An Interview with Shalabh Agarwal, Alumnus at IBS Gurgaon

ICFAI Business School, Gurgaon was established in 1995. It is a private constituent college of ICFAI University, Dehradun. IBS Gurgaon courses are a 2-year PGPM programme. This article features an exclusive interview with Mr. Shalabh Agarwal, who is an alumnus of IBS Gurgaon. Mr. Agarwal belonged to the batch of 2005-2007. He speaks about his experience studying at IBS Gurgaon, and how this changed his future endeavours. Read the article to know more.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I am Shalabh Agarwal. Passed out from IBS Gurgaon – batch of 2005-2007. I am currently working as an Associate Director at Design Matrix. I chose IBS Gurgaon for my MBA program for its highly experienced faculty and rich case study-based curriculum.

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

Mr. Agarwal: It was great in terms of batch diversity, team activities and overall learning experience.

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

Mr. Agarwal: It provided me with basics of marketing and general management concepts which helped me quick start my corporate journey. I was able to adapt easily in mid-size and large firms as well.

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

Mr. Agarwal: Yes, the Summer Internship Program and interaction session with industry professionals were very valuable to get a glimpse of corporate world.

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

Mr. Agarwal: They helped in sharpening my team player skills as well as my leadership skills.

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

Mr. Agarwal: We had decent Infra in terms of lush green campus, computer lab, library and well-equipped classrooms. All in all, the infra and available resources lead to a good student experience and exposure.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I started as Account Executive at HCL and now I am working as an Associate Director, this would not have been possible without IBS.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I would name soft skills as the most important one apart from subject knowledge and working under tight timelines.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I came from an Engineering background, most of the subjects were not familiar for me. Case studies and faculty support provided immense help in getting clarity on various topics.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I try my best to participate in Alumni meets and other events organized by IBS, Gurgaon.

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

Mr. Agarwal: Yes, I would like to participate in such activities and share my experience with the new IBS generation.

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

Mr. Agarwal: These days industry trends are changing quite rapidly and competition is cut throat, so my advice to any student would be to cross skill and upskill regularly to remain relevant in the industry.

Team 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?

Mr. Agarwal: For any chosen management stream, it is advisable to be aware of current trends, based on the interest and active field of work, these areas can be identified. So relevant certifications should be taken up to remain updated as per the evolving needs of the various industries.

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

Mr. Agarwal: I would highly recommend IBS to students planning to pursue management program as they would be able to boost their carrier growth by learning various skills here that would be with them, always!!

Disclaimer: This article has been published as a marketing initiative between Careers360 and IBS Gurgaon.