Paras Jain’s shift from consulting to entrepreneurship through SPJIMR GMP

Paras Jain, SPJIMR (GMP batch 10) – NBU (2019-20)

The first time I stepped onto SPJIMR’s Mumbai campus for the Global Management Programme, I didn’t realise that I wasn’t just there to earn a management degree. I was embarking on a transformational journey that would redefine my career and put me on the path of entrepreneurship.

I started my career from a consulting background and was looking for an MBA programme that would provide me with an international career and global exposure in management without losing the essence of Indian business practices.

SPJIMR’s Global Management Programme (GMP) offered me just that and more by being the perfect combination of a uniquely designed programme that offered dual alumni status and a transformative learning experience. I joined the GMP 2019–2020 batch and started with the 6-month immersive session at the SPJIMR Mumbai campus.

Beginnings of a life-changing journey

After completing my term at the SPJIMR campus, the journey from the lively streets of Mumbai to the serene canals of the Netherlands marked a significant transition for me.

From day one, SPJIMR alumni in the Netherlands were actively involved in my journey. They picked me up from the airport, helped me find accommodation, and even hosted a meetup to introduce me to familiar faces.

Because of this support, I stopped worrying about mundane issues and started with core studies at Nyenrode Business Universiteit (NBU), Netherlands. This simple gesture helped turn my huge international move into a confident experience.

Life at the partner school: The Nyenrode experience

My semester at the partner school, Nyenrode, was a blend of pure adventure and deep learning. I engaged in debates and shared dinners with friends and cohorts from around the world, and each month we travelled to a new country for project work.

A halt to these lively activities happened when COVID-19 came around, but our batch, in the adversity of a lockdown, pushed through and remained united and helped each other through video lectures and online note sharing.

Those ups and downs, along the way, taught me more about resilience, teamwork, and myself than any textbook ever could. I left with fond memories, a close group of friends, and a subtle confidence to handle whatever comes my way.

Crafting a global career with the help of SPJIMR

SPJIMR’s GMP proved to be the launchpad for the major pivot in my career. The dual campus format of GMP first provided me with a Netherlands visa, and that, in return, helped me get offers and sponsorship from employers in the United Kingdom, which easily fast-tracked my move to London.

Another aspect of the programme was the choice of electives like ‘Startup Garage’ that simplified entrepreneurship and left a deep impact on how to germinate and implement great ideas in a simplified manner.

While working with Deloitte in the UK. I was introduced to the booming plant-based market and categories like vegan pet food. I noticed a gap in the pet care section that lacked good options and connected the dots for my startup idea.

The global mindset and the risk appetite that I cultivated in my learnings at GMP came together and helped me in launching FurrMate in 2024, India’s first PETA-approved vegan pet food brand.

My main takeaways from my journey at SPJIMR GMP

Adaptive mindset
GMP helped me to cultivate an adaptive mindset, and juggling two different academic styles of SPJIMR and Nyenrode became useful when I started running my startup.

Collaborative leadership
The GMP cohort was small and diverse, and leading multicultural teams for live projects led to my improvement in negotiation skills and empathy for my team.

Entrepreneurial spark
The courses in sustainable business models were my first introduction to entrepreneurship and led me to global exposure, and provided me the courage to go ahead and start ‘FurrMate—India’s first PETA-approved 100% plant-based pet food brand’.

The key advantages of taking the GMP route to study abroad

GMP gives you the academic depth, cross-cultural competence, and an introduction to the international business standards.

The advantages I felt by taking the GMP route are

Time- and cost-efficient MBA
The compact 6-month term at SPJIMR and a 9-month stint abroad in the Netherlands gave me the international MBA experience in just 15 months, saving me both time and tuition fees.

Double country learning curve
The dual-country learning curve of classroom theory at SPJIMR, followed by hands-on projects in Europe, helped to test ideas in both emerging and developed countries.

Visa and placement edge
Graduating with an alumni status from both schools meant automatic eligibility for a Dutch post-study work visa, which helped me land a job in London due to easier visa sponsorship.

Lifelong reach and two networks
The set of reputed professors, friends, and mentors on two different continents has built me instant global support for career moves, collaborations, and friendships.

My advice to the young participants of SPJIMR GMP

The six months at SPJIMR GMP move past us faster than the speed of a Mumbai local train. My advice to future participants is this: never miss a chance to ask ‘why’. The more curious you are, the deeper your learning will be. Treat class projects as playful experiments — that’s where the real growth happens.

You should soak in every minute of the late-night chai runs, nights out, and chilling sessions in hostel rooms because the roller coaster won’t come around again, and the memories will stay with you forever. Invest in a small circle of friends whom you can text whenever life gets tougher.

Some advice on how to approach learning in GMP

Bring real-world passion to classes
Use the design thinking project for your own ideas and test them, as the feedback from professors will help you build on the feedback and make business prototypes, not just get grades.

Go beyond the lectures
Many guest faculty are CXOs and founders who teach a module as a side project. You can ask about their challenges and connect after class to learn stuff that never makes it to the classroom.

Start day one networking
You should try to connect with the alumni in roles that you admire or want from day one. They can help get internships, provide insider tips, and guide you and become mentors for the long run.

SPJIMR: The memories that stay with me

Some of my best memories at SPJIMR happened outside the classroom. The midnight assignment marathons in the hostel to finish group work before dawn, and then celebrating with chai at the campus gate, are some of the best memories.

On weekends, visiting Marine Drive and talking about everything until the city lights faded into sunrise created moments I’ll always cherish. For me, the most unexpected journey at SPJIMR was finding my life partner, as I met my future wife in the same cohort. We ended up in different countries after SPJIMR, but stayed connected as best friends and eventually tied the knot after three years. SPJIMR GMP not only provided me with a global degree but also with professional and personal memories that I will carry with me forever.’