Thread by Thread: Weaving Experience with Learning at Great Lakes
Last updated on: 23rd April, 2026 | Student Experiences | Rashmi Kurien - PGPM'26 | Great Lakes, Chennai << back to blog
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Published on: 12th April, 2026
When I joined Great Lakes, I knew the year ahead would be intense, but I didn’t fully expect how quickly it would change the way I think. The one-year program moves fast, and in the early weeks, it can feel overwhelming. But somewhere between back-to-back classes, group discussions, and late nights, something shifted. I wasn’t just learning frameworks, I was learning how to approach problems with more clarity and confidence.
Looking back, this way of thinking didn’t come out of nowhere. Even before Great Lakes, I was drawn to understanding why people respond the way they do. At NIFT, colours, textures, and fabrics weren’t just creative tools, they became a way to understand how people express identity and make choices. That perspective carried into my time at Westside, where I worked on collections and product launches. On the shop floor, I saw how small decisions like the right palette, a subtle pattern or a thoughtful placement could change how a collection was received, often reflecting directly in its performance. It was one of my first real lessons in how creativity and commercial thinking come together.
At Great Lakes, those experiences began to make more sense. Courses in marketing and strategy helped me step back and ask bigger questions. Why do some ideas resonate while others fade? What helps brands stay relevant in crowded markets? Class discussions and group work constantly pushed me to defend my thinking and consider perspectives different from my own. Learning alongside such a diverse and driven cohort has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
What stood out to me most was the environment. The pace is demanding, but the support is real. Faculty members are approachable and invested, and over time, the initial pressure starts to feel less intimidating. You grow into it. You learn to trust your thinking.
I see my time at Great Lakes as a grounded continuation of my journey, where I’ve been able to take the threads of curiosity, creativity, and intent that I brought with me and weave them together with structure, strategy, and clarity. PGPM at Great Lakes taught me that ambition isn’t just about achievements, ambition is about weaving your tapestry quietly, confidently, thread by thread, as you walk along the way.