Part-Time student Ananth Sriram shares insights on the Chicago Business Fellows Program and how Booth has helped him develop as a leader.
- By
- March 25, 2024
- Part-Time MBA Blog
Get to Know Ananth Sriram, Evening MBA Student and Chicago Business Fellow
Our Chicago Business Fellows Program is specifically designed to enhance the MBA experience of early career professionals with three years or less of full-time work experience. Read on as Chicago Business Fellow (CBF), Ananth Sriram, enlightens us on the benefits associated with the CBF Program, along with how he’s been involved with Booth outside of the classroom and more.
Ananth moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue his MS in Robotics as a continuation of his undergrad engineering focus in mechatronics. Two years after graduating from the Colorado School of Mines, Ananth was recruited by Accenture to join their analyst program as a software engineer. The first few years gave Ananth some valuable experience as an individual contributor on a large-scale program delivery. However, he recognized that he would eventually need to supplement his technical background with business skills to ensure his long-term success in the consulting industry. He saw pursuing an MBA as a favorable path to building a well-rounded profile valuable to the consulting and tech industries. Due to its reputation and career opportunities, Ananth applied to Chicago Booth in 2021 and couldn’t be happier to be a Boothie!
What attracted you to the Chicago Business Fellows (CBF) Program? Why was getting an MBA early on in your career important to you?
I always knew that getting an MBA was on my list, but for the early parts of my career I couldn’t quite foresee how to make it happen – there were many barriers to starting the process (Do I have enough quality work experience? Do I have enough money saved to take the investment risk? Should I really exit the workforce for a sizable period of time so early on in my career?).
The Part-Time MBA at Booth was an incredible opportunity because it allowed me to do several things a traditional MBA wouldn’t – the main highlight being able to learn and apply relevant takeaways from class directly to my day job, while maintaining my income and continuing to build invaluable work experience. The CBF Program in particular was appealing because it was a guaranteed network of ambitious early-career professionals with similar experiences and goals to mine. Additionally, the tailored programming fellows receive alongside the traditional MBA experience was an exciting and unique differentiator of Booth’s program, which ultimately led to Booth becoming my #1 choice.
What advice do you have for individuals considering the Chicago Business Fellows Program?
There are two pieces of advice I would give to any aspiring Booth applicant…
The first: Engage with the Booth community during your application process! Booth does a FANTASTIC job of encouraging aspiring candidates to experience the culture firsthand. I was able to attend classes (both virtually and in-person), connect with current students and alumni at various admissions events, and have my resume reviewed individually by Adcom – the level of attention given to every applicant made me doubly certain Booth was the school for me – which reflected in my applications as well. Try it!
The second piece of advice: Believe in yourself! The hardest part of the application was convincing myself that I actually belonged in this world-class community. It is extremely easy to feel discouraged by comparing test scores and LinkedIn profiles of current students. However, I would ask that you focus on living to your strengths, while recognizing that everyone has weaknesses. Do not let self-confidence be a barrier to your success!
What are some skills you’ve been able to develop since starting your MBA journey at Booth?
One of the key benefits of the Booth experience has been its emphasis on strategic thinking and critical analysis. The program has taught me to approach challenges with a strategic mindset, enabling me to assess situations more comprehensively and make informed decisions. The habit of seeking more data/information and scrutinizing my assumptions has become more second nature thanks to the analytical skills fostered at Booth. This has significantly enhanced the quality of my decision-making process.
In what ways has Booth helped you become an effective leader in the world today?
Booth has truly helped me increase my self-awareness and awareness of others. The focus on leadership development has helped me understand my strengths, weaknesses, and experiment with my leadership style. I have been able to immediately apply insights gained from the program to my professional life the next day. Whether it's starting a meeting in a different way, providing feedback using a new approach, or embracing vulnerability by openly acknowledging my mistakes, I have been able to refine my leadership style continuously. This hands-on approach has made me a more confident and effective consultant. Overall, the program's impact has been massive in my day-to-day professional life.
Tell us more about your involvement at Chicago Booth – how has it contributed to connections you’ve made during your MBA journey?
I’ve worked as a part of Booth’s admissions committee since 2022, where I interview candidates for the Part-Time MBA Program and assist in the yield process should they matriculate at Booth. This is a role I feel incredibly privileged to hold as it allows me to network with a diverse pool of professionals while being a representative of the standards of the school. Over this time, several of the candidates I interviewed later became my closest friends – it helped form a bond of trust right from the application process to having a first friend at school.
I am also co-chair of the Booth Food Club, which has hosted some very memorable events where I’ve met a lot of close friends. Sharing a meal is always an excellent way to bond with peers!
Fun Facts about Ananth:
- Ananth is a huge soccer buff and he plays A LOT OF FIFA. He was actually consistently ranked in the top 100 FIFA players on the Xbox from 2015-2020.
- Ananth is a big fan of heavy metal and rock music. He likes to spend his free evenings at concerts around the city or flying out to wherever his favorite bands are playing at the time.
Click here to read more stories from Chicago Business Fellows as you discover the endless opportunities available for students in our Part-Time MBA Program.