How a full-time MBA can set you up for success

A full-time MBA is a huge financial and time commitment; however, the invaluable rewards it yields – enhanced employment opportunities, increased salary potential, leadership skills, and extensive networks with classmates, alumni, faculty, and industry mentors – are all worth the effort

You take up the position of the Chief Executive Officer at a company that had an annual sales turnover worth one trillion Indian rupees and millions of employees. The company’s profits, though, have been plummeting with stocks hitting a new low and employees moving out. What do you do?

During the detailed investigation in the case, you suddenly recall a group discussion you had in business school while pursuing your MBA. You go for a ‘bold stroke,’ which means – as one of your peers had pointed out during the conversation – from this day onwards, there will be a major shift in the way the organisation functions.

When brainstorming happens in a classroom full of people with different backgrounds, ideas shooting from every corner, that energy excites you to participate and solve the problem. Your perspectives are constructively challenged. Even though you may not agree with someone, you celebrate the diversity of thoughts. You can talk about management cases, culture, race, politics, and remain friends at the end of the day because you develop empathy. Your classmate makes a better point, and this pushes you to enhance your thinking abilities. In that discussion, you are vulnerable, and it can be intimidating. However, you come out as an evolved, confident person.

Soft skills such as communication, negotiation, confidence, empathy, and the ability to nurture relationships, are fundamental for a successful career in the field of business. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) goes beyond the theories of operations and management; MBA is essentially about people. It is about real interactions, case analysis, peer learning, leadership, team building, ability to handle pressure, decision making, and networking with industry stalwarts. This experience is possible only on campus.

During the pandemic, online education has proved its merits, no doubt; it is acting as a substitute to classroom learning. Even though e-learning platforms complement the culture of an educational institution, they cannot replace the benefits of experiential learning, character development, relationships with industry mentors and faculty, and lifelong friendships with peers, provided by a university.

Why opt for UPES’ MBA program?

· Career assistance and placement security

Pratik Chaube, a Mechanical Engineering graduate, was working as a Project Engineer for the National Productivity Council under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India.

The job portfolio required performance assessment of major utilities and the study of industrial sectors under PAT (Perform Achieve & Trade) scheme collaboration with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for designated consumers. This professional experience in the energy sector made him realise the importance of energy management and its impact on the global economy. Therefore, Pratik decided to upgrade himself and enrolled in UPES’ MBA program in Oil and Gas Management in 2018.

Pratik decided to opt for a regular MBA. Recalling his experience at the university, he says, “The kind of support I got from the department and my classmates brought the best out of me. From an elected Class Representative to becoming the topper of the batch, these two years at UPES changed my life completely.”

Pratik interned for one of the leading consulting agencies, Ernst & Young LLP, as part of their Economic Development Advisory Team of Transaction Advisory Practice and assisted them in Dehradun on investment promotion and facilitation for the International Investment Summit 2018 organised by the Government of Uttarakhand. He also did a Summer Internship Program at ONGC Videsh Limited and became the only intern to get a recommendation for a full-time employment opportunity at the company. He worked on their project ‘Study of Asia Pacific Business Model’.

The placement support for MBA graduates at UPES has continued despite the upheaval brought by the pandemic. In 2021, campus placement at UPES School of Business (SoB) started on a strong note. Top recruiters like Deloitte USI, LTI-Larsen & Toubro InfoTech Ltd, Wipro Limited, ESRI, Accenture, ICF International and GEP Worldwide hired over 25 MBA candidates from the school.

Talking about the winning strategy that helped Balark Joshi, MBA Power Management (2019-21), bag a placement with Accenture, he says, “The great learning environment and continued support from my mentors kept me going amidst all the uncertainties induced by COVID-19. The ‘Dale Carnegie’ Personality Enhancement Program (PEP) and Coursera courses provided by the university helped me gain critical skills. My professors gave me key insights related to technical, commercial, and regulatory aspects of the energy sector in India, especially in the domain of alternative energy.”

