Alumni Series #1

Zurich, 2014

Nihar was coding a financial platform for a major Swiss bank. Technically sound, confident in execution, yet every time he stepped into the boardroom, he felt a disconnect. He could build whatever they needed, but the business conversations flew past him. The “what” was clear. The “why”? A mystery.

That gnawing gap between tech execution and strategic understanding pushed him toward a turning point.

One evening, in his quiet Zurich apartment, Nihar registered for the GMAT. While juggling a full-time job, he powered through months of prep, not to chase a foreign MBA dream, but to come back home. To learn about business in the context of India. In a market growing at breakneck speed. Where the stakes were real.

That decision brought him to Great Lakes Institute of Management, changing everything for him ahead.

He chooses their PGPM specifically for the data-oriented approach. But what stayed with him was much more. Those 2 AM case discussions with classmates, who challenged him to look beyond code and into context. The professors don't just teach frameworks, but encourage asking questions.

That's when it clicks for him: "The right question beats the perfect answer every time."

What came next?

• 15 zero-to-one product journeys
• 10+ products crossing a million users
• 2 patents granted
• 5 AI innovations since 2021

But here's what really matters to him: every failed prototype teaches him empathy. Every user complaint becomes a feature insight/upgrade. Every collaboration reminds him that great products aren't built in silos

Today at @NAVNEET TOPTECH, he's leading digital transformation in education. It's not just about building platforms for him; it's about that kid in rural Maharashtra getting the same quality learning as someone in Mumbai. Nihar is reshaping what India learns

His advice to current MBAs and future product leaders: "Stop chasing the WHAT before you understand the WHY. Build bridges between technology and human needs. Let data guide you, but remember, behind every metric is a human story. That restless curiosity you feel? That's your superpower."