Illinois MBA in India

During the winter break seven members from the second year MBA class, including myself, were in India to conduct field research for projects from the course Sustainable Product and Market Development for Subsistence Marketplaces. We visited Chennai, New Delhi, Agra, and Hyderabad. There are four different projects from the class and they focus on sanitation, vision, health, and education. Each team conducted interviews with members from the urban areas and villages in Chennai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad to gather information vital to developing products and business plans. Everyone also had the chance to visit local organizations including the Sulabh International Social Service Organization in New Delhi, Tata Consulting, and Infosys.

It wasn't all work as we got to sample the Indian cuisine and culture. We visited several amazing sites, including the Shore Temple in Chennai, the Red Fort, and the Taj Mahal. We also got to taste the various types of curries from the cities. I really enjoyed the spicy curries from Hyderabad! All of us also went shopping in bazzars and some of us were really amazed by the Bangle Street in Hyderabad.

The trip was short but very rewarding. We were able to gather the information we needed for our projects while sampling India's lively culture. I am certainly looking forward to my next trip!