Arpita Shanker
Previous Company: Ernst & Young, Mumbai
Sector: Risk Advisory Services
Work Experience: 2.5 yrs
Professional Interests: Public sector, Social sector (Education/ Public Health)
Other Interests: Yoga, Meditation, Singing, Spiritual Knowledge.



Tell us something about your background and what made you realise the need for management education?
Given the increasingly competitive professional environment, I felt the need to acquire certain skills that would steepen my learning curve at the work place. I knew management education, through peer learning and interactions with faculty, could help widen my knowledge base and also broaden my perspective toward other interests which I would like to take up as a career. 

You have initiated the Art of Living course on campus lately, what is your primary objective in starting this?
My objective in introducing the course at ISB was to help in the prevention of stress. In an atmosphere such as the ISB, where one is always pressed for time, a few minutes of meditation can put a smile on people’s faces. The benefits of the techniques taught at the course are a sharp intellect, increased awareness and heightened energy levels. Meditation also facilitates improved coordination between the body and mind.

What do you think the key takeaways from the PGP programme are going to be for you?
The PGP Programme has people from varied backgrounds, there’s always something new to learn over dinner, over a game of squash, over a walk to class. The ISB brings together extremely sharp and creative individuals/ faculty and it is insightful to be among such people.

What are your views on the curriculum?
The curriculum is structured in such a way that the students are tested to reach their maximum potential. While the course is extremely demanding, it adequately equips one for challenges that may lie ahead for an emerging leader.

On what basis did you select the Indian School of Business for further studies?
On the basis of my interactions with alumni prior to applying to ISB, I understood that the school is open to innovative ideas and gives the students freedom to go ahead with any constructive activity on campus. I also selected ISB on the basis of the fact that all of us here have prior work experience which adds to the quality of our interactions with each other. I also felt that the world class faculty would contribute highly to an enriching one year programme.