Arvind Thilak Pillutla, EMBA 2025
Pursuing further education is a bold step, especially when you already have a thriving career. Here's a look into Arvind’s SP Jain Global EMBA journey.

Embarking on a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is no small decision. It was not just an academic pursuit—it was a calling shaped by years of professional experience, an innate curiosity about emerging technologies, and a desire to create a tangible impact in education and business ecosystems. When I chose SP Jain Global for this journey, I found an institution that supported not only academic rigour but also encouraged global thinking, innovation, and practical relevance.

When you work in e-commerce, every day feels like a sprint. Add to that the full-time role of being a mom to a 5-year-old, a wife, and a daughter, and you’ve got a life scheduled down to the minute. That was my world at Noon.com, where I worked as a planner, managing complex operations in a fast-moving industry. But somewhere between work emails and bedtime stories, a question kept returning: “Is there more I can do to understand the bigger picture of business?”

My journey has been anything but conventional. I started out as a BBA student at SP Jain Global, chasing curiosity and purpose across three continents — Singapore, Dubai, and Sydney. This experience shaped me into a truly global thinker, and more importantly, a grounded human being. Post-SP Jain Global, I entered the corporate world with Deloitte Australia where I was promoted four times in 2.5 years, eventually leading a team of 27 in the Investment Banking division.

As Chief Operating Officer at Oilfield & Technical Supplies Centre (OTSC) and Managing Partner at KV & Sons, our family’s diversified investment office, I’ve led initiatives spanning industrial equipment, oil & gas, FMCG, and retail. My focus has always been the intersection of strategy and execution.

I‘m a proud mother of two, and my younger child is just a month old. Balancing family, career, and personal growth has been a journey of resilience and determination, which I embrace wholeheartedly. My career has been rooted in technology and business, where I implement creative and innovative solutions. Currently, I’m affiliated with e& UAE, where I integrate emerging technologies to drive growth, particularly in the EdTech space. At e&, I manage the ‘GoLearning’ project, which won the Middle East Technology Excellence Award in Education.

Two years ago, I made a life-changing decision—not just to advance my career but also to fulfil a dream I had nurtured for over a decade. I decided to pursue an Executive MBA at SP Jain Global, a choice that tested me mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Over the past decade, my career has been deeply rooted in the railway industry. I started with hands-on engineering work, making sure trains ran smoothly, and maintenance processes were efficient. Leading teams, finding ways to cut costs, and handling high-pressure projects became routine. As I gained experience, I started thinking beyond just the technical side. I wanted to understand how businesses make strategic decisions and how I could contribute beyond engineering. 

In this edition of SPJ Alumni Spotlight, we are proud to feature our Global MBA graduate, Nisha Koshy, a visionary leader in the IT and tech industry with over a decade of diverse experience.