Inside Masters’ Union Undergraduate Orientation 2025

From 18th to 21st August 2025, the Class of 2029 gathered at the Cyberpark campus in Gurgaon for an undergraduate orientation that went far beyond icebreakers and induction. Across four days, students engaged with leaders who have built global businesses, navigated career pivots, and stayed rooted in authenticity.

Speakers included Siddharth Jhawar (Moloco, ex-Zomato, Disney+ Hotstar, Bain), Sahiba Bali (Shark Tank India, ex-Unacademy, Zomato), Varun Chaudhary (MD, CG Corp Global – Wai Wai Noodles), Sujit Bose (CHRO, Blue Tokai), Satyam Mehra (CBO, Tata Digital), Aashish Chandra (Sr. VP, Kyndryl), and Shamik Mishra (CTO, Capgemini). Each session blended sharp business insights with human stories, setting the tone for a campus culture driven by exploration, resilience, and clarity.

A Four-Day Kick-off with Industry and Impact

Day 1: Leadership Lessons from Industry Giants

The first day introduced students to Masters’ Union leadership and their academic journey, combining lunches with executives and engaging Leadership Chats.

Sahiba Bali: Turning Passion into a Career
Sahiba shared her journey from corporate branding to acting and hosting Shark Tank India, emphasising that success comes from following curiosity and aligning passion with long-term career goals: “Follow your passion, but ensure it aligns with your long-term career goals.”

Siddharth Jhawar: Exploring New Industries and Creating Impact
Siddharth reflected on a career spanning banking, government, consulting, and leadership roles in Zomato and Disney+ Hotstar. He advised students to explore early but double down on areas of strength as they grow, highlighting AI-driven AdTech, clarity, simplicity, and leveraging opportunities.

Varun Chaudhary: Building a Global Brand from the Ground Up
Varun shared insights on scaling Wai Wai Noodles into over 50 countries. He underlined the power of authentic consumer connections, the role of e-commerce during COVID-19, and discipline and clarity as essential leadership traits.

App Designing Challenge: Students brainstormed, collaborated, and presented creative solutions, applying practical problem-solving skills in a hands-on setting.

Day 2: Academic Foundations and Collaboration

Day 2 focused on hands-on learning, peer collaboration, and academic orientation.

Outclass Curriculum: Connecting Theory with Practice
Students were introduced to the Outclass Curriculum, learning how classroom knowledge connects to real-world applications. Aashish Chandra (Sr. VP, Kyndryl) and Shamik Mishra (CTO, Capgemini) led a panel discussion on evolving tech landscapes and skills needed to succeed in fast-changing industries.

Fraternity Face-Off: Learning Through Collaboration
The Fraternity Face-Off brought students together for teamwork-driven problem-solving challenges, emphasising collaboration, creativity, and decision-making under pressure.

Leadership Chat: Sujit Bose (CHRO, Blue Tokai)
Sujit discussed people leadership, HR strategy, and how cultivating high-quality teams drives organisational impact.

Networking and Lunches:
Students engaged with faculty, leadership, and peer groups, building mentorship connections and gaining exposure to campus culture.

Day 3: Career Development and Experiential Learning

Day 3 prepared students for internships, mentorship, and professional growth.

Career Services: Internships and Mentorship
Students met the Career Services team, learning to navigate internships, mentorship opportunities, and professional networks effectively.

Dalal Street Challenge: Experiential Finance Learning
Through a live stock market simulation, students applied classroom knowledge in real-time, developing decision-making skills and understanding the consequences of financial choices.

Leadership Chat: Satyam Mehra (CBO, Tata Digital)
Satyam shared insights on digital transformation, agility, and consumer-centric business, providing a practical view of evolving business landscapes.

Lunch with PGP Alumni:
Students connected with alumni to gain mentorship, career guidance, and networking exposure.

From Ideas to Impact: The Incubator Story – students learned how entrepreneurial ideas are transformed into operational ventures.

Day 4: Student Life and Holistic Development

The final day focused on campus engagement, personal growth, and creative expression.

Introduction to Clubs and Student Affairs
Students explored clubs spanning entrepreneurship, leadership, and social impact and were introduced to UGSA as a platform for engagement, representation, and leadership within the student body.

Talent Showcase: Expressing Creativity
Students presented creative work across music, art, and entrepreneurial projects, emphasising that success extends beyond academics into personal growth and self-expression.

The faculty and leadership guided students through goal-setting and reflection exercises, helping the Class of 2029 internalise lessons from the week and set a vision for the years ahead.

Orientation at a Glance

1. Industry Exposure: Leaders from Moloco, Zomato, Disney+ Hotstar, Shark Tank India, Wai Wai Noodles, Blue Tokai, Tata Digital, Kyndryl, and Capgemini shared candid lessons on careers, leadership, and authenticity.
   
   

2. Peer Learning: Day 2 emphasised teamwork through Fraternity Face-Off and networking with leadership, faculty, and alumni.
   
   

3. Experiential Learning: Day 1’s App Designing Challenge and Day 3’s Dalal Street Challenge provided practical, hands-on experiences.
   
   

4. Campus Life & Holistic Growth: Day 4 encouraged engagement in clubs, UGSA, and Talent Showcase, fostering personal development, creativity, and leadership skills.
   
   

Setting the Tone for the Class of 2029

The UG Orientation 2025 at Masters’ Union went far beyond welcome speeches. By blending insights from boardrooms, global brands, and creative industries with practical simulations and peer collaboration, the programme set a clear message: the next four years demand curiosity, resilience, and clarity of thought. For the Class of 2029, the journey has only just begun.