My ambition and desire for growth, drove me to pursue MBA from IEC MCRC, says Prachi Sawant

While working at TCS, I understood I had acquired knowledge proficiency in the scientific domain but I was confined to a restricted zone. Soon I realised that for growth in the career, I should learn more about the business of pharmaceuticals or else the job would be monotonous and I would stagnate, which I feared the most.  Also, as a pharmacy graduate. I was working at a junior level and would take years to go up the ladder unless I understood the business aspects more deeply. That feeling drove me towards MBA.

I searched a lot regarding part-time and full-time MBA both have its own pros and cons. I chose a full-time MBA because I had very little work experience. Instead,

A full-time MBA would enable me to engage time and focus on honing managerial skills, develop my personality and build a competitive advantage.

I looked around for an institute of repute where education and values both go hand in hand. After doing a lot of research among friends, working professionals and my seniors, I visited IES Management College and Research Centre. The counsellors helped me firm up my mind to join IES MCRC to pursue PGDM-PHM (PGDM in Pharmaceutical and Health Management).

Once a mind is expanded with ambition and desire for growth, there is little that can stop human beings. I gave MAH-CET which is compulsory for MBA. After that, I applied for the colleges offering Pharma MBA. I studied their profiles, student feedback, views in social media, website information regarding infrastructure, faculty, industry association and, of course, placements.

IES MCRC entrance procedure includes the Psychometric Test, Group Discussion and a Personal Interview.

Each college has its own selection process. IES MCRC entrance procedure includes the Psychometric Test, Group Discussion and a Personal Interview. IES MCRC weighs the candidature on various parameters. It was tough but I was well prepared. One must read a lot in GK, social and political issues. Reading matters a lot. I chose not to go for any coaching classes but studied on my own, preparing for aptitude test, GD & PI. My work experience came to my advantage.

For the Psychometric test, there is nothing like right or wrong, it consists of condition-based questions. Group Discussion: They gave us one topic and 5 minutes to prepare on it and 20 minutes for discussion and the last 5 minutes to conclude. Topics are basically the one which are trending. This round is to understand your knowledge regarding the current affairs and to check confidence, communication skills. Personal Interview consists of questions regarding your journey, your aspirations and to know you as a candidate.

Finally, after a daylong selection programme, a week later results were declared I got selected at IES MCRC. Saying good-bye to my job, I was at the campus to study PGDM on Pharma & Healthcare.

From second semester onwards, all Wednesdays are planned for live industry projects and interaction with industry experts.

As I am a part of the full-time programme, we have day-long lectures from 9 am to 5 pm in the first semester. From second semester onwards, all Wednesdays are planned for live industry projects and interaction with industry experts. It is a rare opportunity to gain work experience with corporate while you are still learning. Live projects give exposure, experience and familiarity with people.

Each course is full of assignments, projects, presentation to build confidence. Some are group presentations and some are individual presentations. So you learn to work in teams and inculcate interpersonal skills, problem-solving and negotiations skills.

The most exciting phase was when we students organised our Annual Pharma Conference - INSIGHT 2018 which brings industry, under-graduate pharmacy and science students, academicians and professionals together. The conference is totally students driven. ISIGHT is a testimony to the ability of students' readiness to take up professional assignments in the industry.

My three months of Summer internship at Niruja HealthTech (Medical Tourism firm) was an amazing experience.

It was a consultancy firm that gave me very exciting project and the opportunity to actually perform with enhanced ability. My project work was much appreciated, acclaimed in many inter & intra-collegiate competitions, bringing glory and recognition.

IES MCRC has strong patronage from the industry in terms of awards sponsored such as Best Academic Performance, Best Live Project, Best Summer Project and Best Management Project and these act as a great motivation force among students to compete, perform and deliver their best for recognition.

These two years have transformed me into a well-groomed, confident, competent professional.

I learned a lot about the business, industry, professional ethics, professional skills like leadership analysis, decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork.

I completed my PGDM-PHM from IES, MCRC, and through college, I got placed in SMSRC, the best Pharmaceutical Prescription Research Firm. This is the best way to get into the field of marketing where you into data-based decision making. It calls for superior analytical ability. Eventually, this will take me to higher positions in pharma marketing.

About the author:

Prachi Sawant is pursuing PGDM in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management at IES Management College and Research Centre. She holds her graduation degree in B.Pharma from H K College of Pharmacy.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha