Life at IIM Shillong | MBA | Placements | Campus Life | Course | Best Companies | Best New IIMs

追加: 2026-05-09

[00:00:03]Welcome to the 23rd episode of Experience Matters in Life Beyond Business. And today we have a very special guest with us Vana G from I am Shillong. She's a pass out of IM Shillong in 2026 and now she's about to join Titan. She met me in Titan. She was working there as an intern. And I thought why not Vana to talk about IM Shillong because we have been covering this uh series of colleges. We have covered I am Mumbai. We have covered IM Koi and then we now have Vana with us to share her experiences about I am Shillong and what does she think about I am Shillong as a college and what opportunities does it have we'll talk about the placements we'll talk about everything uh let me go straight away to uh Vana and shoot up the first question that you know we are talking about I am Shillong Vana u what has been your experience at I am Shillong how good how had overall experience with IM Sri Lanka. How has it been for you?

[00:01:03]>> Yes, thank you so much sir firstly for inviting me and uh when we talk talk about I am Shalong I think uh I am Shalong has been one of the most transformative and memorable experiences of my life. From a professional uh perspective, the institute offers a strong academic foundation uh great professors, an inspiring alumni network and a learning experience which is holistic in every manner. So it pushes you beyond academics and helps you grow personally and professionally. Uh and of course the location shalong uh you learn about the culture, the people, the balance there. So I think uh this experience overall has been uh lifech changing changing and it has shaped my perspective and my personality in many ways.

[00:01:58]>> Great. Fantastic to know that. So it's a transformative experience as you have been talking about and I've heard this from many people right and when I talk about I am Shillong I specifically put it ahead of his peers right similar colleges but I am Shilong has gone way ahead of its league you know you will also you know recognize the fact and probably acknowledge that it is comparable to you know the top IM sometimes even people say that blackism or blackies be right so black associate Shilongji parallelly many colleges have opened all the new IMs have opened. What do you feel has been that one differentiator in the I am Shillong journey that has put it ahead of its peers like I am Udapur or I am Rayapur or I am Trii they are also doing fantastic now but I am Shillong is one notch over them. What do you think is so different about I am Shalong that it has put I am Shalong ahead of the race.

[00:02:58]So I think the institute has uh really worked hard to build that legacy and that credibility among its peers. So for example they they give you the real life experiences. So here learning is not at all about just the classrooms or only sitting in the classroom and learning things. We have a thing called one week long uh community immersion program. So what it gives you what it offers you is the real life experiences. So we students we visit the businesses we live with the uh local communities there local businesses there and we understand what is the uh problem that they are facing we try to help them. So that gives it gives you that real life experience that experience to help people first of all and then build on your uh leadership skills your problem solving skills that is very necessary to work in the corporate after that. Second of all, it's a studentrun campus. So, year long there are different uh competitions organized, different culture activities that are organized for the student community to have that experience, to have that exposure to build on those ownership skills, those leadership skills. I think that is very necessary uh in the long long run. So I think immong offers that uh real life it gives preference to that real life experience over just that uh traditional classroom learning.

[00:04:34]>> Yeah. I feel immersion as you talked about is a very important concept you know and when I was in my in my MBA I I used to go to these shops local shops and I used to tell them okay What do you need to keep in stock? How much do you need to keep in stock?

[00:05:07]do it by ourselves that we a few students of ID Karakur we used to go there talk to the local vendors understand their business problems try to create solutions for them and I think businesses are created there as you told understanding the community right talking to the people you know understanding their pain points it's not in the classrooms it's much beyond classrooms and that's why many courses even in ID karapur right I have to say that there's a program called lb which is learning business outside classrooms it's in the first year itself for us happened in the first semester itself that you know just you have joined MBA and people put you out of the box and then ask you to work with the startup for free so it's an exposure you talk to the startup founder you understand what needs to be done I work with plotaii I had no idea about SAS which is software as a you know solution uh kind of or pass platform as a platform as a solution kind of a interface but there I learned a lot about website building how to pitch to the customers how to approach B2B clients you increases your horizon by a great extent and what you told rightly so studentr run bodies with an immersive program always helps I think that's what has kept Shalong ahead in the race and I think the alumni that it has produced also right it has it has quite an extensive alumini network and it has done fairly well for itself so my that that stems to my next question when you said to studentr run bodies I'm pretty sure that you would have a a lot of academic diversity lot of gender diversity lot of experience experiential diversity. So when I talk about the batch right questions like placements or fees or these things are very common but I want to know more about the batch about your batch in particular what kind of academic or gender diversity did you get what kind of people did you build networks with because that is very interesting in an MBA college that's the hook of an MBA college so if I have to go there in terms of the diversity of the batch how did it look like how did it feel like how were the people you can brief a little bit on that.

