Women in Leadership Spotlight: Meghna Gandhi

Meghna Gandhi (MBA ’27), President of the Marketing Club and Head of Marketing for MBAT (MBA Tournament) at HEC Paris, sees leadership as the ability to bring people together through empathy, resilience, and authentic connection. Her MBA experience has shown her that great leaders create space for others to thrive while building communities that leave a lasting impact.

What moment in your career - or during your MBA at HEC Paris - has most shaped the leader you are today? 

Stepping into the dual roles of Head of Marketing for MBAT and President of the Marketing Club at HEC Paris has been one of the most defining experiences of my MBA journey.

Managing MBAT taught me that events like these are truly a marathon, not a sprint. Behind a three-day sports and cultural tournament that hosts top MBA schools from across Europe are nearly six months of planning, coordination, and constant problem-solving. It became one of the most fulfilling experiences of my MBA because it pushed me far beyond traditional marketing and into real-time leadership.

I was leading a seven-member team across sponsorships, school relations, merchandising, communications, and social media while coordinating closely with the President, VP, and multiple vertical leads. At different moments, we were simultaneously handling sponsor conversations, solving operational issues, managing student expectations, and trying to create an experience that felt exciting and welcoming for more than a thousand participants.

It showed me that leadership is rarely about having all the answers. Instead, it is about staying calm under pressure, making people feel supported, and helping a team move forward together even during uncertainty.

Most importantly, the experience made me realize how much I enjoy building communities and creating experiences that bring people together.
 

How has your time at HEC Paris influenced or reshaped what leadership means to you? 

Working with people from different cultures, industries, and perspectives has shown me that there is no single leadership style that works for everyone. Some of the most impactful leaders I have met here are the ones who listen carefully, create space for others to contribute, and lead with authenticity rather than authority.

Before HEC, it was easy to view leadership purely through the lens of strategy and delegation. Immersing myself in execution-heavy roles reshaped my perspective entirely. Leadership, to me now, is about empathy. It’s about ensuring my team feels supported while managing high-stakes deliverables.

I also realized that leadership can be both strategic and deeply human. Sometimes it is about making big decisions, and sometimes it is simply about checking in on your team during stressful weeks and making sure people feel valued.
 

Who is a woman who has inspired you during your career or MBA experience, and why? 

I have been inspired by many women throughout my journey, but some of the most impactful influences have been the women leaders I worked with early in my career in finance. I was fortunate to be supported and mentored by incredible women who managed high-pressure environments while still creating collaborative, supportive, and people-first teams. That balance stayed with me.

My senior manager at my previous role was one such woman. She showed me every single day that you can be highly competent, ambitious, and driven without losing your warmth, humour, and approachability.

What inspired me most about her was not just her achievements, but the way she brought others along with her while succeeding. She supported me through my own growth journey with immense compassion, patience, and encouragement, while still maintaining her sense of humour even during the most stressful moments.
 

What do you wish more people understood about women’s experiences in business school today? 

I wish more people questioned the unconscious biases that still shape how leadership is perceived. When women step into leadership roles, especially in high-pressure environments, they often have to work harder to make themselves seen and heard. Traits like being assertive, outspoken, or demanding are often appreciated in male leaders, but women displaying the same qualities can sometimes be labelled as aggressive, loud, or difficult.

I think it is important for people to pause and reflect on those reactions. Are we evaluating leadership differently based on gender? And how many women feel pressured to constantly balance confidence with likability because of it?

At the same time, women in business school are often managing both visible and invisible pressures, from academics and recruiting to leadership responsibilities, self-doubt, and representation. While business schools have made meaningful progress, there is still immense value in creating environments where women feel comfortable taking up space, speaking openly, and leading unapologetically.

If you were mentoring the next cohort of women arriving at HEC, what’s the one thing you’d want them to know? 

I would tell them not to underestimate how much they belong here.

It is easy to look around and feel intimidated by the achievements and experiences of people around you, especially in the first few months of the MBA. But some of the most meaningful growth comes from saying yes to opportunities before you feel fully ready.

Join communities, take leadership roles, ask questions, and allow yourself to experiment. Some of my best MBA experiences came from stepping into unfamiliar spaces and learning along the way. The MBA goes by incredibly fast, so make the most of both the professional and personal moments.

What hobby, passion, or personal interest has helped keep you grounded during your MBA at HEC, and why is it important to you? 

Creative work like art and community-building have been a huge grounding force for me during my MBA. I genuinely enjoy working on branding, storytelling, event experiences, and creating things that bring energy and connection to people. A lot of that came alive through MBAT, where even small details like merchandise, social media campaigns, or welcome kits became ways to create memorable experiences for others.

Beyond that, I also value quieter moments with friends, and travelling and exploring different cultures. As intense as the MBA journey can be, those moments remind me to stay present and enjoy the experience beyond just academics and recruiting.