In conversation with the FIIB Newsdesk, Mansi Kaushik shares how her MBA journey moved beyond classrooms and into global policy conversations—culminating in her role as a Youth Speaker at UNGA Week 2025 in New York.
Q. When students think about global exposure in MBA India, it often feels like a buzzword. What did it mean in your journey?
Honestly, I had a similar perception initially.
When you’re exploring options for an MBA in India, “global exposure” is something almost every institute talks about. It usually translates to exchange programs, international trips, or guest lectures.
But in my journey at FIIB, global exposure in MBA India felt very different—it was continuous, immersive, and built into the way we learned.
It didn’t begin with a passport stamp. It began with how we were taught to think.
From early on, classroom discussions weren’t limited to Indian markets. Whether it was case studies, projects, or peer conversations, there was always a global lens. You start comparing contexts, understanding differences, and realising that business decisions don’t exist in isolation.
Over time, that mindset becomes second nature.
And that’s what truly prepares you for global platforms.
Q. Take us to the moment you represented South & Central Asia at UNGA Week 2025. How did that opportunity come about?
It was one of those moments where everything comes together.
I had been actively involved in student initiatives, discussions, and platforms at FIIB. The institute encourages you to participate—not just academically, but institutionally and globally.
Through FIIB’s association with global frameworks and initiatives, I got the opportunity to be part of the PRME Global Student Delegation.
Representing South & Central Asia at UNGA Week 2025 in New York as a Youth Speaker was both exciting and overwhelming.
Because suddenly, you’re not just a student anymore.
You’re part of conversations that involve policymakers, global leaders, and changemakers. And you’re expected to contribute meaningfully.
That shift—from learning about global issues to engaging with them firsthand—is what defines real global exposure in MBA India.
Q. What was the experience like—moving from classroom discussions to global policy conversations?
It changes how you think.
In classrooms, you’re trained to analyse problems, apply frameworks, and arrive at structured solutions. But on a global platform like UNGA, you realise that reality is far more complex.
Decisions are influenced by:
- Cultural differences
- Economic contexts
- Political priorities
- Human impact
And often, there isn’t a single “correct” answer.
What stood out to me was the diversity of perspectives. Students and leaders from different parts of the world brought completely different viewpoints to the same problem.
That’s when you understand the true value of global exposure in MBA India—it’s not just about seeing the world, it’s about learning how to think within it.
Q. How did FIIB’s MBA structure prepare you for such a platform?
In more ways than I realised at the time.
FIIB’s approach to global exposure in MBA India is layered.
At one level, you have structured initiatives like COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), where you work with international students on academic projects. These experiences teach you how to collaborate across cultures and perspectives.
Then there are global guest lectures, international faculty, and immersion opportunities that continuously expose you to different business environments.
But beyond these, what really stands out is how the curriculum integrates responsibility, sustainability, and global frameworks like the UN SDGs.
So when you step into a platform like UNGA, you’re not unfamiliar with the language of discussion. You’ve already engaged with these ideas—you’re just taking them to a larger stage.
Q. Many students believe global exposure is limited to top-tier global schools. How would you respond to that?
I think that perception is changing—and rightly so.
Global exposure in MBA India is no longer limited by geography. It’s about how institutions design their learning ecosystems.
At FIIB, global exposure is not a one-time opportunity—it’s embedded into the entire MBA journey.
You have:
- Continuous interaction with international faculty and speakers
- Cross-border academic collaborations
- Opportunities to represent on global platforms
- Exposure to global business case studies and simulations
And importantly, these opportunities are accessible.
You don’t have to wait for a single milestone. If you’re proactive, there are multiple entry points to build global exposure.
Q. Beyond global exposure, how did this experience shape your leadership approach?
It made leadership more contextual.
Before this, I saw leadership largely in terms of execution—driving initiatives, managing teams, delivering outcomes.
But global exposure changes that.
You start understanding that leadership is also about:
- Listening to diverse perspectives
- Adapting to different contexts
- Balancing multiple stakeholders
At UNGA, you’re not just presenting your ideas—you’re engaging with others who have equally strong, and often very different, viewpoints.
That teaches you humility and adaptability.
And I think that’s what FIIB prepares you for—not just leadership in a controlled environment, but leadership in complex, real-world situations.
Q. FIIB also emphasises experiential learning. How does that connect with global exposure in MBA India?
They’re deeply connected.
At FIIB, a significant part of the MBA is built around experiential learning—live projects, internships, and simulations.
These experiences train you to apply concepts in real-world settings.
Now, when you combine that with global exposure, something interesting happens.
You’re not just thinking globally—you’re solving problems with a global perspective.
For example, working on a project with international peers or analysing a global case study forces you to consider multiple viewpoints. It pushes you beyond textbook solutions.
And that’s exactly what global platforms expect from you.
Q. Was there a moment during UNGA when you realised how far you had come?
Yes, during one of the discussions where I was speaking as a Youth Speaker.
There was a point where I had to articulate my perspective on a global issue, while also representing a region.
And in that moment, I realised that I wasn’t relying on memorised answers.
I was drawing from:
- Classroom learning
- Discussions at FIIB
- Experiences through projects and initiatives
Everything came together naturally.
That’s when you realise that global exposure in MBA India, when done right, doesn’t feel external—it becomes part of how you think.
Q. How important is location when it comes to building global exposure during an MBA?
Location plays a bigger role than most people realise.
Being in Delhi NCR gives you access to:
- Policy forums
- Industry bodies
- International organisations
- Global events and summits
At FIIB, this advantage is actively leveraged. Students don’t just learn about global platforms—they participate in them.
Whether it’s engaging with international organisations or contributing to large-scale events, you’re constantly exposed to environments where global conversations are happening.
That proximity makes a difference.
Q. What would you say to students specifically looking for global exposure in MBA India?
I would say—look beyond the brochure.
Global exposure is not about a single international trip or exchange program. It’s about how consistently an institute integrates global thinking into its curriculum and culture.
Ask yourself:
- Are you working with international peers?
- Are you exposed to global business problems?
- Are there opportunities to represent at international platforms?
- Are you being trained to think beyond local contexts?
If the answer to these is yes, then you’re getting real global exposure.
Q. Looking back, how has this journey shaped you as a professional?
It has expanded my perspective in every sense.
When I started, my focus was on building a career.
Today, I think in terms of:
- Impact
- Scale
- And responsibility
Global exposure in MBA India has helped me move from a narrow lens to a much broader one.
It has also given me the confidence to step into spaces I wouldn’t have imagined earlier.
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