I Said Yes To ISB Before I Felt Ready

I wasn’t sure I belonged in my first case competition at ISB.

Everyone around me seemed sharper, faster, more certain. I didn’t feel ready. But I signed up anyway. Looking back, that one decision, to show up before I felt prepared, ended up shaping my entire ISB experience.

Before ISB, I was clear about one thing. I didn’t want my next move to be incremental. I wanted stretch. I wanted exposure. I wanted to test myself in environments where the bar was higher than what I was used to.

What I didn’t fully anticipate was how ISB would give me that stretch, not just through classes, but through the intensity of peer learning, competition, and opportunities that force you to show up fully, even when you’re unsure of the outcome.

Real Simulations of Decision-Making

One of the biggest reasons ISB stood out to me was its strong culture of experiential learning. Case discussions, live projects, and competitions felt like more than just résumé lines. They felt like real simulations of decision-making.

I entered ISB with the intent to participate actively, even if it meant failing a few times along the way. Case competitions quickly became my testing ground. High pressure, ambiguous problems, tight timelines, and incredibly sharp peers.

I participated in several competitions. Some went well, others didn’t. But each one taught me something different, how to structure under pressure, how to disagree without losing alignment, how to bring ideas together, and how to stay calm when things didn’t go as planned.

The LIME Journey: Refining The Why

Then came HUL Finance and the LIME competition. This one felt different right from the start. The problem statement was layered, expectations were high, and the brand itself carried weight.

We knew this wasn’t just another competition. It was an opportunity to see how close we could get to thinking like decision-makers in one of the largest FMCG organisations in the country.

We went all in. Late nights, constant iterations, and challenging each other’s assumptions. We spent as much time refining the “why” as we did the “what.” Making it to the semi-finals felt validating, but it also raised the stakes.

The semi-finals were intense. The questions were sharper, the expectations higher, and there was very little room for error. It was no longer just about having a good answer. It was about defending it with clarity and confidence.

As a team, we focused on staying aligned, anticipating pushback, and trusting each other. By then, what stood out most was the trust we had built, we knew everyone would show up fully prepared.

Placements, PPI and the Offer

Just when things were already intense, the Pre-Placement Interview came right in the middle of placements.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable interviews I had at ISB. The conversation felt natural and engaging. The case competition journey helped immensely, I wasn’t just answering hypotheticals, I was drawing from experiences I had lived over the past few months.

That PPI eventually helped me secure an offer at HUL. It was a moment of quiet relief and deep gratitude, one that made all the long nights feel worth it.

Coming Full Circle

The journey didn’t end there. My team progressed to the finals of the LIME competition, and suddenly, everything felt like it had come full circle.

What started as a learning experience had now become an opportunity to compete at the highest level, this time with more clarity and confidence. Winning the competition was incredibly special. But more than that, it was the realisation that ISB had been preparing us for moments like these all along.

Growth = Participation

This experience changed how I think about growth.

I stopped seeing wins and losses as endpoints and started seeing them as feedback. I learned how to back myself, how to rely on my team, and how to stay composed when the stakes are high.

Most importantly, I realised that growth often happens when you’re slightly uncomfortable, and ISB creates those moments intentionally.

If there’s one thing I would say to anyone coming here, it’s this: Participate. Even when you’re unsure. Especially when you’re unsure. Say yes before you feel ready.

A Mindset Shaped By ISB

As I prepare to transition into my role at HUL, I carry forward not just skills, but a mindset shaped by ISB, one that values curiosity, resilience, and collaboration.

This journey, from case classrooms to corporate reality, feels like a full circle moment. And it all began with saying yes.

Synopsis:

Saloni Tolani reflects on how stepping into case competitions at ISB before feeling “ready” shaped her journey. From navigating high-pressure challenges to securing a role at HUL through a PPI, she shares how experiential learning, teamwork, and uncertainty became catalysts for growth, confidence, and career transformation.