Shubhi Khare, HEC Paris MBA Class of 2024
Age: 26
Hometown: Satna, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: BTech – Chemical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 years – B2B Sales (Saint Gobain: Construction & Engineering) + Sales & Marketing (Amazon – Ecommerce)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
In 4 years of professional experience, my learning has been experience-driven. I learned mostly on the job, and I felt now is the right time to get structured and integrate my previous experience with an intensive curriculum which not only prepares me for future world problems but also magnifies my business acumen holistically. My experience in leading the scale-up of the B2B industry and E-commerce has trained me to navigate through ambiguity in a small part of the business. However, to realize my vision at a global scale, I need to learn to think big and expand my horizons of knowledge.
Why did you choose HEC Paris? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was very clear about what I wanted out of an MBA. I was looking for a school which suits both my short-term and long-term goals. Since I wanted to prep myself for the future, I looked for schools which would aid me in being a future global thought leader. THE HEC Paris MBA program enables my exposure to thought leadership through a diverse set of peers (60+ nationalities), providing the perfect platform for my professional growth. I look forward to gaining knowledge and experience in dealing with business problems, such as sustainably, with 35+ electives across disciplines and a robust curriculum, offering courses across Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovation, offering me a highly curated upskilling experience for the new age world.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I think one of the differentiating factors which I brought into HEC was my experience in a unique, global, cross-border E-commerce. Interestingly, with Amazon, I had the opportunity to understand business both in matured markets like the US and Europe, as well as in emerging markets like UAE and Saudi Arabia, which equipped me with insights and understanding of consumer behaviour in multiple markets.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included in your application:
I started dancing at the age of 4. I can perform close to 10-12 different dance forms ranging from classical Indian forms to demographic folk dance forms to Middle-Eastern & Western dance forms. Dance has shaped the expressive side of my personality, and I am forever indebted.
Post-MBA career interests:
Futuristic businesses have always fascinated me- be it Crypto, Meta, or EVs. With my experience in emerging businesses and personal interest in the changing world, I would like to explore the opportunities to be a marketer or a strategist for new-age business models to emerge as a global thought leader shaping the future.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? For me, it’s definitely retrospection. I think it’s important to pause and see where you are heading to know what you need to do next. MBA applications helped me project my 5-year career path. Moving forward, I will use this structure to plan proactively and work toward my future projection.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Stress a little less about applications. I agree that MBA applications are exhaustive, and one needs to do thousands of iterations to have a dream application. But, enjoying the process is the key to keeping you sane during your application phase. I realised it quite late, but once I did, I started using the research to get more organised and feel sure of what I wanted out of my MBA. This was a game-changing realisation – Trust me.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
To be honest, I would have skipped hiring an application consultant to help me with the process. I realised while preparing my application that uniqueness matters more than the standard template on why, when, how or what. It makes more sense to add a personal touch and come off as who you are as a person than trying to be an ideal fit for the school. Trust me, schools see thousands of applications each year and being original acts in our favor.
What is your initial impression of the HEC students/culture/community?
Before applying to HEC, I made it a point to connect with the alumni network. The culture is AMAZINGLY infectious, and everyone is so kind, accommodating, and helpful. I recall my first interaction with an HEC alumna. It didn’t take her more than 5 mins to get me at ease and put forward my concerns openly. The community is so tightly knit that referrals work so well. I ended up talking to her friend’s friend at Kellogg who came for an exchange at HEC.
What is one thing you have learned about HEC that has surprised you?
I am honestly super-surprised with the amount of emphasis HEC gives on self-reflection and aligning who you are with your future to be self. Trust me, when you start your MBA – you would second doubt your post-MBA goals, not because you are not sure but because you know more today than you did while prepping your application. I am in my term 1, and I see HEC setting up “Know yourself”, “Career exploration program”, and “First step in XX industry” to kind of give me a holistic view of where I will be so that I make an informed call.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Finding the right balance and cutting out the noise. It’s obvious that it stands as a challenge to the majority of candidates, but isn’t this what we came here for, to get more structured? I see myself sleeping less, but for sure, the future me won’t regret the dark circles but instead would cherish the fun experience. It’s going to be worth it!!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Everything is so exciting that I can’t honestly name one – the people, the campus, the administration, the parties, the trips, the curated course experience. Honestly, the MBA is a roller coaster ride, and as a candidate, your batchmates and you are riding on the same train. So have fun, be kind & connect deeply. This is going to be an experience of a lifetime, so live it. It’s exciting to meet such a diverse set, in such a global setup and with such sharp pre-MBA experience. I wish to know each and every one of my batchmates, and hopefully, I will by 2024.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Our batch has seen one of the most competitive years of MBA applications. As I recall, in 2021, the entire year was covid struck with some or the other demographics facing the peaks throughout. This, in return, increased the deferral rates and made new applicants’ clearance to acceptance more competitive in top B-schools.