[00:07:05]So over the years uh and Shong has genuinely and has made a conscious uh effort to improve its diversity over the batch across the batches. So in our batch if I talk about the gender diversity was 45 is to 55 female is to male ratio uh which gives you an inclusive balanced learning experience.

[00:07:28]uh if I talk about academically and professionally there were people from all age groups alla educational backgrounds from arts to science to to commerce obviously so the badge was 35% from engineering backgrounds again another thing that they have been doing that they induct uh engineering uh background people with a heavy works so majority of the badge I around 45 something uh% of the batch was from 25 to 36 uh months of 35% sorry uh uh from 25 to 36 months uh experience. So again the badge is uh a little heavier on the worker side but of course that does not mean that freshers uh have any sort of disadvantage there. equal opportunities are given to every and the batch is very well maintained.

[00:08:29]Another thing that uh is very well done is the cultural activities that are organized. So it is not justademically but uh also culturally the institute celebrates various uh festivals in the form that they should be uh celebrated by the different communities. So uh entire week is celebrated celebrated for Ganeshav. Uh Sarasati puja is celebrated by the Bengali common community uh in the institute and entire dishes are prepared by them. Onum is celebrated in the way that it should be celebrated.

[00:09:06]The activities the food everything uh dress code is there. Uh so I think uh the culture the people are celebrated there uh in the best way that they can be.

[00:09:19]Yeah, I think uh that's the that's the gist of any MBA program. The people constitute the MBA program. It's for the people by the people kind of a system similar to the constitution program and very happy to hear that that kind of a diversity you know in terms of work experience in terms of background in terms of gender very well balanced I think that's also one of the secret source for that success of amalong. Now let's go to the most interesting part with people you know always keep on asking what's about the placement what's going on inside the college what's the placement scenario what is the average packages and median packages like you know what are the good companies though they get to read all of this on the website still a lot of people will come on the chat and ask from the horse's mouth we want to hear from the people you know who has been there done that what's the actual scene boss can you can you just throw some light on that which are the good companies what is the placement scenario So placement uh is quite strong and is quite uh is doing uh and is doing quite decent in that way as well. It has long-term uh relationships maintained with uh companies and they more companies are being added every year. So of course there is a slight inclination towards finance uh since 25% of the batch was uh placed in finance roles uh followed up by consulting and marketing roles. Uh the average package for our batch has been 27 uh LPA and the highest package was around 71 lakhs. So that speaks volumes about the placement. uh the companies which are prominent recruiters for for which were prominent recruiters for our badge were Microsoft, Rollingman, uh&m, Accenture, Numera, PWC, it was Titan, uh uh Everest, Synergy Consulting. So across domains, across uh roles, companies they visit and some are uh recruiters, some recruiters are legacy recruiters and of course more are being added in that uh line. So yeah, >> great to know that. So if you are off to studying finance and if you're looking for a good college probably VA has given you the hint that you know you can go very strong there consulting finance and you know marketing these three are kind of the pillars of the IM if I have to say most of the some are specifically finance heavy I always keep on talking about being extremely finance focused Shillong is definitely one of them so looks good on the on the placement part kind of sorted 71 the highest package 27 Then the average it's fantastic to hear that. Um now let me go to the core structure. How is the course structure like what is the what are how are the professors like you talked in your introduction that professors are very good. There is a lot to learn from them.

[00:12:12]Uh you know exactly the core structure the professors you know if you can throw some light on the subjects not the details of it definitely the kind of things that are taught. What is the peer-to-peer learning kind of scenario?

[00:12:24]Is it a case study based approach or a real life business solving approach or a more of a textbook approach? What about the internships or life projects that are offered? So, a mix of the two-year journey if you can throw some light on it, it would be very helpful for the students. I think >> so. The core structure is like uh again as I said it's very holistic, very structured uh so to say. Uh so the first year we uh the student community we the course is focused to build a strong foundation across major management domains. Then in the second year as we have like a basic understandings of all the domains. It is our choice to choose the subjects that we want to study. So the process is conducted by an elective bidding process and then we can choose and bid for the subjects that we want to study the second year. So that is sorted for the subject subject so to say. Then if I tell you how the learning peer-to-peer learning happens is we have like a concept of study groups wherein we are a group of like five to six people and then it is very very very diverse and it is majorly focused on and intentionally created to ensure that that diverse academic background work experable they work together learn together and uh uh uh they like learn from each other.

