I am an MSc from IIT (Kanpur) and graduated from IIM (Bangalore) in 1980 with an MBA.
How my MBA helped me in my corporate life
To some extent only. Mostly, it's on the job learning that counts.
The key learnings from my MBA
Formulating strategies, teamwork and managing people have been key takeaways from my management degree.
If I had to re-visit my MBA, what I would have liked as part of my course
I think MBAs need a sound understanding of how to manage and cope in times of uncertainty. Apart from this, a lesson or two in how to manage the boss would have been great. MBA programmes should consider including these skills/ abilities in the curriculum framework.
What can impact one’s career growth
Things which people normally don't realise affect their career from a realist perspective: an unreasonable boss, politics within the organisation, miscommunication.
My best and worst moments in corporate life
Elevation to a global role in Reckitt Benckiser. The worst was when I was asked to leave by Convergys because of redundancy in spite of an ‘Above Average’ assessment just one month before the appraisal.
My advice to young MBAs joining the corporate sector
The following: Harsh but true, save enough, and assume you have no future above 50; stay one step ahead in the learning curve and lastly become a specialist in one domain to make yourself indispensable.
What young MBAs should be reading
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, on the current global economic crisis.