Student Diaries

2015
 It’s rarely in life that you come across something that is
so perfect for you, it’s much too hard to believe the fit.

MBA, I had decided 3 years back, will not just be a Master

in Business Administration for me. It had to be an ignited
pathway which I needed to work towards. It had to be
the mould which would solidify the experience I gather.
One which would fuel my passion triggering a proper
launch towards not just a career, but a better vantage point in life. Three years and experience
across two industries later, I felt I was finally ready to submit myself for a full time MBA course,
one that would help me alter my capabilities without changing who I am.

Number of late night researches and a lot of networking landed me in a long list of colleges
which I felt might be alright for me. But just alright, none exactly perfect.

Tired of coming across the same content over and over again, I was almost losing hope that I’d
ever find the perfect course for me. Maybe I just had to go with what seemed best of the lot.
That’s when an interesting discussion on a very fine day, with some of my peers brought out
details of a new college in Hyderabad. A B-School named Woxsen School of Business. Praying
hard it doesn’t turn up like some of the other college websites I had gone through, I went through
Woxsen’s website to be pleasantly surprised. The concept of a “trade tower” immediately fired
up an interest in me. An institute which focuses-on and develops entrepreneurship with the
help of world class faculty and it’s very own ‘trade tower’! It was definitely refreshing. I got in
touch with Woxsen team, attended an Info session & on their assigned date appeared for an
interview.
From my side, I decided this was it.

A week later, Woxsen offered me a seat to be part of its Executive MBA program (PGPXP) for
the academic year 2015-16! On my 25th Birthday, 20th of March, I had a tour of their campus
in Hyderabad. I would not have had the day spent in any other way! It was such a joy interacting
with the students and Faculty and spending time in the place that will in time bring about a
monumental change in my life. My first proper milestone birthday, I feel, did total justice to
being called a day to remember.

Through social network, I am now getting to know my peers-to-be and we are already like a big
family teeming with energy! I am counting down the days until my life at Woxsen starts for real.
Exciting times ahead indeed!
Deciding to be part of Woxsen, is perhaps the biggest step I have taken in my life and I stand
strong by it.
- Shreya Nair - PGPXP 2015-16
Former Head – Recruitment at Pricol Technologies,
Model, Adventure Sports Enthusiast, Photographer,
Badminton Player, Foodie.
 Considering the alternatives for several months after
having done my graduation, I finally decided to go for
mba. Having appeared in CAT 2014, in turn made me
eligible to apply in most of the nation's bschools and
was enough to get call letters from several colleges
including IIM Ranchi. That was when I found myself
muddled. Hence I followed a few steps right from gleaning
facts and figures about these b-schools including their
brochures to attending seminars and getting insights
into the urgency at hand. Woxsen School of business
being one of them, consequently seemed at par with
other good b-schools on my list. After a little extra effort
from my side in meeting the dedicated woxsen staff, I got acquainted with some striking
qualities that Woxsen has to offer to its students such as mandatory international immersions
into UK/ Singapore and getting to learn from faculties from the best global universities, activities
encouraging interactions with industry leaders and faculty from leading B-schools such as
Harvard, ISB & IIMs etc. My graduation at SRCC, Delhi helped me to identify, understand and
appreciate the importance of a program that would draw both international & domestic repute
v/s one that would draw only domestic repute. Also a wide range of recreational and sporting
facilities to aid a healthy life at the campus is as distinguishable.

With my visit to Campus, I discerned that Woxsen is indeed an ecosystem having networks
across the globe with extensive facilities to learn, develop and practice my ideals and skills,
thus offering a far more specialised Management Education. Finally, myself being a fresher
having no work experience, I made the decision to be a part of Woxsen’s two-year full time
PGDM course as the B-School has a one-year full time PG programme for experienced professionals
too and that would give me the necessary networking opportunity with the right peer group.
I am looking forward to starting my journey at Woxsen School of Business and I am sure it is
going to be a worthy inverstment of 2 years.

- Amitansh Singh - PGDM 2015-17

An SRCC alumnus, an IIM Ranchi call getter and
a sports enthusiast
 The story of how I chose to tread “the path less travelled
by”—at least for the time being—is one that I never seem
to tire of recounting. It all started last year sometime in
September, on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon. My
father, the perpetual analyst irrespective of the task at
hand, had just given me a near third-degree about my
choices in life. I had already been preparing for my CAT
exam by then and he wanted to know with what intention
I was writing the exam and where I truly hoped to stand
in life. After an extensive discussion of all things related,
he was convinced of my decision to seriously pursue an
MBA degree. Overtime, I’ve learnt—convincing is the first
and most difficult step. Of course, right after that is the “proving-your-mettle” chapter of the
story, but that will be a story for another day. And so my father began to look for what may be
the most suitable college for me. We were firmly agreed on one thing: the choice of your college
matters tremendously.

