“I wanted to make hospital operations worthwhile - instead of escaping the family business, I wanted to go improve how things were done.”
Saumya Agarwal’s sentence cuts through the usual MBA storyline. Saumya didn’t arrive in Singapore to pivot away from what she knew; but to amplify it. A computer-science master trained in Germany, who’d moved back to India to run operations at her family’s hospitals during the pandemic, Saumya joined SMU with one clear objective: marry tech fluency with management muscle so she could bring the kind of digital change healthcare in her region desperately needs.
When Saumya Agarwal reflects on the last 12 months, she goes beyond reminiscing about grades, frameworks or job titles. She talks about discovery; about stepping into classrooms filled with different perspectives; about realising that even after two master’s degrees and years running operations at her family’s hospitals in India, there were entire fields she had barely scratched the surface of.
Her journey into the SMU MBA was a conscious decision to expand her lens after a career that had already spanned computer science in Germany, consulting, and hospital operations during one of the most turbulent periods in global health.
From Computer Science to Hospital Operations: A Career Built on Adaptability
Before the MBA, Saumya was entrenched in the complexities of healthcare operations in India. She had returned during the COVID years, helping manage day-to-day operations at her family’s hospitals after completing a master’s in computer science in Germany and a stint at AWS consulting firm Scheer.
By 2023, she hit a turning point. “I realised I’d learned everything I could possibly gain from the existing family business and my parents’ skills,” she said, acknowledging that much of the hospital’s knowledge base had been built from lived experience rather than formal management tools. She wanted to take things further - to modernize, upgrade and shape the business instead of simply running it.\
That’s when the MBA became the next logical step.
Why SMU: A Mix of Timing, Reputation and Trust
Saumya’s decision process was pragmatic. She wasn’t shy about it: “I had applied to other universities. SMU was among my choices.” Two aspects of the programme that tipped the scales for her were (a) the intake timing and ability to join the January batch; and (b) recommendation via word of mouth.
After applying, getting accepted early and efficiently also mattered to Saumya. She said that the entire admissions experience signaled to her that she’d chosen a place that took its processes seriously.
Learning That Doesn't Look Like What You Expect Learning to Be
Saumya came in with a strong academic and professional background. What she didn’t expect was how different the learning would feel. “I didn’t even know there were topics that could be taught like negotiation. I thought you learn it from experience!” she said, hinting at subjects like negotiations and managing teams. “There are people researching things like human behavior and how to crack deals”
The shift for Saumya thus wasn’t just intellectual but experiential. “You engage a lot in class, and the class interaction is very important,” she shared.
The Power of Experience: Why Work Experience Matters
One theme Saumya came back to repeatedly: experience amplifies an MBA. “The best way to draw from an MBA is if you have some work experience,” she said. “Experiential learning only works if you have experience.” Having said that, Saumya was equally clear that even those with lesser work experience will still gain tremendous value. “You learn a lot from your friends, from your cohort, from the coursework. You never know where you’ll find the use for a subject.”
The SMU Advantage: Community, Connections and a City That Never Slows Down
Saumya lights up most when she talks about the people. “I made a lot of friends - good friends. It was a very different experience, very different exposure.” For Saumya, she managed to spend a lot of her time networking and mingling. “You get to meet executives, masters students from other programmes, faculty etc. The connections are amazing and it’s up to you to leverage them. The other great thing about the university is its proximity to the city centre!”
Her Message to Future Students: Come Prepared, Be Curious, And Yes - Have Fun
For those coming from family businesses - or any background - Saumya’s advice is clear and refreshingly grounded:
- Use your experience – it will turn classes into something far more meaningful.
- Don’t underestimate the exposure – the cohort itself is a source of learning.
- Stretch beyond what you already know – the MBA can help you shift fields or elevate within your current one.
- Engage – “You’ll miss out if you don’t engage in classroom activities, or even social activities outside of school!”
- Enjoy Singapore – “Have fun. Hang out with people and enjoy the whole experience.”
Looking Ahead
The MBA programme has helped Saumya reinvent her identity, while gaining something more subtle and powerful: new possibilities, new confidence, and an expanded map of what the world of management actually looks like.
She leaves the programme with a sharper sense of direction, fresh networks, and the realisation that stepping outside the familiar - whether it’s industry, geography or mindset - is often where the most meaningful growth happens. And perhaps that’s the real story here: a year of surprise, exposure and rediscovery.
You can connect with Saumya Agarwal on LinkedIn here.
