Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?
India

What will you be doing?
After nearly two decades of experience in corporate finance with the world’s leading companies in leadership roles, HES’ ALM degree in Sustainability has inspired me to start an entrepreneurial journey. In 2020, shortly after I started my program at HES, I founded Sustangibles Private Limited, a specialized ESG research, advisory, and consulting firm with a vision to create sustainable and tangible intelligence. Today, I coach corporate leaders on refining their sustainability strategy and work with investors to integrate sustainability into their investment decisions. I currently operate out of India but have expanded services to Singapore through another HES graduate and am now expanding to the Netherlands.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?
Harvard Extension School is truly global and brings together diverse students from different cultures, disciplines, and experience levels. So, you get vibrant and diverse perspectives here.
To succeed here, it is essential to demonstrate three things on a global canvass- discipline, collaboration, and communication. These virtues become even more critical if you are an international student like me studying in a different time zone. Depending on your time zones, some classes could be during odd hours. But you may consider taking from a mix of live and on-demand classes. Even for on-demand classes, most professors and TAs are approachable during scheduled office hours, and are prompt on email communication. So, if you plan well, you can make the most out of the program, even if you are not physically in Cambridge. Also, explore networking opportunities using social media and digital communication channels. Interestingly, as an extra-curricular activity, I also served on HESEC Board as Marketing Director, operating seamlessly from India, which is 9.5 hours ahead of the EST. If I can do it, you can do it too!

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?
Nearly two decades of experience in global financial markets gave me an understanding of building, evaluating, and analyzing credit and investment frameworks. However, Harvard played a pivotal role in opening newer avenues in the sustainability domain. The classes I have taken across various subjects, including environmental sciences, economics, management, and sustainability strategies, provided the breadth and depth of knowledge required to solve real-world complex sustainability problems. Harvard has also inspired me to make changes on a larger canvas, which led to starting my own company. Harvard iLabs also became a credible test bed to validate some of my business ideas.