FOREIGN RETURNED

SEVERAL STUDENTS ARE PURSUING MANAGEMENT EDUCATION OVERSEAS ONLY TO RETURN AND CREATE AN IMPACT IN INDIA

- KRISHNA GOPALAN

AFTER NAVEEN TEWARI acquired a degree in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, pursuing a master's degree in the US was the next logical step. There was also a job offer from the global consulting firm McKinsey. One conversation with his father swung it for the young man.

Tewari did not question this and said yes to McKinsey. In many ways, it was a life-changing experience—out of the three years spent there, 18 months were dedicated to what was then the Reliance Infocomm project. Remember, one is speaking of the 2001-02 phase, in a very different India, where the digital economy was still at a nascent stage.

Armed with work experience, Tiwari—now Founder & CEO, In-Mobi Group—decided to go to the US for an MBA. The next stop was Harvard Business School. Part of a batch of 900 students, he saw a new world.

Like him, there are several Indians who choose to go overseas for studying management and come back with a different perspective. That said, studying in a top school abroad is expensive (upwards of $2,00,000 total course fee), but there is conviction on the payback in terms of learning, global exposure, and networking.

EUREKA MOMENTS

Conversations with those who have pursued a management degree outside India reveal a few interesting points. A diversified peer group across nationalities, a unique pedagogical experience and access to a large network stand out.