MBA Alumni Profile: Lawrence Ganti, IMD

Lawrence Ganti tells us why doing his MBA at IMD was the best career decision he's ever made.

1. What were you doing before your MBA?

- Pharmaceutical Sales (Johnson & Johnson)
- Organization Strategy Research (McKinsey & Co.)
- Hi-Tech International Business Development (Own company with various clients)       

2. What were your main reasons for deciding to attend business school?

- Obtain more of an international outlook
- Enhance my overall business skills
- Shift career back into Life Sciences      

3. What research did you undertake in selecting your school?

- Campus Visits
- Reading of Magazines
- Talked to various alumni
- School Rankings
- Recommendations from UGrad Professors
- School links / ties to target post MBA companies      

4. What were the main criteria in your selection?

- International location
- Small class size
- Older, more experienced student / participant profile
- Industry focused (not consulting of banking focused)      

5. Why did you decide to study either in your own country or overseas?

- Wanted to develop a career outside of USA, so desired to got a program outside of USA
- Business world is no longer US-Centric
- Had a US Undergraduate Business education, wanted something very different      

6. How well do your think the MBA is regarded in your home country?

- Good in the right circles of executives
- Better after recent Wall Street Journal ranking of IMD- globally
- Not as good as it should be   

7. Have you already been, or do you intend to become an entrepreneur?

Have been prior to attending Business School. I am now using many Entrepreneurial skills in the corporate world.  

8. Are there any well-known and/or successful entrepreneurs that are alumni of your school?

Yes, but mostly in Europe and Asia- not in the USA      

9. How much do you expect to earn on graduation?

Expected over $150,000
Obtained over $150,000 after graduated      

10. What do you expect to do on graduation and where do you expect to be based?

Expected to be based in Europem working for a Life Sciences company (Biotech, Pharma, Med Device)
Am now working for a Biotech in Switzerland       

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years time?      

See myself as a senior level executive at my current company / employer. I am already a Director.  

12. How easy or difficult do you expect it to be to achieve these objectives?

I think they are realistic as my track record has proven      

13. Any other comments?

My experience at IMD was invaluable. It was THE best business /careerdecision that I have made. The program is very different than most other MBA programs and the experience of my fellow classmates made the experience very valuable. The professors showed a lot of concern for my post MBA career, and were themselves very well connected and in tune with today's business.