Meghana Prakash: From tech to social impact

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

I wanted to be in tech. I wanted to be involved in a social cause. And where do these 2 worlds collide? Well, at Cambridge Judge Business School. 

For more than 6 years, I have had the privilege of working with tech startups leading products and managing investments for the company. Diving deep into technologies like AI, robotics and reality technologies and translating these innovations to business goals was on my daily to-do list. However, I knew that I wanted to work on something which would create an impact in society. 

The deeper calling is to work on something meaningful. My self-reflection on my future goals led me to discover my interest in entrepreneurship – utilising technology for good. I evolved from my comfort zone and started my venture to revolutionise gamification. The entire aspect of uncertainty has led me to be comfortable with unknowns. It’s in this journey that I realised an MBA from Cambridge is the next crucial step. It would help me blend the trilogy of technology, business and impact. The Cambridge MBA focus on leadership will empower me to be fluent in the language of business, tying it closely with social change. 

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

In 2020, I was assigned to work on the XPrize, $10M challenge. I was leading a team of developers, designers and 3D artists. As a product manager, we had to work to first understand the What, Why and Where questions of the product. We delegated responsibilities while abiding by the timeline of the project. We initially struggled to coordinate with regard to the delays due to external suppliers. 

But we communicated with each other, drafted a plan to account for the delays, and established accountability. Our efforts were successful, and we were the only team from a tier 2 city in India to qualify for the semi-finals held in Miami, US. The biggest accomplishment here is that we grew as a team overcoming difficulties and building the humanoid robot controlled remotely by a human wearing a motion capture suit. It was a feat, technically and at an organisational level. 

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

My first thought after getting accepted was, “I can’t believe I got in! I need to call my Amma!” The second was, “How am I going to pay for this?” That’s when the news of Forté Fellowship and Cambridge bursary helped me to pursue this dream of mine. 

Forté Fellowship is an ode to amplify voices of women by supporting female leaders in MBA programmes. I am honoured to receive this scholarship, which has supported me to pursue my dreams at Cambridge. Being in the tech industry, I have faced, seen and fought against inequality for women. Forté foundation has been working on transforming leadership by bringing diversity and collaboration to the boardrooms. By creating this space to make it accessible, women like us can work towards an equitable and impactful future. 

I look forward to being a part of the Forté Fellows with my cohort and the women leaders from different programmes to re-imagine community, excellence, and collaboration. I would like to thank Cambridge University for supporting my scholarship, helping me leverage this opportunity to instigate a change. The scholarship has definitely given me a heightened sense of responsibility. 

What do you want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year?

Cambridge is the space where we are going to be overwhelmed with opportunity. I plan to intensify the 3 I’s over the course of next year – imagine, inspire and innovate. 

I believe an MBA acts as a mirror, reflecting the effort and dedication I put into it.  What I want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year is a transformative experience, beyond academics. I look forward to immersing myself fully in the programme, making the most of every opportunity to learn, grow, and build lasting connections with peers, professors, and industry professionals. 

I’m eager to explore the practical application of business concepts. I want to work on real-life projects that challenge my thinking and push me to apply what I have learnt in the class to solve ethically complex problems. This hands-on experience will be invaluable as I look to bridge the gap between technology and business, maintaining the human-tech essence. 

Additionally, I’m excited about diving back into the academic crunch of the MBA. I look forward to mastering concepts in core areas of business that will strengthen my ability to make informed decisions, as I continue to build my startup. Exploring the various concentrations within the Cambridge MBA will empower me to identify new avenues for growth and innovation, allowing me to tailor my education to my unique interests and goals. 

Ultimately, I want the MBA to be a year of personal and professional growth. By challenging myself, engaging deeply with the material, and building a strong network, I hope to emerge from the programme not only as a more skilled entrepreneur but also as a more thoughtful and effective leader. 

Where do you see your MBA journey taking you in your future career?

“Create a change in this world – making it a better place for you and me” – this is my aim I wrote when I was in school. Through the Cambridge MBA, I am getting a chance to bring this to life. 

With the support of Cambridge, post-MBA I will be able to immerse into this niche of technology in social impact, thereby helping developing countries like India through my passion. Utilising the power of technology to bring a social impact across sectors is my vision for the future. To meet my vision, I’ll start collaborating with deep tech startups using technology for good to learn more about the nuances, finally working to refine my own startup idea. 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

For me, Cambridge is an experience – it’s a gateway to academic excellence and a source of profound insights. It’s the start to a world-class blend of tradition and innovation, a camaraderie of individuals, where not just similarities but differences are celebrated. 

Broadening our horizons in the morning, getting inspired in the afternoon, and making lifelong friends in the evening, on repeat! – That pretty much summarises an experience at Cambridge. 

Something that few people may know about you…

If you Google me – you will see that I am a featured author of a romance novel called “Swipe Right for Love”.