Pursuing business knowledge and self-improvement
Sahil Bakhai is a driven graduate student in the Ivy College of Business MBA program. With a technical background, Bakhai came to Iowa State University in the pursuit of business knowledge and self-improvement. He has since thrived academically, both in and out of the classroom. Using his knowledge from the MBA courses, he competed in a national case competition and completed an internship in global marketing. Bakhai’s story is a testament to the importance of taking calculated risks, seeking mentorship, and embracing new challenges.
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, he began working at an engineering company called Swishriji. Over six years, he worked as the operations manager, then progressed to the chief of operations. Due to the small size of the company, he wore many hats and worked in several areas. Taking on the roles of supplier management, inventory control, and operations administration challenged and excited him but ultimately prompted him to pursue another degree.
Bakhai possessed the technical engineering skills but felt he didn’t have all the knowledge needed to excel in his career. He wanted to strengthen his problem-solving skills and decided an MBA was the best next step.
Bakhai faced the difficult decision of staying in India or moving to the United States to pursue his MBA. While deciding what university he would attend, he took his time to research the programs and ask questions. He attributes choosing Iowa State to conversations with outstanding alumni, staff, and student ambassadors. He said, “They were supportive and informative, and because of that, I was able to picture everything more clearly.”
“The Ivy College of Business gave me the resources to learn and grow once I knew what I needed from my MBA. It was not like anything I had imagined – this level of freedom to choose how I wanted my MBA to be was so refreshing that it pushed me to do more.”
— Sahil Bakhai
Over the past year, Bakhai has enjoyed his time at Iowa State and has been involved in many extracurricular activities. He has participated in case competitions, worked as a graduate assistant, and consulted with a nonprofit. Bakhai has found that the Ivy MBA is about much more than grades. He identifies networking and extracurricular activities as key learning mediums that helped him build connections and feel more motivated in the classroom.
“The Ivy College of Business gave me the resources to learn and grow once I knew what I needed from my MBA. It was not like anything I had imagined – this level of freedom to choose how I wanted my MBA to be was so refreshing that it pushed me to do more.”
One of his favorite experiences at Ivy was competing in the Ethical Leadership Competition at Baylor University. Bakhai joined the team only two weeks before the competition, as he was filling in for a member of the team. He felt fortunate to be a part of the team and to represent Iowa State at a national competition. After a long day of traveling and preparing late into the night, the team secured first place with their case presentation centered around OpenAI. Bakhai cites his team members and Director of Graduate Business Career Services, Tabatha Carney, for their success that day.
He expressed his gratitude to Carney and other faculty for the guidance, advice, and support he received from them. With their help, he refined his resume, prepared for interviews, and secured an internship position at Ricoh USA as a global marketing intern. Carney reflected on Bakhai’s time at Iowa State. “Watching Sahil embark on his MBA journey with such courage, mindfulness, and enthusiasm was truly remarkable. His unwavering determination to tackle challenges, his commitment to personal growth, and the relationships he cultivated along the way serve as a powerful example and source of motivation. Sahil’s story illustrates how embracing change and investing in oneself can unlock unimaginable possibilities.”
Last summer, Bakhai could apply the skills he learned in his courses to his internship. He specifically referenced something he learned in his supply chain management course. “Professor Henrik’s only instructions to us for an assignment in supply chain were ‘assume and justify’. In my head, I thought this instruction wasn’t sufficient, but during my internship, I found its meaning. In the corporate world, you are hardly given any data or directions; you need to assume and justify your assumptions to move forward. The learnings and assignments from that class helped me during my internship.”
In addition to business expertise, the MBA has also provided Bakhai with so many new experiences – living in a new country, enduring the winter weather, working, and traveling, while still being able to explore and have fun.
Bakhai feels the MBA will polish his skills and prepare him for the corporate world. “Through the program, I not only learned the technical skills that I needed for a career in management but also developed the critical soft skills needed to excel at a workplace.”
To connect with Sahil Bakhai or follow his collegiate and professional journey, visit his LinkedIn profile.
