An Interview with a PGDM Student, Pooja Vinod at SPJIMR Mumbai

SP Jain Institute of Management and Research was established in 1981. SPJIMR Mumbai is a member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and accredited by the AMBA. SPJIMR courses include PGDM and PGDM-BM (Postgraduate Diploma in Management-Business Management). SPJIMR PGDM specialisations include Finance, Information Management, Marketing and Operations and Supply Chain.

For admission to the PGDM programme at SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, students must have a bachelor's degree with 50% marks and a valid score in CAT or GMAT. In the interview below, Pooja Vindod, a PGDM student, discusses her campus life journey at SP Jain Institute of Management and Research with Careers360.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself.

Pooja Vinod: I’m currently pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDM) at S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai. Previously, I worked at Microsoft as an Azure Cloud & AI Consultant, specializing in Information Security. I also have a deep interest in social impact, have volunteered with the UNDP and Kiran Foundation and completed a climate fellowship at ReNewCred. I hold a B.Tech (Hons.) in Computer Science and Engineering from APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, where I ranked first university-wide with a CGPA of 9.76/10. I was active in music, debating, and public speaking, winning awards at college, state, and national levels. At school, I studied at GEMS OOEHS, Dubai, served as Head Girl, and won four UAE national awards for all-round excellence across grade levels.

Careers360: What were the factors that made you choose SPJIMR?

Pooja Vinod: SPJIMR's eminent position in global rankings like the Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) ranking (#35 in the world, and Top 3 in India in 2024, 2025), the focus on social sensitivity and its integration into the curriculum, experiential societal initiatives like Abhyudaya, DoCC etc., alumni outcomes and the institute's rich legacy and industry standing were the key factors for me.

Careers360: What was the first thing that you noticed about the campus and life at SPJIMR?

Pooja Vinod: The campus is sprawling, has a lot of greenery and is located in the lap of nature. A beautiful lake stands in the midst. As for life at SPJIMR, it is engaging, filled with diverse activities, challenging, full of learning and transformative in many ways- all at once.

Careers360: What were the initial challenges faced by you at the campus?

Pooja Vinod: For me, the transition to the field of business from technology and social impact meant a steep learning curve. Adjusting initially to the intense b-school culture and demands of a rigorous MBA program was another challenge.

Careers360: What do you think are unique facilities that are offered at SPJIMR?

Pooja Vinod: Located in the heart of India's commercial capital Mumbai, means a great connect with the industry that translates into knowledge sharing and opportunities to gain exposure to the business world across sectors. Apart from a beautiful campus in a convenient location with great connectivity, SPJIMR also has well-equipped, modern classrooms, auditoriums, multiple cafes and excellent facilities for recreation, fitness and a variety of sports. Student life at SPJIMR is also extremely vibrant, with a plethora of clubs to develop, celebrate and promote diverse talents, and all major festivals being celebrated with great splendor.

Careers360: Give us a glimpse of the daily routine followed by you at the SPJIMR Campus.

Pooja Vinod: We usually have classes from Monday to Friday (9 am - 5 pm), although this can be dynamic based on the term and courses being taken. Post class, we are free to engage with academics or participate in our choice of events, sports or extra-curricular activities that are always taking place on campus.

Careers360: If you were to rate one favorite thing at the SPJIMR Campus, what would it be?

Pooja Vinod: My favorite thing here at SPJIMR would be the people. The students who make it here are truly the best, each one having excelled in their respective field, bringing a lot of knowledge and diversity from all parts of the country. They make for an excellent peer group to be inspired by, to compete with and to widen the scope of learning and collaboration. They also make great friends, and with their support and companionship, one learns to navigate the ups and downs of a demanding MBA life!

Careers360: Which areas do you think can do with some improvement?

Pooja Vinod: The hostel facilities can be upgraded. The rest is fine when it comes to academic or other facilities on campus.

Careers360: Peer groups generally leave long-lasting impressions and many times translate to lifelong friendships. What is your opinion on the peer groups at SPJIMR?

Pooja Vinod: As mentioned before, I think the peer group is one of the top highlights of my SPJIMR experience so far.

Careers360: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. This holds true for all. What are the regular fun activities at SPJIMR?

Pooja Vinod: Sports, film screenings, karaoke nights and the celebration of all major festivals.

Careers360: Name some of the prominent clubs at SPJIMR. Which ones are you part of? Do you think they are important for students?

Pooja Vinod: Some key clubs include B-Major (music), Spin (dance), GaSP (acting), SPectacular (film). There are also several dedicated professional development clubs for consulting, product management, investing, analytics etc. I am part of B-Major. Yes, I believe that these clubs truly enrich our time here at SPJIMR and all of them play a fundamental part in our overall development as well-rounded individuals.

Careers360: Extracurricular activities cover a lot of things. Name some activities that you participate in.

Pooja Vinod: I perform in karaoke nights hosted by the music club, play table tennis when time permits, attend industry expert sessions organized by various professional development clubs and actively participate in all major celebrations and events hosted on campus.

Careers360: Stress busters are important, especially with intense programmes of study. What are yours?

Pooja Vinod: Taking part in student community activities/events, listening to music, watching movies/shows, going out on weekends with friends, speaking to family etc. are my key stress busters.

Careers360: Name some activities that are related and focussed on the SPJIMR PGDM.

Pooja Vinod: The Abhyudaya programme, ADMAP course and DoCC stand out to me. As part of the Abhyudaya course in PGDM, each SPJIMR student is paired with a student from an underprivileged background for mentorship over the course of several months, which includes home visits in their local communities. The ADMAP course (Assessment and Development of Administrative and Managerial Potential) organizes the entire batch into around 18 committees that manage almost all student and campus affairs and initiatives. Last but not the least, DoCC (Development of Corporate Citizenship) gives students the opportunity to work with different partner NGOs to help solve various pressing challenges to sustainable development.

Careers360: In your opinion, how do campus life and interactions shape a student's life?

Pooja Vinod: I believe that campus life and interactions are the fundamental mode through which students learn from each other, collaborate and form long-lasting bonds and networks. In an MBA setting where a lot of academic and co-curricular work happens in groups, its role becomes even more significant.

Careers360: What are the regular events that are held at the SPJIMR campus?

Pooja Vinod: Professional development and knowledge sessions led by various clubs, committees and industry partners.

Careers360: If you had to describe your campus in a nutshell, what would that be?

Pooja Vinod: A microcosm of endless possibilities, trailblazing potential and boundless learning.

Careers360: What would you miss most about the campus and life here after you leave?

Pooja Vinod: The diversity of academic subjects, wide range of exposure, access to prolific faculty, the opportunity to collaborate and work with peers on interesting tasks and goals, the camaraderie, bonds, friendships and memories we created together.

Disclaimer: This article has been published as a marketing initiative between Careers360 and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai.