ST Bureau
Mumbai
This
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
ST: Please tell us more about yourself
Vibha Kagzi: I have completed my Bachelor of
Science from Carnegie Mellon University and my MBA from the Harvard Business
School. At Harvard, I co-wrote a case
for the negotiations department that has been incorporated in the teaching
curriculum at the school. Additionally, I have pursued courses at a number of
premier institutions including University of California, Berkeley, the London
School of Economics and the Indian School of Business. Immediately post my
graduation from Business School I returned to India and founded ReachIvy, a
premium education and careers advisory.
Prior to ReachIvymy professional experience covered finance, fashion,
media and public relations in a diverse range of roles that included helping
establish a California-based hedge fund in India.
Science from Carnegie Mellon University and my MBA from the Harvard Business
School. At Harvard, I co-wrote a case
for the negotiations department that has been incorporated in the teaching
curriculum at the school. Additionally, I have pursued courses at a number of
premier institutions including University of California, Berkeley, the London
School of Economics and the Indian School of Business. Immediately post my
graduation from Business School I returned to India and founded ReachIvy, a
premium education and careers advisory.
Prior to ReachIvymy professional experience covered finance, fashion,
media and public relations in a diverse range of roles that included helping
establish a California-based hedge fund in India.
 |
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Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO of ReachIvy.com
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Despite promising opportunities in the
USA, I returned to India to launch my own company as I am exceptionally
passionate about education and believe it to be the ultimate social equalizer. I
hope to consistently leverage my personal experience at various academic and
professional institutions to provide holistic guidance to young individuals who
aspire to reach leading universities.
USA, I returned to India to launch my own company as I am exceptionally
passionate about education and believe it to be the ultimate social equalizer. I
hope to consistently leverage my personal experience at various academic and
professional institutions to provide holistic guidance to young individuals who
aspire to reach leading universities.
Currently, I am the Co-President of
the Harvard Club of Mumbai and am on the Carnegie Mellon Admissions Council.I
have successfully completed a yoga teachers training course, I am a certified
open water diver, am fluent in French, having completed Level 3 at the Alliance
Françaiseand have travelled extensively, visiting over 60 countries across six
continents. I believe in living life to the fullest!
the Harvard Club of Mumbai and am on the Carnegie Mellon Admissions Council.I
have successfully completed a yoga teachers training course, I am a certified
open water diver, am fluent in French, having completed Level 3 at the Alliance
Françaiseand have travelled extensively, visiting over 60 countries across six
continents. I believe in living life to the fullest!
ST: Share your biggest influence in life?
Vibha Kagzi: The life stories of a number of
world-famous celebrities, including Muhammed Ali, Mother Teresa and Van Gogh,
and the challenges they overcame to achieve their goals are truly inspirational
for me.
world-famous celebrities, including Muhammed Ali, Mother Teresa and Van Gogh,
and the challenges they overcame to achieve their goals are truly inspirational
for me.
At a personal level, there are several
role models whom I look up to, learn from and strive to inculcate their
specific strengths. My 6th Grade Mathematics teacher had a great passion for
her subject and always taught with a cheerful disposition; she made learning
fun and the students loved her and her subject for this. My grandmother, who
only speaks in Hindi, has the ability to effectively communicate with anyone
regardless of the language they speak; she connects through her heart. My yoga
instructor truly practices what he preaches; he encourages us to experiment
with our bodies and food habits but is always the first to test out a new diet,
serving as the perfect role model. This list could go on, but I will stop here.
I believe that strong influences are omnipresent; it is upon individuals to be
perceptiveto them and make strong inferences from their presence.
role models whom I look up to, learn from and strive to inculcate their
specific strengths. My 6th Grade Mathematics teacher had a great passion for
her subject and always taught with a cheerful disposition; she made learning
fun and the students loved her and her subject for this. My grandmother, who
only speaks in Hindi, has the ability to effectively communicate with anyone
regardless of the language they speak; she connects through her heart. My yoga
instructor truly practices what he preaches; he encourages us to experiment
with our bodies and food habits but is always the first to test out a new diet,
serving as the perfect role model. This list could go on, but I will stop here.
I believe that strong influences are omnipresent; it is upon individuals to be
perceptiveto them and make strong inferences from their presence.
ST: What challenges do you face in your day to day professional
life, if any?
life, if any?
Vibha Kagzi: The key challenges I face currently
are team building and skilling in addition to scaling our business to be able
to meet the untapped potential inherent in our youth.
are team building and skilling in addition to scaling our business to be able
to meet the untapped potential inherent in our youth.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years down the
line?
line?
Vibha Kagzi: In 5 years I see my company ReachIvy
as a complete “student-centric’ business and India’s primary platform for
premium education and career related advice and content. To achieve this goal we are working on a
number of initiatives simultaneously.
as a complete “student-centric’ business and India’s primary platform for
premium education and career related advice and content. To achieve this goal we are working on a
number of initiatives simultaneously.
We are building
strategic partnerships with leading global educational institutions and
ancillary businesses to bring their services to our students and share their
knowledge resources on our portal.
strategic partnerships with leading global educational institutions and
ancillary businesses to bring their services to our students and share their
knowledge resources on our portal.
We are tapping into a
diverse range of global experts to continually design, develop and structure
pertinent tools and online resources for our student base.
diverse range of global experts to continually design, develop and structure
pertinent tools and online resources for our student base.
We are investing in
technology to seamlessly provide all services entirely online; we do not intend
to grow in the traditional brick and mortar model.
technology to seamlessly provide all services entirely online; we do not intend
to grow in the traditional brick and mortar model.
Personally, I envision myself pursuing
my passions and hobbies simultaneously and continuing to challenge both my left
and right brain in conjunction.
my passions and hobbies simultaneously and continuing to challenge both my left
and right brain in conjunction.
ST: What is your message to the readers on ‘International
Women’s Day’?
Women’s Day’?
Vibha Kagzi: Firstly, determine your key priorities and
then put in your best to achieve success in those. Don’t feel guilt or
pressured by anyone when you define your priorities.
then put in your best to achieve success in those. Don’t feel guilt or
pressured by anyone when you define your priorities.
Secondly, balance well within your
priorities, keeping work & personal life in mind, then the world would be a
great place to live in.
priorities, keeping work & personal life in mind, then the world would be a
great place to live in.
You could send your feedback at
startupterminal@gmail.com
startupterminal@gmail.com
