Utsav Jain, Cambridge Judge MBA Class of 2025
Age: 27
Hometown: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), B.Tech. in Civil Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I have experience across the energy sector, including Project Management, Supply Chain, Energy Transition, and Automation. Prior to my MBA, I worked as an Assistant Manager (Capital Projects) at Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Limited, a Government of India Public Sector Undertaking, where I managed capital projects at pipeline stations across India.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Although I graduated as a Civil Engineer with a research background, I was fortunate to start my career in a techno-managerial role at Hindustan Petroleum. Over time, I realized that having a deeper understanding of business bolstered my sense of purpose, as I was able to link my actions to their impact on the bottom line. Whether it was solving technical challenges or achieving favorable outcomes in contract negotiations, gaining insight into how these actions translate onto the balance sheet gave me greater satisfaction in my work. To build on this, I decided to pursue an MBA. I plan to leverage my MBA to transition into a more strategy-focused role, allowing me to generate a broader impact.
With 6 years of experience in the energy sector in diverse roles, I had the opportunity to explore various aspects of working in a large corporation. This experience helped me refine my career goals and develop transferable skills that I can carry forward. I felt ready to take the next step by pursuing an MBA to advance toward my goals.
Why did you choose Cambridge Judge What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Apart from Cambridge, I received offers from business schools in India and the U.S. However, considering the following factors, I chose to attend Cambridge:
Personal Interaction: I reached out to several current students and alumni from all the schools I applied to. The spirit of collaboration I experienced from CJBS students was truly unmatched. I found the CJBS alumni to be more welcoming, friendly, and easy to talk to. They were open about the pros and cons of the program and always provided impartial responses. Perhaps it was due to the small cohort size, which fosters better bonding among candidates, but at CJBS, ‘collaboration’ didn’t feel like just another buzzword.
The Cambridge Brand: The Cambridge brand is well-known both in India and abroad, providing me with the flexibility to choose where I want to advance my career. The other business schools I received offers from had more regionally recognized brands.
Visa Considerations: As an international student, pursuing an MBA in the U.S. seemed risky due to current visa regulations, which introduced uncertainty regarding the ability to work abroad long enough to repay loans. With Cambridge, I could afford to return to India and still be able to pay off my loans.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
As an energy professional with experience in the public sector, I am eager to contribute to the Class of 2025 by sharing my insights from working in traditional energy (oil and gas), renewables (solar), and my rich multidisciplinary interactions with lawyers, CAs, regulatory authorities, and even artists.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I was among the few candidates deputed as the Presiding Officer for a Mumbai constituency during India’s 2024 Lok Sabha (lower house) election. In this role, I led a team of government officers to manage security, ensure confidentiality, and follow due process. As part of the procedure, a mock poll was conducted to test the Electronic Voting Machine, which means I can rightfully claim to have voted 50+ times, even though I’m only 27!
Having played a part in setting up the Electronic Voting Machine prior to the election, I gained a unique appreciation for the tremendous effort it takes to successfully conduct elections in the world’s largest democracy.
Post-MBA career interests:
Strategy role in Consulting/Industry
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
One thing that gave me an edge was prioritizing stories that showcased excellence in areas of perceived weakness. Business schools are looking for individuals who can work effectively alongside a diverse peer group; they would rather choose a candidate with a decent GMAT score and well-rounded work experience than someone with an exceptional GMAT score but one-dimensional work experience. My advice to applicants is to analyze their own background, identify perceived weaknesses in their profile (for engineers, it might be people skills; for humanities majors, it could be quantitative skills), and prioritize stories from their journey that mitigate those weaknesses.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
As an engineer, I was confident in my quant skills and, therefore, took the GMAT quant prep for granted. Had I practiced more, I could have achieved a better score and improved my chances at scholarships. If I could change one thing, it would be neglecting the GMAT quant section the way I did.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
As an introvert, I used to feel extremely uncomfortable reaching out to people and setting up calls or coffee chats to learn more about the school or career. I would have definitely skipped this part if I had any other option, but I’m glad I didn’t.
I had to remind myself that networking would be a crucial part of my journey ahead, meaning I needed to get comfortable with it as soon as possible. So, I took it as a challenge and kept moving forward.
I now see the value in exposing myself to diverse perspectives, and I believe that the student outreach during my application phase helped me overcome my social barriers, which may pay dividends in the long run.
What is your initial impression of the Cambridge Judge students/culture/community?
Extremely friendly. I have yet to physically meet my cohort, but even so, I’ve had many virtual interactions with them, and we have a very friendly vibe going on.
The international and professional diversity of the Cambridge Judge community is extremely refreshing, and I hope to get to know each and every one of my batchmates.
I’ve also had brief interactions with the faculty through interviews and pre-arrival sessions, and they seem genuinely invested in our learning. As I mentioned earlier, the warmth and collaborative spirit I experienced from the Cambridge community was one of the major factors behind my decision to choose this program. So far, my interactions with my batchmates and faculty reflect these values as well.
What is one thing you have learned about Cambridge Judge that has surprised you?
Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in India, is a Cambridge Judge Business School fellow.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Cambridge has so much to offer in terms of academics, professional development, and extracurricular activities. Since the CJBS MBA is only a one-year program, I’m a bit anxious about not being able to do it all. I’m afraid that the fear of missing out will be very real.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Travelling across the UK and Europe.
