How ISB Changed the Way I Build, Lead and Think

Before joining ISB, I worked as a Product Manager at Haber Water, operating across India and the UAE. Our team built sustainable SaaS platforms powered by AI and machine learning to optimise industrial processes, reduce water and energy waste, and improve operational efficiency through data. That experience taught me that technology can create tangible environmental and business impact, but it also made me realise that solving large, systemic problems requires more than engineering. It requires strategy, leadership, and the confidence to ask difficult questions.

My CEO, Vipin Raghvan, pushed me to think beyond product features and metrics. He encouraged me to examine scalability, markets, and the ethical implications of the solutions we were designing. Those conversations shaped my decision to pursue an MBA. Although I had admits from several global business schools, I chose ISB for its one-year format and its strong focus on technology, analytics, and leadership. From the first day on campus, the atmosphere felt electric, driven by ambition, curiosity, and collaboration. Returning to the classroom after years in industry was both refreshing and humbling.

Foundations That Shift Your Thinking

One of my most meaningful academic experiences has been Operations Management taught by Professor Parshuram Hotkar. Each session revealed how minor process adjustments can transform entire systems. It strengthened my understanding of systems thinking and process design, directly connecting with my experience in AI-driven optimisation. The course demonstrated how operational frameworks, when combined with technology, deliver efficiency and support long-term sustainability.

The Sustainability and Ethics course was equally thought-provoking. It challenged us to confront the intricate relationship between profitability, purpose, and moral responsibility. The discussions reinforced that ethics is not a limitation but the foundation of enduring businesses. This strengthened my belief that innovation and integrity must go hand in hand.

Outside the classroom, the Experiential Learning Project with Nomura gave me the chance to approach sustainability from a financial and operational lens. Working on a carbon credits function playbook showed me how environmental priorities translate into quantifiable, strategic frameworks. It also demonstrated how finance and technology can together drive real climate action.

During Block Week, I took a specialised course on venture investing, which allowed me to learn alongside peers from different industries. The conversations around startup scaling, valuation, and investment thinking helped me view innovation from both a product and investor perspective.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Beyond academics, ISB has tested my balance, resilience, and teamwork. Section Wars, late-night projects, and strategic debates have all shaped my learning curve. The environment is demanding, but people make it supportive. Faculty, peers, and staff create a culture where ambition and empathy go hand in hand.

If I had to distil the biggest shift in my thinking, it would be my approach to problem-solving. ISB has taught me to break down challenges, identify key assumptions, and test hypotheses without hesitation. 

It has also shown me that leadership is not about having all the answers, but knowing how to find them through the right people and the right questions. I have become far more open to reaching out to peers, alumni, and faculty because I have realised that most opportunities begin with a simple, confident knock.

The alumni network has been a powerful source of guidance, whether in exploring career paths, validating product ideas, or understanding how to grow an AI platform. ISB truly functions as an ecosystem of open doors, filled with mentors, collaborators, and resources that reward initiative.

Working with engineers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and policymakers has broadened my understanding of how diverse minds approach the same problem. This diversity has made me a more empathetic thinker and a more creative problem-solver.

Looking Ahead

My short-term goal is to continue working at the intersection of AI, machine learning, and business, building solutions that help organisations make informed, responsible decisions. In the long term, I aspire to build global platforms that enable industries to grow sustainably, where efficiency and ethics move together.

ISB has given me clarity, confidence, and renewed purpose. It has taught me that success comes from learning, unlearning, and reaching out. Every opportunity here is within reach. All you need to do is stay curious, work with intention, and keep knocking.

Synopsis

Akshat Gupta, a Product Manager working at the intersection of AI and sustainability, joined ISB to strengthen his strategic, leadership, and ethical decision-making skills. Through coursework, experiential projects, and a deeply collaborative cohort, he discovered new ways to solve complex problems and build scalable, responsible technology. His ISB journey has become a lesson in clarity, curiosity, and confident initiative.