He enrolled in the top UK business school in 2011 and since graduating three years ago, has put his new-fangled confidence and expertise in areas including strategy development and operations management to use in the digital economy.
Fresh out of school, Amit landed a job nearby in Birmingham with Germany’s biggest bank, Deutsche, as a business consultant advising on lean transformation.
He has since transitioned to Echo Managed Services, a large UK provider of contract management services, as a change and transformation consultant, and more recently to Homeserve, a home emergency and repairs business, where he works as a digital business analyst.
Amit, who previously volunteered at children’s charity U-CARE and also owns a small firm which organizes outdoor events such as white water rafting, will use the MBA to satisfy his hunger for all things tech.
How big of an opportunity is digital transformation for the consulting industry?
The digital economy is entering a new age, which is forcing business leaders to review their traditional models. This has changed the fundamental way that organizations work, communicate with their people and their customers, and sell. This has given rise to new challenges, and thus unprecedented opportunities for consulting.
One of the prime examples is big data or data analytics, whereby organizations are looking to unlock the potential their data presents. Digitization is also improving decision making and reducing the time it takes to get new products and services to market.
However, while there is an ever-increased appreciation of the role of digital technology, many business leaders are struggling to move into the next stages of their digital transformation.
Why do companies find it difficult to implement their digital transformations?
Organizations face challenges in all areas of the transformation process: initiation, execution and co-ordination. Scepticism of the benefits of emerging tech, ever-increasing regulation, and security and privacy are some of the primary barriers to starting digital transformations.
Digital transformation is a relatively new area. Many organizations have started the journey but are still far away from being digitally mature.
A skills gap, cultural barriers and IT difficulties due to legacy technologies and processes raise difficulties in execution phase. Co-ordination also poses a big challenge, as many organizations find it difficult to co-ordinate across business units.
What has the MBA added to your toolkit?
The MBA has given me a wider business understanding. This has changed the way I perceive things and has raised my confidence to new heights. The MBA helped in formalizing my skills through practical experience, be it strategy development, operations management, or economics.
The MBA has equipped me with a toolkit that can be used in my professional and personal career for years to come.
What excites you about blending business and technology?
Gone are the days when IT was merely a support function. In the digital age, technology drives the business strategy and is shaping the future of businesses across industries.
It is exciting to see how technology is driving real change within businesses: they are developing new models, customer-centred ecosystems and a culture of innovation.
However, challenges inevitably still exist. Information security, the threat of new entrants and keeping pace with tech advancement are but a few.
What has been your favourite consultancy project and why?
Each one of them was and is my favourite. Though, I would like to name my recently delivered assignment, “Online Renewal”. The project has improved customer experience, created efficiencies by automating processes, and saved costs by minimizing paper usage and postage duty.
I liked the challenges — such as having to deal with legacy technology and associated processes, competing priorities with other business units, third party management and communication — which took my learning experience to a whole new level.
What tips do you have for budding Aston Business School students?
Make the most of your time on the MBA; learn from the diversity your cohort brings; increase your professional networks; and most importantly, get time for yourself.
Be confident of your capabilities and don’t be afraid of trying new things. Remember, the road to success is not a straight path.
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