Hi Baccardisprite
First of all, wishing you lots of happiness on your b'day and ever after....
Thanks for the excellent and selfless work you are doing here.
I hope you will have some suggestion for me as well. I am into IT from last ~10 years. (Now that is common).
My acads are average:
10th-82%
12-77%
BE(ECE)-64%
My issues are:
1) I have been working as a database administrator throughout my career. This means, I donot have practical experience in people mgmt. Will this be a hindrance?
2) Now the question will be, why do I want to do MBA. It's for common reason: For career growth. I donot see much value for technical people in Indian IT(I have completed all certifications in database). Hence I would like to go into managerial / consulting role. Is this possible?
3) I have worked mainly in Insurance and Banking domains and ,though not required for my job, I have some domain knowledge as well. I hope this will be useful.
4) I am interested in stock market and reading about a mutual fund manager's role excites me. At one point, I was aiming for MBA for a career switch to finance but now I would like to stick to IT consulting/strategy.
5) I donot have international experience as in, I haven't travelled abroad though my daily work includes talking to people all over world for their issues.
6) I am looking for colleges which are good for IT people. My aim is to work abroad in IT consulting/strategy.
Is it possible by aiming PGPX in IIM A/B or do I need to go for MBA abroad.
Looking forward to your advice on my profile/queries and improvements on it.
Some days back, I bumped into this thread.
I couldn't help noticing the vast amount of experience baccardisprite has considering the posts he has made.
@Others: Today is baccardisprite's birthday. Lets wish him a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.
Thanks baccardisprite for the personal guidance you are providing. :D
Thank you for the wishes and the positive feedback
Cheerz
Baccardisprite
Hi Baccardisprite
First of all, wishing you lots of happiness on your b'day and ever after....
Thanks for the excellent and selfless work you are doing here.
I hope you will have some suggestion for me as well. I am into IT from last ~10 years. (Now that is common).
My acads are average:
10th-82%
12-77%
BE(ECE)-64%
My issues are:
1) I have been working as a database administrator throughout my career. This means, I donot have practical experience in people mgmt. Will this be a hindrance?
2) Now the question will be, why do I want to do MBA. It's for common reason: For career growth. I donot see much value for technical people in Indian IT(I have completed all certifications in database). Hence I would like to go into managerial / consulting role. Is this possible?
3) I have worked mainly in Insurance and Banking domains and ,though not required for my job, I have some domain knowledge as well. I hope this will be useful.
4) I am interested in stock market and reading about a mutual fund manager's role excites me. At one point, I was aiming for MBA for a career switch to finance but now I would like to stick to IT consulting/strategy.
5) I donot have international experience as in, I haven't travelled abroad though my daily work includes talking to people all over world for their issues.
6) I am looking for colleges which are good for IT people. My aim is to work abroad in IT consulting/strategy.
Is it possible by aiming PGPX in IIM A/B or do I need to go for MBA abroad.
Looking forward to your advice on my profile/queries and improvements on it.
Hi there, thank you for the wishes and positive feedback.
1) I guess doing the same thing for 10 years makes it challenging to get a wow factor in an essay, particularly if you're asked to describe leadership experiences. No - I wouldn't term it absolutely a hindrance unless a very poorly articulated essay makes it so :-).
2) Fine, no issues there.
4) Not having done any core finance, and 10 years out of university, it is a challenge for you to convince any adcomm about your ability & passion for finance. If you still want to go for it, you might want to enroll in the CFA, try and pass a level just as you apply. It might convince an adcomm that you're serious, passionate about & capable of a career in finance, since the CFA is not a very easy exam to clear. By the time you enter school, try and pass Level II and ten Level III about a year or 2 after you graduate. The larger issue is that with very little experience in the front end of finance, it will be challenging for you to convince a future employer (example - insurance / mutual fund major) to hire you in a core operational role. You may have a better chance to enter such a company in an operations / technology support role.
In any case - IT Consulting & related strategy is a sensible career goal to aim for. Given your deep skills in Database Administration, you might be able to articulate your future career in related product / software companies in business functions (analyst, consulting etc).
5) Again, not a deal breaker unless achievements are poorly articulated. You need to clarify where & how you made a difference to the organization on an international level without having physically moved internationally.
