living standards, I want to contribute to the lives of less fortunate people by using the business expertise and network gained through business school and over years of serving in banking industry.