• Prakash Seshadri Nathan
  IIMB, PGP, 1993. CEO and Executive Director, Kathari Water Management

Siva, Would you like to pause after your undergrad and try out your hand in cyber security in the real world? A two to three years of work experience would clarify whether (a) this is the field of specialisation for you (b) what would higher studies in this field mean for your professional enhancement. Wet your feet and then decide. US is not going anywhere. Best wishes

• Roy Cherian
  IIMA, MBA, 1991. Founder, ASKIIMA

Siva, stand alone SUNY Albany is not a great University. But if it comes as an add on to your MBA in Fintech and Cyber Security at IIT Jodhpur it might be a good idea to take it up provided it cost is affordable. The advatnages in doing it is, one obviously an exposure to the US education, though not from a top University, is always valuable. Second it will help you differentiate from other students at IIT Joudhpur. Having said that please remember it is not an easy job market in the US now, and with Trump coming back it is going to get more difficult. So chances of landing a job in the US is slim if that is your objective for taking up this course. I hope this will aid your thought process and help you take the right decision. Wish you all the best.

Ram - I agree with Roy C with small caveat. The pedigree of Univ in US is relatively less important in tech fields and careers these companies give you a chance and don’t eliminate you like a Inv bank etc. Do you have to make the call now or in seconds year of MBa ? The closer you are to finishing it is easier to analyze job market conditions etc.

• Murli Nagasundaram
  IIMC, PGP, 1980. Retired Old Fogey/Professor, Manipal Global Education/Boise State University

Satyam, it's good that you chose to study physics since it's a very rigorous field and it's essential that your first degree be rigorous. As interesting as physics is, careers in physics,.especially theoretical physics are very hard to get even with a PhD (which is the minimum qualification needed to pursue physics). Nevertheless, a physics education has provided you with the necessary mathematical foundation to pursue a career in data science and artificial intelligence. You will need to pick up programming, especially Python, as well as a variety of tools and also learn as much of probability and statistics you can. A lot of this can be learned from online resources. Also try to learn C++. You don't need to invest in books. Pretty much everything you need to learn is available on the internet

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• Pankaj Rai
  IIMA, PGP, 1993. Group Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Dear Satya, we all study usually for 3 reasons ie learn something new, apply that knowledge to make a difference and earn money to take care of our needs. In your case it appears to me that the third reason is critical and hence you need to focus on that first. Our interests in any subject are never permanent and at times they are defined by the teacher / book etc and not necessarily a reflection of what we would like. Eg I never liked humanities when I was studying but after working I started enjoying that. So I would suggest you focus on getting a job with your BSc degree only and not worry about completing MSc. And as you get to work you will start to know what you like and what you don’t. Consider that as a journey where you acquire new knowledge through online or short term courses along with the job to keep upgrading your skills so that you can get the next job better than the first one or get promoted in the existing one. A career is a marathon and one needs to look at upgrading skills continuously based on the market demands and our interests so better to start working quickly so that the market signals start coming to you.

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• Rohit Joshi
  IIMB, PGFP, 1991. Ex - MD HSBC, Founder, Havit Consulting Pte Ltd

As a start, I feel that having 3-4 years work experience is ideal to commence an MBA - since you can relate to the theory taught with your own experiences at work, and also learn from others who have worked in other organisations. That makes it real. The other ‘real’ benefit of an MBA is the network that you build with your cohort - which can help you as you reach mid /. Senior levels - provided that you stay connected! The challenges are the cost of an MBA, in the US especially and the “opportunity loss” of income and a pause in career progress - so your concern is very real. It really depends on your situation. Can you do a part time MBA while still continuing to work? Does your firm sponsor you for higher education (so the costs are mitigated) and you come back to them once you complete the course? Options for a full time MBA do result in a career break and higher costs, and would perhaps be ideal for those seeking a change in industry.

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• Saurabh Chopra
  IIML, PGP, 2004. Director Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, Central Square Foundation

You are still in the early stages of your career. I understand that losing two years of income is not trivial, however, if you feel that a career in business will give you more satisfaction than your current career - it would recommend going for a MBA. Your interest should be the driving factor for your decision.

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• Mukesh Khandelwal
  IIMC, PGP, 1993.

