We came to a realization that students often need tangible proofs or outcomes that can validate their time and effort in the B school. The young India today is not just satisfied with a 100% placement guarantee, they are here to break the stigma, provide actual value and bring about a societal change at large. No matter the specializations they are choosing, “how to provide value and grow a business” will forever be at the core and NBSians understand that.
To fill this flask of enthusiasm, NBS Ahmedabad recently hosted its first ever Alumni Talk show virtually hosted by Vishal Tiwari and Preet Acharya from NBS.
The guest was none other than Anand Shankar, a proud NBS alumnus and Chief Growth Officer at Capsafe FinTech. Alumni Anand is a tangible proof of the culture and learning given at NBS and the outcomes which comes only with persistent effort and keeping the growth of a business at the centre of everything.
The talk show began with a note from Vishal Tiwari – VP Growth & Strategy that “I once heard the founder of InShorts Azhar Iqubal say, ‘curiosity is important, curiosity is the driving element that will always take you farther in life. You will definitely do something in life if you are a curious person’.”
The note set the tone for the entire talk show to encourage current NBS students to ask even the silliest of question and not let the curiosity die throughout.
Can AI Act As A Shortcut To Outcomes?
Opinions varied on this topic. While the development and innovation in the AI sector are rapid, its widespread adoption is still relatively new. AI can indeed act as a shortcut to outcomes; however, problems arise when its use becomes compulsive. Let us explain:
Fundamentals will always be fundamentals:
Let’s say you’re trying to prepare your company’s balance sheet. Earlier, you’d go through each ledger, check every entry, and match the assets and liabilities yourself. It took time, but you learned a lot in the process – how numbers work, how mistakes happen, and how to fix them.
Today, you can just type a prompt into an AI tool, and it gives you the result in seconds. It’s fast, yes, but where’s the learning? If every task in your personal and professional life is just a prompt away, are you really preparing for your dream career or just getting better at talking to AI?
During the talk show, Anand and Vishal Tiwari highlighted why fundamentals still matter. Technology and AI are powerful tools, they should help you, not replace you. Real growth happens when you do the work, make mistakes, ask questions, and learn through experience. That’s how you build real knowledge and skill not just by getting the answers, but by understanding the “why” behind them.
Real learning, the kind that sticks comes from doing. It comes from struggling through mistakes, asking questions, trying again, and slowly building the muscle memory of your craft. Whether you’re in finance, marketing, coding, or design, it’s the hands-on experience, the human judgment, and the deep understanding of basics that truly set you apart.
You can’t replace experience with shortcuts. You can’t replace human thinking with just automation. You need both.
AI is amazing. It can do things faster and sometimes better. But it can’t think for you. It can’t learn for you. And it certainly can’t build your career for you.
So yes, use AI. Use it smartly. But don’t skip the fundamentals. Because in the end, it’s those basics that will keep you grounded, help you grow, and carry you forward no matter how advanced the tools get.
What Is Anand’s Take On The MSME Landscape Of India?
As an experienced finance professional and being associated with Capsafe Fintech which caters to MSMEs only, host Vishal Tiwari asked Anand Shankar to share his POV on the current landscape of MSMEs in India and what picture should a student draw about the MSME landscape in today’s India.
Anand Prakash knowingly formulated that the current scenario of MSMEs in India is not under the right spotlight while startups are stealing majority of it.
It is imperative to understand the difference between startups and MSMEs, two terms which are often used interchangeably but should not. Startups focus on rapid growth and disruptive innovation to reshape markets, while MSMEs prioritize steady and sustainable growth within established industries.
Startups are often characterized by high-growth potential and scalability, relying on external investments to fuel their ambitious plans and it is important to have the right knowledge on how to start a startup in India to make it succeed. MSMEs, on the other hand, focus on stability, gradual development, and sustainability, often relying on traditional funding sources.
Even in major cities like Ahmedabad, many MSMEs lack necessities such as current bank accounts, Aadhar cards, and UPI services. This deficiency leads traditional banks to deny financial aid and loans, leaving many MSMEs underfunded and struggling to scale their businesses. Consequently, numerous MSMEs either shut down or perpetually struggle due to a lack of financial support.
This is where organizations like Capsafe FinTech come into play, dedicated to catering only the MSMEs of India. Capsafe is dedicated to supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by facilitating access to credible financial information. This empowers Capsafe’s credit managers to make informed decisions when sanctioning loans to entrepreneurs as needed.
By leveraging the Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN), Capsafe enables customers to apply for loans directly through its platform. OCEN serves as a standardized digital infrastructure that connects borrowers with a multitude of lenders, including banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and fintech institutions. This integration ensures that loan applications are disseminated across a broad network of potential lenders, allowing for competitive offers and the selection of the most suitable financing options for users.
Parting Thoughts On The Alumni Talk Show At NBS Ahmedabad
The energy and gentleness that Anand brought for the talk show was exactly what our students needed to open up and learn from someone who’s already part of the industry. Alumni talk show dived deep into what is FinTech, the future of FinTech, MSMEs and how organizations like Capesafe Fintech are in the play to help MSMEs. To continue the momentum, Vishal Tiwari also invited Anand Shankar to become a mentor at our official Alumni Portal. This was born out of a realization that often students open better in one-on-one settings rather opening up on conclaves and seminars.
The alumni portal features a dedicated “Become a Mentor” section, inviting esteemed alumni like Anand to guide and inspire current students. Through this platform, students can connect with Anand for personalized, one-on-one mentoring sessions. They can easily view Anand’s availability, book time slots that fit their schedules, and engage in meaningful conversations to seek advice, ask questions, and gain insights into their academic and professional journeys.
