Simon Hungate, HBA ’26, is a Logistics committee member with the Ivey LEADER Project, a student-led association offering an international economic development program. In his blog below, Hungate writes about takeaways from his experience in Bangalore, India where he travelled with fellow Ivey students Angela Pang, HBA ’24; Mariya Tsybulnyk, MBA ’24; Ivy Yang, MBA ’24, and alumni volunteer Janet Lambert MBA ’87.
Bustling, beautiful Bangalore
When I found out back in January that I was travelling to Bangalore, I was thrilled. My affinity for India predates LEADER; in high school an Indian friend persuaded me to play on the cricket team, and it was there on the pitch that I had my first glimpse into the culture and traditions in India. Before I knew it, I was actually on the plane to India!
Upon arriving in India, I was struck by the stark differences between the streets of Toronto or London, Ont. and Bangalore. “Bad traffic” took on a new meaning, with the constant noise of horns and aggressive tuk-tuk (rickshaw) drivers incessantly blanketing the city. Crossing the street was a real-life game of Crossy Road – we truly had to take it one lane at a time. Nevertheless, the greenery was impressive, and I quickly became accustomed to the never-ending hustle and bustle of our surroundings. I came to love the city, its friendly inhabitants, delicious food, and gigantic banyan trees.
Some highlights from our time in Bangalore include strolling through the beautiful Cubbon Garden, eating fantastic food, visiting temples, taking in the beauty of the architecture, and witnessing the Lok Sabha (parliamentary) elections that took place while we were there. We also had the opportunity to travel to Mysore (Mysuru) during a weekend, where we went on a beautiful safari and got to immerse ourselves in the history of the Kingdom of Mysore, an important aspect of the history of southern India.
Delivering the case method
We spent two weeks delivering an entrepreneurship-focused, case-based curriculum to a group of entrepreneurs and engineering students, in partnership with JAIN Launchpad. Teaching concepts I had studied months earlier proved to be a stimulating challenge. The participants were highly engaged, driving case discussions and asking insightful questions that pushed me to solidify my own understanding of fundamental business concepts.
It was especially enjoyable to learn about the city through case discussions. I knew Bangalore was the technology hub of India, but I was still impressed by the students' efficiency-driven mindset. This was reflected in the city’s technological infrastructure. One striking example of Bangalore’s advanced ecosystem is the standard for grocery delivery services: delivery is promised in less than 10 minutes and is free on orders more than 299 INR (less than CAD $5).
Connecting with participants
One of the most significant aspects of the trip was connecting both with the staff at JAIN Launchpad, and participants of the program. We enjoyed many meals with our site partners, and also with the students. It was eye-opening to hear their life stories and understand their hopes and aspirations. I had the pleasure of working with several student teams to help prepare them for our pitch competition; seeing the metamorphosis of their ideas from theory to a tangible business proposal was demonstrative of the impact the program can have. We also had the pleasure of working closely with a founder whose product, a waiting-room management software, was already in-market. He faced a tough pricing decision, needing to determine how to price dynamically for different sizes and types of clients. We worked to provide him with a framework to make the decision, and ensured he was factoring in all the relevant criteria, resulting in a reimagining of his original plan.
Final reflections
My initial excitement about visiting India soon blossomed into a profound appreciation for the country and its cultural diversity. Bangalore proved to be an incredible location for a program like LEADER: the entrepreneurial energy and cutting-edge tech infrastructure provided an ideal setting for our discussions. Assisting students and startups in refining their strategies and witnessing their growth underscored the importance of cross-cultural collaboration and the effectiveness of practical, case-based learning. I left India with fantastic memories and connections and a deeper understanding of business fundamentals. I’m looking forward to returning to class on the other side in the fall, and to whatever journeys LEADER takes me on in the coming year!
The LEADER team and students at the teaching location in Bangalore
