From Squash Courts to ISB Classrooms: A Journey of Reinvention

If you had met me a few years ago, you would probably have found me on a squash court ranked as No. 1 in India in the U19 category, top 20 globally, and representing the country at the World and Asian Championships. My life revolved around training, travelling, and tournaments. That version of me was disciplined, focused, and driven. The path seemed laid out.

That same discipline helped me get recruited to Columbia University in New York, where I competed in NCAA squash and helped my team beat schools like Yale and Princeton. Everything was on track until it wasn’t.

A serious knee injury changed everything. I had to pause, not just physically, but emotionally. That pause turned into a reckoning. I made the difficult decision to return to India and transfer to Ashoka University.

Leaving Colombia was not a failure; it was a reset. I had to heal, reimagine my future, and come to terms with the fact that ambition sometimes looks like slowing down, not speeding up. It was the hardest decision I have ever made, but also the most honest one.

Choosing ISB: A Reset That Felt Right

That experience made me rethink what I wanted from the next stage of my life. I did not want to chase credentials for the sake of it. I wanted to be in a space that valued curiosity, resilience, and reinvention. The PGP YL at ISB stood out because it was not looking for polished stories; it was looking for potential. It welcomed people who had made bold choices, taken detours, and were not afraid to start over. That spoke to me.

Before ISB, I had interned across different sectors, including venture capital, consulting, banking, and early-stage start-ups. I got to build pitch decks with founders, contribute to customer acquisition strategy, and even help target a $10M Series A fundraise. These experiences were valuable, but I was still exploring. I did not know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to figure it out alongside people who were ambitious and grounded. ISB felt like the right place to do that.

Life on Campus: Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom

The first term at ISB was as intense as everyone promised. From back-to-back lectures to late-night group assignments, the pace was relentless but exciting. Classes like accounting and statistics gave me a solid technical foundation, while sessions on critical thinking and leadership forced me to question long-held assumptions.

But the real learning came from conversations outside the classroom, with peers who had started their own companies, worked in rural development, or built tech products from scratch. The diversity of perspectives has been one of the most energising parts of my experience so far.

More than anything, ISB has shifted my mindset. I have always been an achiever, someone who measured success through outcomes, rankings, and tangible wins.

But here, I have started to value the process just as much. I have learned that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about asking the right questions, being vulnerable, and trusting the people around you. I am learning how to collaborate without ego, how to take a step back when needed, and how to show up fully even when things feel uncertain.

ISB Edge: Building a Career and Rebuilding Self

If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering ISB, it would be this: Do not wait to be ready. Your story does not have to be linear. In fact, some of the most compelling people I have met here are the ones who took unexpected paths. You will find your tribe. You will find clarity. But only if you take that leap.

As I look ahead, I see myself working in consulting, particularly in sectors like education, healthcare, or sports where I can combine sharp business thinking with genuine social impact. And one day, I hope to build something of my own, something that makes people feel seen, curious, and inspired.

This journey is not just about building a career. It is about rebuilding myself. And for that, I am grateful.

Synopsis:

From being India’s top-ranked U19 squash player to facing a career-halting injury, Sankalp Anand rebuilt his path through Ashoka University and diverse internships before joining ISB’s PGP YL. At ISB, he is learning to shift from outcome-driven success to valuing the process, preparing for a career in consulting and, eventually, entrepreneurship.