The MBA answer to this: you create cash flow streams for the two options at hand, carry out a DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) analysis, and choose the stream that gives you a higher NPV (Net Present Value). Lots of jargon, but you should be able to look these terms up online and carry out this analysis – and yes, it will answer the question you’ve asked. The questions you could perhaps be asking: Do you enjoy what you’re currently doing? Are you good at it? Are you currently paid well? Will you make lots of money going forward? Do you have a great work-life balance? If the answers to (m)any of these is ‘no’, then perhaps it is time to think of a career change. And an MBA is a great enabler of this career change, especially if done from the right institute.

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• Sameera Anand
  IIMA, PGP, 1991. Senior Director, Charles Monat

A list of investment banks with operations in India is available through simple Google search. Many of these investment banks go to top tier business schools to hire so an MBA is useful. They seek strong communication skills; quantitative skills and financial modelling capabilities.

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• Prakash Sheshadri Nathan
  IIMB, PGP, 1993. Leadership coach and Mentor, Multiple leadership positions in privately funded infrastructure business, Climate Investment

Hello Vedant, Congratulations on the decision to choose a career in Investment Banking. You are in Mumbai, the home of finance. There are a large number of investment banks in your city. Some of the top names include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Deutsche etc. The simple way to get an internship is through a referral. Know somebody who knows somebody. Alternatively, most of them list these positions on their website. Even if they do not have positions open, please apply with a strong statement of purpose of why you are interested in a career in Investment Banking. You should look for a minimum three month internship and if time permits a six month one. At some point in time, consider an MBA or a CFA as well. All the best!

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• Sujatha Kshirsagar
  IIMC, PGP, 1995. President, Career Launcher & Ex Banker

Leya, with your solid background in finance and marketing, transitioning to data analytics is not only feasible but also promising. The analytical skills you've developed in banking, such as assessing financial data and trends, are highly transferable to data analytics roles. This field is rapidly expanding across industries like finance, healthcare, retail, and e-commerce. Many banks now rely on advanced analytics for customer insights, risk management, and fraud detection, making your background a strong fit for financial data analytics or fintech firms. To make this shift, consider courses or certifications in tools like Python, R, SQL, and data visualization software such as Tableau or Power BI. Programs in data or business analytics, available online or through institutions like the IIMs or platforms like Coursera and edX, can further enhance your qualifications. Other fields you might explore include: • Fintech: Leveraging your finance experience in tech-driven financial services. • Risk Management or Consulting: Using your finance skills for strategic problem-solving across sectors. Best of luck in your career transition! Sujatha

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• Pankaj Rai
  IIMA, PGP, 1993. Group Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Dear Leya, all of us have a desire to continue to move into better roles (more interesting, more contribution / impact made, more money). There are different routes to doing that : 1.⁠ ⁠In the same role, learn and apply new skills to do that job differently which can lead to better increments / promotions or even an opportunity to do a better role in the same organisation. 2.⁠ ⁠⁠adding new skills through certifications or online courses and applying those skills to do the same as #1 above 3.⁠ ⁠⁠take time off to do a full time course which usually allows opportunities that may not be available otherwise eg folks do an MBA to access opportunities that were not otherwise available. This option has a cost as you don’t earn rather spend money and outcomes are not necessary to be visible immediately. In your case it seems that you could learn to apply new skills like data analysis on the job and gain the confidence to make a higher level contribution and use that to further your career

• Murli Nagasundaram
  IIMC, PGP, 1980. Retired Old Fogey/Professor, Manipal Global Education/Boise State University

Diya, as others have stated, your confusion isn't unique--most people lack clarity when they start their careers. Your questions cannot be answered theoretically. You will need to experiment--try out the thing that seems appealing and see if it works for you. Many people quit their first jobs in under two years--it was 9 months for me--because it doesn't seem right. This is not a "failure"--it's a trial. It might take several tries before you settle into something that seems to work. But even that, you might quit after five years are so. Careers are no longer forever, even if you work for the same organization (which you won't). Expect at least a couple of career changes in your life. Our environment is changing very rapidly. Many professions and industries will vanish and new ones will emerge. The lesson here is to keep your eyes and ears open and be prepared for new opportunities as they emerge. Above all, don't fear change: embrace it. Such a mindset will make you stronger, more resilient and more valuable to employers.

