From serving on warships to IIM Ahmedabad: Ex-Indian Navy woman officer is on a new mission to manage MBA with motherhood

Time of India

26-05-2025

Ayushi Verma, 33, retired Lieutenant Commander of the Indian Navy, is now pursuing a one-year MBA at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). A civil engineer and naval architecture postgraduate from IIT Delhi, Ayushi served the
Indian Navy
for over ten years with a record of leadership and project management. She was integral to the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, where she led teams of over 300 personnel, many senior in age and experience.
Her naval career saw her progress through key roles, including Deputy Director at Naval Headquarters, Trials Officer in Visakhapatnam overseeing critical underwater hull inspections for ships and submarines, and Deputy Manager roles in outfitting and fabrication. In these capacities, she managed multiple projects simultaneously, coordinated with over 60 dockyard centers, ensured timely procurement and demand forecasting, and led teams exceeding 100 members with a focus on safety and quality, achieving a zero-accident record during her inspection tenure.
After retiring from the Navy in June 2024, Ayushi briefly served as a Human Resources Manager at the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), applying her leadership skills in a civilian role before beginning her MBA journey.
Balancing Motherhood With Academic Ambitions
Now a mother to a toddler, Ayushi faces the dual challenge of managing motherhood and the rigorous academic schedule at IIMA. Her son stays in Delhi with her husband, who works with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and her mother-in-law, while she focuses on her studies in Ahmedabad.
As per the Indian Express, she emphasized the resilience and mindset shaped by her defense career, saying she wants her son to look up to her example of determination. Ayushi reflected on her Navy days and current studies: 'I have immensely learnt from the ten-year service in the Navy during which I also was a part of the INS Vikrant team for two-and-a-half years. Being a part and leading a team of over 300, many twice my age were an experience in its own. Now here at IIMA too, the kind of learning we are going through every single hour of the day is also an experience, which I think will stay with me.'
She eagerly awaits the end of the first academic term in June to reunite with her family after nearly two months apart.
The 20th batch of IIMA's Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX) comprises 158 professionals from various industries including defense, IT, consulting, banking, infrastructure, FMCG, and more.
A Parallel Journey: Akshata Kamath
Alongside Ayushi is Akshata Kamath, 30, a chartered accountant with over eight years of corporate finance experience, including leadership roles at TCS Mumbai. Like Ayushi, she is balancing motherhood and rigorous academics while living apart from her toddler son, who remains in Mumbai with her husband and in-laws.
Akshata shared, 'While the academic rigour is demanding at IIMA, it gets tougher with a separation from family and a two-and-half-year-old son. Fortunately, with the support of my husband and in-laws I was able to take this decision and continue to follow my passion of broadening my horizon as I always felt there is much more to an organisation than just numbers.'
She stays in regular contact with her son through video calls every other day and looks forward to a short family reunion during the upcoming academic break.