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Dr Deepankar Dhar is a Medical Doctor with a solid background in management, who currently chairs the India Chapter Council of the Lisbon MBA. After spending 8 years working as a Medical Doctor in India, Dr Depankar moved to Lisbon to pursue his International MBA journey.  Once he graduated, he decided to change his career path to combine the fields of medicine and management, working for large healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Siemens Healthineers. Currently, Dr Deepankar works as Senior Medical Manager at Pfizer. In this interview, Dr Deepankar will give you an insight into how his MBA program helped him change his career path as well as the importance of the Indian Chapter Council.

 

 

1 | What made you decide to take an MBA?

“I am a Medical Doctor by profession, and I practised medicine for almost 8 years before deciding to pursue an MBA. I always wanted to be in the Healthcare Industry but more on the managerial/business aspect of it. Hence, MBA was a no-brainer for me. Also, this was the unchartered territory for Medics, i.e. pursuing an MBA post-Medical Degree, and I wanted to experience how an MBA can support my future career aspirations. During my research, I read an article which informed me that there is a growing trend of Medics getting into good business schools in India and Abroad. This article reinforced my belief to pursue an MBA.”

 

 

2 | What was the most remarkable experience during your The Lisbon MBA journey?

“Before joining The Lisbon MBA program, I read about the Leadership Development sessions. I remember that each Friday, we used to do different self-development sessions. I vividly recall these sessions out of the many more, we had Mindfulness, Design thinking, Book in a day, Self Introspection, giving and receiving Feedback, and the last forum was about writing and composing a song in groups. Also, the MIT immersion period during which we studied at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the US was an eye-opening and awesome experience. Students will get an opportunity to study at MIT Sloan in the US, learning in two different continents in the span of a year.”

 

 

3 | How has The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova helped to shape your professional career?

“Firstly, The Lisbon MBA taught me the basics of management. Being a doctor, I needed to learn the fundamentals to survive in the corporate industry. Secondly, it provided me with a well-connected network. Next, it helped in my personal development and gave me a direction for the future. Last but not least, it gave me some good friends to whom I am still connected.”

 

 

4 | How important is it for you to be part of The Lisbon MBA Alumni Community?

“It’s really important to be part of the Alumni Community because when I was studying, I also reached out to the Alumni community and they were really instrumental in shaping my direction and thought process. So much so that I got the first few job interview calls through networking opportunities. My responsibility as an Ex-The Lisbon MBA student doesn’t end after I graduated. I am still here to guide the current and prospective students on whatever aspect they want me to do so.”

 

 

5 | What does it mean to be Council Chairperson of the India Chapter?

“It’s a responsibility to bring together the Indian Alumni. It’s a novel initiative and it will take time to shape and fructify. The first thing we need to do is to connect on a common platform. Second, we need to have regular meetings to discuss key issues and share our experiences. Third, we need to follow up on the discussion points. I understand we all are busy, and it is difficult for working professionals sitting in different time zones, but we still have to make an effort.”

 

 

6 | What socio-cultural contributions can an Indian student bring to enhance the learning experience in an MBA class?

“It is a common saying in India that every few hundred miles, the language, the food, the attire and the culture change. Hence, every Indian student would bring something unique to the table. India is a hub of Software Engineers, so they would bring the best practices of their industry during classroom discussions. Lastly, Indians are hardworking and honest. They value family and friends, and with my interactions with my fellow batch mates, I have come to know that Portuguese people also value family and friends. Hence, it would be an ideal melting point for students of both cultures.
Alvida (Goodbye)!”

 

Note: The views, opinions or statements shared in these interviews are those of the alumni or students interviewed.