Samridhi’s Journey From Engineering to Investment Banking to M7 MBAs
Samridhi Nagar grew up in Gurgaon, Haryana, famously known as India’s second-largest information technology hub. Being an innately curious person, she was curious about the world around her at an early age. This manifested in her wanting to explore and excel in different academic subjects, pursuing multiple extracurricular experiences such as acting or social impact initiatives. Her curiosity also led her to find interest in problem-solving and design leading her to explore the subjects of science and mathematics in depth and deciding to pursue engineering for her undergraduate studies.
That’s when she enrolled at Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh to pursue Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering and Product Design. During her time at PEC, she devoted significant time to pursuing her interest in dramatics by becoming an active member of the theatre society. Participating in theater gave her a unique perspective on human interactions. This experience also played a crucial role in her MBA application, highlighting her ability to connect with people and think from diverse viewpoints. At college, she excelled academically but realized that she was drawn toward areas that combined analytical rigor with creativity, eventually securing an internship with JP Morgan. Her impeccable performance during the internship earned her a pre-placement offer from JP Morgan, paving the path for her to begin a career in investment banking.
At JP Morgan, she joined a small but dynamic team and was instrumental in expanding its scope and influence. Her most notable contribution was helping establish the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector from scratch. By collaborating with senior leaders, engaging potential clients, and creating marketing materials, she was critical in generating multi-billion-dollar deals for the firm.
Over time, Samridhi began contemplating a career in entrepreneurship. Her goal was to start a food and beverage company that focused specifically on healthy products that do not have a huge premium and can be marketed to an average buyer. Being well aware of the finance side of the F&B businesses, she wanted to know what kind of work goes into setting one up. This required a deeper understanding of business operations and strategy.
That was the point when Samridhi decided to begin her MBA application journey. After achieving a competitive GMAT score, she immediately began working on her applications. Working with her consultant at AG, Aparna Pahwa, she explored her journey so far and identified key pivotal moments that helped articulate unique elements of her story. From her work with an NGO for children of sex workers to her passion for dramatics, Aparna helped her weave her experiences into a compelling narrative. Balancing her demanding investment banking job in New York with her MBA applications, Samridhi often worked late nights to ensure her essays and resumes were exemplary.
Her hard work paid off when she received offers from several prestigious MBA programs, including Ross School of Business, Darden School of Business, Kellogg School of Management, and Chicago Booth School of Business, with a combined $80,000 in scholarships. Getting accepted to her dream school, Booth, known for its rigorous coursework, renowned finance faculty, and strong consumer and retail network, Samridhi decided to accept their offer and is currently pursuing her MBA dream.
To read more such stories of folks who got into their dream business schools to pursue their lifelong passion, check out our success stories.
