From Boston to ISB: My Journey Back to Purpose

When I left behind a thriving tech career in Boston to return home, it wasn’t for a promotion or a bigger paycheque. It was for something less tangible but more important. Something that felt rooted, personal, and overdue. Now, as a student in the PGP Class of 2026 at ISB, I’ve come to see that starting over doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means choosing with intention.

My early career followed a fairly structured path. After studying computer science at Manipal and completing my Master of Engineering at Cornell, I spent five years working in Boston’s healthtech space. My role evolved quickly, from software development to mentoring student hackathons and evaluating startup pitches in healthcare and AI. Being part of that ecosystem taught me how to assess ideas, teams, and impact. But over time, I began wondering what my own impact was.

During the pandemic, I started helping my mother with her educational venture back in India. It began with occasional support such as design inputs and curriculum suggestions, but soon grew into regular brainstorming and hands-on involvement. When a family emergency struck, the emotional and physical distance from home became hard to ignore. That’s when I realised I no longer wanted to be away. I wanted to come back and build something that mattered, alongside the people who mattered.

Why ISB: The Right Kind of Reset

For nearly two years, I considered pursuing an MBA. I explored various options, including IIMs and international programmes, but ISB stood out. The one-year format aligned with my plans, and I was drawn to the diversity and experience of the peer group. I didn’t want to step away from the workforce for too long. ISB felt like the right bridge between my tech background and the entrepreneurial path I wanted to explore.

One of my key goals at ISB is to gain structured knowledge in areas I haven’t previously worked in, such as marketing, finance, and operations. These are essential to help build something from the ground up. At the same time, I also wanted to immerse myself in the entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus. As president of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, I spend much of my time supporting peers as they work on ideas, refine pitches, and connect with mentors.

The ISB Impact: Growth Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most meaningful moments, however, haven’t come from the classroom or club meetings. They come during long conversations with classmates, in moments of shared uncertainty, and through late-night reflections. ISB doesn’t just offer answers. It offers better questions, the kind that help me understand myself more deeply.

Serving as the president of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club has been one of my most practical learning experiences at ISB. Working with a brilliant and enthusiastic group of peers has helped me better understand my own leadership style such as what comes naturally, and where I need to grow. Promoting our events has given me a crash-course in marketing such as when competing for students’ attention amid packed schedules. We’ve also conducted “customer” discovery through interviews to understand what members truly value, and used our statistics learnings to extrapolate those insights to the broader club, helping us design more impactful sessions going forward.

This experience has also mirrored the kind of work I have begun and expect to continue while building the educational program with my mother: hiring the right people, listening closely to parents and children, understanding the needs of our market, and shaping strategies that resonate with those we aim to serve.

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth. There have been missed deadlines, technical glitches, and moments of doubt. But those are balanced by the quiet wins, like a child who starts to speak up in class, a parent who feels heard, or simply a lesson that works better than expected. We’re not just building a business. We’re building confidence, for the children we teach and for ourselves as we grow through the process.

Scholarship Highlight: A Vote of Confidence I Never Expected

I was awarded the 100% ISB Merit Waiver scholarship, a recognition I never anticipated, especially as a Round 3 admit with no separate application process or stated criteria. The news came after my scholarship interview, where I spoke about my goals, reasons for pursuing an MBA, and my vision for contributing to society. I believe the clarity of my purpose—why I wanted an MBA, why ISB was the right fit, and my intent to run for EVC president—helped me stand out. At a time when I was leaving behind a stable life abroad to return to India and build something of my own, the scholarship felt like a vote of confidence in my journey. It freed me from financial worry, allowing me to engage fully with life at ISB, from leading within the EVC Club to immersing myself in classes that truly inspired me.

Advice for Future Applicants: Build With Heart

To anyone considering ISB, or even thinking about returning home after years abroad, I’d suggest asking yourself what truly matters. It’s easy to optimise for what looks good on paper, but more important to think about the kind of life you want to build, and who you want to build it with.

The path isn’t always clear or smooth. But if your work is rooted in something meaningful, you’ll keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

For me, this past year has been a time to reconnect with purpose, with home, and with a future I believe in. There’s a long road ahead. But for the first time in a while, I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.

Synopsis:

Akshat Vora, ISB PGP Class of 2026, has returned to India after five years in Boston’s healthtech industry. Motivated by a desire to build something meaningful alongside his family, he has joined ISB to gain the business skills needed to support his mother’s educational venture. His ongoing journey reflects a thoughtful transition from software to social impact, powered by purpose and shaped by community.