6) In the US, that would mean b-schools affiliated to universities that also have a strong school of engineering; and electives in the strategy & technology / operations management space.
You "could" get an international role out of a PGPX. The predominant demographic in current PGPX classes is your kind of profile (experience and profession), so that could be an option. I would recommend targeting the PGPX in IIMs A/B/C, and go from there.
Hope that helps you.
All the best
Baccardisprite
Hi Baccardisprite!!
Many-many happy returns of the day.....wish you a very happy belated birthday!!! :-)
Visited this thread after a while....so missed it.... (that's the only reason) :-)
This is my first post on this thread, though I have been a silent spectator....going through almost every post on this thread and found it very useful....
Just want to take a view from you on PMP. Is this certification hold good for non-IT guys like me? I am into financial modelling & analytics (equity research). Also handing a team of analysts, so I have managerial exp. too. Not sure whether PMP certification will be a good go for me. I read in one post that you are a non-IT person....so just taking a chance if you have an idea on PMP?
--Motivation
Hi Baccardisprite!!
Many-many happy returns of the day.....wish you a very happy belated birthday!!! :-)
Visited this thread after a while....so missed it.... (that's the only reason) :-)
This is my first post on this thread, though I have been a silent spectator....going through almost every post on this thread and found it very useful....
Just want to take a view from you on PMP. Is this certification hold good for non-IT guys like me? I am into financial modelling & analytics (equity research). Also handing a team of analysts, so I have managerial exp. too. Not sure whether PMP certification will be a good go for me. I read in one post that you are a non-IT person....so just taking a chance if you have an idea on PMP?
--Motivation
I don't have much idea on the PMP. It's normally a qualification for people whose daily work and career is "project" driven i.e every assignment is a project that will involve the execution of a set of tasks, over a period to be delivered by a certain deadline, managed with assigned budgets and resources (people & equipment etc..). The function / industry that fits quite easily into this framework is IT, that's why a lot of IT people do this qualification particularly when they reach senior / project / program / module lead roles within their organization.
If your role fits quickly & easily into this framework - you might find the PMP a useful qualification. Remember one thing though, project management is an "enabling" skill, and it helps IT because IT in itself is a highly "enabling" function or skill within an organization i.e helps an organization work more effectively & effiuciently - therefore perform better.
Marketing, Finance, Operations (including the analytics involved in each of these) are "core content" functions. It means you are providing "content & context" to your clients, and that's driven by varying & (within each project / assignment) variable demands from clients. Therefore it's difficult to put these into an "enabling" framework.... The best performers here are flexible and responsive to client requirements to be most efficient & effective in delivery, and that doesn't always fit into the so called PMP framework.
Apologies if it's a roundabout answer, but hopefully it helps you think some more.
All the best
Baccardisprite
I have done B.Tech and M.Tech both in computer science and have around 2.5Yr of application developer experience with IBM GBS.
M 26yr old.
Is that a good profile for ISB hyderabad.
I want to move out of coding role.also have no inclination to stick to IT industry in future.
Please advice what are my options ?
Cheers BacardiSprite,
I am an MBA aspirant who seek to do an MBA and eventually startup of my own as quickly the time permits. I belong to the Indian/IT/Male(IIM) community with a workex of 15 months in a large MNC. I am from a good private college supposedly one of the best in UP Technical university with average acads. I posses decent extra-curriculars and had a taste of managing being in the core team of College Fest Org. Comm. and Gen. Sec. of College Computer Society. I did startup after college but failed, though the key relevant takeaway was a need for mgmt. education.
I am trying for top b-schools in India(scored 97 in CAT) as well as MS(Mgmt) in US and EU(GMAT to be taken). I am also looking for program in E-business, Technology Mgmt, Engg. Management. I want to startup early hence cannot wait for 4-5 yrs taking workex and than move abroad for an MBA.
I strongly want to start a Web based business(I have a couple of ideas) so I would like to join a college with a good incubator. A conducive environment for tech ventures, like California would be even better.
While I gathered much knowledge from this thread, I would still ask for your suggestions on the programs which could cater to my needs.
If I happen to go to US ,whether working in a startup after the course could look after the considerable LOANS or I have to work in a large Web Based business company(Amazon, Google per se)?
What are chances of getting a job in India good enough to take care of the loans?
Is EU(considering language contraints and tightened up VISA rules) MS a option regarding my preferences?