[00:13:50]The professors if I tell you are very helpful, very approachable and they focus on case studies, practice presentations, life projects are done in the classrooms. So the assignments that we get are not at all just those quizzes or just assignment for the sake of it given to the students to solve. We are given the real life problems. We are told that go and explore the businesses or if in the college you can improve something look for it and like present your solutions and if they really like any of the solutions they implement it.

[00:14:28]So I think another thing that speaks volumes about the real life experience that you get there. Another thing is student mics points. So it is essential for us to gather uh certain points across two years and how we get them is by indulging ourselves into various cultural activities, sports activities, interim im uh activities that are conducted or doing life projects, winning case competitions. So I think it is not only focused on academics, it is focused on your overall growth and there are various methods that will ensure that it will grow there.

[00:15:10]>> Fantastic. I think uh the holistic experience that you talked about is speaks a speaks volumes about what amalong is trying to build. I think it's fantastic to know the kind of you know the the case study approach or be it you know helping the in the study groups learning something helping in real life business problems the professor's approach to things and how you're allowed to select your own subjects it speaks a lot about the college and that brings me to my next question uh that you know when and why you think that people should choose amalong what are the highlights of the college that you know you have spoken already that there are things that makes it apart but you know if you have to say that this person is a fit for this college or this person you know should go to IM Shillong or should not go to IM Shalong uh what is that one thing that people should evaluate in themselves that if I want to be at IM Shillong then I need to dash according to you what is that dash how do people know that you know I am Shillong is the place that where they belong and is it worth enough according to you to join AM Shalom.

[00:16:21]I think uh why one chose I'm Shalom is my reason would be if you want more than just a degree then go for it because placements I think every college can offer that but what differentiates IM Chillong is again the entire experience of two years and what you can explore there just not just uh of course professionally but personally what you can be after those two years is something worth noticing and worth uh worth it. So of course Shillong is doing great in terms of uh getting that international global uh recognition in terms of getting those accredititions like AACSB and all of that. uh students getting the opportunity for international exposures by student exchange programs in countries like Spain, France, Greece, etc. uh so I think you will get that uh exposure if you're willing to go for it.

[00:17:27]So no of course Shriong is counted among the old IM now it's blackies now. So there is something that is it it is getting compared to those colleges. Uh apart from that of course Shalong Northeast the way you can explore northeast as a student you cannot do it otherwise. I think the number of trips that I have taken in these two years uh and the way it challenges you. It is not just those uh generic waterfalls or all of that. the track t tracks, the valleys, the people there, the culture there. You learn a lot about that balance of hustle yet how happy people are in the way they are there. They are happy with whatever they are they have.

[00:18:16]So there's no uh rush in them. So you learn and you adapt to that um that slow life there yet you're hustling in your college working those late night burning that midnight oil and all of that. Uh so yeah it it it is the best place. It's I think it's worth it. Yeah I can go on and on about it.

[00:18:39]>> I think summarizes it totally. I think very well uh a blend of two beautiful things right on once you are in the college you are in there hustling it out then you are going and meeting the people it's a different work culture it's a different life culture altogether for them life is very smooth life is very slow for them and then you see the two sides of the world and you understand that you know that is where life is right you know it's always that you know there is a gray portion there is a black portion there is a white portion and there are a lot of colors to it nobody can fix a tag that this is how you should live and they are probably happier than us in that aspect right where they belonging and that that kind of summarizes the entire thing so well and I would end it up with probably the last question that what is life after I am Shillong I definitely you are entering that life now and you have a lot of things to catch up on in life and in in professional and personal life going ahead as well but when you see your peers or you know your immediate seniors or your you know uh old alumni my base. What are they doing in life right now? Where are they? You know, you would have a lot of lectures of them coming in, pitching in, uh, you know, and you would hear from their experiences. How has life been for them after I am Shalong? According to you, >> I think life after uh I am Shalong, it opens up a lot of opportunities for you, right? So once you graduate from any IM that tag really helps you in getting there. It builds sort of a credibility for you. It gives you a strong network of people. Career opportunities are given to you. So of course that is one uh benefit of going to an IMI. But apart from that what's inspiring is to see your alams placed in those leadership roles. even if they are not into corporate corporate they're doing great in like entrepreneurial journeys of theirs. So I think uh very well uh placed and situated in their own lives and for that for us to have that conversation those candid conversations with them the college organizes those legacy meets and those meetups uh animal interactions were organized while we were there after the lectures professors made sure that we get to interact with our alams. So I think it gives you that sense of security that uh now I think life will be uh stable and it'll be like a safe boot to ride in.

