Raaghavendar Salem Karthikeyan, Columbia Business School MBA Class of 2025
Age: 28
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois / Doha, Qatar / Abu Dhabi, UAE / Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Purdue University; Computer Science
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Corporate Strategy Analyst, Morningstar Inc, 2 years; Software Engineer, Morningstar Inc, 4 years; Co-Founder, Trouvaiz, 2 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I pursued business school with the goal of transitioning my career, developing a solid foundation in business principles, pushing myself academically, and expanding my professional network. Having previously worked as a software engineer and strategy analyst within financial services and having launched my own venture in the travel and tourism industry, I wanted to enhance my perspective and knowledge. I was eager to learn not only from experienced professors but also from my accomplished peers in the program. With a diverse set of experiences, it felt like the opportune moment to leverage those skills, coupled with an MBA, to pursue a career in management consulting and advance as a future leader.
Why did you choose CBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Columbia Business School primarily due to its exceptional reputation, broad network, and geography. Being in New York City offers access to resources and opportunities to meet people like I have never experienced before. Having also talked to students about their experiences, I knew that the inclusive community that Columbia fosters is the right place for me. Moreover, with the brand-new campus, it offers the best-in-class infrastructure to facilitate collaboration and learning. This collaborative environment also attracts various global leaders, providing unique opportunities for students to engage.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
Having lived in multiple countries, I consider myself a Third Culture Kid, surrounded always by a global community of cultures and languages. I hope to leverage my Third Culture Kid experience – a feeling of belonging everywhere and nowhere – as inspiration for conversations that embody diversity and inclusion, enabling me to grow as an equitable global leader.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to be an avid carrom player growing up, having won several competitions back in Qatar.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take enough time to introspect – the business school application is a deeply personal journey, and reflecting on your story and its connection to your future aspirations is a crucial aspect of the process – so take as much time as you need and start early. Also, don’t be afraid to re-apply – I got rejected my first time, but that gave me the time to pursue other interests and get to know the school better, before I applied again.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have finished my GMAT at least a few months before I did – this leaves ample time to go through that introspection process without having to split your time between essays and studying. Having a score that you’re comfortable with gives you more confidence going into application prep.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the GMAT – however, studying for it reminded me of why I wanted to be back in the classroom and become a student again – that aspiration kept me going. Please don’t burn yourself out doing both the GMAT/ GRE and applications – I would get started early.
What is your initial impression of the CBS students/culture/community?
The culture is very inclusive, and my peers are so diverse. It is such a privilege to be sitting in a classroom with a combined experience of ~350 years in different fields. It is a place for everyone to be themselves – it truly is a place where you can grow without being untrue to who you are and your values.
What is one thing you have learned about CBS that has surprised you?
I did not expect to have had the opportunity to meet so many CEOs and global leaders on the business school campus. In the last 3 months alone, we have had everyone from the CEO of Nvidia – Jensen Huang – to Bobbi Brown come on campus, not to mention the countless global leaders during Climate Week.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Learning how to say no to events or engagements – with so many things going on as a first year, from recruiting to the core, it quickly becomes a lesson in time management and prioritization.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m really excited about the people – everyone I have met have been the kindest human beings and I’m excited to get to know everyone on a deeper level.
