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• Havovi Joshi
  IIMA, PGP, 1991. Director, Centre for Practice, Singapore Management University

I really don’t think there are any futile courses in the MBA program. In fact, the way it is structured at many business schools, one completes a core curriculum which provides a wide but shallow learning on a host of subjects. That is really useful for you to then decide what you would like to specialize in, and you now have an opportunity to pick a specific stream like marketing or operations management to focus on. Again there, the range of choices available are very broad. So you really don’t “waste time” on any invaluable topic as such. One thing I would like to add though is that there is a tendency for students to focus on the “hard” subjects, like Information Systems… but looking back, I think a number of us wish we had paid more attention to the “soft” ones like say the OB-HR ones. They are incredibly useful as you progress in your career.

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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 Ananya, there is nothing like a futile course in an MBA. It is all a matter of perspective. Many of the courses are foundational such that those in Finance, Marketing, HR, Strategy, Data Analytics etc. Different students come with different backgrounds. And in business each function has a role. Thus all the foundational courses are relevant. However, since you may not start off as a CEO (unless of course you start your own venture after MBA), some of these may be in the background till you become one. Then comes the courses which are specialised or deepen functional areas. Let us say you want to start your career in Marketing. A number of courses are taught around the theme of Marketing including Behavior, Statistics, Forecasting, AI, Design Thinking etc. Here it comes down to personal choice on where you want to focus on. Finally, everything about business or human behaviour or leadership cannot be taught in the classroom. Be prepared to unlearn and relearn continuously during your career. Best wishes!

• Kakul Paul
  IIMA, PGP, 2005. Partner, Tiger Analytics

Every school has their own nuanced curriculum - no wrong or right, rather what meets your goals and aspirations. Having said that, I do feel B schools should include these 2 more actively (some are already doing it) - 1) Active participation with Corporates to continuously tailor their content in sync with the current industry trends and problems - some of the case studies are archaic and need to be re-looked at given so much as changed in the industry (Covid was a major catalyst and the wave of digitisation has been phenomenal). Also increase Corporate partnership through guest lectures, Capstone equivalent projects, seminars etc. 2) Industry application of Analytics / Gen AI - while not all of us would have a flair for statistics / would want to pick Analytics as a major / subsequently a career in this field - this stream will influence businesses all over and change the way things are executed. Hence, a course that provides an overview with reasonable depth through industry use cases is a must.

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

Work experience before MBA will definitely help during the program. The concept taught during the program will be easier to understand if backed by some real-world experience. That is also the reason why many international business schools only admit candidates with work experience.

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

Students who join an MBA program with work experience have a better idea of why they are doing an MBA and what direction they will go in after graduation. Some organisations will only consider students with work experience for job placements. If you are considering an MBA overseas many colleges will not entertain applicants without work experience.

• 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

As someone who went to do his MBA straight after BTech, I feel i would have benefited a lot more if I had done my MBA after working for at least three years. I teach at a leading B School and I find that students in my class who have a few years workex tend to be a lot more serious about learning. They also bring a lot more to class in terms of knowledge. The challenge is that after you work for two or three years you will find it difficult to crack the CAT exam. But with sufficient preparation you can still do it. There is also the PGP-ex, or executive MBA program which is easier to get into and is of a 12-18 month duration.

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• Harish Doraiswamy
  IIMC, PGP, 1991. Director, Central Square Foundation

Hello Abhishek! The questions you have to answer for yourself is (i) whether your idea solves a big problem in a way that it produces big value for many customers, (ii) whether there are other players in already doing this well (iii) whether you have the staying power, resilience and commitment to manage the ups and downs of business. The app is not the business; it is just the first step of building a business. Many people think of an app, invest time and money to build it only to realise that it is difficult to build a business around it. It will be better for you to think of the business and look at the app as a channel for customers to interact. My advice would be to think of this, build the core business idea while you continue with your studies.

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

I don't think it is necessary for you to choose only one path right now. I will not recommend you to leave your studies aside and just focus on the app. There will be enough time to learn coding and business skills, while you pursue your graduation.

