A first look at the world of MBA in luxury brand management in India- three days, three lessons, and the beginning of a story still being written.
Prologue
If you had asked me before my induction what I was feeling about starting this new journey, I probably would have said, “Excited… but also extremely nervous.”
And honestly, that pretty much sums up day one.
Day One: The First Step In
Walking into the three-day induction program, I had a weird mix of excitement, nervousness and uncertainty. New people, new faces, a new campus and, more importantly, a completely new field that I had consciously chosen for myself. But thankfully, the faculty members, Rashmi Ma’am and Akshay Sir made things much easier with their warmth and kind words. Slowly, the nervousness started turning into comfort.
We were taken to the classroom where we’ll be spending the next 9 to 12 months. As they explained the subjects, projects, activities and everything we would be doing throughout the program, it finally hit me – okay, this is actually happening.
This isn’t just another course. This is the beginning of a completely new chapter.
Then came the campus tour. We were shown the washrooms, waiting areas, different spaces around the campus and, of course, the gaming station. And I’m not going to lie, knowing there’s a place where I can disappear for a few minutes after a hectic day and just switch off is something I’m going to appreciate.
But what surprised me the most that day was how quickly I started interacting with people. I had expected myself to take much longer to open up, but within the first hour, I found myself talking to people I had literally just met. Maybe stepping outside my comfort zone was already beginning.
Then, post-lunch, the faculty members also planned a little bonding session for us. We played a few fun games, and honestly, it was such a refreshing change. It shifted the mood from serious and slightly stressful to something much more easygoing, fun and happy.
Stepping out of my comfort zone is going to be a very important part of this journey.
Day Two: Seeing Luxury Differently
Then came day two – our industrial visit to The Chanakya.
Before enrolling in the program, I had only seen pictures of luxury boutiques and wondered what it would actually feel like to experience one in person. This time, I wasn’t visiting as just another customer. I was there as a LuxeBee, and that changed everything.
Before we entered, we were told to observe all the tiny details that make a luxury space feel different. The lighting. The way products were positioned, amount of space between them, overall atmosphere. Things I would probably have walked past without a second thought earlier suddenly seemed intentional.
Later, when I found myself at a shopping mall, I realized I was looking at stores differently too. I started analyzing what makes a luxury brand different from a regular brand. Is it the product, the experience, the storytelling, or the way everything comes together?
Maybe the course had already started changing the way I see things.
The industrial visit also gave me the chance to meet Somya, an LCBS alumna, and our conversation was one of my favorite parts of the day. She gave me some real insights into the program, the projects and what the journey ahead could actually look like. Her advice was simple:
Stay on your toes, don’t take unnecessary pressure, and most importantly – believe in yourself.
Day Three: Voices That Stayed With Me
And then came day three.
We had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion featuring Ms. Sulakshana Pathak, Ms. Radha Kapoor Khanna, Mr. Devanshu Dutta and our founder, Abhay Sir. The conversation revolved around AI, employment and the future of work. What stayed with me was their perspective on the luxury industry. Luxury is built around emotion, storytelling, heritage, craftsmanship and human connection.
AI may change the way we work, but it cannot simply replace the human element that makes luxury what it is.
I also got the opportunity to speak to Ms. Sulakshana Pathak personally and ask her about her journey from LVMH to BMW and MINI Cooper.
The third day also included a presentation based on our industrial visit, where we shared our observations and what stood out to us. It was interesting to see how differently everyone had interpreted the same experience.
The day ended with an interaction with Abhay Sir, where he shared three things that really stayed with me the 3Cs of luxury:
Conviction, Commitment and Continuity.
Three simple words, but perhaps three things that will matter the most throughout this journey.
Epilogue
By the end of these three days, I realized that the induction wasn’t really just an introduction to the course.
It was an introduction to the journey.
Day one was overwhelming. Day two was exciting and eye-opening. Day three was inspiring.
Together, they felt like a little trailer of everything that’s waiting ahead – the people I’ll meet, the things I’ll learn, the perspectives I’ll develop and, hopefully, the person I’ll become along the way.
If these three days were just the teaser…
I think I’m ready for the movie.
About the luxury brand management course in India at LCBS
Luxury Connect Business School in Gurugram runs an MBA in luxury brand management course in India built around the industry: boutique visits from the first week, live projects, and sessions with leaders from luxury, fashion, retail, automobiles, real estate, hospitality and many more. Choose the MBA in Luxury Brand Management or the PGP in Luxury Brand Management, both with an international module at Accademia del Lusso, Milan. Read more student blogs.
