Why we opted for PGPX at IIM Ahmedabad? Five grads bare it all!

IIM Ahmedabad’s one-year Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) is considered to be one the finest executive programmes in the country. Meant for working executives, the programme has constantly been performing well in international rankings.

Recently, the PGPX course completed ten years of existence.

So, we decided to catch up with five PGPX-ers, speaking to them about what makes the course unique.

Here’s Senthil Govindan, Namita Jain, Anurag Singal, Saptadeep Basu and Amitabh Coomar, talking about their PGPX journey, the diverse classroom and how they benefited from the course.

 

 

 

Senthil Govindan

Co-Founder and CEO, Datawrkz;
Former IT professional

Education: Master's degree in MIS, University of Arizona, 2000

 

Why PGPX?

I was at a point in my career where I found it easy to address tactical questions at work, but felt something was missing in terms of being able to understand and influence the big picture. Given the exposure I had across multiple countries and roles, along with a high GMAT score, I could have applied for a top B-school anywhere in the world. However, I spent close to a decade outside India, and wanted to rebuild my professional network in the country. IIM Ahmedabad was the natural choice. I didn't want to spend two-years on my MBA at that point (I was 32 when I started), and so felt the one-year full-time MBA option - PGPX - would be better for me.

 

On the admission process

The admission process relied on essays and interviews with professors from the institute. I was asked to provide my point of view on any topical news item that I was following. The panel refused to let me rest on a subjective analysis and asked me various questions to see if I could provide quantitative justification for my standpoint. To be honest, at some point I had to give up and say that I wasn't equipped with enough facts to defend my stand.

Looking back, the interview was a forerunner of my experience in the classroom - half-baked analysis or opinions not backed by proper justification get shredded by either your peers or the professor.

 

The best part of PGPX is:

1. The change in mind-set that you experience. The focus on data-based decision-making leaves a deep imprint, helping one deconstruct any new situation and get to a logical conclusion.

2. Peer learning - The quality of individuals you study with is so high, and from such a diverse set of industries and roles, that learning outside the classroom tends to be as much or more than from the formal education process.

3. Drive - After the grind that one goes through in PGPX, one are no longer fazed when you encounter a new situation. You roll up your sleeves, spend long hours, and combined with a structured approach, are able to get the situation under control.

 

 

 

Namita Jain

Senior Manager at Ericsson (Strategy Team);
Former IT professional

Education: BTech in ECE,
Institute of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, 2006

 

 

Why PGPX?

I am an engineer and worked with TCS across different functions for 7+ years before pursuing my PGPX. I come from a Marwari family. There has been a constant tussle to keep my professional aspirations moving, but yes I believe in 'where there is a will there is a way'.

IIM Ahmedabad is the best in terms of brand value, industry recognition, career progression and the rich alumni network. I chose the PGPX program because I was already working in a managerial position in my last organisation, I did not want to start afresh rather build on my experience gained over the years.

After the course, my thought process changed. I can look at the broad array of dimensions and not restricted to only an area where I am working. I have a general understanding of Finance, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, HR, Strategy formulation to name a few.

In the long term - I want to start-up on my own.

 

On the admission process

The admission process wasn't difficult. Post the first level of screening, I went through a rigorous interview with two of the top professors from IIMA. But they ensured that I was comfortable, the questions were not straight like a normal interview. What I could gauge was that they were interested in a well-rounded personality of the person, the thinking ability - both in terms of intellect as well as speed, stress taking ability (since the course is very hectic), leadership capability and communication standards.

 

The best part of PGPX is:

Best part for me was the learning I got from my Professors, their rich experience from across the industry, from my batchmates from diverse backgrounds, the case study method of teaching in IIMA -- all this forces you to think, research, come up with solutions.

 

 

 

Anurag Singal

Education: St Xaviers’ College Kolkata, 2006; Chartered Accountancy (All India Rank 22 and 25 in CA Final and CA PE-II)

Work Experience: Senior Manager, Business Development of Aditya Birla Group; Former financial analyst

Author of ‘Accounting for People Who Think They Hate Accounting’ and ‘ Auditing Mantras for CA-IPCC’.

 

Why PGPX?

Since the time I graduated, multiple bottlenecks had prevented me from preparing for CATand pursuing the two-year course. So I decided to focus on my CA exams. As things eventually stabilised on the economic front, I had to choose between a new residential apartment and an MBA. My daughter was just 10 months old and I was the only earning member in the family. There was a huge embedded financial risk of paying the Rs 21.50 lakhs course fee and take a sabbatical from work for one year , especially when I was doing reasonably well in my current job and would be promoted if I stayed on.

Yet, I chose MBA. It was now or never for me and thus I decided to go ahead and break out of my comfort zone.

Amongst options available in India, I chose IIM Ahmedabad because of the brand, the FT rankings and special emphasis this institute places on case study methodology. Also, Chartered Accountancy is a distance learning course and thus I always missed the classroom experience. Needless to say, staying on the beautiful 100 acre campus with my wife and my 1 year old daughter made it a very special experience.

