Bidisha Sarkar’s journey from her modest background in Durgapur, in the Indian state of West Bengal, to a highly sought-after product manager to the MBA program at the Rotman School of Management is a story of grit and perseverance.
Despite facing significant personal and financial challenges – including caring for her cancer-stricken mother – Bidisha has thrived.
Embarking on a career in tech
After completing her undergraduate engineering degree, Bidisha embarked on a series of progressively responsible jobs in India’s tech industry. Her first job, with an international tech firm, was marred by office cliques who held cultural prejudices based on regional languages. Next, she landed a position as a data analyst for a prestigious U.S.-based firm, followed by a position at a construction tech startup.
That role evolved from data analyst to strategic business consultant and her achievements garnered even more attention in the industry. But being young and female in a largely male-dominated company came with challenges.
Rotman has been a saviour for me. This scholarship has been a lifeline.
“At that last firm, I was the youngest person and the highest-ranking female,” she says. “Unfortunately, sexism was rampant. I tried to change the culture, but it began to take a toll on my mental health, so I moved forward; it was not the right environment for me.”
Rotman has been a saviour for me. This scholarship has been a lifeline.
The International Student Fellowship
Bidisha set her sights on higher education in an English-speaking country. After considering various options, Canada emerged as the ideal destination because of its inclusive environment and academic reputation, particularly at U of T’s Rotman School of Management. “Rotman has been a saviour for me,” she says.
While she saved money for her studies, she also received an unexpected entrance scholarship – the International Student Fellowship – devoted to international students pursuing MBAs at Rotman. The scholarship was created through a very generous estate gift from an alumnus, the son of an immigrant to Canada, who graduated with a bachelor of science, followed by a masters of commerce. The donor said he wished for nothing more than for his success to help others in their own education and dreams.
“The scholarship has been a lifeline,” says Bidisha, who is thriving at Rotman. She was a runner-up in two case competitions for her project developing AI strategies for health care. She also works for the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, a U of T campus incubator.
Once she completes her MBA, she says she hopes to achieve financial independence and give back to the community.
