Our MBA program is approaching its 50th anniversary!
Established in 1974, the present-day MBA was known as interdisciplinary industrial administration sciences. The program continues to evolve in order to meet the needs of students and industry. Today, the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business offers part-time, full-time, and executive MBA tracks. Our full-time MBA has ascended in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, currently perched at #51 overall and #25 among public institutions, placing it in the top 10 percent nationally.
The second of the two champions representing the graduates of the 1990s is Anurag Joshi (’98 MBA). Before obtaining his MBA, Joshi also earned a master of science in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. Joshi is currently the senior vice president for risk at Athene, a retirement services company based in West Des Moines, Iowa. He has been with the company since before completing his MBA. Among the most valuable takeaways from the MBA program for Joshi are the lessons learned outside the classroom and the lifelong relationships he has formed.
Beyond work and his active involvement with the MBA Executive Advisory Council, Joshi is a member of the board of the Hindu Temple of Central Iowa. His family and religion are very important to him, and he strives to never take life too seriously. When asked about his hobbies, Joshi responded, “It’s fair to assume that my hobby is making people laugh.”
Get to know more about Joshi and his continuous involvement and support of the Ivy MBA.
Q: What about yourself would you tell someone you’ve never met before? What you are up to now?
You might say I’m “up to” the position of senior vice president for risk at Athene, a retirement services company based in West Des Moines that provides people with solutions for long-term savings and retirement income. I’ve been with Athene or its predecessor companies since before I received my MBA from Iowa State and the Ivy College of Business. It’s rewarding work with a noble purpose. It’s also quite time-consuming, as Athene is a market leader in its category.
If you were meeting me for the first time, you might find it interesting that my wife and I were brought together in an arranged marriage 25 years ago – and are still going strong. I sit on the board of the Hindu Temple of Central Iowa. Family and my religion are very important to me. You would also quickly learn that I love to joke. In fact, it’s fair to assume that my hobby is making people laugh. My goal is to never take life too seriously (or myself, for that matter).
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from attending Iowa State University?
I think my favorite memory concerns how I got my big break. You might call it “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” but I think that’s taken.
One day, a member of the business school faculty asked me if I was interested in a summer internship. A company called AmerUs in Des Moines was looking for someone with a background in math, and he thought my engineering background might be a good fit. He told me to show up and drop off my resume.
The big day arrived, and I piled into a car with a bunch of my friends for the trip to the city. They’d drop me off, I’d drop off my resume, and then we’d all head to the Valley West Mall. Fun!
I entered the lobby with my CV, announced myself at the HR department, and said I was an eager Iowa State business student there to drop off my application and resume for an investment internship.
“What internship?” asked the HR manager. Imagine my surprise! “The one my professor told me about,” I explained. So, I waited while inquiries were made.
All this time, my friends were driving around the block, getting impatient, risking traffic tickets, and anxious to head to the mall. At last, the HR manager returned.
“We don’t know about an investment internship,” she said. “But would you like to apply for a job here?”
I applied for two, landed one, and went to the mall. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: Describe your experience in the MBA program. How has it impacted your career?
I could share a hundred amusing anecdotes, but in all seriousness, my most important lessons took place outside the classroom.
All through business school, I belonged to a cohort that included two engineers and two non-engineers, one of whom was a landscape architect. We were two Americans and two “foreigners.” Being part of this culturally and educationally diverse group taught me the value of collaborating with people who don’t think like you. That has made a huge difference in my career and my success, and has helped make me the person I am today. I’m still close friends with my cohort colleagues to this day.
Q: How else do you stay involved with Ivy? What motivates you to continue to stay involved?
I’m thankful for the education I received and for the people and experiences that shaped who I am today. Others provided scholarships to help me get my start, and I want to do the same for the next generation.
Q: In your opinion, why is it important to support students through scholarships?
Americans hold nearly $2 trillion in student debt. Scholarships are a lifeline, especially for students pursuing advanced degrees. There are many students (like me) that couldn’t afford college without the help of donors who give back and provide scholarships. I encourage you to consider helping to give this group of students a “leg up.”
Q: In your opinion, what makes Iowa State and the Ivy College of Business unique from other schools?
First and foremost, it’s the value of lifetime relationships. I still stay in touch with my cohort and many of the other friends I made at Iowa State and the Ivy College of Business.
Then, there’s the core MBA faculty. They’re fully engaged and very focused on the MBA program. This brings a level of consistency and quality you can’t find everywhere.
And last but not least, it’s pure ROI. Put that against the price tag of the MBA – that’s an investment worth making in yourself and in your future.
