Chai, Chat, and Columbia Business School
My First Semester in a Cup
Hi there! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a first-year MBA student at Columbia Business School and the voice behind this newsletter. Here, I share my thoughts, experiences, and whatever else happens to brew in my mind—often over a cup of chai.
If you’re someone who prefers coffee to chai, don’t worry—there’s always time to see the light!
Aloha, Chai Drinkers!
It’s been ages since we last caught up. If you’re wondering how I’ve been, the answer is: absolutely, exhaustingly amazing. Between chasing the perfect post-MBA job and juggling recruiting, socializing, and school, I haven’t had much time to reflect or write. My to-do list is constantly overflowing, and any free moments are filled with socializing!
But this past week, I finally submitted my job applications, and now I’m here to share an update on my first semester at Columbia Business School: the lessons I’ve learned, the growth I’ve experienced, and what lies ahead.
Build Relationships, Overcome the Fear of ‘Hi’
In undergrad, I’d often see people I wanted to talk to but let the fear of rejection stop me. This time around though, I’ve flipped the script. I read once that the hardest part of any social interaction is saying, “Hi, I’m Kanav. What about you?” It sounds simple, but it changed everything for me.
Now, whenever I’m running between Kravis and Geffen (the two main CBS buildings), I’m ready to introduce myself. While not every interaction clicks (some people can be cold), many have blossomed into meaningful friendships. These small social touchpoints have also helped reduce the FOMO that inevitably comes with missing events during recruiting season.
Another huge revelation for me has been CBS’s “pay it forward” culture. Second-years have been incredibly generous with their time, advice, and support—completely for free. It’s something I’ve come to deeply value, and as I wrapped up my job applications last week, I made it a point to thank everyone who helped me along the way. A short note of appreciation can go a long way.
Gratitude = Culture Sustainence
Under the Macroscope
Coming to CBS, I was thrown into an entirely new environment filled with 750+ people who didn’t know me. For the first time in years, I was forced to reflect on my personality through the fresh perspectives of others. Some of the feedback has been flattering; some of it, less so.
Over the past few months, people have been super supportive and encouraging. While I’ve heard good things about myself, I’ve also heard things like “self-obsessed,” “privileged,” and even a “rich boy brat.” At first, it stung, but once I saw how good I looked in the mirror after a workout and sauna session in my $300/month gym, I decided I wasn’t going to let external opinions define me. Besides, being this good-looking does come with its challenges :P
On a serious note though, these moments of self-reflection felt confusing at first, but have helped me grow. They’ve taught me to embrace who I am while remaining open to evolving. I try to approach criticism with optimism and have been working on making changes to become a better version of myself.
Incessant Dopamine Hits
The MBA experience is like riding a wave of constant social stimulation. The sheer volume and frequency of interactions keep you on a perpetual high, but they also make solitude feel weirdly uncomfortable. I always tell people that if they see me doing work on campus, I’m not really trying to seriously work. I’m just hoping for someone to come disturb me so we can chat about everything other than work. When I do have a rare free evening, I notice a void that my old hobbies—like cooking, reading, or watching podcasts—don’t quite fill anymore. It’s a strange adjustment. Maybe it’s an MBA thing, or maybe it’s just New York, but the silver lining is that these dopamine spikes come from real-life interactions—not endless hours scrolling through reels. At least this way, the highs feel a little more purposeful.
Stick Around and See
One of the most fascinating parts of business school is just how “chance” dependent everything is. Where you sit for lunch, which floor you choose to study on, or the effort you put into sending someone a quick message can change the trajectory of your day, week, or even semester. Some of my stronger bonds at business school have developed through me choosing to walk back home with others when the taking the subway was much easier, or going up to someone and saying hi.
That’s why I feel almost guilty heading home when I’m free. Going home is comfortable, but it’s also predictable. Staying on campus requires more effort but has longer term payoffs. I think of it as maximizing the probability of opportunities coming my way—whether it’s useful recruiting tips, a chance encounter, or an unexpected friendship.
P(Opportunity) = Effort × Presence × Interaction
Global Glimpses
Probably the most rewarding part of my MBA so far has been getting exposure to people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Initially, I’d measure this experience in purely monetary terms—what’s the fee? What’s the starting salary for my dream job? But just as I recently learned in accounting class, not all value is captured in the financial statements. I’ve realized it’s important to value the MBA experience beyond the numbers.
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to try different types of hot sauce from South Korea. Yesterday, while walking to the subway station with my friend from Mexico, I learned about “idiot’s rain”—a term people use in her country when a light drizzle fools you into leaving your umbrella behind, only to leave you drenched. Next semester, I’m already planning trips to Colombia and Japan, places I’m super excited to visit with classmates.
Don’t worry, I’ve also introduced my MBA friends to Indian culture—a steaming cup of chai ☕🍵
Shifting from Depth to Breadth
I’m not sure if others feel this way, but I often find myself thinking that the clock on this two-year MBA experience is always ticking, urging me to make the most of every moment. I used to believe that whatever I pursued, I had to master it. But recently, I came across Naval Ravikant’s philosophy of understanding the foundations and basics of various topics. That shifted my mindset—now, I’ve decided to use these two years to become a Jack of many trades, and a master of none. Rather than diving deep into a single subject, I want to dip my toes into as many areas as possible.
Even though this semester has been dominated by the job search, I’ve kept a running list of things I want to accomplish, just to remind myself to leverage every opportunity. Here’s what it looks like so far:
Start performing and singing again
Improve public speaking skills
Launch a product startup in the Health and Wellness space, or help someone doing something similar
Learn to dance[Already did! See image]
My first choreographed dance @ CBS Diwali Party Learn to Act
Plan and lead an Indian trip for international classmates
Travel, travel, travel
Rememeber to stay connected with non-MBA friends
Start or atleast be on a podcast
Continue working out and dive deeper into wellness
Take introductory courses in as many areas as I can
…
Whenever I think of something else I would want to do, I add it to this list!
The Coming Weeks and Months
In the coming weeks, if I hear back about my applications and land interviews, many will likely be scheduled for early January. This means I’ll be spending the holiday season in New York, mostly focused on interview preparation. While that sounds intense, I’m looking forward to getting a break from school and diving even deeper into everything CBS has to offer next semester. If you have any questions about my experience, or just want to discuss life in general, feel free to reach out, I will probably not have the time to reply (jk).
Thank You for Reading!
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~ Email: kanavghai130@gmail.com