He then stumbled across Woxsen School of Business online, at the time still in its first year since
its inception. He asked me to take a look into it. Initially skeptical about the whole deal, I
nevertheless spared the website a quick glance. As I went through it, though I was still not certain
of what precisely to expect, I found myself becoming all the more inquisitive. Intent on finding
out more about it, I began attending the seminars arranged by the Marketing team. With the
increasing frequency of our interactions, it became increasingly clear to me that I was headed
the right direction.

There are several reasons for my having arrived to the above said conclusion. Perhaps the
reasons remain more personal in nature, than general. As a technically sound engineer with
excellent communication skills, I have seldom given “entrepreneurial thinking” a serious thought;
it was always middle management that I contemplated. I naively assumed that Entrepreneurship
is not altogether something that would fit me. After having attended the seminars, however,
my curiosity amplified and I began the research—what actually lay in store for me in the business
world? Woxsen introduced to me the concept of Corporate Entrepreneurship, or “Intrapreneurship”.
The idea of conveying the importance of task completion, alongside encouragement of creative
brainstorming, seized me completely!

Never having come across what looked to me like the best of both worlds—contribute to the
business by letting out your creativity as much as you reap the benefits of being part of a
Multinational Corporation—it seemed to me as though I was having a moment of epiphany.
One question that had always haunted me, even as I diligently worked at my daily software job
for nearly three years now was—what if the world came crashing around my ears? To what extent
can I afford to be complacent in the job that I had, in the role that I am currently assuming? I was
finally told by Woxsen what I had known deep down all along: you need a survival kit for yourself
if you’re cast aside someday by, say, the misfortune of an economical crisis; and you can NEVER
afford complacency if your goal is to strive for excellence. I immediately knew Intrapreneurship,
which emphasized on Entrepreneurial thinking within the organization, was what I had always
been looking for.

The experiences of my life have taught me to always rely solely on myself and be independent
in the ways of thinking and living life. Uniqueness has always been one of my mantras and in
Woxsen, I found myself looking for the same thing: why Woxsen, among so many different
institutes?

Then I asked myself, what better place to start if one wants to learn about Entrepreneurial
thinking, than in an Entrepreneurial Enterprise itself? I would now like to be very clear about
one thing: my aim is to explore the marketing side of the economy by choosing a career in
Marketing, employed by a said organization. I am not looking to run off into the unknown and
jump ship to start my own venture with my limited, if not scant, knowledge on Entrepreneurship.
Learning what it might mean to start an organization of your own, however; and working with
those that are already well informed and looking to be equipped in such ventures, is what
enthrals me.

As to why I chose the one year program, although I understand and appreciate the value of a
two-year program, for personal as well as professional reasons, one year seems like the optimum
time in which I can lose myself in the art of learning and applying before gearing up and dealing
with the real world scenarios; more so since I already have about three years of work experience
as an Associate Software Consultant in an MNC. Add to that, the privilege of being in constant
company of those who have more than a half a decade of work experience over me, my resolution
only solidifies.

To live every day among those who aspire to start something of their own someday soon; to
work alongside those that are looking to explore their respective Financial, Marketing and
Human Resources Management oriented careers; and to strive among the youngsters who are
determined to grasp every ounce of knowledge Woxsen promises to teach us—that’s what gives
me the adrenaline rush—and that’s how I know in my gut that I’ve made the right decision. Only
time will tell how far my partnership with Woxsen would take me—but that it will be far is the
one thing that I am absolutely certain about.
After all, put succinctly:

These woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
(—excerpt from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost)

- Kartika Budhavarapu – PGPXP 2015-16

Associate Software Consultant at Capgemini,
freelance journalist, part-time RJ, writer, singer
 After completing my ICSE, IB and BBA in Entrepreneurship
and Marketing, I was really befuddled as to whether I
should pursue education further or I should put the
pedal to the metal and take on the real world. I hunted
for jobs and miraculously did land up getting one. It was
great having a job, spending my own money for personal
expenses as well as my bills that my parents had been
taking care of all these years. Everything was great; I was
earning well, I made great friends at work and life went
on. But as they say, everyone hits a plateau.

