Aerospace, AI and Leadership: My ISB Journey

Hailing from a small city like Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, my journey has been shaped as much by strong roots as by bold aspirations.

In my early years, I was tutored by my parents and guided by exceptional teachers at St. Joseph’s College, who instilled in me a solid foundation in academics, cultural exposure, and ethical values.

That early grounding set the stage for my passion in science, technology, and engineering, which eventually took me to SASTRA University for a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication.

In 2011, I joined Collins Aerospace as an Avionics Engineer. It had taken me 21 years to discover my true purpose, which was to build a career in the aerospace and defence industry. Once I found that clarity, there was no looking back.

From Avionics to AI: Exploring New Frontiers

In 2014, I stumbled upon a subject that fascinated me deeply: artificial intelligence. At that time, AI had almost no application in commercial aerospace, but I was convinced of its potential. 

I made it my mission to bring awareness and demonstrate its possibilities through innovative proof of concepts.

Two years later, I moved into a leadership role. For the first time, I realised that my passion was not just about building technology but also about developing people and teams. 

By 2020, I had transitioned from leading a product engineering team to heading a research and technology team, with the sole focus on exploring emerging and disruptive technologies for the future. 

Today, I have the privilege of leading one of the largest AI teams globally at Collins Aerospace.

Discovering the Gap: Why I Chose ISB

Despite all my learnings, I often saw that great innovative solutions never reached the product stage. 

While I had a strong grounding in engineering and R&D leadership, I realised I lacked a deeper understanding of other functions such as finance, marketing, operations and strategy. These, too, influenced whether an innovation succeeded inside an organisation.

It was this gap that pushed me to explore executive MBA options. When I discovered the PGP PRO programme at ISB, it struck me as the perfect balance between the rigour of a full-time MBA and the flexibility of continuing my work responsibilities. The programme design convinced me that this was the step I needed to take.

The ISB Journey: Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom

My ISB experience has been nothing short of transformative. The classes gave me the chance to learn from some of the best professors in the world, who have been shaping modern management science. 

Every subject revealed something new. I learned to apply Porter’s Five Forces to assess barriers for disruptive products, use marketing research to shape innovations, and restructure teams to balance exploration and execution. Every lecture brought insights that I could take back to my workplace, and often even into my personal life.

But the learning extended well beyond the classroom. As an introvert, networking has always been a challenge for me. ISB gave me the opportunity to break through that barrier. 

Conversations with peers during breaks turned into meaningful connections, and I gained a deeper appreciation of how different leadership roles looked across industries.

Taking on the responsibility of Club Lead for Future Technologies was another highlight. It allowed me to bring discussions on cutting-edge developments such as AI into the spotlight and engage with peers on how these shifts were reshaping every industry. 

The programme also gave us exposure to start-up ecosystems, negotiation skills and the art of building personal branding. Industrial visits added another layer of learning by letting us see operations and future visions of diverse sectors up close.

Looking Ahead: A Renewed Mission

As I look to the future, I feel confident in my ability to take on cross-functional and complex leadership roles. The knowledge and skills I have gained at ISB have strengthened my ability to navigate challenging environments and make better decisions.

For anyone considering the PGP PRO, I would say this: The transformation is deeper than you can imagine today. The journey will shape you not only as a professional but also as a person. 

At the end of it, you will emerge as a stronger leader with clearer vision and sharper judgement. What matters most is to define your purpose, the change you want to create in the world. Once you do, ISB will give you the tools and the community to bring that vision to life.

Synopsis:

Amrit Chatterjee, Senior Leader at Collins Aerospace, reflects on his journey from Prayagraj to leading one of the largest global AI teams in aerospace. Through ISB’s PGP PRO, he bridged critical gaps in leadership, expanded his cross-functional skills and transformed personally and professionally. His story is one of purpose, innovation and renewed confidence to reshape the aerospace and defence industry.