Are there any other programs anywhere which would fulfill my choice?
It would be of great help and would really help me decide where I am going to put my energies for the next couple of months.
Thanks for the information already given. Keep up the good work.
sohailmbaprep SaysI have done B.Tech and M.Tech both in computer science and have around 2.5Yr of application developer experience with IBM GBS. M 26yr old. Is that a good profile for ISB hyderabad. I want to move out of coding role.also have no inclination to stick to IT industry in future. Please advice what are my options ?
Move out of coding and do what specifically? With what sort of company / in what industry? Where (geography)? With no specifics, how do you expect to be given valuable and actionable advice?
Think... post again... someone will advise you.
All the best
Baccardisprite
Cheers BacardiSprite,
I am an MBA aspirant who seek to do an MBA and eventually startup of my own as quickly the time permits. I belong to the Indian/IT/Male(IIM) community with a workex of 15 months in a large MNC. I am from a good private college supposedly one of the best in UP Technical university with average acads. I posses decent extra-curriculars and had a taste of managing being in the core team of College Fest Org. Comm. and Gen. Sec. of College Computer Society. I did startup after college but failed, though the key relevant takeaway was a need for mgmt. education.
I am trying for top b-schools in India(scored 97 in CAT) as well as MS(Mgmt) in US and EU(GMAT to be taken). I am also looking for program in E-business, Technology Mgmt, Engg. Management. I want to startup early hence cannot wait for 4-5 yrs taking workex and than move abroad for an MBA.
I strongly want to start a Web based business(I have a couple of ideas) so I would like to join a college with a good incubator. A conducive environment for tech ventures, like California would be even better.
While I gathered much knowledge from this thread, I would still ask for your suggestions on the programs which could cater to my needs.
If I happen to go to US ,whether working in a startup after the course could look after the considerable LOANS or I have to work in a large Web Based business company(Amazon, Google per se)?
What are chances of getting a job in India good enough to take care of the loans?
Is EU(considering language contraints and tightened up VISA rules) MS a option regarding my preferences?
Are there any other programs anywhere which would fulfill my choice?
It would be of great help and would really help me decide where I am going to put my energies for the next couple of months.
Thanks for the information already given. Keep up the good work. :cheerio:
Clear goal and some knowledge of the entrepreneurship process demonstrated by some of things you have written. You also believe you have learnt something from your past failed attempt at a start-up, so good here as well. What I do sense though from your post is a high degree of impatience, which a lot of entrepreneurs have in spades :-). The best entrepreneurs also have patience, discipline and the diligence to follow-up and execute on their ideas successfully..... My advice is to keep your passion, yet have the patience & discipline to get there eventually....
First - despite your past experience in your "failed" start-up, 1.5 years is a bit thin, and you'd need 4-6 years of experience to build skills, perspective and the broader learning required to (1) be an entrepreneur and apply these skills, and (2) in the shorter term, make yourself an attractive candidate for a b-school program.
Below, I'll talk about some paths, one of which you could apply given your interests, passion and circumstances. Note though below is intended to advise on the thought process on how to reach your goal rather than simply say one school is better for you than another.
1. If you're in a tearing rush to go to school now then start-up something, then India is the place for it. Since you have a CAT of 97%, you're obviously not that bad, and some diligent preparation using your time, resources on this forum and others could help you push your self past the magic 99.5%ile + in CAT.... Go to one of the Top Indian B-Schools - IIMs, FMS, XLRI, SP Jain, Bajaj etc... and you will have access to not only good education, but also a large alumni network. You're likely to also find entrepreneurially successful alumni from amongst 2001- beyond graduates of these schools. Work hard to get in and find a way to access this network that could potentially help you. In this network, you are likely to find both successful entrepreneurs + past entrepreneurs who have gone into PE/VC roles.... While in school - seek an internship with a small / start up company in the early / mid-stages of its life-cycle.
2. Try accessing a network and see if you can apply and work for a small company specializing in the technology areas that you're interested in - web based, e-business, technology content etc.... and work in that environment for 2-4 years, build a bag of multi-functional skills across all functions (marketing, product development, engineering, operations, client / customer interaction, capital providers to the business like VCs or banks as the case may be).... Then take the skills you have gained and apply for a strong technology / strategy / finance & entrepreneurship focused MBA.