I was 16 months through at LEGION, one of India’s leading

face to face advertising and customer acquisition firms. I had reached the stage of “Crew Leader”.
The managing director would reward me well for my work. But was this what I really wanted?
A job where I have completed almost all the challenges? A job where I have to just take interviews,
recruit people and train them for the field and in administration? Absolutely NOT. I had a
degree in Entrepreneurship and I wanted to pursue it further by starting something of my own,
something that I am passionate about, something through which I could give back to society,
something that isn’t just about money, but also about creation, happiness and being your own
boss.

A lot of people didn’t admire the fact that I had decided to quit a job that was paying well. “Oh
man, you are lucky you have a job from 9 – 5 and that’s paying you well. You are crazy to leave”,
“You have no idea what you are doing. Some post graduates are not getting jobs and here you
are leaving this for some silly dream of yours”. I faced such comments after I decided to quit.
My answer to them was simple, “I don’t want a 9 – 5, I want a 12 – 12. After 5pm every day I am
happy that I am done for the day. That isn’t satisfaction according to me. Having a 12 – 12 means
that I am satisfied throughout the day working hard to conquer my goals and live my dream.”

One day I got a call from a close friend who wanted to speak to me about my future plans on
whether I plan to start a business or to study or to give my GMAT exams etc. I told him that my
eventual goal is to start my own business, but I honestly had no clue on how to get there. He
told me that since I had pursued Entrepreneurship at the under graduate level, I should do the
same at the postgraduate level. He said, “learning never stops, even if your 23 or 53. You learn
something new EVERY SINGLE DAY”. He then told me about WOXSEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
how it promotes entrepreneurial thinking and how some current students are being funded to
pursue their ideas and live their dreams. I immediately checked the website and contacted the
team in charge of admissions. My admission procedure was looked after excellently and very
smoothly by Ms. Ankita Raut and Ms. Anju Jayraj. After checking the website [www.woxsen.edu.in],
the program, student experiences, the campus tour, I knew this was the place for me. I thoroughly
enjoyed speaking to and gained a lot of creative insights from Mr. Vikram Singh and Mr. Shankar
Murlidharan as a part of my personal interview.

Entrepreneurship to me has always meant something special and has lightened a flame in me
ever since I understood the meaning of the word. At Woxsen, with the help of its world renowned
faculty and excellent facilities, I will make sure I follow my dream and live up to not only the
expectations of my family, but also to those who thought I could never make it. I am looking
forward to the most memorable learning of my life at Woxsen.

- Yash Merchant – PGDM 2015 -17

1.5 years with Legion, state level body-builder
and swimmer, a polo enthusiast and a graduate
in Entrepreneurship
 After having worked for over 14 years across top MNC’s
like Wipro, Infotech, CSC in capacities starting from a
Software engineer to an Associate manager, I realized
that the skills (Technical + Managerial) which brought
me this far will not take me ahead. The need to upgrade
and make myself available for higher positions/roles
prompted me to go for an MBA and it was in this pursuit
that I happened to meet the Woxsen team.

So, why did I choose Woxsen amongst so many other

options?

• Harvard, Wharton & Kellogg Faculty - A very respectable team of Faculty from Harvard &
Stanford on board.
• Concept of the Trade Tower - Through this extremely novel idea, I envisioned myself nurturing
entrepreneurial abilities & have hands-on experience in pitching ideas, preparing value
propositions, creating business models, being comfortable with uncertainty, etc. which got
me excited. I could very clearly see this as a BIG differentiator in positioning myself well in
the market.
• LOCS Based Curriculum (Leadership, Organisation Behaviour, Communication and Strategy)
- This appeared to me as the fundamental trait, which when calibrated in oneself in required
proportions will certainly enhance one's effectiveness in dealing with both personal and
professional challenges.

As I complete nine months as a Woxsenite, I reflect upon a great learning experience and look
forward to gaining multiple perceptions that would empower me in seeking my entrepreneurial
dream.

Hope to see you – the change makers of the future - join the bandwagon soon.

- Vijay Sarathy Chennapati

PGPED ’14
Woxsen School Of Business, Hyderabad
 I was born and have lived most of my life in Shimla.
I carry a work experience of almost 5 years working with
luxury hotels in revenue management, operations and
projects.
During my last assignment with the Accor group, I realized
that there was a strong disconnect to what I wanted
and where I am. That's when I decided to go for a
master's program.

I was looking for a program that specialized in finance

and strategy, with the focus on Entrepreneurial thinking
and Innovation. With two offers with me from Canada
I came across Woxsen.

