Prakhar Sharma, ’25 MBA: From Tech to Consulting
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Program
’25 MBA
Fun Fact
Won 2 Bronze medals in rollerblading
Undergraduate School and Major
Manipal Institute of Technology, Computer Science Engineering
Most Recent Employer & Job Title
Oracle Corporation, Senior Software Engineer
Meet the Carlson School community and learn about the experiences and career connections we offer.
What was your initial reason or motivation for pursuing an MBA?
After working at Oracle for over 6 years, I was looking to take on a new challenge and upskill myself. I wanted to acquire skills that would help me in my career over the next 5 to 10 years, and an MBA felt like the right choice to me. I also wanted to pursue an MBA from the U.S. because the opportunities are endless here.
Why did you choose the Carlson School?
I chose the Carlson School for my MBA because it was competitively ranked and offered me a decent scholarship. Also, the industry ties at the Carlson School of Management are promising, and I wanted to move to a place where I can experience snow regularly. Another reason for choosing the Carlson School was its enterprise program, which many schools do not offer.
What has been or was your most valuable Carlson School experience?
This is a tough question because I cannot pinpoint just one experience; there are way too many. I have made friends for life here, built a very strong network with my peers and professors, and experienced some of the best teachers in classes like Pricing Strategy and Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE). CCE has been monumental for me because I got the opportunity to develop so many valuable skill sets, which will set me up for success in my career after the MBA.
I have made friends for life here, built a very strong network with my peers and professors, and experienced some of the best teachers in classes like Pricing Strategy and Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE).
How did being part of the Carlson School’s broader business ecosystem—spanning the Twin Cities community, local industries, and global partners—impact your MBA journey?
The biggest impact was the kind of relationships I was able to build with everyone here. Minneapolis, being a relatively smaller city, helped me reach out to people with whom I can meet regularly. I also learned the art of doing things the “Minnesota nice” way.
How has your Carlson School experience helped you change your career path and get to where you are?
After joining the Carlson School, I had the opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and career experiences. I was also able to explore various career opportunities, which exposed me to several exciting paths, including consulting, product management, and marketing. Coming from a tech background, I was initially focused on continuing in tech when I joined the Carlson School; however, after 1.5 years, I have developed a strong interest in consulting, and I would love to pursue a career in consulting after completing my MBA.
What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Carlson’s Full-Time MBA program?
Be genuinely curious and work on building strong networking skills. Also, don’t shy away from speaking with passion about your background in your interviews.