 

On the admission process

I had scored 760/800 in GMAT, plus had a non-engineering background. So it was relatively easier to get shortlisted. In the interview, there were two IIMA professors, who made me feel relaxed. We were asked to randomly select a topic from a given list and speak impromptu for 15 minutes. It was really an abstract topic but I managed to collate my thoughts and put up a brave front. The discussion that ensued centred on the points I raised in my speech. They also wanted to probe into the real motivation of my decision to apply for PGPX. Was it about placements alone? What could I bring on the table? What were the special projects which led to the CA Young Achiever award etc?

After PGPX, I have re-joined my previous employer Aditya Birla Group in Kolkata as Senior Manager- Business Development. In the long run, I seek to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in the human capital space.

 

The best part of PGPX is:

The first thing IIMA does to you is to make you humble. You enter this place with castles in the air, with this inflated sense of ego about your IQ and then realise that this place gives every outlier a run for his/her money. You eventually find our own place under the bell curve and become comfortable in your own skin.

Secondly, it is the academics – the interaction with professors, the Strategy, Marketing and Public Policy departments of IIMA are really amazing. 

In terms of electives, the spread of the menu is simply remarkable. "Yognidra" and meditation on the banks of the Narmada/Gir Forest as part of one course on Managing Creativity and competition with students globally through Capstone Business Simulation game in the other.

Diverse Class – In the classroom, you share space with 84 amazing people, who like you, have conquered the corporate world. The list includes the likes of a sales guy, IT programmer, army officer and a data scientist. We had hundreds of those stormy classroom discussions on Harvard, Stanford and IIMA cases. You learn to appreciate diverse perspectives on the same issue as each has lived life his/her way.

 

 

Saptadeep Basu

Education: Civil engineering, NIT Silchar, Assam

Work Experience: Former Project Manager at NTPC;

Author of “I was There”; regular blogger; Rashtrapati awarded scout; current “Media and Marketing Coordinator” for PGPX

 

Why PGPX?

When you are around 30, a two-year MBA is a lot to invest in while the cost of doing nothing is huge. So, once you zero down for a one-year MBA programme in India, PGPX becomes a natural choice. With more than 50 years of leadership legacy, a diverse peer group that comes not only from different industries but also from different nationalities, an alumni network that has spread its wings in all corners of this world in key positions, wonderful faculty, the presence of CIIE and placement records to boast of – PGPX is a no brainer.

The course gives you knowledge, skills and attitude to excel in Indian business. Also, I want to earn the friendship of 84 future business leaders who are my batchmates, be a part of the strong and close knitted IIM-A alumni network and live an experience of a lifetime.

Finally what IIM-A gives you is that vital two minutes of attention from top business leaders, what you make out of it depends on you.

As a long term plan, I would love to lead an organisation as my own or create my own venture. Also, I would want to keep on writing and doing amazing things that I’m proud of whenever I look back.

In fact, I got married just two months before joining the course.

 

On the admission process

I would rather define the admission process as one in which you learn about yourself. The essays for admission were a revelation for me when I went deep into the motivation for why I want to do PGPX at this stage of my career and how I was as a leader. The personal interview at IIM-A is more of a selection process than a de-selection process.

You meet interesting people outside the interview door and even more interesting ones inside it. There was an extempore round at the start and I was asked to speak about AFSPA. Being from the North-East, I had a good idea about the topic but the way the discussion unfolded was amazing when we discussed the issues of humanity versus national security.

 

 

The best part of PGPX is:

Getting dazzled in Professor Arindam Bannerjee’s marketing classes, dancing and enjoying like a teenager in T-Nite (an annual cultural competition within IIM-A), amazing International experience at ESCP Paris and seeing my novel “I was There” listed in IIM-A’s library.

 

 

Amitabh Coomar

Education: Graduated from the National Defence Academy & Indian Military Academy

Work-Experience: Former Major, Indian Army; Currently Divisional Manager at ITC

 

I graduated from the National Defence Academy & Indian Military Academy and got commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1995 into Armoured Corps, an elite fighting arm of the Indian Army. Extensive exposure over 11 years in leadership, general management, strategy and operations, took voluntary retirement in the rank of Major.

 

Why PGPX?

I was not ready to invest two years in MBA and PGPX was my first choice among the one year MBAs. The brand and legacy of IIM A definitely played a role in that preference.

 

On PGPX:

I gained immensely from the intense and rigorous programme. It prepared me 100% for the flight that I wished to take. I was not only able to transition but also compete and thrive from the word go in a large organization like ITC Ltd, moving straight into Sales/Operations leadership role. I have done four different types of Sales & Marketing roles since, handling different categories within the FMCG segment including National level Brand Marketing role that I am doing currently. I never once struggled and in fact was able to run from start in each assignment thanks to the solid business foundation laid by the PGPX Program.

 

On the admission process:

Admission process was quite rigorous, I was asked some interesting questions for which I had to think on my feet.

 

Best part of PGPX is:

The peer group that enriches the case discussions with multiple industry and functional perspectives.