1. The mission of NUS Business School is to advance knowledge and develop leaders so as to serve business and society.

Discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities. (max 3500 Char).

Most of the infrastructure projects are multi-year, multi-million dollar engagements and come with significant technical and operational complexity. Even a small hold-up in one part of the value chain will result in the entire project being delayed. I have been very fortunate to lead initiatives that have enabled me to test these skills at very early stage of my career. Original EPC (Engineering Procurement & Construction) agency which was supposed to install the Compressed Air System of our Thermal Power Plant, defaulted on its obligations after partially completing the work due to a contractual issue. However since this was critical piece and a significant bottleneck for the project to move forward. I took leadership in completing this work (worth 0.2 Million Dollar) using the services of a local agency. Completing this assignment was a challenge because the local agency had no qualified engineer, and hence apart from overseeing the project, I had to take care of end-to-end planning at a very minute level and ensure all major and minor operational bottlenecks were resolved. Since, I was directly reporting to Asst. Vice President, I had to perform both junior management & middle management roles that included intensive paperwork, monetary approvals, completing remainder of material supplies through a total of 10 material vendors and presenting overall progress report to the Project Director. But, all these challenges led me to have a steep learning curve and also gave me the satisfaction of helping to remove major bottlenecks for the completion of the plant. While working in Indias one of the most backward areas, I took the initiative of using waste concrete from batching plant for the construction of a primary school in a nearby village. This initiative not only helped to reduce the overall cost of school but also helped to create a positive atmosphere for the Reliance Infrastructure among the local people. Such steps can be considered as small examples of inclusive development which caters both industry and society. Above mentioned instances explicitly demonstrates my motivation and ability to contribute to the business as well as to the society. I am very much confident that association with NUS business school will only accelerate my efforts in serving to this mission.

2. Tell us something interesting or unique about yourself which you think would be helpful for the Admission Committee to better evaluate your candidacy (MAX 300 Words) .

My rural upbringing across Indias remotest hinterland, experience of studying and living across multiple cities of India and a penchant for travel and experiencing new cultures have enabled me to develop a deep sense of appreciation and sensitivity to diversity. This when combined with my strong operational experience in leading several important sections within construction of large power plant significantly differentiates my profile. My attitude to strive for personal excellence, to always give my best and ability to overcome odds in life defines my approach towards life.

During my graduation days, in 2nd and 3rd year I was always volunteering with my institutes technical and cultural festivals. I was instrumental in using many innovative ideas to increase the sponsorship and to conduct all of the events in an efficient and smooth manner. In the final year, I was entrusted with post of Treasurer in the student council of National Institute of Technology, Bhopal. In my professional life, three and half years of solid experience in leading the erection & commissioning activities of 800 Million Dollar Thermal Power Plant has given me significant leadership experience and also provided a strong oversight of various aspects of a large capital project. My current role has enabled me to gain end-to-end expertise of the three aspects of a capital project. First, engineering that deals with the technical side of the work, contract & commercial that includes dealing with contractual terms and third, execution that includes planning of activities as per schedule and material & manpower management. This diverse experience has endowed me with deep-dive insights on the operational aspects of the business and I believe that some of these perspectives could add value to the learning environment at NUS Business School.

3. We would like you to tell us about your post-MBA immediate career goals and how your professional experiences have prepared you to achieve these goals. You may do so by a 300 words written essay (300 Words).

Working in Reliance infrastructure Ltd. has enabled me to gain valuable experience about operations management and leading large capital projects and has also enabled me to develop perspective about the infrastructure sector. In my current role, I am responsible for leading erection and commissioning activities that include planning for scheduled execution, resource management and looking after contract & commercials at site. At this point in my career, I want to take larger responsibilities and want to take leadership position in conceptualizing and building infrastructure projects at a much larger scale. Presently, working in large capital infrastructure project has forced me to envisage things with a larger perspective. With my current role and responsibilities, I happen to come across with the various bottlenecks faced in a live project. Globally, most infrastructure firms lack mid management capability and hence this sector usually faces a crunch of talented individuals who can lead effectively. Post MBA, my immediate goal is to take a mid management position in an infrastructure firm and over the next few years to grow within the organization. I am motivated to take up this role because I believe the infrastructure sector is the critical differentiator to any economy and has the ability to transform the fortune of a country. Passion to create a change in the dynamics of the infrastructure industry motivates me to take up this career choice.

I envisage NUS business school as a pivotal point in the attainment of my goals. NUS Business school and real life corporate situations significantly enhances the quality of the learning environment. I am also motivated to engage with the infrastructure and energy clubs that brings students from diverse background together and provide a strong platform to exchange ideas. I foresee the Leadership Development Programme as a further platform to build on my leadership skills. The one year life changing and enriching experience will be the foundation of my career going forward.