Abhishta Vishwamitra

Why did you choose to study this degree?

I first came across the University of Leeds at a UK education fair in Bengaluru. After listening to my ambitions and the kind of programme I was looking for, the counsellor at the Leeds booth suggested that I explore the MSc Global Strategy and Innovation Management course. She spent a few minutes walking me through the syllabus, and I was immediately drawn to it.

That same evening, I stayed up almost the entire night researching innovation, innovation management and the subjects covered in the programme. The course felt ideal for me because it combined strategic thinking with the practical challenge of understanding how organisations identify opportunities, develop new ideas and grow.

At the time, I already knew that I wanted to work closely with businesses, entrepreneurs and problem-solving. The degree felt much more aligned with those ambitions than a conventional management programme.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

It was, quite honestly, the best subject I had ever studied. I loved the breadth of the course and the way it allowed us to explore strategy, innovation and organisational change from different perspectives. What I appreciated most was the teaching approach. The lecturers encouraged us to question ideas, explore different perspectives and take ownership of our learning.

I also really enjoyed the extracurricular opportunities available each week. These ranged from entrepreneurship workshops and performance-focused wellbeing sessions to VR activities and business competitions.

One of my strongest memories is taking part in the SimVenture business simulation competition. At the time, I was also doing two internships, so I had very little time to prepare. My teammate and I ended up putting in four consecutive late nights to complete it. I would not recommend the lack of sleep, but the experience itself was intense, memorable and incredibly valuable. It taught me a great deal about decision-making, teamwork and running a business under pressure.

What did you enjoy most about student life at Leeds?

What I enjoyed most was the feeling of being part of the University every day. I still miss the campus, the energy in the mornings, walking through it on the way to the Business School, and then being able to slow down after lectures in one of the green spaces or at the library.

I valued the multicultural nature of the course. In my first group project, we were a team of seven people representing six different nationalities, with a median work experience of around eight years. I was the youngest person on the course and had barely two years of professional experience at the time. Being surrounded by experienced professionals and leaders taught me a great deal about communication, confidence, teamwork and how to contribute meaningfully in a room where others may have far more experience than you.

Outside the course, I attended as many networking and entrepreneurship events as I could. Nexus organised some excellent events that brought students into the same room as business professionals, founders and operators. Spark also organised a wide range of business events, workshops and activities that made it easier for students to explore entrepreneurship beyond the classroom.

How did you find adjusting to living and studying in the UK?

I came to Leeds from Bengaluru, which is a large and very busy city, so living in Leeds felt refreshingly different. Leeds had the energy and opportunities of a major student and business city, while still being compact and easy to navigate. I loved the fact that much of the city centre could be explored on foot.

The academic adjustment was more significant because the style of education was different from what I had previously experienced in India. At Leeds, the lecturers introduced us to multiple theories, arguments and directions, but we were expected to decide which areas we wanted to explore in depth. There was much more emphasis on independent thinking, research and forming our own perspectives.

Initially, that required some adjustment, but it became one of the most valuable parts of the experience. The University provided extensive academic resources and support, but students had to take the initiative to discover and use them. I often describe the University website as a treasure map: once you begin exploring it properly, you find an enormous number of workshops, resources, support services and opportunities.

What professional skills and experience did you gain?

My time at Leeds helped me develop a much stronger ability to think strategically, conduct independent research and communicate ideas clearly. The course rarely presented business problems as having one correct answer. Instead, we were encouraged to examine different theories, understand the context and build a well-reasoned position of our own.

How did your time at Leeds prepare you for the future?

Leeds prepared me for the future by changing the way I approached problems. Rather than immediately looking for an answer, I learnt to first understand the context, question my assumptions, examine different possibilities and then build a reasoned course of action. That way of thinking has stayed with me throughout my work in consulting and now as a founder.

The programme also made me comfortable with ambiguity. Strategy and innovation rarely involve perfect information or predictable outcomes. We were regularly asked to assess complex situations, make choices and explain why those choices were appropriate. This was excellent preparation for professional life, where decisions often must be made before every variable is known.

Most importantly, Leeds gave me the intellectual foundation to connect strategy with execution. It helped me understand that innovation is not simply about having an original idea; it is about identifying a meaningful problem, building something people value and creating an organisation capable of delivering it. That understanding has directly influenced the company I am building today.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School?

After graduating, I spent approximately a year and a half working in consulting, building on my earlier experience in business development. I worked closely with small and medium-sized businesses, founders and operators across the UK, helping them think through strategy, growth and execution.

It gave me exposure to many different businesses and problems. It taught me how to understand an organisation quickly, communicate with decision-makers and turn broad ambitions into practical actions. However, it also made me increasingly interested in building something of my own rather than only advising others on what they could build.

I eventually left consulting and returned to Bengaluru to work full-time on Aetoryn Innovations. We are building pen-first smart notebooks that preserve the natural experience of handwriting while turning handwritten notes into organised, searchable digital knowledge. The idea came from a simple observation: people still think, learn and plan with a pen, but their work becomes trapped in paper notebooks that are difficult to organise, retrieve or reuse.

Since starting Aetoryn, we have built our software MVP and an early working prototype, received early pre-orders and begun working with manufacturing partners. We have also raised pre-seed capital from experienced operators and were recognised and selected for support under the start-up India Seed Fund Scheme by the Central Government of India.

The most rewarding part has been applying ideas I studied at Leeds, including innovation strategy, new product development, design thinking, organisational design and commercialisation, to real decisions as a founder.

What are your ambitions for the future?

My immediate ambition is to build Aetoryn into a meaningful and trusted company, beginning with an accessible smart notebook designed for students and knowledge professionals in India.

People should not have to choose between the natural clarity of paper and the digital convenience of a laptop or tablet. We want to preserve handwriting while making handwritten knowledge easier to organise, search, retrieve and continue working with. Our goal is not to replace thinking with technology, but to build technology that supports people in thinking more clearly.

In the near term, our focus is practical: complete the product, bring the first commercial units to market and prove that people will adopt and regularly use this new kind of device. I want us to build patiently, learn directly from users and earn the right to scale rather than chasing growth before the fundamentals are ready.

I hope to remain connected with universities and young entrepreneurs, because many of the opportunities that shaped my own journey came from people who took the time to share their knowledge and open doors for me.

What was your biggest highlight of studying at Leeds?

My biggest highlight was the combination of people, learning and personal growth. The course itself was academically rewarding, but what made the experience truly memorable was the community around it.

I made some wonderful friends from different countries, cultures and academic backgrounds. Some were from my own programme, while others studied subjects such as transport management, music and dentistry. Those friendships gave me perspectives I would never have encountered within a single classroom.

I also remember the simple rhythm of student life very fondly: walking through the busy campus in the morning, heading to the Business School, learning something new, and then spending time with friends in the park or at Laidlaw Library. I still miss the campus and the feeling of waking up genuinely excited to go to university.

Would you recommend Leeds University Business School?

Yes, I would recommend Leeds University Business School. My main advice would be to participate as fully as possible. Do not come to Leeds only to complete a degree. Attend the workshops, business competitions, guest lectures, networking sessions and extracurricular activities. Explore opportunities offered by organisations such as Spark and Nexus, speak to visiting professionals and make use of the resources available across the University.

I often describe the University website as a treasure map. There are so many opportunities, services and activities available, but students have to take the initiative to discover them. The more curious and proactive you are, the more the University gives back to you.

Finally, enjoy the city and the everyday experience. Walk through the campus, spend time in the libraries and green spaces, explore Leeds with friends and appreciate the small moments.

The course may last only a year, but the friendships, confidence and perspectives you gain can remain with you for much longer.