Leadership lessons beyond the classroom: Utkarsh Bhardwaj reflects on life after SPJIMR
Utkarsh Bhardwaj, PGDM 2024 alumnus
When I graduated from the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programme at S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) in 2024, I was eager to see where the next chapter would take me.
Over the last two years, my work with Deloitte Southeast Asia has taken me across Singapore and Malaysia and introduced me to people from different countries, cultures, and ways of working. I have learned a great deal through the work itself, but just as much from living away from home and adjusting to a new environment.
What I did not anticipate was how often those experiences would remind me of my time at SPJIMR. Looking back, many of the lessons that continue to shape the way I work today were not tied to a particular course or project. They came from the people I met, the experiences I had, and the situations that pushed me to think differently.
How SPJIMR prepared me to work across cultures and contexts
When I reflect on how SPJIMR prepared me for a global workplace, a few experiences come to mind. The first was the Global Fast Track programme at the Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University. It gave me first-hand exposure to international business practices and a different way of thinking about management, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Equally valuable was the diversity within the SPJIMR classroom. My peers came from varied industries, academic disciplines, and regions of the country. Engaging with people who brought different viewpoints and experiences to every discussion taught me to appreciate diverse perspectives and work effectively with individuals whose approaches differed from my own.
Another formative experience was my social internship at the Yunus Centre and Grameen Bank in Dhaka. It exposed me to grassroots innovation, sustainability, and community-led models of impact. The experience challenged many conventional notions of leadership and reinforced the importance of understanding different social and economic contexts.
Image credit: Utkarsh Bhardwaj
Together, these experiences continue to influence how I engage with clients, colleagues, and teams across geographies and backgrounds.
Values and perspectives that stayed with me
There are many moments from SPJIMR that I remember, but some ideas have stayed with me long after graduation.
One of them is the concept of People, Planet, Profit (PPP), shared by Dean Prof. Varun Nagaraj. It encouraged us to think about business and leadership in a broader way. Success cannot be measured only through financial outcomes. The impact we create on people, communities, and the environment matters just as much.
The concept of balancing People, Planet, and Profit — the 3 Ps, still continues to influence many of my professional and personal decisions.
I also remember the influence of several faculty members who consistently connected classroom discussions to real-world situations. Classes by Prof. Shailaja Jha, Prof. Milind Kamat, Prof. Debraj Ghoshal, Prof. Malay Krishna, Prof. Lata Dhir, and Prof. Tanvi Mankodi pushed us to think beyond frameworks and textbook answers.
In particular, discussions around organisational behaviour, stakeholder management, workplace dynamics, and human behaviour have stayed with me over the years. As I started working across teams, clients, and geographies, I realised how relevant those conversations actually were. Understanding how people think, communicate, and respond to change has often proved just as important as understanding the business challenge itself.
Leadership looked different after SPJIMR
Before joining SPJIMR, I viewed leadership largely as authority and decision-making. Initiatives such as Abhyudaya and ADMAP played an important role in that shift.
Through Abhyudaya, I had the opportunity to mentor school students from underserved communities. The experience taught me the importance of empathy, responsibility, and creating an impact beyond myself.
ADMAP offered a different kind of learning. Working closely with peers from diverse backgrounds in collaborative and often demanding environments showed me the value of listening, adapting, and working towards a shared goal. It reinforced the idea that good outcomes are rarely the result of individual effort alone.
My involvement in student-led initiatives such as the Student Body Unit (SBU), SPeak, and the Convocations Committee also exposed me to new responsibilities and opportunities for teamwork.
Experiences such as the Flipkart live project and participation in national business competitions exposed me to real-world business challenges and pushed me to think beyond the classroom.
The group-based learning environment at SPJIMR further strengthened this. Whether it was classroom projects, committee work, or everyday interactions with peers, I learned that different perspectives often lead to better solutions.
Looking back, one of the biggest shifts in my thinking was realising that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about bringing people together, understanding different perspectives, and creating an environment where others can contribute and succeed.
Learning how to deal with uncertainty
SPJIMR was a demanding environment. Managing multiple commitments at the same time taught me how to handle pressure and adapt when things did not go according to plan.
One experience that particularly stayed with me was my social internship with Yunus Centre and the Grameen Bank in Dhaka. It exposed me to an environment that was completely different from what many of us were used to and taught me adaptability, empathy, and resilience.
I also remember the support system at SPJIMR during internships and placements. There were moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, but the encouragement from peers, seniors, professors, and mentors helped many of us navigate those phases. It taught me the importance of community and the value of learning from the people around you.
Image credit: Utkarsh Bhardwaj
Reflecting on the journey
Looking back, the biggest change has been the way I approach new situations. Working across countries, clients, and teams has made me more confident in unfamiliar environments. I am more comfortable meeting people with different backgrounds, adapting to new contexts, and taking on responsibilities that would have felt intimidating a few years ago.
At the same time, I have become more reflective. I value relationships, mentorship, and continuous learning much more than I did before. I am also far more open to uncertainty than I used to be. That is something I have come to appreciate over time.
Image credit: Utkarsh Bhardwaj
Lessons for the journey ahead
For current students who aspire to build careers across industries, cultures, and countries, three lessons stand out from my experience.
First, never limit yourself based on where you come from or your background. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and opportunities today are far more accessible than we often imagine.
Second, invest in developing communication and interpersonal skills. Technical skills are important, but your ability to work with people from different cultures, functions, and perspectives is what truly differentiates you in global careers.
Third, stay curious and keep learning from every single person you meet. Some of the biggest lessons come outside of classrooms, through peers, mentors, leaders, and experiences. SPJIMR gives students incredible exposure, but the key is to absorb as much as possible from every opportunity.
I will always remain grateful to SPJIMR for shaping not just my career, but also my outlook towards leadership, impact, and life.
