My ISB Journey of Purpose, People, and Possibility

Before ISB: The Stillness Before the Shift

It was a quiet Sunday morning in Toronto. I remember sitting on the floor of my apartment, half-packed boxes around me, snow falling gently outside, and this one thought echoing in my head: “What am I still doing here?”

I had spent nearly a decade in Canada,studied at McGill, built a solid career in financial services and consulting, and even found my rhythm in life. But over time, that rhythm started to feel like a loop. Everything looked fine on paper, but something inside me had shifted.

At work, I was doing meaningful projects,leading transformation initiatives across global teams, using design thinking to untangle inefficiencies, and helping businesses evolve. But I kept feeling a tug, a calling I couldn’t ignore anymore.
India.

Not just because my family was there. But because I felt a growing desire to contribute,to build. And building something meaningful, I knew, would require more than ambition. I needed roots. A network. Fresh skills. A community. And most importantly, I needed to be in the right place, at the right time.

That place, for me, was ISB.

Why ISB: The Leap of Faith

When I first heard of the PGP PRO programme, it felt like a lifeline. A Postgraduate Programme I didn’t have to hit pause for. A chance to learn on weekends and lead on weekdays. It wasn’t a compromise,it was exactly what I was looking for.

I spoke to alumni across batches, and something struck me. It wasn’t what they said about ISB. It was how they said it,with warmth, with loyalty, like they were speaking of a second home. That sealed it.

So, I made a deal with myself: If I get in, I won’t think twice. I’ll leave. I’ll move. I’ll start over.

Weeks later, the offer came. And suddenly, everything that had once felt impossible became inevitable.

I gave notice at work. Sold my furniture. Hugged my friends goodbye. Cleared out the apartment I had called home for years. And with a heart full of fear, hope, and excitement,I flew back to India.

Key Moments: Maggi at Midnight and Bonds for Life

The first weekend on campus felt like being thrown into a whirlwind. Eight hours of intense classes after years away from textbooks? Brutal.

That evening, a few of us decided to walk it off. We wandered around the Hyderabad campus, still in our formal wear, and accidentally walked into a PGP party. Picture this: four of us, wide-eyed and overdressed, in a sea of sequins and sneakers. But instead of feeling out of place, we were welcomed in.

Later that night, we stumbled across the legendary Maggi point. Someone suggested we grab a bite,and that 1 a.m. cheese Maggi, under the stars, was a revelation. That moment,simple, silly, unforgettable, became a ritual. Every night on campus, we’d find our way back there. We weren’t just classmates anymore, we were a crew. A little tribe built over noodles, laughter, and sleep-deprived camaraderie.

It’s funny how the smallest moments become the most significant. That Maggi group? They’re now the people I trust, confide in, and lean on when it all gets too much. They’ve made ISB feel like home.

What Changed: From Case Studies to Clarity

Initially, I worried, how will I manage work, classes, and life? Will this just be a theory I never use?

But right from our first class, Decision Making Under Uncertainty, I was floored. We weren’t just reading frameworks; we were dissecting real-world choices, the kind I make at work. Suddenly, everything connected.

The shift wasn’t just academic. It was internal.

I began to think differently, to question assumptions, to weigh biases, to zoom out and see the bigger picture. It made me more present at work, more curious in conversations, more intentional in how I approached problems.

I didn’t expect my perspective to evolve this quickly. But it did.

Advice to Future Applicants: Be Brave Enough to Begin

If you’re reading this and wondering, “Should I apply?”, ask yourself one thing: What are you really waiting for?

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start. Come as you are, with your purpose, your confusion, your fire. This programme will challenge you. But it will also catch you, carry you, and change you.

And when you apply, don’t package yourself to please. Be honest. Be raw. That’s your strength.

Looking Ahead: Building with Heart

My goal over the next few months is simple: stay open, stay connected, and keep learning, not just from faculty, but from every incredible individual in my cohort. Long term, I want to build something of my own in India, something that blends purpose with performance. ISB is the beginning of that path.

Sometimes, the best decisions in life are the scariest. This one definitely was.

But now, when I think back to that Sunday morning in Toronto, boxes half-packed, heart full of questions, I smile.

Because taking that leap? It brought me home.

Synopsis:

Gayatri Bhardwaj, PGP PRO Class of 2026, returns to the classroom after years in corporate leadership, seeking fresh perspectives and transformative learning. From navigating global business insights to building lasting peer connections, her ISB journey is a blend of challenge and growth. She aims to leverage this experience to drive innovation, strategic impact, and sustainable transformation in her field.