Name: Prakhya Gadde | Institution: SDA Bocconi School of Management | Course: MBA | Location: Milan
Key highlights
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A global academic journey: Studies across Los Angeles, Boston, and Milan have shaped Prakhya into an adaptable, globally minded scholar.
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Why Milan and SDA Bocconi: Milan’s design culture and Bocconi’s international, sustainability-focused MBA align closely with her interests and goals.
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US foundation in architecture: USC and Boston Architectural College gave her strong training, real-world experience, and leadership exposure.
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Future with Genesis Planners: She aims to return to Hyderabad to help grow her family’s architecture firm with a global perspective.
Prakhya Gadde can adjust just about anywhere in the world. From studying in Los Angeles to pursuing graduate school in Boston and now an MBA in Milan, she has navigated three distinct cultures with confidence and curiosity. Each move, she says, has shaped her worldview. “Studying abroad has been a transformative experience that taught me to be self-reliant and confident,” says Prakhya, who is currently pursuing her MBA at the SDA School of Bocconi in Milan, in a chat with Global Indian.
Choosing Milan
After her academic stints in the United States, Prakhya decided to pursue her MBA in Europe to immerse herself in new cultures and broaden her global perspective. “I wanted to study in a program that reflects an international approach to business education,” she says of her decision to join SDA Bocconi.
Milan, in particular, appealed to her for its deep-rooted design culture and strong emphasis on family businesses—values that align closely with her professional interests and background. The campus itself is an embodiment of innovation: a Near Zero Energy structure designed to maximize sunlight, natural ventilation, and rainwater reuse, minimizing energy consumption. Bloomberg ranked SDA Bocconi as the number one business school in Europe for the 2023–24 cycle. Spread across 50,000 square metres, its open spaces and technology-enabled infrastructure ensure both safety and an inspiring learning environment.
Scaling through adjustment challenges
One of the biggest challenges Prakhya has faced while studying abroad is navigating periods of loneliness and homesickness. “No matter how many people you’re surrounded by, there are times when you miss home and feel disconnected from what’s happening there.” Building close friendships also takes time, even in culturally diverse environments.
Her MBA routine now revolves around cohort classes, club events, and weekend gatherings—an engaging balance of academics, networking, and cultural exploration. On weekends, she enjoys discovering new restaurants, going for brunch with friends, shopping around town, and exploring Milan’s vibrant nightlife.
Luxury and sustainability
At Bocconi, Prakhya is a member of both the Luxury Club and the Sustainability Club. “We regularly organize talks, panels, workshops, and company tours that connect students with industry leaders.” The highlight for her this year is the much-awaited Luxury Gala. “It’s an exciting event that will bring together our cohort and representatives from some of the world’s top fashion houses,” she says.
The experience of studying in the US before Milan
Prakhya’s journey abroad began much earlier. She completed her undergraduate degree in Architecture at the University of Southern California (USC). While exploring options, she focused on leading architecture programs in the US and UK, intentionally excluding Ivy League institutions. “I preferred a more collaborative and less competitive environment,” she says.
Choosing USC allowed her access to a major global city, academic flexibility beyond architecture, and a strong alumni network. Her first days in Los Angeles were filled with excitement—shopping for essentials, settling into her new home, and meeting roommates equally nervous yet eager to start the next chapter. Initially enrolled in the five-year B.Arch program, she later switched to the four-year B.S. in Architecture with a minor in Business. “USC’s strong reputation and extensive alumni network opened numerous career opportunities for me in the U.S.,” she adds.
Her USC life revolved around classes, lunch breaks with friends, spontaneous evening plans, and weekends spent exploring LA or heading to the beach. She was active in student organizations, serving as Director of Operations for Project RISHI, helping organize recruitment drives and community events. She was also part of AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students), which hosted industry workshops and networking sessions.
Prakhya Gadde with friends from USC
Life in Boston
For her graduate studies, Prakhya moved to Boston to attend the Boston Architectural College, enrolling in a work-study M.Arch program. The structure allowed her to gain full-time professional experience while completing her coursework through evening classes. “This format provided a more well-rounded education, as I could directly apply my academic learnings to real-world projects in real time.” Weekdays were intense—9–5 at work followed by evening classes, making weekends a much-needed time to relax and enjoy the city’s charm.
Hikes and treks
Her moves to Boston and later Milan were less dramatic than her first move abroad. “I was older and living off-campus, but the first days were still exhilarating—meeting people from around the world and quickly forming new friendships within diverse cohorts,” she says. Adjusting to new cities and cultures has been challenging, but also deeply rewarding.
Whenever time permits, Prakhya loves going on hikes or short treks, exploring nearby towns, or traveling across the country, whether in the U.S. or Europe to immerse herself in different cultures.
Future plans
Prakhya’s long-term goal is to join her family’s architecture firm, Genesis Planners, and contribute to its growth by expanding its design vision, operations, and global footprint. “With the experience and perspective I’ve gained through my academic and professional journey, I plan to take on a larger, more strategic role,” she says.
Supportive parents
Raised in Hyderabad, where she studied at Oakridge International School, Prakhya grew up in a home deeply connected to architecture—both her parents are architects who run their own firm. Active in sports, she played tennis competitively until college and also enjoyed swimming and horse riding. Her parents have supported every step of her global academic journey. “They actually helped me a lot through the whole application process,” she says, adding that she never forgets to keep them updated no matter where she is in the world.
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