An Interview with Arun Binani, MBA Alumnus of Manav Rachna University

Careers360 brings an interview with Arun Binani, an MBA alumnus of Manav Rachna University, Faridabad. Arun shares details about his career in India as an Entry Market Specialist, memorable experiences, and the MBA course pursued at MRU Faridabad. Go through the interview with Arun to learn more about the alumni’s campus life and experiences.

Careers360: Please introduce yourself and share reasons why you chose this college as your preferred institution for higher education.

Arun: I chose Manav Rachna primarily because it was located within my city and close to Delhi, which made it both convenient and accessible. At the same time, the institution already had a promising reputation and was just beginning its MBA program, which immediately caught my attention.

Somewhere, I felt that joining during the early stages of the MBA program would offer an ‘early mover advantage.’ It gave me the opportunity to grow alongside the institution itself, to be part of its formative years, and to contribute while it was steadily building and establishing its identity further. Looking back, that decision turned out to be an enriching experience, both personally and professionally.

Careers360: How would you describe your overall experience at the institution?

Arun: My overall experience at Manav Rachna was extremely positive and fulfilling. Looking back today, I genuinely feel that choosing the institution was a very good decision, one that I have never regretted.

What stood out to me was that, unlike many larger institutions where students often remain overshadowed by the institution’s identity itself, Manav Rachna provided students with far greater exposure, opportunities, and responsibilities. There was enough space for individuals to participate actively, take initiative, and build their own identities alongside the institution’s growth.

I also deeply appreciated the infrastructure, the approachable faculty, and the practical wisdom shared by the teachers. Especially in management education, I believe learning extends far beyond textbooks, and the guidance we received from faculty members regarding professional life, decision-making, and industry realities proved equally valuable as academic knowledge.

Also See: MRU Faridabad Admissions 2026

Careers360: How well did the curriculum prepare you for your career or higher studies?

Arun: I believe the curriculum at that time was thoughtfully designed and well aligned with contemporary market demands. Since the MBA program itself was relatively new, the approach was far more modern and industry-oriented rather than being heavily dependent on outdated practices or conventional teaching methods.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the diversity among the faculty members. Professors and mentors came from different parts of India, bringing with them varied perspectives, professional experiences, and teaching styles. That diversity added tremendous depth to classroom discussions and made the overall learning experience far more practical, dynamic, and relevant to real-world business environments.

Careers360: Were there sufficient opportunities for internships, projects, or industry exposure during your time here?

Arun: I felt that, like any growing institution at the time, there were evolving opportunities to further strengthen industry exposure and internship support. At the same time, the environment consistently encouraged us to become proactive, confident, and market-ready in the way we approached professional opportunities.

Personally, I often approached organizations independently with my resume and leveraged the institution’s brand value to gain entry into professional spaces. Over time, I realized that beyond a certain point, success ultimately depends on an individual’s own initiative, confidence, and willingness to actively pursue opportunities rather than simply waiting for them.

Careers360: How did extracurricular activities, clubs, or cultural events contribute to your personal development?

Arun: Extracurricular activities played a very important role in my personal growth and confidence building during my time at Manav Rachna. I actively participated in anchoring events, modeling assignments, sports competitions, and various cultural activities, all of which helped me become more confident, expressive, and socially engaged.

I also had the opportunity to represent the institution at several inter-college events, including basketball and cricket tournaments, and I take pride in having contributed towards winning trophies for the university. Those experiences taught me teamwork, discipline, leadership, and the importance of representing something larger than oneself.

Even today, I genuinely appreciate how the institution continues to engage alumni through sports, cultural activities, and various community initiatives, helping maintain a strong and meaningful connection with former students.

One thing I always felt was that the institution consistently created opportunities beyond academics. However, it also depended on students to step forward, participate actively, and take initiative in order to truly benefit from those experiences.

Careers360: What were the key strengths of the campus environment (infrastructure, resources, student life)?

Arun: For me, one of the greatest strengths of Manav Rachna was always its infrastructure, which consistently left a strong impression not only on students but also on visitors coming to the campus.

I also deeply appreciated the disciplined campus culture that the institution maintained. I believe a large part of that culture was shaped by the leadership and administrative style of senior authorities, many of whom came from defense backgrounds. That environment created a sense of discipline, focus, and groundedness which positively influenced students throughout their academic journey.

Beyond this, I truly valued the quality of faculty members, the wide range of opportunities available across academics and extracurricular activities, and the steadily growing brand value of the university across India. Looking back, all these elements together contributed significantly to making the overall experience enriching and memorable.

Careers360: Did the placement cell or career services meet your expectations? Why or why not?
Arun: During my time at the institution, many of the management systems and career support frameworks were still steadily evolving as the university itself was growing and expanding. This naturally encouraged students to become more proactive, independent, and self-driven while exploring professional opportunities and shaping their career journeys.

