This is Part 3 of our interview series with Sahil Sharma, ISB Hyderabad Class of 2014. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.
A discussion on ISB inevitably leads to a discussion weighing the pros and cons of one-year MBA programs. Sahil says, “We were told it would be a rollercoaster ride, but when it hits you, you’re still in for a surprise.” There’s much to be accomplished be it resume reviews, completing homework or attending company presentations.
For the first six months, he was holed up inside the campus, far removed from the city of Hyderabad. Once recruitment was figured out, Sahil heaved a sigh of relief and decided to focus on other activities. On being asked about his most memorable activities, Sahil stakes his claim on two – business plan competitions and the exchange program.
Business Plan Competitions
Cairn Competition, ISB Hyderabad Winners
Sahil’s teammates were proud winners on ISB Hyderabad’s campus of a case-study based competition organized by Cairn India. They represented ISB on the national level in a 20-team competition in Gurgaon. Whereas other teams had four or five members each, three of Sahil’s teammates could not travel and only half his team could make it to Gurgaon. Even though the team from ISB Mohali ended up winning the competition, Sahil says the learning was immeasurable.
In another competition, Sahil and his team were selected to represent ISB and submitted a research report to Richard Ivey Business School’s Ben Graham Center for Investing.
Exchange Program
Skydiving in Europe
ISB boasts an impressive list of partner schools for exchange programs across the world. London Business School, Haas School, Kellogg and Wharton can be found on the list comprising forty schools.
While top-ranked U.S. programs are more sought out, Sahil decided to attend a European program to travel within Europe. He chose Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. He made good use of his time in Europe immersing himself in skydiving, a Manchester United game and visits to Munich and Amsterdam. As you can see from the pictures, Sahil left no stone unturned in ensuring he gifted himself an immersive experience.
To read about Sahil’s recruiting experience and the experience of his classmates from the Class of 2014, stay tuned to Crack The MBA.
