Considering an EMBA? Just “go for it” says this student.

When Jyoti Pandey revived her long-deferred goal of pursuing an MBA, it opened an unexpected and exciting new chapter in her career.
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Kellogg
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EMBA student Jyoti Pandey smiles while holding a sign that reads 'Back to School' in bold white lettering against a purple background. She stands in front of a large purple banner with the Northwestern Kellogg logo. The woman is wearing glasses, a floral blouse, and a name tag, standing in a bright indoor setting.
“There were professors and people who touched my heart, inspired me tremendously and ignited a sense of purpose in me,” says student Jyoti Pandey of her Kellogg Executive MBA experience.

By Jyoti Pandey

EMBA Cohort 134

After working for 25 years at a big tech company in the San Francisco Bay Area and sending both kids to college, I started thinking about what was next for me. My job had been good, but it felt like something was missing. I started interviewing at other tech companies, thinking it was time to switch careers, but after the interviews, I felt that a new job was not exactly what I was looking for. 

One evening during the COVID-19 pandemic, while my family was cooking dinner together, I saw my husband Saurabh intently listening to Professor Mohanbir Sawhney’s lecture as part of the Chief Product Officer Program from Kellogg Executive Education. I could not help but pay attention and thoroughly enjoy the lecture.

That’s when I realized how much I would love an opportunity to put life on pause for a few days each month and enjoy being a student again. 

I decided to revisit the master’s degree I had put on hold 25 years ago, when at the time, I had opted to stay in the job market for the dot-com boom. My decision to go back to the classroom now has been fueled by my deep desire to maximize my impact radius by learning the tools that would help me get there.

I applied to Kellogg, the only institution I felt drawn to, even though it was a long flight from the West Coast. The school’s “high impact, high empathy” philosophy resonated with me.  The day I received my acceptance letter for the Executive MBA Program, joining cohort 134, is etched in my memory. 

“I got support that cannot be quantified in the form of guidance, counseling and scholarships. This unexpected support from various quarters has been a beacon of hope and a reminder that help can come from the most unexpected places.”
Jyoti Pandey
Executive MBA

Over the next few months, I learned so many disciplines taught as part of the curriculum.  There were professors and people who touched my heart, inspired me tremendously and ignited a sense of purpose in me. The experience over a year allowed me to discover my calling for the second innings of my work life.

Everything finally clicked during the Tech Ventures India elective. It was taught by Professor Sawhney, the professor whose video had first inspired me. I waited more than a year to take this course with him, and he challenged us to pick a meaningful problem relevant to India that could be addressed by applying technology.  As part of researching the project, I found my calling in sustainable waste management and decided that it was something I would like to work on after my MBA. This discovery filled me with a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

A group of four people including EMBA student Jyoti Pandey stand outside near a waste collection area, next to a garbage cart loaded with large sacks.
Pandey’s experience in the Executive MBA Program inspired her to found an India-based startup in the waste management and sustainability space.

After Technology Ventures India, I could not wait to work further on waste management, so I quit my big-tech job and worked full-time as an entrepreneur. As someone who had never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur due to my risk-averse nature, the EMBA program was a game-changer. The confidence and clarity of vision it instilled in me made me question who and what I was waiting for to take the leap.

I have worked on the start-up during the last two quarters, and I have gone to India every time I get a few weeks of break. My classmates, the administrative staff and my professors have cheered me on and energized me. Additionally, I got support that cannot be quantified in the form of guidance, counseling and scholarships.

This unexpected support from various quarters has been a beacon of hope and a reminder that help can come from the most unexpected places. I am so grateful for the privilege and opportunity that has allowed me to discover my purpose, have confidence in my abilities, unlock my potential and simply go for it.

Read next: Igniting Your Spark: An EMBA student’s journey through digital health innovation