From a Small Village in Bihar to Kotak Mahindra Bank: How Jaipuria Institute of Management Helped Prashant Rai Dream Bigger

There are journeys that begin with ambition, and there are journeys that begin with doubt.

For Prashant Kumar Rai, both existed at the same time.

Coming from Chandesh, a small village in Bihar, he entered management education with more questions than answers. Questions about communication, confidence, exposure, and whether someone from his background could truly compete in a corporate world that often felt distant.

At Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, that uncertainty did not disappear overnight. Instead, it was reshaped slowly, through exposure, practice, and experiences that gradually changed how he saw himself.

Today, he begins his professional journey with Kotak Mahindra Bank as a Deputy Manager. But what stands out in his story is not the destination. It is the quiet transformation that made the destination possible.

He Came With One Goal. The Journey Gave Him Another.

Prashant did not choose a PGDM programme as a routine academic step. It was a deliberate decision to build something different for himself.

He came from an agricultural family in Chandesh, Bihar. Hard work and patience were not values he had been taught. They were simply how life worked around him, every single day.

What he lacked was not ambition or effort. It was structured exposure, professional language, and the confidence to compete in a corporate world that had always felt distant.

“Before joining Jaipuria, I thought an MBA would mainly provide theoretical knowledge and good placement opportunities. However, after joining, I realised that it focuses much more on overall personality development,” he says.

That realisation came gradually, through classroom discussions, committee responsibilities, and experiences that pushed him beyond what felt comfortable. He had chosen to specialise in Marketing and Business Analytics, drawn by his interest in consumer behaviour and his belief that data and human insight could work well together. But before any of that could matter professionally, something more personal had to change first.

The Weight of Stage Fear

In the early weeks, the classroom asked more of him than he had expected.

Not academically. Personally. Standing up in front of people, presenting ideas, holding a room’s attention. These things did not come naturally. Every presentation required more preparation than the material itself demanded. He would rehearse, second-guess himself, and then stand at the front of the room wishing it was already over.

Stage fear has a way of following you into every situation that requires you to be seen. For Prashant, it had been there for as long as he could remember.

What Jaipuria did was refuse to let him avoid it.

Classroom presentations, CEI committee activities, and peer discussions constantly pushed him to participate actively and speak with confidence. The discomfort faded slowly, through repetition and the gradual accumulation of moments where he spoke, and the room listened. Where he led, and things worked.

Each of those moments chipped away at something that had been holding him back for years.

The College Event That Built Real Confidence

Of all the experiences during his time at Jaipuria, one stands out as a turning point.

The CEI committee gave him the responsibility of hosting a college event, a treasure hunt, in front of students, faculty, and an audience that expected someone confident and in control. It was a visible responsibility with no room for error.

He prepared carefully and walked out anyway, even without complete certainty.

As the event unfolded, he found that he was managing it. The audience was responding. Things were working. And the person holding the evening together was the same person who had spent months struggling to raise his hand in class.

“One major moment was when I hosted a college event. Initially, I had stage fear, but after successfully managing the event, my confidence improved a lot. That experience helped me face interviews more confidently,” he recalls.

That experience gave him something beyond practical preparation: the confidence to recognise his own capabilities.

What the Internship Taught Him

Prashant’s sales internship added a different dimension to his development.

Cold calling requires the ability to stay composed and find a way to connect with someone who did not ask to hear from you. There is no framework that makes rejection easy. The work simply requires persistence and the willingness to keep going after the previous attempt did not work.

He made the calls. He paid attention to how people responded, what kept them engaged and what did not. He began to understand consumer behaviour not as a textbook concept but as something that plays out differently with every individual. When he brought that understanding back to his coursework, the theories he had been studying started to feel more grounded and applicable.

The internship gave him practical confidence in professional environments where results matter.

Placement Preparation

Placement preparation at Jaipuria was structured and consistent throughout the programme.

Mock interviews, resume building sessions, aptitude training, and GD practice formed a preparation process that Prashant engaged with seriously. He also used AI tools to practise HR questions and structure his responses more efficiently.

“AI tools helped me a lot in preparing for interviews and assignments. I used them to practise HR questions and improve my answers. It also helped me understand concepts quickly and prepare structured answers,” he shares.

By the time his Kotak Mahindra Bank interview arrived, the preparation he had put in across two years gave him a level of readiness that went well beyond the interview itself.

Advice to Future Aspirants

Prashant’s advice to MBA aspirants is straightforward.

“If you are serious about your career, an MBA is definitely worth it. But only if you actively participate. Just attending classes is not enough. Jaipuria gives you opportunities, but you have to take initiative,” he says.

For students from other cities, his message is equally direct.

“Coming from another city can feel uncomfortable at first, but it is actually a big opportunity. Be open to new experiences, interact with different people, and do not hesitate because of language or confidence. Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone,” he shares.

The Journey That Required More Than a Degree

Prashant Kumar Rai entered Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida uncertain about whether he belonged in management education.

He left as a Deputy Manager at one of India’s most respected banks.

That outcome was built through consistent effort across two years. One presentation at a time. One mock interview at a time. One event managed, one cold call made, one uncomfortable situation faced and worked through.

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida provided the structure, mentorship, and industry exposure that made that progression possible. The faculty guidance, placement support, peer learning environment, and practical opportunities gave Prashant the tools he needed to grow into a professional ready for corporate demands.

He came in with the right values and the willingness to work. Jaipuria gave him everything else he needed to move forward.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How did Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida help Prashant Kumar Rai overcome stage fear?

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida helped Prashant Kumar Rai overcome stage fear through continuous classroom presentations, committee responsibilities, event hosting opportunities, and peer interactions that gradually improved his confidence and communication skills.

How did internships contribute to Prashant Kumar Rai’s professional growth?

His sales internship helped him develop practical communication skills, understand consumer behaviour in real situations, and gain confidence in handling professional tasks such as cold calling and client interaction.

What role did AI tools play in Prashant Kumar Rai’s placement preparation?

AI tools helped Prashant practice HR interview questions, structure his answers, and improve clarity, making his placement preparation more efficient and focused.

How did Prashant Kumar Rai secure a role at Kotak Mahindra Bank?

Through consistent preparation, communication development, internships, mock interviews, and structured placement training at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, Prashant developed the confidence and skills required to secure a role as Deputy Manager at Kotak Mahindra Bank.

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