Based in India, Umang Bang is the Founder and CEO of UBIXA, a firm specialising in international precision measuring instruments and electronic testing equipment. Umang shares his fond memories of his time at Queen Mary and reflects on how the course helped him solve issues within his own business.
What made you choose to study for an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Queen Mary?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs where all from the eldest to the youngest member have all started their own businesses. During my undergraduate studies I was certain that I wanted to pursue a specialisation course in Entrepreneurship. Taking inspiration from my family, I too wanted to create my own legacy and when it comes to studying business and management, London was my first preference and Queen Mary was my first choice.
What aspects of your degree did you find most enjoyable? What modules did you enjoy learning about and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?
The aspect of this degree that made it the most enjoyable and holistic for me was its interrelation with case studies that not only helped me understand the core concepts but also made me aware of its practical implications in life-like situations.
Leading Organisational Change was one of my favourite modules in my master’s course. Professor Stefan Krummaker has a plethora of knowledge on leadership, organisational team performance and its strategic implementations. The group discussions held in the class have helped me solve various problems I was struggling with in my own business.
Every day, I strive to understand and become an expert in every spectrum of my work possible, be it marketing, sales, accounting or logistics, so that every day is a learning day for me and I look forward to experiencing it each morning when I walk into my office.
I could closely connect my work and media engagement techniques to a lot of case studies presented by Dr Zahra Sharif during Marketing Management classes. Different peer perspective and brainstorming discussion sessions helped me apprehend the modus operandi of modern and traditional marketing.
My professors went above and beyond for us to gain the maximum out of this degree; for example, Dr Joanne Zhang who taught us Innovation and Global Competition, invited Jamie Brooker (founder of Kahoot) to Queen Mary to share his experience and expertise with building a business empire using technology and value based entrepreneurship.
Can you describe your career path up to date and your current role?
I pursued a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Information Technology and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from NMIMS University, India. In tandem with my MBA, I interned for a year with two Multinational Companies in India. In 2018 I applied for a Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Queen Mary and graduated with a merit in August 2019. I then came back to India and joined my Grandfather’s firm as Business Head. The unison of theoretical knowledge gained from my master's and learning from my grandfather’s fifty years of work experience helped me in February 2020 to establish a firm of international precision measuring instruments and electronic testing equipment, under the brand name ‘UBIXA’. At present I am successfully handling my role as CEO of UBIXA.
Can you describe what a typical working day looks like for you?
As the CEO of UBIXA, I oversee partnerships with national and international customers, new product launches and quality assurance for our in-house products along with finance and investment decisions. In a very short span of time we have partnered with high profile customers such as Indian Army, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Indian Navy, Indian Airforce, Indian Railways and Indian Ordnance Factory and IITs throughout the nation as well as private organisations across the country. A typical day for me starts with a meeting with all my team members from every department i.e. sales, marketing, logistics and accounting. I believe every member working in the company, especially new staff members in a growing company like mine, should understand and familiarise themselves with the prima facie functions and projects handled by each department for better coordination amongst them.
We discuss the primary things to be taken care of including customer issues, sales strategies and all other major and minor pressing issues at hand. In the afternoon, I generally hold meetings with my manufacturers to discuss the development of our new brand to be launched. Towards the end of the day I make sure I invest time in addressing any client issues or requirements and other product related queries and provide them the best possible solutions we can to cater to their satisfaction. Since its inception, UBIXA has always laid great emphasis on the quality of its products and customer query response time which has added to our share of success.
What is the most exciting thing about what you do?
I have always wanted to create an impact on the people I work with in a way that the work culture and environment I establish also becomes a strong motivation for my employees to want to grow with the company. I have tried to never restrict my knowledge to just one or two sections of my business. Every day, I strive to understand and become an expert in every spectrum of my work possible, be it marketing, sales, accounting or logistics, so that every day is a learning day for me and I look forward to experiencing it each morning when I walk into my office.
How did your time and study at Queen Mary help your career and development?
The MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Queen Mary has helped me understand the global market, the work ethics of growing and established firms, and the business models that made them the success they are today. We could choose from a variety of modules that were tailored and taught in-depth according to our niche interest in a particular domain, which aided me in taking complex strategic decisions at work with ease and certainty.
My interactions with students from different work backgrounds and nationalities have not only widened my horizons of business exposure but it has also provided me with a chance to make friends and mentors in my peers and professors.
What was special about your time at Queen Mary? Can you give one or two examples of your most memorable moments?
The special thing about being at Queen Mary was the group of friends that I made. My close friends were also from other countries so the exposure that I got from Queen Mary would not have been the same anywhere else.
Do you have a favourite spot on campus? If so, where is it and why?
My favourite spot was hands down the Drapers Bar and Kitchen on the university campus . I have such fond memories of having intense brainstorming sessions with my peers there, alongside playing pool.
Why would you recommend Queen Mary to prospective students hoping to study Entrepreneurship and Innovation?
The course is designed for people who are keen to start their own business as well as for those whose job roles require them to come up with innovative solutions and think out of the box. People working in companies aspiring to be regional or global heads will have an easy transition with the knowledge this degree offers.
Connections made with people from such diversified backgrounds and international countries in and out of the campus will help your entrepreneurship skills mature into a global outlook.
Is there any advice you would give to current students or recent graduates considering their career options?
In my opinion it is very important for students to step out of their comfort zones and try to make the most of the knowledge their peers and professors have to offer. Volunteering for events and causes, taking an active part in different societies, polishing your presentation and interview skills through different workshops conducted in the university and learning a hobby or a sport to ward off stress would in my opinion help every student go a long way!
If you would like to share your story in an alumni profile, please contact Alumni Engagement Cooridinator, Nathalie Grey at n.grey@qmul.ac.uk.