The Schools I could immediately suggest are Stanford, Berkeley, and Babson. The first 2 are located in or very close to Silicon Valley, and obviously offer a lot of possibilities - including courses that complement or foster entrepreneurial skills and access to the widest technology base in the world, both for idea incubation and for VC funding. Babson's Olin School is the world's best known school for budding entrepreneurs. Don't be misguided by that moniker though. A majority of Babson graduates still go into conventional jobs (corporate or start-up), develop their ideas over a period, build strong networks (both for idea / product engineering, future Seed / VC / Mezzanine funding) - then start up companies a few years after graduation. Very few of the graduates start-up immediately after graduation. Most interested in the field will secure internships with start-ups, participate in entrepreneurial business plan competitions (prizes might include seed funding) and use the in-house incubator to develop their ideas into tangible products or services. Babson is also known to offer good to generous funding, scholarship, assistantship packages to incoming MBA students.
To your questions:
1. It's likely you might have to work for a few years, be prepared for it and welcome that possibility. There's no better way to gain skills, experience and prepare yourself for a future career as an entrepreneur.
2. Over the next 12-18 months, prepare yourself well, appear for the GMAT and try scoring 720+ (keeps you competitive in the wider Indian pool) while trying to get another job in a small / start-up company as described above.
3. Wouldn't recommend the EU at this stage. The entrepreneurial market isn't as well development and isn't as dynamic for a guy of your age. Come over to the EU later in your entrepreneurial life (meaning, after several years of post-MBA experience whatever that might be).
All the best
Baccardisprite
I don't have much idea on the PMP. It's normally a qualification for people whose daily work and career is "project" driven i.e every assignment is a project that will involve the execution of a set of tasks, over a period to be delivered by a certain deadline, managed with assigned budgets and resources (people & equipment etc..). The function / industry that fits quite easily into this framework is IT, that's why a lot of IT people do this qualification particularly when they reach senior / project / program / module lead roles within their organization.
If your role fits quickly & easily into this framework - you might find the PMP a useful qualification. Remember one thing though, project management is an "enabling" skill, and it helps IT because IT in itself is a highly "enabling" function or skill within an organization i.e helps an organization work more effectively & effiuciently - therefore perform better.
Marketing, Finance, Operations (including the analytics involved in each of these) are "core content" functions. It means you are providing "content & context" to your clients, and that's driven by varying & (within each project / assignment) variable demands from clients. Therefore it's difficult to put these into an "enabling" framework.... The best performers here are flexible and responsive to client requirements to be most efficient & effective in delivery, and that doesn't always fit into the so called PMP framework.
Apologies if it's a roundabout answer, but hopefully it helps you think some more.
All the best
Baccardisprite
Many thanks Baccardisprite!!!!
Let me also do some due deligence

Thanks Bacardisprite for the complete insight.
I am a fan of yours!
Hi Baccardi,
Wish you a very happy birthday.
I am an ardent follower of this thread for the last 2+ years and a great fan of you.
Wishing you all the success in everything you do.
Cheerz,
R
Hi bacardisprite,
Firstly thank you for doing an outstanding job out here helping candidates with their doubts.
I have a doubt and I would be very grateful if you could please help me out.
My background -
10 - 91%
12 - 80%
Engg - 71% from one of the best engg colleges in India (non IIT)
Presently working as a Business Analyst in the largest European Investment Bank for a core financial settlement system. I have 6+ yrs of experience , with 2 yrs in the largest Indian IT company and 4+ yrs over here.
Let me first tell you that money is not one of the reasons why I want to do a MBA since I am ok with my current pay. I want to move on to meatier roles in Finance/Investment Banking - say like Front office non-IT/ Quant /or maybe a trader .
I am quite confused about what I should do from here.
Can you please guide me? Feel free to ask me anything that I might have omitted. Which are the best MBA institutes in India or APAC region for this purpose ?
Thanks and regards,
mumbaiba
I have a doubt and I would be very grateful if you could please help me out.
