For Kanishka Sharma, pursuing an MBA in Finance was never just about numbers—it was about understanding the responsibility behind them.
A graduate of Satyawati College, University of Delhi, she entered the PGDM programme at the Fortune Institute of International Business (FIIB), New Delhi, with a clear goal: to build a career in the BFSI sector while developing the kind of structured thinking that real financial decision-making demands.
But what transformed her journey was not just classroom learning—it was a carefully designed ecosystem of mentorship, internships, global exposure, and continuous career readiness that defines an MBA in Finance with internships and mentorship.
Q. Kanishka, what motivated you to pursue an MBA in finance with internships?
I completed my B.Com (Hons.) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Delhi, and while I had a strong academic foundation, I knew that understanding finance conceptually wasn’t enough.
I was very clear that I wanted an MBA in finance with internships — because finance, as a field, demands real exposure. You can’t learn decision-making, risk assessment, or financial judgement only through textbooks.
My goal was to build a finance career after MBA where I could contribute meaningfully in the BFSI sector — and that required practical experience from day one, not just in the final placement phase.
Q. What was the first experience during your MBA that shifted your thinking?
One of the earliest turning points for me was attending a corporate masterclass by a leader from Bain & Company.
The biggest insight I took away was simple but powerful — the corporate world values reliability over effort. That changed how I approached everything. Whether it was academic work, projects, or internships, I started focusing on how dependable my work was. In finance especially, accuracy and accountability are everything.
It made me realise that an MBA in finance with internships is not just about exposure — it’s about building trust through consistent performance, even in small tasks.
Q. Tell us about your Social Internship experience. How did it add to your finance learning?
My Social Internship with Habitat India was quite transformative.
At first, I didn’t expect a strong connection with finance. But as we explored sustainability, carbon emissions, and ESG frameworks, I realised how deeply these areas are now linked to financial decision-making.
I worked on a project analysing sustainability in the technology sector — including data centres, e-waste, and environmental reporting. It gave me a completely new perspective on how finance today goes beyond profitability to include accountability and governance.
What stayed with me was how financial decisions increasingly incorporate ESG risks and disclosures. For anyone pursuing a finance MBA with internship opportunities, this kind of exposure adds depth that you simply don’t get in a classroom alone.
Q. You were also part of a global competition. What did that experience teach you?
Yes, I participated in the Global Scaling Challenge organised by the Anderson School of Management, where our team secured 3rd position in the ASEAN region.
That experience pushed me to think globally and perform under pressure.
You’re not just solving a problem — you’re competing with teams across countries, each bringing different perspectives and frameworks. It improved how I structured my thinking, presented ideas, and defended my approach in a competitive environment.
It also built a certain level of confidence — knowing that your work stands at an international level. Experiences like these show why MBA programs offering internships in finance and global exposure create a much stronger learning curve.
Q. How did SPARK contribute to your journey as a finance student?
SPARK was one of the most intellectually enriching parts of my MBA.
It’s designed to build research capability, but what it really does is train you to think deeply and independently. I worked closely with faculty mentors and went through the entire research process — from idea formation to structured analysis.
There were moments where things didn’t work as expected, and I had to revisit assumptions, rework analysis, and refine my thinking. That process built patience and discipline.
In finance, especially in areas like equity research, valuation, or risk analysis, this ability to question data and build logical conclusions is extremely valuable.
SPARK helped me develop that analytical mindset, which directly complements an MBA in finance with internships, where application and structured thinking go hand in hand.
Q. The Corporate Mentoring Program seems to be a defining experience. Tell us about it.
Yes, the corporate mentoring program MBA experience was the most impactful part of my journey.
I was mentored by the CFO of Ummeed Housing Finance Private Limited, and that exposure gave me a front-row seat to real financial decision-making.
I worked on two major projects — an IPO Playbook and an Investor Pitchbook. These required not just financial analysis, but the ability to build a narrative around numbers.
There were multiple revisions, detailed feedback, and late nights spent refining the work. At times, it was overwhelming — but that’s also where the learning happened.
Over time, I became more confident in handling ambiguity and structuring my thoughts clearly. That’s when I truly understood how an MBA in finance with internships and mentoring builds not just knowledge, but professional maturity and resilience.
Q. How did this experience translate into an internship and PPO?
This is where everything came together.
Through my work during the mentoring program, I built a strong relationship with my mentor based on consistency and quality of work. At the end of the program, I received an internship offer — which later converted into a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO).
Parallelly, my corporate internship exposure further reinforced this learning — working in a structured business environment, managing expectations, and delivering under timelines.
For me, this answered a very common question students have — how to get PPO in MBA?
It’s not about one standout moment. It’s about showing up consistently, taking ownership, and building trust over time. This is also why MBA internship and PPO pathways are so critical — they provide a direct bridge between learning and career outcomes.
Q. What are your long-term aspirations in finance?
I see myself building a career in the BFSI sector, particularly in roles that combine financial analysis with strategic decision-making.
I’m interested in areas like investment analysis, risk management, and corporate finance — where decisions have real business impact and require both analytical depth and judgement.
At the same time, I want to keep evolving — learning new tools, understanding markets better, and adapting to how finance is changing with technology and global shifts.
An MBA in finance with internships has helped me move closer to that goal by giving me real exposure, mentorship, and opportunities to apply what I learn in practical settings.
Q. If you had to summarise your MBA journey so far, what would it be?
It’s been a journey from learning to accountability.
From understanding concepts to applying them in real-world situations.
From working on assignments to handling responsibility and expectations in professional environments.
Along the way, experiences like mentoring, internships, research, and competitions have shaped how I think and work.
For me, this is what defines a true MBA student success story — not just academic growth, but the ability to translate that learning into real outcomes and opportunities.
“Going forward, I don’t just want to work in finance—I want to be in roles where decisions carry weight. Where numbers influence strategy, and where financial thinking shapes long-term outcomes. That’s the direction this journey has prepared me for.”
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