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• Vikas Ahuja
  IIMC, PGP, 1995. , Nestle India

Hi Diya. Firstly know you are not alone, and it is quite normal to have this lack of clarity. Remember you have already made the big decision of selecting Economics and Finance for your college education, having ruled out multiple other options from engineering to medicine, arts, sciences etc. So congratulations for having come this far! Look at your situation from another lens - how wonderful it is that you have so many options to choose from! Some people are not fortunate enough to get to decide for themselves - circumstances, parental pressure etc force them to choose something that they will do for the rest of their lives. You at least have the luxury of making your own considered choices. Now, with that in mind let’s look forward. How about making a list of options by doing some internet research? How about reaching out and talking to seniors from your college and finding out what they are doing in their current jobs, how is their daily routine, what excites them and what challenges they face? This will give you a good perspective to begin with.

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• Anil Nayar
  IIMA, PGP, 1977. Managing Partner, Strategic Management Services

Since you are a student of Economics and Finance, the opportunities are vast. From Corporate finance to Broking , trading and financial services companies, lots of options. See what interests you, and then take it forward. Maybe your internships will help you understand what interests you more. Finance is a vast field now, and earlier was dominated by CAs. NOw, huge opportunities, beyond accounting and audit. Do read economic and financial newspapers and see what interests you.

• Roy Cherian
  IIMA, MBA, 1991. Founder, ASKIIMA

Rajesh, chasing the civil services dream is a tough one. Very few people make it and those who don't would have lost a few years of their life chasing it. My sense is that if your nephew was not able to crack the prelims in the first attempt it may be tough to crack a rank good enough to get IFS in the next attempt. Nevertheless since he took the plunge it might not be a bad diea to give one more serious attempt. What I have also seen is that a rigorous preparation for the civil service will make people more aware and well rounded person and better prepared for any job they take up. In that sense the time spent for preparing for civil services is never wasted. Coming to Gokhale Institute, it has a great reputation. If he is really interested in Economics or Politics a degree from Gokhale Institute can open doors for higher studies in many Indian as well as international universities. This can open up opportunities for a variety of careers in developmental organisations, banks, research teaching and many more. As for the removal of the VC you can see it as a temporary setback and wont have a long term impact on the reputation of the university.

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• Vikas Ahuja
  IIMC, PGP, 1995. , Nestle India

Hi Madhu. Its an interesting question - the future is full of all kinds of possibilities. It is important to remember that success is driven by many factors including a person’s own hard work, background, economic condition, thought-process, timing, latching on to available opportunities, etc. Not to forget the role of luck! There are enough and more examples of entrepreneurial success in India, although the scale may not yet have reached the Bill Gates kind of levels. As India’s economy grows rapidly over the next couple of decades, there is no reason to say that we will not see those kinds of successes also. Having said that, at the beginning of one’s journey, degrees such as

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• Pankaj Seith
  IIMA, PGP, 1992. Trainer & Adviser, Ex Hindustan Lever, HDFC Group & HT Media

Dear Madhu, There are TWO facets, I would like to highlight. FIRSTLY, The educational background and the professional projects one has done matters in the first few years of one’s career. Over time, the track record matters more along with the professional network and reputation of the person. SECONDLY, It is helpful to have at least one degree (under-graduate or post-graduate) from a relatively more well know institution in that India has had many successful corporate leaders and entrepreneurs who serve as good role models. If you are keen on learning about their common characteristics, I would encourage you to use good AI tools like Perplexity, Chat GPT etc to do your research.

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• Pankaj Rai
  IIMA, PGP, 1993. Group Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Dear Rahul, it’s perfectly normal to be unsure of the future career path during your entire career as there are so many uncertainties and no one can ever account for those. The reason that you don’t hear many people express it is either they get used to it or don’t want to sound unsure of themselves in public:) so just like you are probably dealing with many others aspects of your life that are uncertain think of career also as that. However one can develop certainty in what type of jobs you like / don’t like and use that as a better guide to choose the next time. So if you were to use the Simon Sinek “the golden circle” (if you haven’t seen this pls do), there is the “what” (the job / role) and the “why” (what we enjoy doing / good at). So we can focus on better defining our why through experimentation and reflections which can then be used to decide the uncertain opportunities that come our way.

