Lakshmi R – PGPEM – Gold Medal for First Rank

Thirty-three year-old Lakshmi R’s achievements during her course at IIMB include winning, as part of the PGPEM 2026 cohort, several national-level case competitions organized by IIM Calcutta, IIM Visakhapatnam, etc. As part of the Student Affairs Committee, she managed the PGPEM LinkedIn page which grew by 3,500-plus followers in under a year. She also served as one of the core organizers of Drishti 2025, the flagship business and entrepreneurship summit of PGPEM. During her tenure at IIMB, she was a recipient of the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship in Year 1 and the Merit Scholarship in Year 2. While pursuing the programme, she was promoted to Principal Engineer at Baxter, a role she took on while simultaneously managing the full demands of the MBA.

Terming her IIMB PGPEM experience as genuinely transformative, she adds, “What stood out most was the calibre of the faculty – the world-class professors brought both academic rigour and deep industry insight into every session. The quality and design of assignments pushed me to think beyond frameworks and apply concepts to real, complex business situations. The programme struck a rare balance between intellectual depth and practical relevance, making it equally valuable for someone already navigating the professional world. It did not just add to my knowledge, it fundamentally sharpened how I think.”

Sharing her future plans, she says, “I am deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and healthcare. My goal is to move into the product space within healthcare technology, building solutions that ensure safe, effective patient care while delivering sustainable business outcomes. I believe this is one of the most meaningful spaces to work in, where strategic thinking and human empathy go hand in hand. I hope to contribute to making quality healthcare more accessible and intelligently delivered through well-designed, responsible technology products.”

Originally from Kozhikode, Keralam, Lakshmi currently resides in Bangalore with her husband who works in Accenture, and her mother-in-law. Her father retired as Assistant General Manager from Indian Overseas Bank and her mother served with India Post.