At the same time, it has been wonderful to see how the institution has steadily evolved and strengthened over the years. The placement ecosystem and alumni engagement initiatives today appear increasingly structured and professionally integrated, reflecting the university’s continuous growth and commitment toward student and alumni development.

I have also seen many of my classmates go on to build highly successful and stable careers across different industries, which reflects the strong potential, adaptability, and self-driven mindset that students developed during their time at the institution.

Careers360: How has your degree contributed to your professional growth and career trajectory?

Arun: For me, the value of the degree extended far beyond academics alone. A significant part of the learning came from the overall environment and the experiences we shared during those two years. I was surrounded by highly motivated classmates who were genuinely determined to build meaningful careers and make the most of their postgraduate education.

That disciplined academic environment, combined with a focused and ambitious peer group, naturally helped cultivate a strong professional mindset. Looking back, I believe those surroundings, conversations, and collective aspirations played a very important role in shaping my approach toward work, growth, and my future career path.

Careers360: What skills gained at the institution do you find most valuable in your current role?

Arun: I believe the institution played a very important role in helping me identify, develop, and refine many of my existing skills by consistently providing opportunities for participation and exposure. Some of the most valuable qualities I developed during my academic journey were fearlessness, discipline, adaptability, curiosity, and a strong habit of reading and learning continuously.

He highlighted qualities such as fearlessness, discipline, reading habits, adaptability, and curiosity as some of the most valuable attributes he developed during his academic journey. The exposure we received across different departments, industries, events, and activities broadened my understanding of multiple professional domains and contributed significantly to my overall personality development.

One habit that particularly stayed with me for life was the importance of reading extensively and gaining in-depth knowledge rather than relying only on summaries or surface-level understanding. That mindset of learning deeply and staying curious has continued to influence both my personal and professional growth over the years.

Careers360: What challenges did you face during your academic journey, and how did you overcome them?

Arun: He mentioned that personally, his academic journey was largely enjoyable and smooth. At the same time, looking back, I feel there were evolving opportunities to further strengthen structured exposure in areas such as internships, assistantships, industry interactions, and early professional engagement

While industrial visits, guest lectures, and field exposure opportunities formed an important part of the overall learning experience, I believe that continued expansion of industry-oriented guidance and career transition initiatives would further strengthen students’ professional preparedness and long-term career development.

Careers360: How do you stay connected with fellow alumni and the institution?

Arun: I believe maintaining alumni relationships is a shared responsibility between both the institution and its former students. I genuinely appreciate the institution’s continued efforts toward organising alumni interactions, networking opportunities, and engagement initiatives that help alumni stay connected with one another and with the university.

Personally, I still remain closely connected with several classmates and friends from my MBA batch, many of whom continue to reside within the Delhi NCR region. In fact, even after nearly two decades, a close group of us still meets regularly, which truly reflects the strong friendships and lifelong bonds that were formed during our college years.

Careers360: Would you be interested in mentoring current students or participating in alumni activities?

Arun: Yes, I would always be happy to mentor students and contribute to alumni activities whenever I can be of help to the institution and its students. I believe staying connected and giving back in whatever capacity possible is a meaningful way of contributing to the growth of future generations.

Careers360: As a professional, how would you advise a student to plan a career, keeping in mind changes and upheavals in the industry?

Arun: My advice to students would be to focus on long-term learning and developing a deep understanding of concepts rather than relying only on shortcuts or summarized knowledge. Industries today are evolving at an incredibly rapid pace, and the ability to continuously adapt and learn is what ultimately helps professionals remain relevant over time.

I also strongly believe in the importance of perseverance, comprehensive learning, and truly understanding something before attempting to simplify it. In my view, long-term success belongs to individuals who combine adaptability with strong comprehension, curiosity, and a commitment toward continuous self-development.

Careers360: Learning never ends for any professional. In this context, how do you think one should prepare for career advancement with value additions? How can students identify these areas?

Arun: I would encourage students to actively engage with real-world systems such as the stock market and financial industries as a way of developing self-learning and broader awareness. In my experience, even investing small amounts in companies naturally motivates individuals to read, research, and understand larger subjects such as economics, policies, industries, and global developments.

Over time, this habit cultivates curiosity, analytical thinking, and the ability to connect different aspects of the world around us. I genuinely believe that these qualities- continuous learning, awareness, and critical thinking, play a very important role in long-term professional growth and overall personal development.

Careers360: How likely are you to recommend this institution to those planning to pursue higher studies?

Arun: I would certainly recommend the institution, especially to students looking for quality management education within the region. In my opinion, the institution provides a supportive environment, meaningful exposure, and valuable opportunities that can significantly contribute to a student’s personal and professional growth.

At the same time, I strongly believe that individual effort always remains equally important. Students who are willing to work sincerely, take initiative, and make the most of the opportunities available to them are likely to benefit immensely from the experience.

Disclaimer: This article is published as a marketing initiative between MRU Faridabad and Careers360.