Hari Anand, MBA Power Management (2019-21), placed as an Energy Analyst-Power Generation Group at ICF Consulting India Private Limited, shares his experiences at UPES. “I benefitted from Enhanced Development Growth and Enrichment (EDGE) and SPRUCE, the initiatives started by UPES to diversify students’ learning. I learnt to partake in healthy discussions.”

Rajat Bhardwaj, MBA, Power Management (2019-2021), placed with Wipro Limited, says, “Being a small-town boy from Uttar Pradesh, I had my inhibitions and mental blocks, but PEP classes, aptitude sessions and support from my mentors helped in my smooth transition from a raw technical professional to a modern-day business manager. My participation in various club activities like ‘Eltonia’, ‘Logistikas’ and ‘Ignite’ helped me develop team spirit and the ability to express myself confidently, leading to my successful placement.”

· In-demand specialisations and interaction with leaders that give you an edge

The academic setting of business schools like UPES enables students to practice leadership under the guidance of industry pioneers and eminent faculty. Workshops, seminars, web talks, industry tours, global immersion programs, and internships, provide a hands-on experience that let students apply their theoretical knowledge to actual real-life scenarios.

Samruddhi Bhide, MBA (Oil and Gas) (2019-21), placed with Wipro Limited, says, “My internship projects at GEP Worldwide, Mumbai, industrial visit, and guest lectures enhanced my understanding of research methodology and applying an analytical mindset to various datasets in Market Intelligence. The atmosphere and positivity at the campus motivated me every single day to be productive, energetic and happy, resulting in this confident version of myself. I participated in workshops, Indian Oil and Gas Summit, Delhi, Ignite, SPE Student Chapter, and all of it enhanced my leadership skills.”

Further, keeping pace with the world’s demands, UPES has introduced new-age programs such as MBA in Business Analytics with specialisation in Data Mining/Energy Analytics, MBA in Digital Business with specialisation in Search Engine Optimisation/Web Design and Development, and MBA core with specialisations ranging from Marketing Management to Human Resource and Finance Management.

· Memories for life

Students have some of their best life experiences on campus – the great bonds with faculty, the lifelong friendships with classmates, the amazing networks, and the pride of being part of a university – nothing can replace this sense of belongingness. You get to build an active network and also maintain it throughout the years. Imagine becoming a consultant and selling deals to other companies using your broad network comprising a former classmate or alumni from the same school.

Events and competitions organised by the university, too, serve as platforms for learning and networking. Successes and failures at these events encourage students to understand the highs and lows of management, build healthy relationships, exchange perspectives, and engage with people from different cultures. Collaborations are valued over competition.

The advantages of a full-time MBA

A regular MBA at UPES immerses students in a journey of intense professional and personal development filled with self-discovery and exploration. It helps in developing a framework for problem-solving, thus preparing you to become leaders capable of making sound judgments in the face of uncertainty. You build a global viewpoint with in-depth domain knowledge of your specialisation, ready to lead any team across the world.

With that knowledge, on-field experience, confidence, and extensive connections with classmates, alumni, faculty, and industry mentors, your chances of employability as well as salary potential multiply. You can even go ahead and launch your own business.

Citing the advantages of a regular MBA from prominent business schools committed to preparing graduates for life, Dr. Githa S. Heggde, Dean, UPES School of Business, says, “A full-time regular MBA helps students realise their passion and dreams; this experience cannot be equated with impersonal online courses. At UPES School of Business, we admit select students to provide them with a holistic, multidisciplinary, experiential, team-based active learning environment with identified faculty, industry mentors and peers who become companions for life. The large number of leading corporates empanelled by the School has ensured topmost placements even during the pandemic. With the online fatigue setting in and things slated to get back to normal, it will be wise to enrol into a leading University MBA, which will guarantee transformation into a professionally competent, solution-oriented, mentally and physically strong team player.”

A full-time MBA is a huge financial and time commitment; however, the invaluable rewards it yields are absolutely worth the effort.

Watch what UPES’ School of Business alumni has to say about his experiences at the university: