From Mumbai to Hyderabad: A New Chapter at ISB PGP YL’s Founding Batch

“Don’t think about what comes afterwards or what came before, take a deep breath and jump! And you might think, what if I fall, oh no, what if you don’t, what if you fly?”

These lines from the song Live2change by Hotel Apache have stayed with me. In many ways, they sum up my leap from the comfort of Mumbai to the new world of ISB Hyderabad.

Mumbai was home. I grew up there, studied there, worked there, and built my closest bonds there. Apart from a short stint in Bangalore with WorkIndia, the city defined me. So when I chose ISB over SP Jain, IIM Mumbai, and IIM Indore, out of which two of them were right in my backyard, it wasn’t just an academic decision. It was about leaving behind the familiar and challenging myself to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined.

The change was tough at first. Life at ISB runs at twice the speed of Mumbai. My daily rhythm of football, gym, and regular meals fell apart in the first few weeks. Strangers surrounded me, lectures stretched my limits, and meals happened whenever I could grab them. Slowly, things shifted. I learnt to squeeze in workouts between classes, pick up sports whenever possible, and (mostly) eat right. Strangers turned into friends, and ISB began to feel like home.

Why I Chose an MBA: Bridging Passion With Execution

The idea of an MBA had been simmering since my third year of Computer Engineering. I’ve always been someone who acts on ideas, whether it was creating SKIEN, a virtual world I created and coded in school, or co-founding ROOM-ER, a hospitality SaaS startup that streamlined in-room dining and housekeeping through QR codes.

ROOM-ER taught me my biggest lesson. We had a strong product, great user feedback, and even industry conversations, but we fell short of aligning with hotels’ business priorities. Our execution didn’t match our ambition. That’s when I realised passion and hustle need structure, market insight, and strategy to succeed truly.

ISB’s PGP for Young Leaders felt like the perfect bridge, a place that would sharpen my leadership skills, build my business acumen, and give me the right frameworks to convert ideas into impact.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Wins, Losses, and Growth

In just one term, ISB has stretched me more than years of school or work ever did. The diversity of my peers has been eye-opening. I’ve learnt that networking isn’t about adding contacts but creating real, mutual value.

I’ve dived into football tournaments, lost myself in lectures, made my first canvas painting, endured mid-sems, and even ran for Deputy Director of the Student Life and Sustainability Council (SLC). I didn’t win, but the campaign helped me discover my own leadership style, and now, at least, everyone on campus knows me!

Outside the classroom, I’ve always pushed myself to wear multiple hats: school topper, football captain, national-level karate champion, founding Vice-Chair of the National Innovation and Startup Policy (NISP) chapter at SPIT, anchor for 4,000+ crowds, case competition mentor, and start-up co-founder. Each role added a layer of discipline, confidence, strategy, or collaboration. 

At ISB, I’m not just continuing that mindset, I’m actively encouraging peers to do the same: to play, to create, to lead, and to stretch beyond academics.

Being part of the founding batch is both a privilege and a responsibility. We don’t just study here, we set the culture for generations to come.

At SPIT, I learnt the power of community-building while working on OCULUS, our techno-cultural fest. From handling budgets to anchoring live shows, I saw how planning and energy can transform an event into a tradition. At ISB, I want to bring that same spirit to create initiatives and memories that future batches can inherit and build on.

Looking Ahead: Family Business, Entrepreneurship, and Impact

In the long run, I want to scale the family business, bring fresh new ideas and avenues, but I also dream of building ventures that push boundaries. My ROOM-ER journey showed me the thrill of creation and the cost of misalignment. The next time, I’ll be sharper, more strategic, and more focused on execution.

For me, ISB isn’t just about the classroom. It’s in the late-night brainstorming sessions, the sports adrenaline, the cultural buzz, and the conversations over chai in the atrium with friends from every corner of India.

If I could give future aspirants one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t come here only for academics. Come ready to jump in, fail, learn, and grow. Run for that council, play that sport, paint that canvas. ISB doesn’t just make managers; it shapes well-rounded leaders who balance heart and head. And if you take that leap, you might just discover what it feels like to fly.

Synopsis:

Uthkrisht Narayan, a founding batch student of ISB’s PGP YL, reflects on his leap from Mumbai to Hyderabad, his entrepreneurial lessons from ROOM-ER, and his growth at ISB. From football and council elections to painting and leadership experiments, he shares how ISB’s fast-paced, diverse environment has expanded his perspective. With ambitions to strengthen his family business and explore new ventures, Uthkrisht hopes to leave behind a legacy for future ISB batches while continuing to learn, adapt, and fly.