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• Mukesh Khandelwal
  IIMC, PGP, 1993.

We’re entering a period of massive disruption in the job market in the next years, as Generative AI and other emerging technologies displace humans in the performance of a broad spectrum of jobs. In this dynamic scenario, one critical capability for workforce entrants will be a far higher ability to switch jobs and professions. Education and skills across a diverse range of fields would be useful. So commerce? By all means. Also music. Courses in digital and social marketing maybe. And so on – you get the idea. Where does passion fit into all of this? A lucky few will find stable full-time professional lives in the areas of their passion. For the rest – their passion may have to co-exist with the practicality of this future of work scenario.

• 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.

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

Kunal, Congratulations on thinking about starting a business of your own. Are you of the belief that building a website would generate business? Any business is always built from the ground up, based on a value perceived by a potential customer. A website in your kind of business can only be a reference check for the prospect (Is this person genuine? Have other people used it? Does what he told me is what he is communicating? How many stars has he got for his work? What do the customers say about his work?). So my advice to you is to build credibility by taking on some work first and delivering them. Hopefully, you can complete your education also in the meantime. A degree from a good University will look good on the website too. And if possible take on some internships at some leading firms. Finally, anything meaningful takes time. Rome was not built in a day. Best wishes!

• Kakul Paul
  IIMA, PGP, 2005. Partner, Tiger Analytics

First of all Congratulations on building such an impressive website even before your course completion - shows your passion!! More than focusing on the website (since you already have a well structured one to start-off), if you have to channelize your spends, suggest focusing on the lead generation funnel. My sister is an architect herself and I have helped her a lot in this area - social media marketing is key for architects and designers as customers spend good amount of time on google and other social media websites searching for the right designs and the right designers - reels, videos and visuals create better traction - avoid renders, having live project pics and videos. Once your business establishes “word of mouth” will be an equally important lead generation stream. In due course, once you pass out, tying up with builders in their initial stages will be key - they can pass on your contacts to their customers.

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

Graphic Era is a very new University, well known only in Uttrakhand. It is better to do JEE, and opt for a better known university, if it is possible. Placements are usually tough from lesser ranked colleges. Also check where past students were placed and check if any internships are available in those companies. Also, don’t give up your current program, till you get a JEE success

• Kakul Paul
  IIMA, PGP, 2005. Partner, Tiger Analytics

Apart from the curriculum and ratings of colleges, one of the key stats to be looked at is their placements. Giving JEE will open up your horizon and allow you to choose colleges with proven placements. Often enough, colleges in and around metropolitans have better placements given ease for recruiters to travel. Having said that, don't drop anything on your current course till you clear and have a better alternative - Bird in hand is worth two in a bush!!

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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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• Harish Doraiswamy
  IIMC, PGP, 1991. Director, Central Square Foundation

Hi Rishabh! While some institutions offer sector-specific MBA programs (eg. IIM Ahmedabad in Food and Agri Business Management; Amity offers MBA in Construction Management, etc), I feel that the only reason to do an MBA is to acquire the ability to understand businesses across sectors and not just limit oneself to one sector. While there are certain roles within every sector that require specialist understanding, many of the business roles need a wider perspective, the ability to connect the dots and solve a wide variety of problems. You should read David Epstein’s book “Range - Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World”.

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

In most cases, an MBA is a general management program aimed at helping future leaders get an industry wide overview in key areas like Strategy, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Organisational Behaviour etc. Some courses you choose could very well lean towards your interest, skills and career choices like Finance, HR or Marketing. As a researcher (not sure about what you do exactly), you may look to an MBA to add to your skill sets with a view to get into the senior levels in a research organisation or use the knowledge to spin off, at a later stage, into your own research company.

Damini - This helps. Thank You.

