Shrikumar Sangiah

• Programme: LBS Sloan Masters
• Nationality: Indian
• Job Pre-programme: Deputy General Manager, Larsen & Toubro
• Job Post-programme: CEO, WOXSEN™ School of Business

Education and experience

Shrikumar holds a Masters in Engineering from Pune University. He started his career with the Indian Navy, quickly progressing from junior roles to management level, and eventually working as Joint Director at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. He then took up a position as Deputy General Manager, with Larsen & Toubro, India’s largest engineering conglomerate. Since completing the Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy at London Business School, Shrikumar joined WOXSEN™ School of Business as CEO and is also head of the WOXSEN™ Trade Tower.

Real business acumen

“Before I joined Sloan I had spent over 20 years with the Indian Navy. This included extended periods of active service on Kilo class submarines, and also shore tenures at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. I already had substantial experience leading and managing teams, but when I decided to leave the Navy and join the Submarine Design Center at Larsen & Toubro, I was aware that there were still a number of gaps in my professional knowledge.”

“Sloan was a way of addressing these gaps. I needed an academic grounding that would enhance my ability to lead a global corporate entity and Sloan’s focus on leadership, strategic agility and the dynamics of emerging markets provided exactly that. London Business School’s strong global ranking held great aspirational appeal for me, as did the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty like Julian Birkinshaw, Lynda Gratton and Nirmalya Kumar. I wanted to study with professors who combined academic knowledge with real business acumen, and I was impressed with how consistently School faculty placed among the world’s top management thinkers.”

Dynamic and diverse

“London Business School has an incredibly global student body – my cohort in Sloan 2013 had students representing 23 different nationalities and came from varied industries, including financial services, insurance, banking, and agriculture. The opportunity to interact with such a diverse and highly experienced group of professionals was a wonderful challenge, both intellectually and also in terms of the practical knowledge base that I was able to tap into. In addition, the vibrant environment of London and its dynamic business sensibilities enabled me to build invaluable networks. Faculty regularly invited external speakers to discuss the practical aspects of management in class, so I had the chance to learn from truly accomplished professionals.”

Impacting global organisations

“Sloan is demanding, immersive and fulfilling. I left the programme a much more confident and well-rounded business leader and have gained immensely in subjects like corporate finance, corporate governance and accounting. I also learned a huge amount about team dynamics from working in multinational study groups.”

“Delivering assignments and working at this level of intensity with other senior professionals means I am now better placed to make an impact on my new organisation. In a world where geographical and trade boundaries are blurring more and more, I believe the ability to do this will become increasingly important.”

“I approached my study at London Business School with a spirit of enquiry and a desire to maximise my learning.”

“Wiping the ‘management baggage’ that I had accumulated during my career enabled me to grow as an individual, and also to contribute positively to the programme, giving my class an insight into the nuances of the shipbuilding sector. Moving on, I want to continue orchestrating growth, driving strategy and enabling change; in essence, transforming my workplace into a thriving global entity that can remain ahead in the marketplace, enhancing both customer and shareholder value.”