You don’t go to a B School to learn accounting but to detect opportunities -

…..says Sandip Bhatlawande, a B. Tech., Electronics and Communication Engineering graduate. He is currently doing his MBA from University of Rochester, William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration. In conversation with Reshma Majithia, he talks of his decision to do an MBA from abroad

What led you to do an MBA and why did you choose to pursue your MBA from abroad?

Looking ahead 10 years down the line, I realized the need to have strong fundamentals in finance and access to the network of professionals in different industries and geographies. An Engineering degree and a technology specific job were not going to provide that so I decided to do an MBA.

Once you gain a certain level of experience, you need to capitalize on that. B schools in US put you in front of a diverse group of people who bring a lot to the table. You don’t go to a B School to learn a bunch of accounting tricks. You go to a B School to learn how to detect opportunities and leverage what you have. B Schools abroad provide you a platform to learn from your peers and build network that pays off in the longer run.

You have worked as a Business Analyst (Senior System Engineer) with IBM for 4 years. How has your experience working with IBM been and why a sudden shift from a B.Tech to an MBA?

It was a great experience to work with clients and understand their problem. Difficulty in job was not finding solutions, but understanding their problem so you propose the right solution. As I spent more and more time with the clients, I figured out a gap in my skill-set and that led to making a decision to go for MBA at the right time.

How did you balance your job responsibilities, GMAT and application preparation? Elaborate on the obstacles faced.

GMAT is just the beginning. Never get hung up on GMAT and take it to the end. I was fortunate to get a good score on first attempt, so I could focus on applications. It usually takes a year to go through the process after you take your GMAT. Talking to alumni and current students matters a lot in the application process.

What are your long-term aspirations and how do you see the MBA degree helping you achieve the same?

I plan to build my career in the finance industry and I think I got a good start with that. The soft skills you learn in a B School help you almost every day. Having access to the network of a wider alumni pool is very critical in the management career.

What advice would you like to give students who plan to do an MBA from abroad?