Ambition rules

POW-WOW

"No!" is the resounding answer from B-school campuses. Shradha Damani, pursuing a marketing MBA at Welingkar, Mumbai, thinks success is all about "individual skills, aptitude and initiative" regardless of specialisation, adding that marketing offers better growth challenges.

Rupesh Srivastav, who is doing a finance MBA at NMIMS, Mumbai, does not agree either, though for another reason. "Returns depend on the institute one graduates from," in his view.

Mirap Trivedi, a marketing batchmate at NMIMS, nods in approval. Earnings depend on "the kind of companies that come to your campus for recruitment".

Miten Jain, pursuing a finance MBA at Welingkar, thinks that sectoral cycles also play a role. Besides, some companies allow you "to hold twin portfolios of finance and marketing".

To Rahul Sabharwal, doing his post-grad programme at IIM-A, the issue is not return-on-investment in opting for either finance or marketing, but choice of lifestyle. Initial pay packets make no difference to his batchmate Sharath Coorg either.

But to his mind, the calculation should be driven by a single factor: ambition. "Marketing has been traditionally recognised as the most critical business function," he says, "and a company invariably prefers a marketing man to lead the company."

But what are Sabharwal and Coorg's specializations? None. IIM-A doesn't have any. How come? "For the flexibility to mix and match courses from different streams," they respond in unison.