The transition from working for a multinational semiconductor company to attending classes was a welcomed change for Karthikeyan Chandran (Karthik). Having most of his prior experience in engineering, Karthik looked forward to learning more about business concepts to complement his experience. The Illinois MBA was a clear choice for him right from the beginning due to the structure of the curriculum and its affiliated student organizations, particularly Illinois Business Consulting (IBC).

Karthik found the concept of IBC very unique – “It familiarizes students to the complexities faced by businesses at an early stage and encourages cultivation of a structured approach toward handling business requirements”. Karthik joined IBC during his first semester and is currently a part of the leadership team as the Voitik Senior Manager.

As an intern at the Office of Corporate Relations at the University of Illinois, Karthik is involved in market research for strategic linkages between the Life Sciences programs at the University of Illinois and companies in India and Israel. He is also involved in researching the University’s commitment toward outreach and public engagement and preparing a comprehensive map of this for the Office of Public Engagement.

Although Karthik has already learned a tremendous amount about business, he is looking forward to the second year of the program and to life beyond the Illinois MBA.