My name is Hema (pronounced Hey-ma). Hema means gold in Sanskrit, so I like to refer to myself as ‘the golden girl’! Born and raised in India, I moved halfway across the world to the UK for work 20 years ago and have stayed since. 

I am a strategy leader, and my core experience is in strategy and development primarily in consumer-facing industries. I have been fortunate to work for amazing companies like Disney, Samsung, Tesco, Shark Ninja, Glanbia Performance Nutrition, and Accenture. Armed with tremendous natural curiosity and a passion for new experiences, I have always attracted great mentors and coaches who have moved me along the way. I am indebted to them for their time and generosity in sharing their knowledge.

This hunger for learning has brought me to ISM. After the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic years, I decided to pursue my long-cherished dream of completing a doctoral degree. From the outset, I was certain that I wanted to conduct research that was practical and relevant to the business world. So, I chose to pursue the DBA instead of the PhD. Considering my career trajectory and future aspirations in industry, a DBA was the more logical and congruent choice! As you would expect of a good strategist, I researched the academic landscape, shortlisted a few promising schools, and reached out to them for more information. To my utter surprise, all of them got back to me within record time.

The team at ISM stood out from the start. They were responsive, flexible, and appreciative of my individual needs. It felt like I could do some heavy-duty research in a light-hearted manner at ISM. I particularly liked the self-paced and self-directed nature of the research work, so I could effectively manage my time between work, life, and studies. True to its name, the ISM study format includes in-person lessons (alongside online lessons) in vibrant global cities like Tokyo, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Paris, New York, Zurich, etc., which would only enhance my horizons, perspectives, and cultural awareness. What’s more, the admissions team put me in touch with four recent alumni who all gave glowing reviews of the school. So, I decided to jump in with both feet! Best decision I have made in recent years.

What has been your most memorable experience at ISM so far?

For me, the trip to Japan in May 2024 has been the most memorable experience at ISM so far. I studied crisis management in Tokyo with my DBA/PhD cohort. Conducted by local faculty in Tokyo, the course was eye-opening and helped me gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese market, local consumer behaviors, organizational culture, and ways of working. We covered macroeconomics, consumer landscape, corporate innovation, change management, and crisis management supported by wide-ranging case studies based in Japan and the broader Far Eastern market (especially China, Korea, and Taiwan). The similarities and dissimilarities between the individual countries were a revelation. I even got to present a case study on the explosive growth of K-pop in the last decade!

In spite of tremendous economic progress since the Second World War, Japan remains rooted in tradition; it is where geishas and sumo wrestlers coexist seamlessly with modern technological developments. In my opinion, Japan provides a fantastic template for other developing countries to retain their individuality and not get too Westernized in the pursuit of economic growth. My brief sojourn to Kyoto on the Shinkansen (bullet train) only reiterated this realization. Interestingly, I also developed a better context and understanding of my Asian roots, as there are strong synergies between Japanese and Indian culture and social collectivism. On a tangent, the flight paths of British Airways to/from Tokyo meant that I had finally made a round trip of Earth, that too in 8 days! Phileas Fogg must be turning in his grave…

How do you think ISM is helping you achieve your career goals?

There is no doubt in my mind that the multi-disciplinary courses at ISM are firming up my strategic toolkit. It has been helpful to return to the classroom to talk through concepts and generate new ideas. The case studies and assignments are all recent and relevant, which adds to the experience. Also, without exception, all the faculty are knowledgeable, generous, and supportive. In comparison, I have found it harder to navigate the core research courses. As a strategist, I am very comfortable with assumptions and approximations, so the exacting nature of research has come as a shock to me. On the plus side, it has created a new muscle that will serve me well for a long time. I will bring even more rigor to my ideas at work.

There has been another completely unexpected outcome from the coursework so far. As part of the ‘Private Equity & Venture Capital’ course conducted in Zurich in March 2024, I came up with a new business idea for the main assignment. What started as a fun academic exercise for the course credits ended up staying with me even after I finished the assignment. To the extent that I decided to launch a minimum viable product and test the concept in the real world! Greentist, a portmanteau for Green Scientist, was born at ISM. In a nutshell, Greentist is a knowledge-sharing platform to inform consumers on the principles of sustainable living so they can make responsible consumption choices. I hope to develop the entrepreneurial muscle and deepen my knowledge of sustainability on the back of this venture.

What are your future aspirations after completing your program at ISM?

I am less than a year into the DBA but have heavy-lifted most of the work on multi-disciplinary and core research courses. The actual dissertation work will commence shortly. I would like to focus my research efforts on leadership and C-suite dynamics, especially from a behavioral, decision-making perspective. Given the situational, individualistic nature of top leadership, I will be largely focused on qualitative research techniques that will include interviewing industry leaders. In addition to completing the research, I hope to broaden my horizons, expand my network, and learn from all of them. I am certain that the diverse perspectives of the industry leaders will refine and expand my own framework of reference. I hope to emerge as a better leader and industry professional from this whole experience.

Recently, I pulled together a comprehensive future vision and development plan for the ‘Emotional Intelligence in Leadership and Career Development’ course at ISM. It was a fantastic assignment based on self-introspection and a full 360° feedback that helped unpack my leadership persona, values, and behaviors in a meaningful way. I found the exercise insightful, cathartic, and uplifting in the same breath. The final report was certainly worth its weight in gold! Without going into the actual details, if I achieve this ideal, aspirational state before the completion of the doctorate (most likely in 2026), I will consider doing the DBA a most worthwhile exercise! That’s the ultimate goal. And regardless of the outcome, I am certain that I will continue learning throughout my life.