Deepa Reddy Edula
Previous Company: Government of Andhra Pradesh, Commercial Taxes Department
Sector: Government
Work Experience: 8 years in Tax Administration
Professional Interests: Public-Private partnerships
Other Interests: Indian handlooms & handicrafts

Why the ISB?
I was attracted to the ISB for many reasons; its reputation of being a world-class institute with top notch infrastructure, world-class faculty and a global perspective. The ISB attracts the best faculty from B-schools across the globe such as Wharton, Kellogg and London Business School, and I feel proud and lucky to be taught by these professors. I have never been exposed to such a great learning experience in my life before and this realisation constantly pushes me to work harder and exploit the opportunity of learning offered here.

What I find refreshingly different about the School is the holistic evaluation of a student’s profile instead of merely basing it on the GMAT score. This ensures a healthy mix of people with well rounded personalities. Last but not the least ISB being based in Hyderabad is an added bonus for me!          

As a Commercial Tax Officer- IT, what made you opt for this Programme and how do you think it will contribute to your career growth?
In the early days of my career as an officer of the AP State Civil Services, I have been fortunate to handle high responsibilities and participated in several interesting projects.  I had no formal education in management and it was only the experience of “learning on the job” that helped me handle the challenging situations at work.

I soon realised that I need a theoretical underpinning to my work experience. This was the major reason for going in for a formal management education. Further, as the economic situation in India is rapidly evolving, I wanted my share in the action. For this I needed a professional perspective and global outlook. I am sure that the ISB will equip me these tools & help me broaden my horizons.

What are some of the opportunities you are looking forward to?
One of the trends that caught my interest over the last few years is in the area of Public-Private partnerships. I think this is an extremely relevant model for India in future. Having gained exposure to the work style in the Government sector, I am looking forward to understand the corporate world and various business models that exist in this realm. I hope this one year programme will enable me to study this area in detail and equip myself with relevant skills that are required.

How has the ISB surprised you?
To begin with, the pace of the course surprised me a lot. Although I had heard about it before I actually stepped in, you have to go through the grind to understand what it is all about! Needless to say, quite early I have mastered the art of time management and multi-tasking to perfection!

The amazing range of activities one can do at the ISB never ceases to surprise me .Whether it is attending an intellectually stimulating lecture by a guest speaker or being part of the wine tasters club, attending a classical musical concert or a salsa class, the interesting bouquet of activities one has on offer here simply astounds me!

On your peer group
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to meet such a group of people from diverse backgrounds and work experiences. I have met people from different walks of life whether it is a rocket scientist, a shipping engineer, a doctor or a journalist. They are a bunch of exceptionally intelligent people with extremely high energy levels and a passion to be successful in life.

Further I must emphasise the fact that people are extremely helpful. I find it touching to see that despite the hectic pace of the course and a demanding schedule, they are willing to help you out. I am confident that these associations will continue beyond the one year at the School.

How would you describe the ISB to a prospective student?
In one phrase- ”A challenging place”. Teases you to stretch your limits you never knew existed. It’s a great place to use as a springboard if you are planning to diversify in your career. Offers you a very different world view, hone your skills and before you realise it; you begin to look at things in a different way. If you want to have a cutting edge management education, this is the place to be!