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

Dear Mithun, Business diversification is a an opportunity as well as a challenge. Hence, you must navigate this carefully and some helpful tips are as below a) Use the “Ansoff Matrix” as a framework for this. You can read about it b) Always do small pilots and learn / refine basis that and only then consider scaling up. Read up about the “FDV framework of innovation” – it will help you greatly c) Learn from the successes of companies in other geographies / sectors. This is also sometimes referred to us R&D 2.0 (=Read & Duplicate). It may sound odd but can give you good ideas. I would encourage you to use good AI tools like Perplexity, Chat GPT etc to do your basic research on the above and then read up more and apply those learnings. Take care

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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 Mithun, Business Diversification can typically be thought of as a 2 by 2 matrix. Let us say you are in the business of making pencils and you are marketing these products in South India. One way to diversify is to expand the geography of operations to All India but sticking to pencils. The other way is to think of expanding your product range and say that I would like to be in the business of writing instruments, but stick to South India. The third way is to say that I would like to diversify into writing instruments but operate all over India. Thus when you think of diversification use a two by two matrix kind of thinking of expanding to more geographies or more products (initially related products) and finally do both. Hope this gives you a structured way to think about diversification.

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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

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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

Aditya, It's wonderful that your son is passionate about music at such a young age. Exploring unconventional careers like music production and composition can lead to exciting and fulfilling opportunities. Commerce is a viable option for 11th grade, providing a strong foundation if he later combines music with business, such as music entrepreneurship or managing a studio. Alternatively, arts or humanities may offer more flexibility to dive into creative subjects like digital arts, which can complement music production. For college, in India, institutes like the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, KM Music Conservatory (founded by A.R. Rahman), and SAE Institute are excellent for music production and composition. Abroad, renowned schools include Berklee College of Music in the US, University of Westminster in the UK, and Amsterdam Conservatory in Europe. The key is to nurture his passion while equipping him with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a competitive industry. Online courses in music production, which is increasingly digital, could provide an extra edge. Best wishes Sujatha

Sanjay - This is insightful. Thanks for sharing.

• Bhriguraj Singh
  IIMA, PGP, 1991. Chief Product Manager, HSBC

A career in music gives you the opportunity to turn your passion into a fulfilling profession. Music is not just about performing on stage—it's a versatile field that includes composing, teaching, producing, and sound engineering. It helps you dvelop creativity, discipline, and collaboration, essential skills in any career path. Whether performing live, working behind the scenes, or teaching others, a career in music can be both financially rewarding and personally enriching. There are reputed colleges in India that offer undergraduate courses in music like True School of Music (part of Vijaybhoomi University) and Global Music Institute. Some of the Indian institutes are affiliated with foreign universities so many students study 2 years in India and then complete their undergraduate degrees overseas. You could study any subject in high school, however, aspects of music like production and sound design are quite technical, where a background in physics or mathematics would be of help.

• 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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• 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.

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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.

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

Hello Sathvik, If there is one part of math in general which has many (business) applications that would be statistics. I also note that you also would like to pursue a career in finance, which in part deals with numbers and different ways of interpreting them. So, in my view, both relate to creating stories out of numbers and I am glad that you are inherently interested in these areas. Your unasked question could be, does this all make sense to build a profile and a career in finance? That is difficult to answer. At your age, it is ok not to have 100% clarity with respect to every decision that you make. But one thing I can say is that a deep understanding of numbers through statistics and finance would open up many doors for you including application areas such as data science. So go ahead and plunge right in.

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

At any stage in life what is good and what is bad is difficult to answer as I think what is good for you is that which you enjoy, become good at and that pays :) so it’s a series of experiments that everyone needs to do to continue to discover what works for them. If intuitively you seem to like this line of thinking then go ahead as I don’t see any downside of that choice (which is relatively easier to assess) but hard to say this is the best for you. Happy to chat and discuss in more detail if you like WhatsApp me at 9880217069.

• 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.

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

Ann, I will need some more details liek which course you want to pursue, which country, which universities etc to give a specific answer. But at I high level I would say almost all international universities give good scholarships for higher studies depending on the strength of your application. Your first job is to figure out what you want to do in your higher studies.

• 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.