Two Different Worlds: Consulting and Paediatrics: I’m an ex-consultant pursuing a full-time MBA.

Our backgrounds are quite different. Our conversations led me to reflect on the challenges that we both face in our respective professions and the lessons we can learn from each other.

Every time I meet P, I feel excited about the different perspectives that we bring to the table. This is what motivated me to write this blog and share insights about our interactions.

Exploring The Journey Thus Far  –

Before meeting P, I had never interacted with any doctor in my life. Our first meeting was interesting as we discussed our vastly different career paths. 

My decision to enter consulting was completely driven by passion. I passed up a campus placement at a Fortune 100 company to compete with over 600 applicants for 12 openings at EY in an off-campus drive, on the day of my convocation. As a consultant, I mainly connected with global clients from the comfort of my office, earning decent pay with various corporate perks. 

P, on the other hand, worked hard to ace her NEET Entrance, which allowed her to pursue her MD in Paediatrics. She now works in a renowned hospital in Mumbai, giving the gift of life to young children – from a few minutes to a few months old. Her work often requires her to work for continuous shifts of 24-36 hours with minimal sleep and improper meals. 

While both of us have faced challenges in our respective careers, I realized that the challenges faced by P, and people from the medical fraternity in general, are far greater, with no room for error, and require an immense level of dedication and commitment. 

A Doctor’s Perspective from an MBA’s Lens 

From a corporate perspective, my first job was overwhelming with so many things to do, to learn and understanding the expectations and how to fulfil them. There was always a willingness to grow more – by means of job transitions, preparations for masters etc. During the first year of my MBA program, I encountered a range of challenges that tested my abilities and pushed me out of my comfort zone. These included juggling multiple assignments and deadlines, adapting to a rigorous academic schedule, and mastering new concepts and skills in a fast-paced environment. In addition, collaborating effectively with diverse teams and presenting complex ideas with clarity and confidence posed its own set of challenges. 

While a corporate job and business studies may have their fair share of difficulties and crises, all this pales in comparison to the pressure that P faces when dealing with critical life and death situations. For example, when a measles outbreak occurred in Mumbai, P was at the frontline diagnosing and treating young children who were infected. Sadly, some of them could not be saved. 

P faced another challenging situation when some children with symptoms of rabies were brought in, especially since their parents were unaware of the cause. The children had concealed the dog bite out of fear of being scolded, which made it even more difficult for P to manage the situation. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for rabies, which added to the complexity of the case. Despite these challenges, she continues to push forward and provide the best care for her patients, drawing inspiration from the children she cares for. 

Handling Failure 

We have both faced tough times in our respective fields. 

In my life, I have encountered many failures and moments where I felt I could have done better, be it during a leadership position in school, life decisions or when I was learning and stepping up at work. These instances have taught me valuable lessons and helped me grow personally and professionally. 

On the other hand, P has seen life and death up close in her role as a paediatrician. She has had to break the news of a child’s death to their loved ones, which is an incredibly difficult and emotional experience. Unfortunately, some loved ones don’t recognize the effort that doctors put in to save the patient and react with anger or violence – they curse, abuse, sometimes get violent physically too, which at times is very discouraging for P and her colleagues. 

Despite these challenges, P finds the motivation to keep going by focusing on the kids in her ward and doing everything she can to ensure their recovery and well-being. 

Drawing a Parallel 

As I reflect on my first year of MBA and the ~thirty-six subjects that I studied, it was a roller coaster ride with a lot of learning, networking, a mix of assignments, presentations, and assessments. I was also under duress during my summer placement phase last year, wondering whether my ‘profile’ and preparations would be sufficient to land me my dream job. 

However, looking at the challenges that P goes through every hour, I realize that my issues are trivial. They are about my future, growth, success. 

P’s experiences remind me to take a step back, express gratitude for the things that I usually take for granted such as my breath, health (mental and physical), well-being, happiness of myself and my loved ones, and to put things in perspective. 

Inevitably, life will present us with difficult times such as personal struggles, crises, or societal upheavals that may leave us feeling powerless and lost. Nevertheless, we possess the resilience and strength to overcome these obstacles by taking care of ourselves, seeking support from others, and embracing the lessons we learn from these tough times. Instead of fearing such situations, we can view them as opportunities for growth and transformation. 

P and I are traveling different career paths, each facing unique challenges and obstacles on our journeys toward personal and professional development. Despite the differences in our professions, we continue to learn from our own and others’ experiences and perspectives while supporting each other along the way. 

Our passion for our work knows no bounds. 

Witnessing the impact we make every day drives us forward. 

We continue to offer distinct viewpoints to all our endeavors.