Taking My Venture from Fast-Growing to Future-Proof: The ISB Way

When you grow up in a family where business conversations are the soundtrack of everyday life, joining the company feels less like a decision and more like a natural progression. 

Yet even with that familiarity, stepping into a leadership role brings its own challenges. That is exactly where I found myself before choosing the PGP MFAB programme.

From Inherited Wisdom to an Active Leadership Role

We run a civil contracting business that operates across multiple states, specialising in drinking water supply projects, irrigation, roadworks, highways and building construction. As a second-generation entrepreneur, I focus deeply on the financial operations and managerial administration of the company.

I completed my BBA with a major in general management and finance, which helped me take on responsibilities early. Even during my undergraduate years, I was involved in the business, starting with internships right after my twelfth grade and eventually joining full-time.

Our company began in 1999 and transitioned into a public limited company in 2011. Growing up, discussions at home revolved around the business, making the transition into the company relatively easy. My sibling, who completed his undergraduate and master’s studies in the United States, joined soon after and now leads the technical operations, interacting with clients, suppliers and vendors.

Taking on responsibility within a company where people have seen you since childhood was initially difficult. But with time, I realised that as the next-generation leader, it is my responsibility to make decisions rather than simply agree with the existing ways of working.

Why PGP MFAB Felt Like the Right Step

After graduation, I had many choices in front of me, but I knew a general Management degree was not for me. It would not directly help with the specific challenges of a family-run business. When I discovered the PGP MFAB, I instantly felt it was the most relevant path.

Family businesses in India often grow well, but many struggle to professionalise. That is exactly what I want to change. Through PGP MFAB, I plan to refine our strategies, incorporate innovation and learn how to make the company more future-ready while continuing to create long-term value for our clients and communities.

The global immersion component and the promise of practical learning particularly excited me. More importantly, I wanted to meet peers facing similar challenges, exchange perspectives and learn from their industries.

Learning Through Diversity

The cohort was one of the first things that struck me. Compared to previous batches, this one has a much larger number of students, translating into greater diversity across sectors and geographies.

It has been only two to three days, yet I have already interacted with so many people from entirely different industries. It is surprising how much you can learn in such a short time. Manufacturing, textiles, infrastructure, every conversation opens up a new perspective.

Our discussions range from the industries we belong to, the challenges we face and the solutions others have already implemented. Meeting people from Hyderabad who work in similar sectors has helped me understand practical approaches that we might adopt. At the same time, interacting with peers from other states and industries has expanded my understanding of possibilities beyond our domain.

Orientation itself was intense, hectic and tiring, but in just three days I have learnt more than I expected.

Towards a Future-Ready Business

From PGP MFAB, my goal is clear: to professionalise and scale the business by incorporating the strategies, structures and innovations I learn here. I want to build a company that is not only growing but future-ready, driven by systems and built to create value for years to come.

In every interaction, every conversation and every classroom discussion, I am learning how to make that happen.

Synopsis

Raised in a family deeply rooted in infrastructure, Sreshta joined the PGP MFAB programme to professionalise and future-proof her company. From early immersion in her business to navigating generational transitions and learning from a diverse cohort, she sees PGP MFAB as the path to scale, structure and long-term value creation.