Kanishka’s Journey: Overcoming Challenges and Securing a Spot at Harvard Business School
Kanishka Manderna’s story is one of quiet determination, strategic choices, and a relentless pursuit of purpose. Born in the small town of Bhiwani in Haryana and raised in Chandigarh, Kanishka was deeply aware from an early age of the limitations faced by women in her community, particularly around education and professional aspirations. This awareness became her driving force, propelling her to pursue excellence and break generational barriers.
Supported by her family, she aimed high. She secured a seat at IIT Delhi, one of India’s premier engineering institutes. The initial months at IIT were challenging; she felt lost and unsure of how to navigate the highly competitive and dynamic environment. Instead of giving in to self-doubt, Kanishka chose to experiment—immersing herself in various clubs and leadership opportunities. She became the General Secretary of her hostel, worked with the Wellness Club, and participated in the Aeromodelling and Economics Clubs, eventually shaping a well-rounded campus experience.
Kanishka’s first major inflection point came during her international internship in Zurich and her summer internship with ITC, a leading Indian conglomerate. She loved the problem-solving intensity of operations and the impact she could create, leading her to accept a pre-placement offer from ITC amidst the COVID-19 induced job market uncertainties.
Over the next four years at ITC, Kanishka took on challenging roles across manufacturing, operations, projects, and supply chain in indulgent categories like chocolates, coffee, and confectionery. She quickly earned a reputation for her people leadership and cross-functional coordination, culminating in her promotion to Supply Chain Manager. But it wasn’t just work that defined her—Kanishka consistently dedicated time to volunteering, mentoring blind and autistic children, and tutoring underprivileged students. She also worked with a women-in-manufacturing ERG within ITC, driven by her commitment to increasing female representation in industrial roles.
Though she had taken the GMAT in her final year of college and scored a 730, she remained unsure about when to apply to business schools. It wasn’t until 2024 that she firmly decided to pursue an MBA. That’s when she retook the GMAT FE, and secured a 695 on the test in October. Immediately starting her MBA application work with Admission Gateway despite the tight Round 2 timelines, within just two months, she revamped her resume, wrote essays for five schools (including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg), and managed her job responsibilities—all while preparing for interviews.
What stood out in her application process was her clarity of purpose and the emotional intelligence she brought to her storytelling. Admissions Gateway’s guidance helped her translate her experiences into compelling narratives, particularly for her HBS essay on curiosity, where her consultant’s insights helped connect disparate parts of her journey into a strong, unified story.
Kanishka received interview calls from all five schools she applied to—a rare feat—and converted offers from four schools, Harvard Business School with $175k financial aid, Stanford Graduate School of Business, The Wharton School and Kellogg School of Management.
Looking ahead, Kanishka plans to explore consulting post-MBA to gain cross-industry exposure, eventually returning to India to work in the CPG sector, focusing on clean-label foods that combat lifestyle-related health issues like obesity and hypertension. Her long-term goal is to lead initiatives that transform India’s packaged food industry into a healthier, more sustainable space.
From a small town in Haryana to the global stage at Harvard, Kanishka’s story exemplifies the power of resilience, self-belief, and purpose-driven ambition. Her journey is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets tenacity—and when a young woman dares to dream beyond what society expects of her.
To read more such stories of folks who got into their dream business schools to pursue their lifelong passion, check out our success stories.
