India Kakkar, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2023
Age: 26
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Durham University, BA Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years, Marketing Communications
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Prior to the MBA, I was a member of the WPP Fellowship, a multidisciplinary marketing programme where I undertook rotations in a range of different creative agencies from influencer marketing to digital and advertising, working with a diverse set of clients from Unilever and Bacardi to Nike and De Beers. I enjoyed creatively solving business challenges for these clients, in particular, those related to the fast-moving retail and luxury trends, however, I decided that I wanted to have a wider scope of influence and responsibility – beyond the marketing and advertising divisions of the business – and move in-house at a luxury/retail brand. Business school seemed like a great way to gain this wider business knowledge whilst also getting further exposure to the fast-moving luxury/retail industry.
Why did you choose LBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The London Business School (LBS) MBA stood out for a number of reasons. Firstly, LBS boasts unique connections with the British fashion and luxury industry, and in particular the growing fashion tech space. I was excited about opportunities, such as the Walpole programme and the Retail & Luxury Goods Club, as I knew that growing my network in this sphere would be particularly important. Practical learning opportunities, such as the Luxury Strategy elective, kept occurring during my research and seemed like amazing opportunities for me to put my learnings into practice.
The second major reason why I chose LBS is because of its renowned global outlook. Despite already being in London, I knew that my best chances of building a truly global network would come by staying put and I have not been disappointed! Global opportunities, such as the GBE and the international exchange, were also factors in selecting LBS.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
Having spent five years in a range of marketing disciplines, from influencer marketing to advertising to digital innovation, I have a strong sense of how to apply creativity to solve complex business challenges. Joining the programme from a creative industry puts me in a small minority at LBS, however, I feel that bringing a creative perspective to the business world is a beneficial breath of fresh air. As a society, we’re currently facing some of the biggest challenges of all timeand I believe that, to do so, we will need to think more creatively about how to solve them.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
I have been creating a piece of art for the past five years made out of recycled contact lenses.
Post-MBA career interests:
Retail/luxury & Fashion tech
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Start early. I started my application exactly six months ahead of Round One applications, which gave me around four months for GRE prep & test and two months on the actual written application. It was so beneficial having time to think carefully about my essay answers and submit a thoughtful application.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have spent less time worrying about acceptance rates and comparing myself to other applicants and alumni.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GRE! It was difficult to balance alongside work, but signing up to a daily revision plan was helpful and stopped me from falling behind.
What is your initial impression of LBS’ students/culture/community?
I went into LBS with high hopes for the global nature of the MBA, but the nature of the student community has totally surpassed my expectations. Everyone has such varied and diverse backgrounds, and I leave every conversation with a fellow student blown away by a fact I have learned about their background or culture.
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
How genuinely supportive people are to one another. Whilst there are obviously some popular post-MBA industries, everyone has a slightly different vision for their future career and this allows the students to help each other with their ambitions rather than being closed off and competitive.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how? Due to COVID-19, I wasn’t able to attend any in-person events at the school or meet up with any alumni, however, the school did a great job of moving these kinds of events online so we didn’t miss out on this element.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Spreading myself too thin. In just four weeks, I have already said yes to countless things, from clubs and exploratory career events, to case study competitions and social outings. I want to make sure that, through all the noise, I stay focused on what matters most to me and what I had initially hoped to get out of the programme.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to start making progress towards my dream post-MBA career by expanding my network, building up my knowledge and working with the Career Centre to explore future internship opportunities.
