Why I Said Yes to BITSoM: My Industry and Academic Journey

Jahnavi Kannan is a BITSoM MBA candidate, was born and raised in Bangalore and holds a B.Com (Hons) in Accounting and Finance. She graduated as a Gold Medalist and university rank holder. After nearly three years at Morgan Stanley, working as an Operations Associate, she is now pursuing an MBA in Marketing. Outside academics, she enjoys painting and trekking. 

Q1.How did you choose your course of study in school (class XI-XII)? What made you choose your current college/course (undergrad/post-grad)? 

Growing up in a family of engineers, pursuing science in Classes XI and XII felt like the most natural choice for me. At that stage, engineering appeared to be the default and safest career path, and I followed it without much questioning. However, during Class XII, an economics project changed the way I looked at academics and careers. The process of understanding macroeconomic indicators, development metrics, and real-world business implications sparked a genuine interest in economics and business, something I had never experienced before. 

This exposure made me reflect deeply on what truly interested me, and I decided to take a calculated risk by switching streams from science to commerce for my undergraduate studies. Despite having no formal background in accounting or finance, I pursued a B.Com (Hons) in Accounting and Finance at Jain University. The transition was challenging initially, but my curiosity and commitment helped me build a strong foundation, eventually graduating with a Gold Medal and securing the first rank in my department. 

After completing my undergraduate degree, I joined Morgan Stanley in a banking operations role. While the experience strengthened my understanding of financial systems, compliance, and stakeholder management, I found myself increasingly drawn toward marketing, branding, and digital media. Despite having no formal exposure to marketing, my interest in understanding consumer behaviour and storytelling continued to grow. 

This realisation led me to pursue an MBA, where I could formally build skills at the intersection of business strategy and consumer insights. At BITSoM, I am now specialising in marketing, allowing me to align my academic journey with my long-term professional aspirations. 

Q2. How did you crack admission in your current college? What entrance test(s) did you give? Any coaching classes that you took for preparation? Any other colleges that you were trying out for? What challenges did you face while opting for this college? 

I applied to BITSoM using my GRE score. My preparation for the exam was entirely self-driven, without enrolling in any formal coaching classes. I relied primarily on structured online resources such as Magoosh and GregMat, which helped me build core knowledge and an action plan. A key part of my preparation involved taking multiple mock tests, analysing my performance, and identifying weak areas. This iterative approach helped me achieve my target score on my second attempt. 

The next milestone I had to crack was the BITSoM interview. I was extremely nervous going into it, but the interviewers were warm and approachable, and they helped calm my nerves within the first couple of minutes. The interview was highly conversational in nature. The panel asked me about my educational background, my decision to switch streams from science to commerce, my career goals, and how I believed an MBA would help me achieve them. They were also keen to understand me beyond academics, asking about my childhood, family, and formative experiences. In addition, a significant portion of the discussion focused on my work experience, with technical questions around my role, responsibilities, and the skill sets I had developed over the years. 

Alongside BITSoM, I was also exploring admission to ISB for its PGP program. One of the biggest challenges I faced with BITSoM was uncertainty around its relative newness as a business school. With limited long-term data available publicly, it was difficult initially to assess outcomes and credibility purely based on online information. 
To address this, I spoke to multiple alumni, current students, and members of the admissions team.  These conversations gave me clarity and confidence, making the entire decision-making process smooth and reassuring. 

Q3.How do you spend your time at college? Which classes do you like to attend? Which extra-curricular activities are you a part of in college? If you had the opportunity, what other academic or co-curricular pursuits would you like to take up? How has your college experience changed you as a person? What opportunities do you see in future? 

Life at BITSoM is dynamic, with no two days feeling the same. A typical day involves attending lectures, preparing for class discussions, and spending significant time on assignments and case readings for upcoming sessions. The academic rigour requires constant preparation, which has helped me develop discipline and effective time management. Amidst this, I consciously make time to stay active by playing pickleball, badminton, and occasionally cricket, which helps me recharge and maintain balance. 

As a second-year MBA student, most of my coursework now revolves around marketing, consumer insights, and e-commerce. These classes are particularly engaging as they blend theory with real-world applications, encouraging us to think from a consumer’s perspective while making data-driven decisions. The classroom discussions are diverse and enriching, given the varied backgrounds of my peers. 

Beyond academics, I am deeply involved in extracurricular activities. I currently serve as the General Secretary of the Admissions, Counselling, and Engagement Committee. In this role, I interact closely with prospective applicants, evaluate profiles, address queries related to admissions, and help incoming students transition smoothly into campus life. This responsibility has strengthened my communication skills, empathy, and ability to represent the institution effectively. Additionally, I am an active member of the Marketing Club, where I have contributed to organising workshops, events, and national-level case competitions, gaining hands-on exposure to event marketing and stakeholder coordination. 

If given more time, I would like to participate in a wider range of case competitions beyond marketing, particularly in domains such as supply chain and product management, to broaden my managerial perspective. Overall, my experience at BITSoM has made me more adaptable, confident, and comfortable working under multiple deadlines. Looking ahead, I see strong opportunities to apply these learnings in consumer-centric roles and build a career that blends strategic thinking with creativity. 

Q4.What are your long-term professional aspirations? 

In the long term, I aspire to build a career as a Brand Manager in a leading FMCG or CMG organisation, where I can work at the intersection of consumer insights, brand strategy, and business growth. 

About the Author: Jahnavi Kannan is currently pursuing an MBA at BITSoM. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha