Saketh Kaza
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Technology, SASTRA University, India
Co-op or Internship Experience: N/A
What are your top 2 industries: CPG and IT
Are you part of any clubs or associations: International Experience Director with MBA Association.
What made you pursue an MBA: Pursuing an MBA has always been on my radar, and at this stage of my career, it feels like the most logical and natural next step forward. I see this degree as equipping me with a holistic understanding of how businesses truly operate, giving me the tools to either climb the corporate ladder with full confidence, or gracefully exit it one day to chase something entirely my own.
Why did you choose DeGroote: Canada was always my destination of choice for an MBA because if you are going to invest in world-class education, you might as well do it in the world’s most polite and scenic country. My search for the right program led me to DeGroote, and in true MBA fashion, I ran the numbers and the NPV was undeniably positive, which meant rejecting this opportunity would have been, frankly, financially irresponsible. DeGroote stood out not just for its academic rigor and reputation, but because it aligned perfectly with my goals, making it the only rational choice.
What has been your favourite part about the MBA: My favourite part of the DeGroote MBA has been the remarkable diversity of the program and I mean that in the best possible way, because where else can you walk into a classroom thinking you know something, only to have a classmate from halfway across the world politely dismantle your entire framework before 9 AM? Every discussion brings a fresh perspective, and no matter how many years of work experience you carry through the door, the room has a humbling and beautiful way of showing you there is always a smarter, faster, or more elegant way to do things. It is, quite simply, the most productive identity crisis one could ever sign up for.
What is one quick tip you have for a first-year MBA student: Come with an open mind, a full coffee thermos, and absolutely zero attachment to the idea that you already have it all figured out because MBA will take care of that last part very quickly. Trust the process, even when the process looks like four deadlines in one week and a group project where everyone is “almost done” right up until the night before it’s due. The struggles are many, but so are the breakthroughs, and if you learn to love both equally, you will come out the other side not just a better professional, but a genuinely more interesting person at dinner parties.
What has been your favourite course at DeGroote, and why: My favorite courses have been Operations Management and Business Analytics since they felt like comfort food in a curriculum that occasionally likes to keep you on your toes. Corporate Finance and Accounting, on the other hand, were a completely different story, especially without a finance background, but what made all the difference were the professors, the kind who simply refuse to let you leave the course without actually understanding the material, whether you like it or not. Challenging? Absolutely. Worth it? Without question.
What I wish I knew on Day 1: I wish someone had told me to stock up on coffee because the rigor, the grit, and the ungodly hours are very real, and they show up fast.
What is one of your favourite weekend activities: Fall weekends were best spent taking long walks and soaking in the season, and winter weekends were a perfect balance of cozy hibernation and epic adventures, strictly from the comfort of my couch, courtesy of my PS5.
Who is your favorite author: Jeffrey Archer
What would be your “walk-on song”: In The End – Linkin Park
Do you have a hidden talent: If procrastination and forgetfulness count as talents, then I am arguably gifted.
What is your favourite TV show: There are too many great shows to name, but if I had to pick one all-time favourite, it would be House M.D.
What is your favourite podcast: Think fast Talk smart and The internet said so
Email: kazas@mcmaster.ca