Born in Madhya Pradesh, Ishan grew up in different parts of the country, owing to his father’s transferable job. This exposed him to diverse environments and enabled him to become an adaptable person with the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. His grandfather’s stories about the lack of formal credit in rural Madhya Pradesh piqued his interest in finance.
However, his interest in both mathematics and science led him down the path of engineering. Joining IIT Delhi, one of India’s premier technical institutions, he pursued mechanical engineering. At college, his experiences were defined by striving to excel academically following a rigorous curriculum and active sports involvement, representing IIT Delhi in tennis and squash. He was also a part of the Board for Sports Activities and Coordinator of Formal Events at Sportech. Additionally, Ishan served as a member of the Academic Interaction Council and was a part of the Board for Recreational and Creative Activities in Rendezvous.
Inspired by the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, he found an inclination to contribute meaningfully to the communities around him. That’s what motivated him to be a volunteer at SOS Children’s Villages of India. Parallelly, Ishan also pursued multiple internships that offered him rich and diverse experiences.
AT PWC’s Social Sector Investment Practice, he contributed to projects aimed at creating employment opportunities for migrant laborers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. His team worked closely with state governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to develop rehabilitation programs, creating impactful solutions to a pressing problem.
At Paisalo Digital, a FinTech Startup, Ishan worked on initiatives to increase asset under management (AUM) through co-lending partnerships with SBI and ICICI. His efforts facilitated access to affordable credit for underserved communities, particularly rural women, during the pandemic.
Ishan was also a founding team member at goTTR, a startup founded by a CBS professor, where he contributed to creating a marketplace for timeshare rental in the US. His role involved connecting property owners with potential renters, addressing inefficiencies in the timeshare market, and providing cost-saving solutions for users.
Ishan’s inclination to work towards increasing financial inclusion stemmed from personal and professional experiences. His grandfather’s stories and his work at Pesalo inspired his goal to address this gap. He envisioned a long-term career at organizations like the World Bank or IFC, focusing on investing in ventures that promote financial inclusion. Realizing that he needed to build certain skills to achieve his long-term goals, he decided to apply to deferred MBA program.
Upon partnering with Mudit and Nisha at AG in his last year of undergrad, Ishan approached the deferred MBA application process with a clear strategy, leveraging his diverse experiences to craft a coherent narrative.
Ishan’s ability to connect his past experiences with his future aspirations made his application compelling, and he received admissions from Wharton, Booth, CBS, and Kellogg. Since graduating from IIT Delhi, he has gained nearly three years of work experience working for reputed firms, including Morgan Stanley, Madison India Capital in mid-market investments, and Bain Capital in private equity. He believes these experiences are going to be pivotal in helping him gain the right exposure and develop the financial and business acumen that will allow him to be fully prepared to take on his MBA journey at Wharton.
To read more such stories of folks who got into their dream business schools to pursue their lifelong passion, check out our success stories.
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