PGPM AlumniSpeak

At PGPM, the varied background of the students help in bringing different outlooks to our collaborative learning. The engineers are great problem solvers; similarly the hospitality manager understands the customer experience while a car designer like me brings in the importance of the visual language, theme continuity and others. This makes the overall programme experience unique and eclectic

PGPM is not just about classroom education or for a jump in remuneration, it is for all those who seek overall personality development. The programme wide-ranging nature gives you a peek into a corporate CEO’s perspective and at the same time, tells you how vada pav seller outside the SPJIMR gate does his demand planning

Before PGPM happened, my thought process as a passionate Food & Beverage professional and hotelier was uni-dimensional. I lacked an overall business sense. Additionally, thanks to the many projects, I interacted and worked with over half my batch, sharing not only business plans but also my interest in music. It was thus, that I met Jomson Perayil and Sameer Ahmed and we went on to form Cutting Chai. So the journey at PGPM has not only been full of learning, but also an emotional one. Like the Metallica song goes: “Trust I seek and I find in you. Every day for us something new. Open mind for a different view. And nothing else matters

There was a certain inertia and predictability in my thought process that had crept in after working for more than six years in the industry. The PGPM course at SPJIMR provided me with just what I wanted; a transformation in my thought process. The intense course  schedule, excellent pedagogy, the dedicated faculty and the diverse peer-group helped me accelerate my learning process, expand my thought horizons and realise my true potential. 

The Consulting Leadership programme at Cornell University brought in a completely new perspective, providing me with an opportunity to understand a new culture and global scenarios, and learn about frameworks and models in consulting. The Cornell and SPJIMR experience, combined, will truly help me stand out.

I was well-equipped with technical and managerial skills after multiple stints in the corporate sector; but these were all restricted to a particular industry. It was only at PGPM that I learnt what true business is all about, through the well-structured syllabus. My involvement with the Placement Committee introduced me to some top-notch experience across various industries, building a base for my life post-MBA too

In terms of giving a holistic management learning experience, PGPM at SPJIMR does what it promises and a lot more. From the humbling experience of working with NGOs for DOCC, to the spiritual healing enabled by Gita Shibir, coupled with projects that are done in diverse groups, the course has been an eye-opener in terms of how just one year can actually be a life-altering time for a participant. When I enrolled for the MBA, little did I imagine that the experience would transform me for the better, both as a professional and as a human being

The PGPM was easily one of the best years of my life. It gave me an opportunity to interact with some of the smartest, most enthusiastic, opinionated and aware people I have ever met. The curriculum was rigorous and with the Gita Shibir, PG Lab and DOCC, learning went well beyond the classroom. Apart from the faculty, the numerous guest lectures helped us be in touch with current trends. Personally the programme helped improve my ability to understand, define, approach and solve business problems

I am sure much has been said about the programme in many a context, but I would like to particularly draw attention to the very carefully drafted Industry Integration. Not only is the syllabus kept updated through industry insights, but the year is filled with guest lectures, where business leaders are on campus to guide and mentor students, with whom you may also get the opportunity to do projects.  In effect, this ensures that the academia treads a path in line with real demand

SPJIMR gives you an opportunity to be in the midst of extremely talented people, who carry with them several years of lessons from both work and life. Each day at the institute is a learning experience and the teachings can come from any direction. Be it the sessions by the faculty, each with industry experience of their own, the peer discussions and debates, the role plays, the case discussions, the presentations; all of them begin to make sense with each passing day and present a truly holistic big-picture as you move into the industry once again

While discussing and analyzing a company for a deal, I happened to notice the spread of its value chain. Just then all the PGPM407 discussions on backward and forward integration, value chain and its integration in corporate strategy came back to me and I realised how it all made sense. Not only do I recall this vividly, but even the significance of what was taught has not diminished over the years, such is the quality of lectures at SPJIMR

PGPM has been one of the best decisions I took at the end of a five-year IT stint. One of the things that most appealed to me was the batch diversity and the sheer range of students there, both in terms of experience and expertise. Gita Shibir and ET-in-the-classroom were among my favourite courses, while those like ‘Managing New Business Initiatives’ have helped me tremendously in my newer roles post-MBA

My dramatic career shift from being the first Indian Woman Officer Cadet in the Merchant Navy, to a Senior Manager in retail would not have been possible without the extremely valuable inputs and training I received during my one year at SPJIMR. The PGPM programme has equipped me with the correct perspective to understand the Distribution & Logistics of retail business and to deliver the timely solutions for such complex projects

The one year that I spent here at SPJIMR brought about a paradigm shift in my approach to problem-solving and enabled me to think holistically about each problem. The  programme has helped me achieve a higher level of understanding, where the intricate relationship between the key aspects of business became clearer as I started approached genuine big picture thinking

The PGPM has helped me grow tremendously, not only professionally but also personally. Not only did I received the necessary career-push, but I could see a definite change in my attitude, and my learnings here helped boost my confidence

I have only one complaint to make of PGPM; it is far too short! The one year went by far too quickly, but will stay with everyone for a lifetime - for the professional network we built and the amazing friendships we made while on campus

DOCC provided us with an excellent opportunity to put our MBA learning to practice in a meaningful and organised manner. We witnessed farmers (of Raigad) realising their potential as entrepreneurs with assistance from the Swades Foundation and we were able to meaningfully help them by identifying the potential markets for their produce. Creating value and enabling people are experiences to take away and not just memories.

Since the batch constituted of professionals with an average of seven years of work experience across different industries, it led to effective classroom discussions and opened up scenarios which different approaches to address. I personally regard this peer learning as the most vital part of the PGPM course