Apeejay Alumni Decode the Journey from Ambition to Entrepreneurship

The journey from a management classroom to the world of entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward. It is often shaped by uncertainty, calculated risks, failures, unexpected challenges and countless small decisions. To bring these realities closer to aspiring management professionals, the Alumni Relations Committee of Apeejay School of Management (ASM) organised a panel discussion on ‘From Campus to Launchpad: Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs’.

The session brought together accomplished ASM alumni who shared candid insights from their entrepreneurial and professional journeys. The distinguished panel comprised Mr. Sharad Chandra Mathur (PGDM 1994–1996), Founder, EMG Entertainment; Ms. Pragya Sharma (PGDM 2002–2004), Director, Maharishi Ayurveda; and Mr. Vivek Goel (MBA 2002–2004), Co-founder, Indosiam Textile. The discussion was moderated by Mr Mandeep Nayyar (MBE 2006–2008), Leader, GE Healthcare.

Opening the discussion, Mr. Nayyar introduced the theme and panelists while highlighting the importance of responsibility, continuous learning, adaptability, and the willingness to evolve as essential components of career growth. His observations set the tone for a candid conversation on what it takes to transform aspirations into meaningful professional journeys.

Mr Mathur emphasised that an idea, while important, is only the beginning of entrepreneurship. He explained that understanding the market, analysing circumstances and executing consistently are what ultimately transform an idea into a viable product or service.

Sharing her perspective on the evolving entrepreneurial landscape, Ms Sharma encouraged young professionals to combine their intelligence and creativity with artificial intelligence. She noted that technology can accelerate ideas, but human creativity, judgement and passion remain essential to giving those ideas purpose and meaning.

Mr Goel offered a powerful lesson in simplicity, observing that aspiring entrepreneurs do not need hundreds of ideas to succeed. According to him, one meaningful idea backed by commitment and patience can be enough to build a successful venture. He further stressed that financial returns should be viewed as an outcome of the value an entrepreneur creates rather than the primary objective of an enterprise.

Throughout the discussion, the alumni reflected on the confusion, risks, failures and challenges that had shaped their respective journeys. Their experiences reinforced the message that there is no single formula for entrepreneurial success; instead, persistence, learning, adaptability and informed choices play a decisive role.

The panel discussion was conceptualised and facilitated by Dr Shweta Jha, Chair, Alumni Relations. Adding to the smooth conduct of the event, PGDM students of the 2026–28 batch—Ms. Simarjeet Kaur, Ms. Saumya Kakkar, and Mr. Aryan Solanki—served as Masters of Ceremonies.

The engaging session offered students an authentic glimpse into entrepreneurship beyond textbooks, inspiring them to approach ideas with curiosity, resilience and a commitment to creating meaningful value.