#whyilovelbs

Yesterday, I officially graduated with an MBA from London Business School. While celebrating after the ceremony, a classmate asked me: So what was your #whyilovelbs moment?

Landing at Heathrow Airport in 2018, I did not really believe that an MBA will change me forever. How could any singular experience make such a lasting difference or impact on someone's perception of everything?

(TLDR: It did)

"Seeing is believing" would hold true for all of my experiences at London Business School.

Anyways, what was my #whyilovelbs?

I couldn't point to a specific moment. Frustrated, I spent the evening pondering an answer when it hit me: Maybe I was asking the wrong question, maybe it wasn't a "singular" experience after all...

My #whyilovelbs is a myriad of vivid instances and emotions that cascade into one another. From playing for the MBA Band, The 20 Pounders, across so many memorable concerts to leading a trek across my home country, and from running full tilt to make it to an 0815 lecture with my favourite professor (whom we ended up writing a song about) to the feeling of knowing there's a friend who's got your back when you're facing setback after setback... after setback. Disappointment so often followed elation that we learnt a whole new way of being: deal with it, move on, make it better, try harder.

My #whyilovelbs is a rainbow of memories.. fleeting... real yet ethereal

The realization of school-life ending has not sunk in yet (maybe because our real graduation is happening next May!), but as I reminisce my #whyilovelbs, a few sentiments stand out:

Humbled: Making yesterday even more special, I was a recipient of the LBS Outstanding Leadership & Service Award. I feel incredibly humbled to have been recognized in this manner by our community. But these plaudits belong to more than just me. A special mention needs to go to my Club Co-Presidents Ajay and Saloni whose relentless commitment, support and willpower underpinned our journey. Fortune favours the brave!

Grateful: My friends were my lifelines at London Business School. Without Rishabh, Sumit, Audrey, Harvey, Rushil and many others from our Class of 2020, my #whyilovelbs would be an empty canvas. Whether serendipitous or happenstance, I am grateful that we went through this rollercoaster ride with its many ups and downs (and loops!) together. Congratulations on your graduation, you are MY heroes.

Fortunate: I feel fortunate for the chance to fulfil a lost dream to play live music again for an amazing cohort alongside my dear friends: Freya, David, Vinod, and Austin; fortunate to be in the most supportive and wholesome study group (Lydia, Georgia, Amir, Jeff, Ben); and fortunate to have led amazing teams at the India Club, LBS Panorama & LBS Perspectives - women and men who have changed student experience at LBS forever. I feel fortunate to have had coaches and professors such as Elizabeth Newton and Richard Jolly, who have helped me become a better, more authentic version of myself. And finally fortunate for the non-present players: my parents, family and mentors. Their sacrifices, support and role in my upbringing are what led me to attend one of the greatest business schools in the world.

As I finish writing this, memories from this incredible journey now flood my mind.

I wonder if this feeling here, right now, is #whyilovelbs?

For now, I look forward to cheering on future generations from the alumni ranks of the most amazing MBA program in the world. 20/20 would recommend ;)

This is not the end, just another song beginning.