At the very first glance, with no compromises at all, I was impressed with what Woxsen had to
offer. Indeed before taking this bold step, I researched a lot, not just about the stakeholders, but
the faculty and their publications. It was indeed a bold yet a risky decision but a calculated one.

With my personal travel already planned to Hyderabad, I decided to drop in at the Corporate
Office.

And that was it....I tore my Visa documents on reaching Shimla, packed my bags, went for a
country side trip in the Himalayas.

I joined Woxsen in August. It's been almost 6 months now and it feels it was just yesterday.
Over these months, apart from conventional subjects we have had classes on unique topics
such as leadership, sustainability, unconventional marketing, design thinking with professors
coming from Ivy Leagues and IIM's.

One-year program is intense but interactive and fun. Experiences coming from industry experts
as well as professors from Elite B-schools have made the learning life changing. Now in the last
lap of the program, it's the specialization time; Strategy and finance.

Beyond the learning experiences, I'll miss the closeness that I found with the nature here. The
campus is aesthetically designed, and one can't have enough of it. With amazing landscape,
greenery and open spaces all around, it's a heaven for nature lovers.

- Varun Gupta
PGPED ’14
Woxsen School Of Business, Hyderabad
 It has been my pleasure to be a Woxsenite. I worked for
over 5 years in the corporate with companies such as
Tech Mahindra, Wipro & Kantar group in multiple domains
at different roles, before joining Woxsen. At Tech Mahindra,
I was a Sr. Research Analyst in Global Supply Chain Logistics
division for one of the top 2 clients in pharmaceuticals
industry globally along with multi-national Logistics
Service Providers(LSP) and was responsible to monitor
LSP's performance in their operations and to take strategic
decisions to improve the data quality as per the business
requirements.
At Kantar Group, I worked as a Project Lead in market
research & consulting and played a vital role in Client Communication to facilitate the business
development ideas with exemplary quality for various multi-national brands in financial services,
FMCG, Automobiles and other sectors.

At Wipro, I worked as Sr. Associate in outsourcing operations for HP Technical Support for the
North American customer base. I did startup my own business (Corporate Cab Services). It was
one of the crucial turning points in my career path. I joined Woxsen because I could relate my
entrepreneurial decisions, achievements & learnings to various courses at Woxsen.

I felt that Woxsen is the right place for me to explore more learnings & options to have a strong
foundation for my future challenges and I was correct. As I go on with my journey here, I find
that each and every course is very relevant to my real time experience and would have an impact
in helping me perform better in top leadership roles.

Despite the rich work experience of more than 5 years, I opted for the 2-year PGDM course.
Multiple factors such as Academic Curriculum, Visiting Faculty & the Networking Grid (Corporate
Relations) facilitated at Woxsen shaped my decision. Workshops from different industry experts
are invaluable for experienced professionals. Since the time I have joined Woxsen I have always
got an opportunity to connect quality inputs that I have gained here, with my past experience
which would definitely help me to reach the desired roles. I believe that "learning is a never ending
process". We had some experiential learning lectures too such as Design Thinking, Strategy
Experiential Modules, Corporate Leadership, Critical Thinking. These unique opportunities helped
me implement my learnings from the courses to check & correct my approach towards
management. This obviously is building up a strong foundation towards achieving my short term
& long term goals. I am sure that the Business & Academic Advisory Board members will enhance
the value of quality management education at Woxsen.

For me, it has been a wonderful experience as a student after a long academic gap to complement
a Global B-school environment. Attributes like a 200 acre Eco-friendly campus (we ride on Woxsen
cycles across the campus), global infrastructure, good peer learning & continuous mentoring
makes me feel that I am heading in the right track towards faster professional growth.

- Phani Karupothula
PGPEM ’14
Woxsen School Of Business, Hyderabad
 Prior to joining Woxsen, I was working with the hospitality
industry for about 5 years. I was looking for a transition
in my career towards marketing. Therefore, I wanted to
pursue a Master's program, which could give me with
the tools to progress in my career towards senior
management level. I was in a dilemma to consider any
college in India since the quality of education provided
here is considered to be bookish & brick and mortar in
nature. However, when I learnt about the Woxsen School
of Business, I found that it is a business school of the
new generation, providing innovation, latest technology,
great infrastructure, renowned faculty and most important
every student at Woxsen is given an opportunity to tap into their potential. The course offered
here is intense with students across different geographies and you get to learn a lot from each
other's experience.

- Juhi Goswami
PGPEM ’14
Woxsen School Of Business, Hyderabad