Shubham Malviya’s journey to Kellogg is a testimony to the philosophy that not all stars are born in the nebula, some are crafted right here and amongst us by grit and passion.. From a small village in central India to leading global teams in Europe, and finally earning his place at Kellogg with a scholarship, his journey reminds us that achievement is not always loud; sometimes, it is forged in silence, responsibility, and perseverance.

Where did this story took an initial shap?

Unlike many MBA admits whose stories begin in India’s tier-1 cities, Shubham grew up in a rural community in central India. Life was slow, opportunities scarce, and quality education was a privilege few around him shared.

Raised in a multigenerational household, he learned early the meaning of responsibility. He realized that “breaking out” of his circumstances wasn’t just about himself-  it was about uplifting his entire family, even his community. Quietly, he committed to JEE, the entrance exam to India’s top engineering schools, a dream that seemed almost impossible from where he stood. Against odds, he succeeded and became the first from his family, even his village, to earn admission to IIT Roorkee.

What happened when life tested him?

Just when it looked like his future was finally secure, tragedy struck. At only 19, Shubham lost his father who was the sole breadwinner of the family and the anchor of his world. It was the kind of loss that can shatter even the strongest adults, let alone a teenager just beginning to find his place in life. One day, he was a boy chasing dreams at IIT; the next, he was a young man faced with the stark reality of holding his family together.

For many, this would have meant a derailment of dreams, a quiet surrender to circumstance. But for Shubham, it became the defining test of his character. He chose not to crumble but to rise- balancing the grief of losing a parent with the determination to graduate on time, and the courage to step into responsibilities much bigger than himself. He graduated on time and secured a job, but more importantly, emerged with a stronger sense of resilience and responsibility.

How did his career reflect that resilience?

Starting at ZS Associates, Shubham quickly proved his ability to apply analytics to real-world problems. At Novartis, he went further and played a leading role in optimizing the company’s entire global marketing spend through AI-driven solutions. It was a role that combined technical brilliance with strategic foresight.

While many in his position would have “thrown in the towel” and settled into a comfortable corporate trajectory, he looked for the next challenge. When an opportunity to move to Europe came, he grabbed it despite knowing it would mean leaving his family behind and stepping into an unfamiliar world.

Did the gamble pay off?

Absolutely and in abundance. In Europe, at Bolt Technologies, Shubham wasn’t just a participant in growth, he was a driver of it. He helped create algorithms that influenced the ride experience of over 100 million users. He revamped an $800 million investment strategy and spearheaded initiatives that delivered $10 million in annual savings.

Being a people person throughout his journey, he continued building and expanding teams, and shaping a culture that prioritized both customer satisfaction and operational excellence. From the dusty roads of his village to shaping the future of mobility in Europe, Shubham had come a long way not just in miles, but in leadership. His desire to help not just a few but hundreds and thousands people and companies out there, encouraged him to pursue an MBA.

With such a journey, why was he nervous about an MBA?

MBA applications don’t just measure impact, rather they measure perception. Shubham knew that his story wasn’t one of glamour. He wasn’t a founder, or a flashy dealmaker. He was an engineer, a data-driven problem-solver, and a quiet leader. With a GMAT of 730, modest in the hyper-competitive Indian applicant pool, he worried whether his story would really resonate with others.

How did GyanOne help bring his story alive?

Working with Rishabh, Shubham realized that his story was not just about hardships or numbers. It was about how he was resilient and led through them. Together, we unpacked the nuances: the perseverance that carried him from rural India to IIT, the adaptability that made him thrive at Novartis, the courage that took him to Europe, and the humility that defined his leadership.

Instead of framing him as “the underdog,” we positioned him as “the quiet leader with global impact.” Rishabh brought a new perspective to his application essays and made sure that Shubham’s story wasn’t about tragedy; it was about transformation.

Where is Shubham now and what he is going to do next?

Today, Shubham is preparing to begin his MBA journey at Kellogg School of Management, carrying with him not just the pride of an admit but also the honor of a scholarship. For him, Kellogg is not the destination, but the next step in scaling his impact.

He hopes to build on his foundation in analytics and leadership, exploring roles at the intersection of technology, mobility, and strategy. His long-term vision is to return to the global mobility and technology space, helping shape the future of platforms that touch millions of lives just as he did at Bolt, but this time on an even larger canvas.