On May 9, Karthik Rai, a graduating Broad College Full-Time MBA student, was honored by Poets&Quants on its list of 100 “Best & Brightest” MBAs. With this recognition, Rai continues the college’s legacy of success — MBA students have made the list since 2016 and undergraduate students since 2017.
Karthik Rai (MBA ’21)
Rai came to Michigan State after working for PwC U.S. Advisory in India because he wanted to advance his career in supply chain management and logistics. “MSU’s supply chain program is top-ranked, with several distinguished professors teaching the courses,” he said. “I felt like this was the right choice to me.”
In his interview with Poets & Quants, Rai explained that his dedication to involvement helped him stand out and succeed at MSU. “I highlighted that I would actively contribute toward peer learning by sharing my experience and that I would leverage my network to bring in guest speakers to share their experiences,” he said.
From serving as president of the Broad Consulting Club, a teaching assistant and full-time career peer coach to being voted best student by faculty, Rai followed through and made the most of his time as a Spartan.
“Karthik has been an academic superstar and an exceptional student leader,” Wayne Hutchison, managing director of the Full-Time MBA program, said. “He entered this program and immediately impressed his faculty and administration with his technical acumen and insatiable willingness to learn. These traits culminated with Karthik achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the MBA program, a truly impressive feat.”
Hutchison outlined how Rai’s service leadership had exponential effects on the MBA program overall. “He has worked tirelessly to provide access to consulting companies and education for his colleagues, a very challenging effort given the hurdles the pandemic has presented,” Hutchison said. “His efforts have led directly to creating additional access to consulting positions for his colleagues at Broad.”
In addition, Rai embraced new partnerships and mentoring opportunities between the MBA program and other college units, working together with the Multicultural Business Program this year to support its 20th annual case competition. Rai was also a member of the winning team at the 25th International Case Competition — the best showing MSU has had at this event in 10 years.
After completing his MBA, Rai will be joining Kearney as an associate, ready to take on whatever challenges come his way. He hopes to have a fast-track career path and make partner at the firm, serving as an expert in supply chain.
“I aim to have the knowledge, expertise and skills to help organizations (clients) improve their operational efficiencies,” he said.
Read more at Poets&Quants for “Best & Brightest MBAs Class of 2021” and an in-depth interview with Karthik Rai.
