Roshna Francis | Global MBA

Hello! Namaskaram!

I’m Roshna Francis, and I come from the vibrant state of Kerala, India. I’m currently pursuing my MBA at ESSEC, specializing in Digital Leadership and Strategy. With over 8 years of experience in sales and business development, I’ve spent most of my career working with startups to help them scale. Most recently, I was with Razorpay, a high-growth FinTech startup in Bangalore. 

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to wear many hats—from scaling products and consulting on sales solutions to forming strategic partnerships and working closely with VCs like YC, Sequoia, and Matrix on growth initiatives. These experiences have shaped my passion for business and innovation, and now, the ESSEC MBA is helping me tie everything together and prepare for my next big step as a future leader. 

Within the program, I’ve chosen Consulting and Product Management as my career labs. These focus areas are giving me deeper insights, new experiences, and the chance to build a strong network—all of which are helping me move closer to finding my dream role. I chose ESSEC for many reasons: the intimate class size, the rich diversity of the cohort, the exceptional professors, and the program's reputation. With every passing day, I feel more certain that I made the right choice. 

Outside the academic hustle, I’m all about music, the arts, books, and traveling. I love traveling — whether it’s discovering new cities or just wandering around Paris. Psychology is another big passion of mine—it’s a lens that has helped me navigate many professional situations. I was thrilled when I discovered that one of our very first courses at ESSEC was rooted in psychology, and taught by an incredible professor with expertise in the field. Coming from a business development background, learning about business and psychology has added a new dimension to my thinking and approach. 

If you’re thinking about doing an MBA or just want to chat about ESSEC, the application process, or even moving to Paris without speaking fluent French, feel free to reach out! I’m always up for a conversation and happy to share my experiences and chat about how this journey has been formed.

Wishing you all the best on your MBA path, and I hope to hear from you soon!