• Ambi Parameswaran
  IIMC, PGP, 1979. Former CEO/ Independent Director / Coach / Author/ Professor of Marketing FCB Ulka Advertising; Brand Coach / Independent Director on Corporate Boards; CEO Coach; Author; Adjunct Prof of Marketing SPJIMR Mumbai, FCB Ulka Advertising

There are several good job opportunities after a B Pharm degree. For one pharma sector is booming and a B Pharm can find a job in several departments in an Indian Pharma company including development, marketing, compliance. There is also the opportunity to do an MBA specialising in the Pharma sector and look for a job in Pharma marketing. I have been working as a Brand Coach with several Indian and MNC pharma companies in India and I find that they are constantly adding to their sales and marketing teams.

• Roy Cherian
  IIMA, MBA, 1991. Founder, ASKIIMA

Gyan, good to know that you are thinking of ideas to improve education. If its financial constraints that is limiting your ideas I would say start small. It could be just helping children in your neighbour hood. If it is getting results more people will start sending their children. Making a difference in the life of a few itself is big and satisfying. Once you get a sense that your ideas are working you could get more like minded people to use your methodology and expand to other areas. And slowly you can build a viable business out of your efforts.

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• Sujatha Kshirsagar
  IIMC, PGP, 1995. President, Career Launcher & Ex Banker

Dear Shilpa, thank you for sharing your experience. Your impressive CV speaks volumes about your skills and qualifications. The challenge you're facing—nerves and self-presentation in interviews—is quite common. It's important to shift your mindset around "bragging." Instead of seeing it as boasting, think of it as sharing your journey and what you've learned. Employers want to understand how you can contribute to their organization, so confidently owning your success is key. To manage nervousness: • Reframe your accomplishments: Focus on what you learned rather than just the result. For example, instead of saying "I led a project that increased revenue by 15%," try, "I learned the value of cross-team collaboration, which helped us achieve a 15% revenue increase." • Prepare key stories: Choose three to five accomplishments you’re proud of and practice sharing them naturally. Make sure each story highlights your skills and growth. • Focus on learning and growth: When discussing strengths, instead of saying, "I’m great at problem-solving," you could say, "I’ve enjoyed learning how to solve complex problems and continuously strive to improve." Best of luck in your upcoming interviews!

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• Prakash Sheshadri Nathan
  IIMB, PGP, 1993. Leadership coach and Mentor, Multiple leadership positions in privately funded infrastructure business, Climate Investment

Dear Shilpa, Consider every interview as a sales job. You are selling yourself. The fact that people like your impressive CV and are calling you for interviews is a great thing. Many fail to even reach this milestone. Well done! What I am sensing is that you are not able to articulate what you have written down on your CV at the time of interview. The best way to prepare is to anticipate the kind of questions that are likely to be asked (as probing questions for eg: You have written that you have xyz skills. Tell us an example of where you have applied these skills). Your examples must be genuine and your response must define the specific contribution that you made in that situation. Do not overstate your contribution, be matter of fact. A bit of storytelling is fine, but do not overdo it. Yes, you need to show confidence. That can come only with practice. Further, learn from each interview. Go back and write down what went well and where you can improve on your response. Finally, remember that there is something called luck. Have the confidence that it will shine on you soon. One final piece of advice. Be yourself. It is a rare quality these days.

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• Sandeep Sachdeva
  IIMA, Pgdm, 1991. Ceo, Safe in India foundation

Hi Pankaj You need to think harder about the question. It is too generic. Why do you want to make a switch? Are you sure those are really important reasons?

• Roy Cherian
  IIMA, MBA, 1991. Founder, ASKIIMA

Thats a great question Pankaj. Let me start by saying, while it is good to have a framework for making career decisions some of the best career breaks happen by taking a risk and seizing the right opportunities. If you want to make a frame work it will be a match between what you like to do (your strengths and interests) and the growth opportunity the assignment offers. One of the most critical points while making a career move is to keep in mind what are the possibilities after making the current move. Will it box you and therefore limit growth, or will it make you a specialist and make you more valuable (these are two sides of the same coin) or will it broaden your experience and open up more opportunities. I will rank the organisation culture above all these. However good the job is, unless you like the work place you will never enjoy working there. Despite that people do consciously to organisations with a short term objective of gaining some experience or getting a stamp, which is absolutely fine as long as you are clear its for the short term.