CV Spikes for 2025 Shortlists | Committees, Projects & Case Wins ft. IIM Lucknow Alums (Pt 1)

In this candid conversation, Manavdeep Singh Grover and Gurjot Kaur—an inspiring couple who met at IIM Lucknow-share how they transformed their MBA days into a launchpad for entrepreneurship.

Manav, once an aspiring Moto GP racer for Honda, pivoted to Amazon and Meesho before leading growth at Pocket FM, while Gurjot, a food tech engineer turned marketing maven, thrived at Mastercard and startups.

This video unpacks their raw, unfiltered B-school experiences, debunking myths about IIM Lucknow’s culture, and sharing bold tips on building risk appetite and CV spikes for MBA aspirants and startup dreamers across India.

From winning 17+ national competitions to working at Amazon, Meesho, Pocket FM, and finally co-founding a startup, their story is packed with insights for MBA aspirants, entrepreneurs, and career switchers.

In this episode, they reveal how they:
➡️Paid their semester fees through prize money
➡️Balanced academics, competitions, and committee work
➡️Built careers at Amazon, Meesho, Pocket FM, and Mastercard Consulting before launching their startup
➡️Navigated B-school culture, competition, and politics
➡️Leveraged the MBA network for life beyond campus

Chapters-
0:00 – Introduction & Who They Are
0:53 – Manav’s Journey: From MotoGP Dreams to IIM Lucknow
3:05 – Gurjot’s Journey: From Food Tech to Marketing & Startups
5:00 – First Impressions of IIM Lucknow Life
5:37 – The Meeting Story: Case Competitions & Partnership
6:52 – Winning 17+ National Competitions & Paying MBA Fees
8:20 – Inside IIM Lucknow: Culture, Committees & Myths Busted
10:45 – Balancing Parties, Academics & Career Goals
13:01 – Strategies for Case Competition Success
16:46 – Building Risk Appetite During MBA
20:15 – Lessons from Corporate Life Before the Leap
23:02 – Entrepreneurial Experience at IIM & Beyond
26:18 – Starting a Startup as a Couple
29:01 – Final Advice for MBA Aspirants & Young Professionals