Finding Clarity, One Risk at a Time: My Journey at Great Lakes
Last updated on: 23rd April, 2026 | Student Experiences | Adarsh Chaturvedi - PGPM'26 | Great Lakes, Chennai << back to blog
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Published on: 12th April, 2026
I come from Mumbai, a city that encourages ambition but also teaches caution. That balance shaped how I approached my early career.
After completing my engineering in 2020, I spent nearly four years at a US based startup, growing steadily and working with global teams. While the journey was rewarding, I often felt something was missing. I wanted to move into product management, but I lacked the structured business thinking and broader perspective needed to truly own decisions.
An MBA was never part of my plan. I believed learning on the job would be enough. A conversation with a Great Lakes alumnus introduced me to the PGPM program, and the more I explored it, the more it felt like the right step forward.
Choosing Great Lakes meant stepping away from stability, which was uncomfortable for someone naturally cautious about risk. Yet, this decision has been deeply rewarding. The PGPM program challenges you to think across functions and approach problems with clarity and confidence.
What truly sets Great Lakes apart is its people. The peer network is incredibly diverse, bringing together professionals from multiple industries and backgrounds. Just as impactful has been the exposure to faculty and guest speakers. In a single year, I have had the opportunity to learn from and interact with senior leaders, founders, and experts across varied fields, building connections that would have taken years to form otherwise.
My transition from an analyst mindset to that of a product owner has been shaped strongly by this environment. This year has also changed how I view growth and risk.
For anyone standing at a crossroads, unsure whether to take the leap, I can say this with confidence. Sometimes, the decision that feels uncertain is the one that gives you the greatest clarity.