Samarth Sharma (MEng Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London), INSEAD
Biog: Prior to commencing his MBA at INSEAD, Samarth was Chief of Staff to the CEO of AREVA UK (world leader in CO2 free energy generation), where he was the key strategic advisor on all activities in the country.
What inspired you to study for an MBA?
I wanted to underpin my industry experience with business development competence using hands-on knowledge in marketing, operations management, negotiations, and leadership. This is where I believe an MBA will play an important role.
How long is your MBA programme?
I’m on a 1-year programme at INSEAD; the duration of the course was also one of my main reasons for applying to INSEAD as it offers me the possibility to get back into the workforce after a relatively short period of time out of the workforce.
How did you hear about the SMF scholarship?
I heard about the SMF scholarship from a past awardee of the scholarship Christopher Hughes. Chris and I were classmates at Imperial College London and I’m forever grateful to him for introducing me to SMF.
Why did you decide to apply for the scholarship?
I decided to apply for the scholarship because my personal and professional objectives align with those of the scholarship. I’m an engineering graduate from Imperial College London looking to complement my technical skills with a business education from an international business school such as INSEAD. Post-MBA, I intend to lead product development in innovative British engineering companies and hence further improve the economic performance of UK engineering. The UK holds a special place in my heart. The birthplace of the industrial revolution, the UK has thrived by pushing new boundaries, especially in engineering. I intend to continue that tradition, equipped with an MBA from INSEAD.
What does gaining the scholarship mean to you?
The award means a lot to me, personally and professionally. The award from SMF will help me achieve not only my post-MBA goals but also play an important role throughout my life. Since an MBA is a significant personal investment in terms of time and money, the SMF award will alleviate the financial burden for me and allow me to focus on my post-MBA goals. More importantly, the award will give me access to highly successful SMF alumni who can help me fulfill my goal of becoming a leader in the UK engineering industry and, in the process, develop lifelong relationships.
What is your ambition after you graduate?
My career to date has allowed me to develop a solid foundation in the energy industry. As the industry evolves to address the global issue of climate change, I want to be at the forefront of new product development, more specifically in new energy technologies.
In the short term, my career aspirations are to work in a fast-moving sector such as technology that’s reshaping the energy industry. The UK is leading the development of new energy technologies and I’m looking to join companies in a role with P&L responsibility where I will be able to lead product engineering, development and delivery.
In the long term, I see myself in a senior management role at a leading British engineering company where I can build on my industry expertise, coupled with finance and business to drive the success of new UK engineering ventures.