My background -
10 - 91%
12 - 80%
Engg - 71% from one of the best engg colleges in India (non IIT)
Presently working as a Business Analyst in the largest European Investment Bank for a core financial settlement system. I have 6+ yrs of experience , with 2 yrs in the largest Indian IT company and 4+ yrs over here. Let me first tell you that money is not one of the reasons why I want to do a MBA since I am ok with my current pay. I want to move on to meatier roles in Finance/Investment Banking - say like Front office non-IT/ Quant /or maybe a trader. I am quite confused about what I should do from here. Can you please guide me? Feel free to ask me anything that I might have omitted. Which are the best MBA institutes in India or APAC region for this purpose? Thanks and regards, mumbaiba
Career goal seems clear, albeit a bit broad and makes sense given what you do today, so that's one thing taken care of. Hopefully your career thus far has seen you progress to roles of increasing leadership (potentially people management), skill and complexity. In short do you believe you have enough of the core skills required for a finance career going forward - appears you do and that's 75% of the reason why anyone woluld recruit you out of school!
Think carefully about the path you really want to take in finance, because the skills (and the appropriate education) is different for each of those:
*Investment Banking (Sell-side) - here we're talking services like securities underwriting, merchant banking and corporate finance / M&A; advisory roles. These roles are normally recruited for from MBA Programs in the Top 10-15 Schools in the US, Top 3-5 in the EU (barring IMD), Top Indian (IIMs) / Asian Schools (INSEAD Singapore, CEIBS, HKUST, AGSM etc). The US Top 15, LBS and INSEAD are considered top feeders to Investment Banking.
*Quant/Securities Analysis / Trading (FI / Equities) both buy / sell side - Perhaps a more focused M.Sc in Finance or an MBA heavy with finance electives. If you will go for the former, then a course like Berkeley Haas' MFE, Princeton's Bendheim Center Masters in Finance (2 years) or the LBS / Cambridge / Oxford offerings in these areas.... You'll probably want to clear at least 2 levels of the CFA to ensure you come across to adcomms as someone serious about a career in finance + convince employers you're both skilled and serious. The CFA is a professionally endorsed qualification and seems to have good standing in the Quant world.
Google this article "GARP - The Metamorphosis of Financial Education", and you should find some guidance into Masters Degree education in Finance / Quant Finance / Financial Engineering etc....
*Corporate Finance in a corporation - Normally an MBA with Finance Heavy elective curriculum, followed later on by a major Professional Management Accounting qualification while on the job.
In general - a GMAT score of 720+ would help your case, as will at least intermediate skills in a foreign language (German, Spanish, Chinese etc).
All the best
Baccardisprite
Google this article "GARP - The Metamorphosis of Financial Education", and you should find some guidance into Masters Degree education in Finance / Quant Finance / Financial Engineering etc....
All the best
Baccardisprite
@Baccardisprite. That article was very useful.
Hi Bacardisprite ,
Thank you so much for this help !! You rock man !
There is something else I forgot to mention - I have cleared my CFA Level 1 in this Dec 2010 , and intend to complete it within 2 yrs...
I have one more doubt - I am 29 ... Let's say I make it to a good B-school by the age of 31 (a bit pessimistic estimate)...would I stick out like a sore thumb ..among younger counterparts ?
Thanks and regards,
mumbaiba
Career goal seems clear, albeit a bit broad and makes sense given what you do today, so that's one thing taken care of. Hopefully your career thus far has seen you progress to roles of increasing leadership (potentially people management), skill and complexity. In short do you believe you have enough of the core skills required for a finance career going forward - appears you do and that's 75% of the reason why anyone woluld recruit you out of school!
...
All the best
Baccardisprite
There is something else I forgot to mention - I have cleared my CFA Level 1 in this Dec 2010 , and intend to complete it within 2 yrs... I have one more doubt - I am 29 ... Let's say I make it to a good B-school by the age of 31 (a bit pessimistic estimate)...would I stick out like a sore thumb ..among younger counterparts ? Thanks and regards,
mumbaiba
No, your age is not a problem as long as you have a clear idea of what you want your career to look like. Average ages in programs are exactly those - averages. You're likely to find people as old as yourself and older in all programs.
Try completing another CFA level before you enter school.
All the best
Baccardisprite
Thanks a million Bacardisprite... 😃 ... I wish I could thank you personally...
Warm regards,
Mumbaiba
No, your age is not a problem as long as you have a clear idea of what you want your career to look like. Average ages in programs are exactly those - averages. You're likely to find people as old as yourself and older in all programs.
Try completing another CFA level before you enter school.
