IIMB 50th convocation: Women achievers share their stories 

Arantxa Sangma, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) on Friday, hails from a small town named Tura in Meghalaya. Her journey from the remote town of Northeastern India to one of the top business schools in the country is a testament to her determination.

“My graduation from IIMB is a milestone that still feels unreal,” Ms. Sangma said, adding, “Where I grew up, not many people talked about the IIMs, and I never imagined I would end up at one. It was not part of the dream because it did not even feel like an option.”

After graduating from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silachar, Ms. Sangma got a job at a multinational professional services network. That was where she learned more about the significance of MBA programmes and IIMs and then, she started working towards securing an admission at one of the IIMs.

As she graduated from a two-year MBA programme at IIMB, she recalled how as someone coming from a matrilineal society, where children take their mother’s name, husbands move into the wife’s home, and the youngest daughter inherits the home and cares for the parents, stepping out for work and studies wasn’t easy. “I was raised by a single mother, and growing up, things were never easy. Resources were limited, and there were challenges at every turn. But my mother taught me resilience, and I learned to make the most of whatever opportunities came my way,” she noted.

She further said, “Today, I feel grateful to be one of the few from my town to have earned an MBA from an IIM. I hope my story reminds others from the still remote towns of Northeast India that dreams grow step by step, and sometimes, they take you further than you ever imagined.”

The newly graduated batch of this year had many such women who came from diverse backgrounds and made the most of their time at the business school while also changing the trajectory of their careers.

At 39 years old, nearly 15 years after she started working, Priyaa, who graduated from the one-year MBA for Experienced Professionals, returned to a college campus. “As a Senior Manager, I aspired to transition into senior leadership roles and eventually become a CEO. My passion for learning and growing as a leader, combined with my desire to gain a holistic understanding of business strategy, motivated me to pursue the EPGP,” she shared.

She also said that her age and maturity gave her an advantage while pursuing the course. “My experience and maturity helped me navigate MBA life with ease, without stress or pressure. For me, this journey was not just about career growth but also personal enrichment. Age was never a barrier; in fact, it was an advantage,” she said.