[00:21:14]>> Fair fair point. I think uh fantastically summarized and I would just take away one thing from what you said entirely to summarize this that it is now called blackies and there must be some reason behind it. You know it's it's not not not not every day do you see new IM competing head-on head with the legacies that these IM like Blackie has created and Shillong has been able to successfully do that and very surprisingly when Shillong actually emerged I heard a lot of people saying that Shillong is at a location disadvantage recruiters will not be able to go there they I think in the initial batches back in the day they used to have common uh campus rounds with XLRI Jamshedpur that students used to fly down there, stay for a week and then have their placement season. But I think COVID helped the cost to a great extent.

[00:22:07]People have learned how to take virtual interviews. Lot of companies have saved a lot of money by taking virtual interviews. And now with AI agents that can study body language, everything else, eye movement and everything, I think that makes the work a little more easier for the recruiters to actually stay where they are and still hire. So it's a connectivity. It's a connected network. It's a digital network.

[00:22:28]Locational disadvantage is no longer a thing that is there. Uh so overall I think IM Shillong has fared well enough.

[00:22:35]Uh fantastic work done and definitely as you mentioned that you know that S behind the blackie is for some reason right and that brings me to the end of this podcast. I would like to hear any lastm minute tips or suggestions for the young budding students you know in you know after giving their CAT examination or z examination and they're about to make a decision in their life it's it's that season right it's May June July tal people will decide they will have to move to colleges I've been getting a lot of calls from students saying that I've got this I've got this what to select they're very confused I got a call call from a student uh a day before yesterday he was very confused between XLR Jamshedpur, BM and then SPJN uh information technology. He told I really like information technology but then Exceli is definitely Excel is Excel right uh it is a notch above so what should I do should I go for the course or should I go for the college these kind of dilemas are always there with the people right and that's why you know any last minute tips which you feel that will help the students make a decision in their life that be it I'm Shillong or be it anything else that they want to do in life that one thing that you would like to tell to them >> I think what I would say and what I genuinely believe in and what uh sort of resonated with me uh while I was making this decision two years back was um to believe in myself first of all obviously uh never give up on yourself and uh stay open to opportunities and sometimes uh you don't plan life uh never just go in the direction that you have planned for life has those unexpected ways of surprising you and uh those surprises might be the most beautiful part of your life of your journey. So I think I personally did not plan on doing LDA from India. So my plans what I have planned for what I envisioned for myself was not this. uh but then again life had those uh surprises for me and I think I am very grateful and I'm very thankful uh for those two years and for what it has given me for the my career. So I think yes uh experiment as much as you can uh don't put put too much pressure on yourself and yeah enjoy your journey everything will make sense one day or the other >> yeah I think it all fits in a puzzle when we look at look at it from the top it all fits in a puzzle while we are there we are always struggling to figure out why it is happening what is happening right uh but I think that summarizes the entire journey of you as a person you as a student you as a learner at IM Shillong. Fantastic experiences, experiential learning, professors, case studies, peer-to-peer learning approach, alumni networks, connects, the placements, the companies.

[00:25:36]We talked about all of it. Uh, fantastic knowing from you right from the horse's mouth that how immong functioning or how am Shalong has been doing. It's it's really exemplary how am Shalong has evolved and how you as a person has evolved. I have seen your journey also from close because I worked with you for a couple of months. So I know that the evolution is genuine. The evolution is there. So it was lovely talking to you Vana. Thank you very much for coming in at a very short notice. I just texted Vana about a week back that can you just come in and she was very excited. She told yes yes yes sir we can do it and all of that which was very good very encouraging because uh you know these kind of podcast I think people would need these genuine reviews to make their decisions in life which can be life-changing decisions for them so thank you once again VA for you know making it here at such a short notice for helping the students out there uh and we would keep on bringing videos like this experts like this on this channel there going to be more videos the aim is to reach hundred videos of experience matters where talk to these people uh who have been there done that.

[00:26:46]So that is it from our side for today.

[00:26:48]Uh thank you again Vana. Thank you everyone. Bye-bye.