All the best
Baccardisprite
Hi Bacardisprite,
I am Raghu, i am an Engineering graduate(2010 Batch) working as a Pre-Sales Engineer in a Small Private Company in Bangalore for the past 6 Months.
I am an MBA aspirant and looking forward to give GMAT this year.
But honestly i have very little idea on what i really want......I have interest in Sports Management but after talking to a few Indians who have opted for the course, I did not get a positive feedback for the same.
I am also keen on going into Finance , Event management in the entertainment section , but again i am ready learn but currently i have no knowledge on any of them.
The only reason i am rushing for an MBA is because many people have told me that even after an MBA if one wants a career change then they have to start from scrach. Also i am eager to achieve something as soon as possible rather than working in a job for 4 years and then trying for something.
I understand that many of my statements may be ambiguous but i have tried to focus light on my thoughts.
Kindly guide me as to how do i get into a good college?
Which course would give a boost to my career?
Is it wise to go for an MBA with such low working experience?
Thankshttp://cdn.pagalguy.net/pagalguy/smilies/new_alien.gif
Hi Baccardi
I registered myself in PG more than 6 months back.However didn't login back till a week back,may be because i didn't have time or didn't find the replies good enough.Accidentally i came across this post of yours.From then on,i have become a regular visitor of PG especially your post.
You seem to possess extremely great level of knowledge in all fields be it courses,universities,industries,locations.I have always believed in the concept of specialising in one field & being a master in that.After reading your posts,i feel otherwise.Many have knowledge but not even a small percentage out of this group would be interested in helping others.But you are an amazing personality i have come across.Hopefully,i will also be of some help to others in the future.On behalf of all the PG members,i would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for providing such a wonderful support.
I need some advise from you on how to take my career forward.
Iam an electrical engineer from NIT,Durgapur.I got selected through campus in ABB.After my induction got placed in Purchase department.I started handling Electrical components procurement.My experience is close to 10 years now in this field.Now i feel the need for pursuing a specialised course in purchase to move up in the ladder.I don't want to do an MBA now as that is more generic in nature.First,i would like to get myself a specialized degree by studying some courses related to this field.Probably,after 4 years from then,i will plan for an Executive MBA in finance.During these 4 years, i will try to do some foundation courses in finance inorder to be ready for my MBA.
I went through most of your posts in " International educational options beyond the MBA".I got some inputs regarding supply chain & operations but i wanted some more information regarding courses in Purchase.My idea of a supplychain/Purchase/Operations course is Strategic sourcing,Negotiation skill building,risk management analysis of suppliers & in supply chain,technology in the field of purchase(building specific applications in purchase),Case studies in purchase & in supply chain,Inventory management,Cost Control,Operations management(one or two courses related to this field),Six sigma,process improvement,quality initiatives from a supply chain perspective.
I went through some of the institues mentioned in your posts.However these Universities(Stanford & other top universities) don't offer any specialized courses.
I will be benefitted if you can throw some advise to the following points mentioned below
1) Any good universities in US offering specific course in purchase or mostly oriented towards purchase field?
2) Any good universities in UK & Europe offering specific course in purchase or mostly oriented towards purchase field?
3) What would be the course fee in US for one year?
5) I always wanted to do my higher studies from US.Which one do you think would be good interms of quality education - US or Europe?
6) I will be 31 years by July 2011.Do you think this course would be right at this age?What would be the average age of students for such courses?
7) How about career prospects after education? Iam not looking for top universities as iam not sure whether i will fit into that crowd.Iam looking for universities where i would feel comfortable.For me feeling comfortable is more important inorder to do well.Hence,suggest me some good schools & not the great ones.
9) Do all these schools demand for GMAT?I have not given my GMAT still.Is it ok to apply for those universities which doesn't ask for GMAT.(I have a TOEFL score of 95 in the IBT version).Iam planning for Sept 2011.
10) I just tried,just to understand,in some UK Universities.Westminster University,London Metropolitan,Aberdeen business school,Norwich business school for their Masters program in Purchase & Supply chain.Fortunately all these universities gave an offer.But iam not too sure of their credibility.Would you mind giving some inputs here?
This is all that i could think for now.After receiving your advise,i guess more questions will crop up.I will post them in the next one to get those doubts clarified.
Thankyou in advance for your help.
Regards
Raghuram