The Hindu : National : Former Israeli paratrooper joins IIM-C

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Former Israeli paratrooper joins IIM-C

Indrani Dutta

India can become the U.S. of 21st century: Nathan
He is willing to stay on even after his course completion

KOLKATA: From Tel Aviv in Israel to the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta has been a long journey for Orr Ben Nathan. But it was one that he was keen to take. The former paratrooper fell in love not only with India, a country he has travelled well, but he also liked the premier management school here, which he felt offered excellent return on investment.

Mr. Nathan, who has joined IIM-C’s flagship two-year postgraduate diploma programme in management for the 2008-10 session, studied economics and accounting at The Tel Aviv University in Israel. After his graduation, he did compulsory service in the Army, serving as a paratrooper for three years. “My stint in the Army instilled in me the basic tenets of discipline,” he says.

Later, he helped manage a mutual fund for 30 months which he said further strengthened his fundamentals of finance. He helped his investors make money through the fund, which he claimed was rated among the best.

Talking to The Hindu at the Joka campus of the IIM-C on the south-western fringes of the city, he says: “Asia will be the world economy of the 21st century and India has the opportunity of becoming the U.S. of the 21st century. I want to be part of this growth story.”

And, he is willing to stay on even after his course-completion. “I may join the big investment bankers if they offer me a job during recruitment or I may launch my own business — it may be here,” he says.

Choosing IIM-C

Asked why he chose the IIM-C, he says that after a thorough online research on top business schools, he realised that the positioning of this school (with a stronghold in finance), its alumni network and its capability to attract recruiters made it a good choice.

“The eminence of IIM-Calcutta especially for investment banking positions made the course here attractive. The tuition fees, the cost of living, everything helped me make up my mind,” he says.

Integrating well

IIM-C sources say that Mr. Nathan has begun integrating well with his new environs.

This is not the first time that an overseas student has joined the IIM-C (usually through GMAT). The school has had students from the U.S. in the past.

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