Landing the Job of My Dreams Amidst a Global Pandemic – Shreya Goel’s Story

Born and raised in Ambala (India), Shreya Goel (Master of Global Business, Class of 2021) always knew that she wanted a business career. Today, she is working with Henkel AG & Co. – a leading multinational chemical and consumer goods company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. We caught up with Shreya to learn her story.

Q. Why did you decide to pursue a master’s degree in business, and how did you work towards actualising this decision? 

Shreya: I always knew I wanted to pursue my master’s in business. This decision was inspired by my elder brother as I wanted to follow in his footsteps. And as it has turned out today, I am where I wanted to be but through my own journey, struggles, and the learnings that came with it. 

After my schooling at a convent in Ambala, I joined a Bachelor of Engineering program specialising in Electronics and Communication. Since then, I have worked in various leading firms including Reliance Jio and Infosys, where I got the opportunity to develop applications facilitating supply chains for different clients. This experience helped me realise my interest in the supply chain industry and motivated me to work towards it. 

Q. Why did you decide to pursue your degree at SP Jain? 

Shreya: After my CAT results were announced, I was looking at some of the top colleges that I would be eligible for. This is when I came across the tri-city program at SP Jain. While I liked the program right from the start, I did a lot of research through the School’s alumni. It was their positive feedback and trust in SP Jain that ensured me that this is the right school for me. 

SP Jain has made me more confident and helped me in moving out of my comfort zone. During the last 16 months, I was able to refine my strategic and innovative thinking along with analytic skills to identify opportunities better, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The program helped me understand supply chain better and with its various in-depth courses, I have successfully gained the sense to analyse and evaluate business situations. 

Another highlight of the program is the top international faculty who lead each course. Their teaching methodology and expertise helped me in becoming a better supply chain enthusiast. 

Q. What was it like studying with peers from around the globe?

Shreya: The best part about spending my time at SP Jain is that I got the chance to be a part of so many different cultures and build strong connections with my peers from around the world. In today’s world, every business leader needs to understand the different cultures of the people they work with. For example, my Term in Dubai helped me understand the culture and traditions of the city better, which currently enables to work seamlessly with my Manager from Dubai, understanding his way of working and his expectation from me. 

Q. If you had to choose 1 person from SP Jain who impacted your life the most, who would it be?

Shreya: Every single person I met at SP Jain has impacted my life. But if I had to choose just one, I would like to mention Prof Boman Moradian, as listening to him about the demonstrations, stories, and life lessons truly made all of us his fans. His guidance on looking for the best possible solutions to any problem by using thought and experience and his humorous way of teaching management studies kept the class engaged throughout. His teachings would always remind us to be on our toes and keep looking for solutions to make work better efficiently.

Q. What are you most proud of accomplishing during the last 16 months?

Shreya: During my second term at SP Jain MGB program, I participated in the P&G CEO Challenge 2019 with a few of my friends. It was an extremely thrilling moment for us when we were selected amongst the top 5 teams out of 135 participants who wanted to represent Australia and New Zealand in the final round. Although we didn’t make it as the winner, getting into the top 5 at such a tough challenge was in itself an immense achievement. This truly could not have been possible without the guidance and support from the faculty and our classmates at SP Jain. 

Q. Where did you intern during the last term of your program? How did this experience help you?

Shreya: I interned at Pam International Cargo, a freight forwarding company based in Dubai. Although the role remained virtual due to the ongoing pandemic, I was able to gain rich research experience in the market trends. My experience made me realise the value of each minute in the logistics industry while understanding the importance of responsive and efficient work in the current scenario. 

Q. You are a part of the 2020 cohort, a class that graduated during a global pandemic. How prepared are you for the unique challenges posed by this situation?

Shreya: While the market had slowed down during the pandemic, the one thing that never slowed was the support from SP Jain. SP Jain went out of its way to help prepare for the new business world – right from preparatory sessions with area heads to calls with alumni in the industry. All we had to do was learn, prepare, and give our best. And nothing could have made this journey better without this support. 

Q. Where do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now? 

Shreya: Under Henkel, I hope to bloom into a professional with great managerial skills. I did not hope to be where I am today five years ago, but I am at the best that I could have wanted to be. So, five years from now, I want to be able to set up realistic goals for myself and Henkel. I hope to keep the same fire alive within and achieve my goal.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Shreya: I would like to give a special mention to the Corporate Relations (CR) team at SP Jain for their diligent support and help in ensuring that we landed impressive jobs even amidst the pandemic. At a time when opportunities were limited, the CR team did not lose hope and kept encouraging us to be strong. They put their best foot forward and stood by us. It was due to their efforts that, even in this market situation, opportunities came our way and motivated us to seize them by developing clear visions, setting goals, and taking consistent action.

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