Beyond the Classroom: Sandesh Khandelwal’s Journey from VBS to Godrej & Boyce

When I think about my two years at Vivekanand Business School, the first things that come to mind aren't really the subjects or exams. I remember the activities, the people I worked with and the different things I got to be a part of during those two years.

As a Marketing student, I got many opportunities to get involved outside the classroom. At that time, I didn't think much about how these experiences would help me later. I was simply enjoying the experience of being a student and trying out different things. But when I look back now, I realise that they have become an important part of my learning.
 

Some of my best learning happened outside the classroom

I was part of the SWC Cell and served as the Vice President of the Marketing Cell, where I was involved in activities such as BASIC, Arohan, and Sell-On Initiatives. Serving in a leadership role within the Marketing Cell allowed me to manage initiatives hands-on and develop key coordination skills. One experience I particularly remember was selling products made by differently abled individuals as part of an initiative to raise funds for them.

What I liked about experiences that we had was that we had to work together, coordinate with each other and make things happen. It wasn't about getting the right answer for an assignment. If something had to be done, someone had to take the initiative and do it.

That was something I slowly became more comfortable with during my time at VBS. I learned that when you are working with other people, you must be willing to take responsibility, communicate and sometimes simply step up when something needs to be done.

We also had opportunities through initiatives such as Yuva for Seva, where students could spend time working with underprivileged children and contribute to community development. Experiences like these gave us a chance to do something different from our usual college routine and see things from a different perspective.

Marketing wasn't just about creativity

Another thing that changed the way I looked at Marketing was learning about analytics during my PGDM.

Before that, when I thought about Marketing, I naturally thought more about creativity and ideas. But as we started working with analytics, I understood that there is another side to Marketing.

You also need to look at data and insights to understand what is happening and make better decisions. I found that combination interesting. An idea may look good, but you also need to know what the numbers are telling you. That was one of the things that made my understanding of Marketing broader than it had been when I first joined the programme.

My first experience of working in a corporate environment

My summer internship with Gap Inc. through Reliance Retail India was another important part of my PGDM.

Until then, I had mostly experienced business from the perspective of a student. The internship gave me an opportunity to see what it feels like to work in a corporate environment. It was also a chance to take what we were learning from the programme and see how it worked in a real organisation.

That experience helped me get a better sense of what professional life would be like after college.

VBS also gave us exposure to various corporate initiatives and career opportunities. For me, that journey eventually led to Godrej & Boyce, where I currently work as an Assistant Manager.

Looking back, it was the overall experience that mattered

Today, when I look back at my PGDM, I don't see it only as a degree that helped me start my career.

I think about everything that happened during those two years — getting involved in campus activities, serving in leadership roles, working with different people, taking responsibility, learning that Marketing has a strong analytical side and getting my first real experience of the corporate world through my internship.

Not every experience felt important at the time. Some were just things I was doing as a student. But over time, I realised that these experiences had helped me become more comfortable with taking responsibility and trying something new.

I am still learning and taking on new responsibilities at Godrej & Boyce, but when I look back at where it started, my time at VBS was an important part of that journey.

For me, the best part of VBS was that learning didn't stop when the class ended. A lot of it happened when I stepped outside the classroom, got involved and simply figured things out along the way.

— Sandesh Khandelwal

Assistant Manager, Godrej & Boyce

PGDM in Marketing | Batch 2023-25