It is important to stick to ones values and its all right to say, I don’t know.. Indrayan Ganguly, 2010-2012, SPJIMR

Indrayan Ganguly, is presently doing his PGDM in Marketing Management from SPJIMR, Mumbai. Having spent his entire life in Kolkata and having pursued his Bachelors in Power Engineering from Jadavpur University Kolkata, he shifted to Mumbai to pursue his MBA degree. Though academically inclined, he is an avid music enthusiast and is currently the lead vocalist of the SPJIMR college band. He is also an amateur guitarist, a sports enthusiast, and a trained painter with passion for travel and books. A multifaceted persona Indrayan shares his MBA experience with Radhika Arunkumar.

Tell us about your decision to go for an MBA
The MBA fever struck me in the third year, first semester of college when I decided to look at options for higher studies. My friends were considering MS but I wanted to stay in India as I was convinced that India was the place to be. A few of my acquaintances were in the IIMs and at MDI and they inspired me. My biggest influence was my college Senior Aninda who was at NITIE then. As I am creative in nature and have the flair for event organization, (I was one of the coordinators for Sanskriti, Jadavpur University college fest) I felt that I should go for an MBA.

Did you have work experience prior to your joining the B-school?
No, I passed out BE in 2009 and joined SPJAIN the same year.

How early did you start preparing for the MBA entrance exams?
I enrolled in IMS for their one-year course in September 2008. I used to attend the classes but serious preparation started from May 2009. The last three months was when the preparation was at its peak.

How did you prepare for the CAT?
I solved the DI and Quant and English from IMS Simulated tests. DI & LR were my weak areas so I practiced more on these papers. My initial intention was to focus on concepts, which I knew well. I played more on accuracy than on speed, and prepared for accuracy during the Simcats. I solved around 40 mocktests in the last 2 months and this boosted my confidence. The trick is not to give up when you are failing badly.

How was your experience with GD-PI, any interesting anecdotes you wish to share with our readers?
No interviews or GDs were very different. I faced a pressure interview at IMT Ghaziabad. They tried to twist all my answers into questions in order to put pressure. I feel one should not take different stances at the interviews. It is important to stick to ones values and its all right to say, “ I don’t know” instead of blabbering things one is not aware of.

How would you describe life at B-school?
Life in an MBA school is quite hectic initially. Especially during the first two trimesters, class load is heavy and there are lots of assignments, quizzes and presentations. Group dynamics in academic groups form a major part of MBA life. Small group politics, professional relations and networking form an MBA’s integral engagement. People are very diverse and people can have their own biases and prejudices, which make them, perceive others in different ways. Acceptance can be very high to very low, depending on the individual. Classes go on from 9 in the morning often till 6-7 in the evening, followed by assignments. The pressure takes a toll on you but you get used to it gradually. People are very focused and tend to work on peer pressure instead of absolutes.

What kind of life and career do you foresee for yourself after your MBA?
I want to join a Media or a FMCG company and work there. I am a student of marketing management and FMCG is the best place to start a career in marketing. I am also interested in media since it is a growing sector and it has started hiring MBA graduates from top schools for marketing and sales roles. They offer good roles and also require diverse and creative people.

Was there any special, unforgettable experience that you faced or enjoyed --- and which shaped your life?
Had a few special moments. One was our band WMD was declared runners up in the band competition at Unmaad, IIM B cultural fest. It marked our arrival and we went on to win in NMIMS solo competition and again in OJAS, SPJIMR festival.

You are part of a band in your institute, why don’t you tell us about it in brief
SPJIMR takes immense pride in the extraordinary musical talent showcased by its young and dynamic managers. At SPJIMR, we believe in Value based education and development of the Right Skills and attitude towards Management, a part of which involves nurturing intellectual capital in form of Music, Dance and other art forms. Our music band, WMD is formed by a group of enthusiastic and passionate musicians and is a classic mix of western and eastern music. We have a few original compositions to our credit and have won laurels at prestigious institutions like IIMA, IIMB, NMIMS and SPJAIN cultural fests. We are working on more compositions and planning to perform in a few well-known places in and around Mumbai.

Do you have any inspirational message for MBA aspirants, especially with respect to competitive exams like CAT and GDs and PIs?
It’s when you are about to give up that you should know that you are close to getting what you wanted the most. So the trick is not to give up.