Durga Swetha Chivukula, University of St. Gallen MBA Class of 2026
Age: 32
Hometown: Vadodara, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Institute of Chemical Technology, India (Chemical Technology)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Process Development Engineering, Battery industry, Tesla, 1 yr 3 months
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I realized that I was reaching a ceiling with my growth in manufacturing. To have any upward movement would require me to do an MBA. I was looking at my visa expiration in April and realized that as I am transitioning out of USA, I should take the leap to do an MBA right away.
Why did you choose University of St. Gallen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I realized that I wanted to pursue my career in Europe and for that to happen I needed to understand the market and market trends and School is the best place to get knowledge. When I reviewed the schools around here, I saw that St. Gallen was among the best universities for MBA.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I come from hardcore manufacturing. I believe I come from niche industry and I have worked in 3 different countries. I have travelled across the globe and I grew up in different cultures. This allows me to assimilate quickly in all cultures and work environments.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to dance and play computer games. I was decently good at them.
Post-MBA career interests:
I want to go all the up to the CEO position in a sustainability related company.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would definitely go deep into research for the case study we did.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would prepare my presentation to be better.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the essays we had to write about long term and short term goals post MBA. I would have loved to have just one such essay.
What is your initial impression of the St. Gallen students/culture/community?
I loved the varied cultural and number of nationalities present in the student community.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I am hoping to join the volleyball community in the university.
What is one thing you have learned about St. Gallen that has surprised you?
University of St. Gallen has different campuses for MBA and the rest of the university.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am living in Switzerland and I would love to explore the ski culture in and around this area.
