Shara shines in Basel

Shara Batliboi, a participant in the three-day Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) in Basel, Switzerland from August 30 to September 1, 2010, won a prize for outstanding achievement there. The prize is awarded by a jury of six people to three top students based on their contribution, performance, leadership and teamwork, her father Mehli informed Parsiana via the e-mail. Sharing the honors with Batliboi, a student of the SIES College of Management Studies in Nerul, New Bombay, were Gernot Guderian from the University of Basel and Yasuko Nakasaki from the University of Tokyo.

Batliboi, who completes 23 years on October 29, was one of three selected in July 2010 to represent India at the BioCamp. Two hundred students from all over India had applied and 48 were shortlisted to attend the local BioCamp in Hyderabad. In all, 60 university students from all over the world attended the Basel BioCamp which helps participants gain insights into the burgeoning field of biotechnology. During the meet they are familiarized with current and future challenges in the field and acquire first hand experience on how to manage a biotechnology company. Batliboi made the most of this opportunity and, skillfully combining scientific and business knowledge, successfully completed the task of developing a business concept for a hypothetical biotechnology company investigating Alzheimer’s disease, the e-mail mentions.

Shara Batliboi (center), flanked by Yasuko Nakasaki and Gernot Guderian

Speaking to Parsiana over the telephone the enthusiastic youngster described her experience as "Fantastic at every level — academic, social and fun. It was such a good environment, and we were judged by people from Novartis all the time and at all three levels to test our character. It was very stimulating.” The teams were very diverse, with participants from many countries, and "ideas come from interaction.” With seven in the team she worked with, including doctors (many of whom are doing their MBA) she was able to learn a lot. Of course her biology background (she stood first in Bombay University’s BSc microbiology examinations in 2009) enabled her to contribute a great deal to the case study which involved business, science and research. When Parsiana asked about her future plans, Batliboi responded that she is looking forward to campus interviews and recruitment after she completes her course next year, aiming for a job in either the pharma or biotech field.

A report in the New Bombay pullout of Daily News and Analysis (DNA) of September 8, 2010 forwarded to Parsiana by Batliboi’s parents Shirin and Mehli (who exclaimed that they are "Too proud of her!”) mentions that the faculty at the Nerul campus is exultant. Dr Suhas Tambe, chairman biotech and pharma management told DNA: "Her success is a matter of pride for us. She is a bright and intelligent girl. This is only the fifth batch of biotech management students at our college and therefore her performance is important.”