‘We Care Deeply About Where Our Students Go and How They Grow’: Priyanka Chandhok, Vice President, Career Development Office

What is your vision for the Career Development Office and the Office of Postgraduate Studies?

At the heart of it, my vision is very simple – to be deeply invested in student success, right from the start, no matter what path they choose. Whether a student wants to pursue higher studies, build a career in the social sector, take on a corporate role, or even start something of their own, we ensure that they are supported by us.

Both the Career Development Office and the Office of Postgraduate Studies are spaces where students feel empowered to explore, ask questions, and build clarity. These offices are not just about placements or admissions; they are about inculcating confidence and helping students navigate the world beyond the University.

As the world of work evolves – with AI, hybrid models, global collaboration, and interdisciplinary roles becoming the norm – our role is to anticipate these shifts and prepare our students accordingly.

We endeavour to be strong partners to our recruiters and collaborators, understanding what they need and making sure our students are ready to meet those expectations. Ultimately, we’re here to empower — to equip students with tools, resources, and networks. Our support goes beyond one-size-fits-all solutions. It is deeply personalised, responsive, and future-ready.

Reflecting on your experience at Ashoka, how have recruiters perceived our students over the years?

The journey has been truly transformational. When we first started engaging with recruiters, there was a fair bit of resistance and curiosity. Liberal arts and sciences graduates were still relatively new to many hiring ecosystems, especially in India, and there were questions around how they would fit into traditional and emerging roles.

We often found ourselves having to define roles, explain our curriculum, and demonstrate how Ashoka students could contribute meaningfully to organisations.

But fast forward to today — we’re in a space where organisations are not just open to hiring our students, they are actively seeking Ashoka talent.

What’s more exciting is that we are now co-creating roles with recruiters. Instead of us pitching predefined opportunities, many organisations are approaching us to explore how Ashoka students can contribute across functions, including areas they had not initially imagined.

This shift is also reflected in the nature of our engagement. It’s no longer transactional. Recruiters are invested not just in hiring, but in mentoring and growing with our students. We have seen this in the way they support students through interview prep, offer detailed feedback, and participate in mock assessments and mentoring programs. There is a genuine belief in the long-term potential of Ashoka graduates.

Flagship events like industry mixers, corporate outreach events, and career fairs have played a big role in shaping these perceptions. We have had industry leaders share hiring best practices, speak candidly about evolving skill requirements, and even highlight Ashoka alumni as standout performers within their teams.

Moments like these reinforce the growing respect and recognition our students command in the job market.

That said, there’s always room to grow. As expectations rise, we must continue to strengthen our students’ industry readiness, especially around technical depth, structured thinking, and clarity in communication.

We are working closely with faculty, alumni, and employers to close these gaps and ensure students can translate their academic strengths into workplace success.

In your view, what makes Ashoka students stand out in the talent pool?

What truly sets Ashoka students apart is the way they combine academic depth with a strong sense of self-awareness and empathy. They are not just problem-solvers — they are thoughtful, curious, and deeply committed to understanding the world around them. And that shows in how they engage with teams, lead initiatives, and contribute meaningfully in the workplace.

One of the first things recruiters often notice is their ability to think outside the box. Ashoka students can approach problems from multiple angles due to the interdisciplinary nature of their education, which means they are constantly challenging assumptions, asking the right questions, and crafting solutions that are both creative and grounded.

Their academic training equips them to manage complexity, connect the dots across diverse fields, and communicate with clarity — all of which make them highly adaptable and effective in dynamic work environments.

Do you think 100% placement is the right metric for success? Or is it more about the long-term impact our students are creating in the workplace?

In my view, it’s not an either/or; it’s both. While placement outcomes are undeniably important and offer immediate indicators of success, they are just one part of a much bigger picture. We do strive for strong placement numbers — not just for the sake of statistics, but because we know the value of a good first step.

That said, our true measure of success goes beyond that. We care deeply about where our students go, how they grow, and what kind of impact they create over time. Are they thriving in their roles? Are they continuing to learn and lead? Are they bringing their values, skills, and sense of purpose into the work they do? These are the questions we ask when we think about long-term success.

We have also seen that Ashoka alumni are often recognised early in their careers — not just for their talent, but for their maturity, their ability to handle complexity, and their leadership potential. That speaks volumes about the foundation they have built here.

So yes, 100% placement is a great milestone — but at Ashoka, success is also about creating lifelong learners, ethical leaders, and individuals who contribute meaningfully to their fields and communities. That’s the impact we are most proud of, and that’s what we continue to build.

Where do you envision Ashoka’s placement and postgraduate outcomes five years from now?

Five years from now, I envision Ashoka being recognised not just for strong placement and postgraduate outcomes, but for redefining what career readiness looks like in India. Our students will continue to find success in established sectors — consulting, finance, policy, development, research — but we will also see them break ground in emerging areas like AI ethics, sustainability, behavioural science, social entrepreneurship, and more.

Ashoka will be known as a place where organisations come not just to recruit talent, but to co-create it through live projects, research collaborations, and long-term partnerships that start well before the final year. Our graduates will be sought after not just for what they know, but for how they think, adapt, and lead.

The opportunity ahead is to shape a future-ready workforce that is deeply human in its approach — agile, ethical, and interdisciplinary.

To meet that, we’ll continue to innovate — blending rigorous academics with real-world exposure, offering personalised career journeys, and expanding global pathways. We want Ashoka to be a national model for how universities can support student outcomes that are not just immediate but deeply meaningful and future-facing.

On a personal note, what’s one meaningful win in your journey that inspires you to support students in their career aspirations?

There are so many that give me reason to carry on. One of the most meaningful wins in my journey was witnessing a student who had faced over a dozen rejections to secure an offer that was a great professional fit and deeply aligned with their values. What stood out wasn’t just the job offer, but the persistence they showed through the entire process. They kept showing up, refining their approach, asking for feedback, and staying committed even when it got disheartening.

When they finally got the call, they said, “I didn’t think I had it in me—but thank you for not letting me give up.” That moment reaffirmed why I do this work. It reminded me that our role isn’t just to connect students with opportunities, but to stand with them in uncertain situations, especially when they’re close to giving up. Supporting students in their career aspirations isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to honour their grit and help them see the strength they already carry within.