Panthers of ISKL #332: Mihir B. (‘25) - The Reassuring Panther
Your dream might not be your career, and that’s perfectly fine, so consider a future or career that enables your dreams. Although it’s by no means easy, these values give you clear academic and career goals built on genuine desire. Your values are the groundwork, and your goals are your anchor; together, they create a pathway that assists you in choosing universities, IB timelines, and future career progression.
Meet Mihir B. (‘25), a recent graduate from ISKL and one of our newest alumni who can offer solid and practical advice to students pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. His approach places value on preparation and an understanding of being strategic in focusing on revision and assessment techniques. Mihir is also a firm believer in consistency over sprinting to the finish line.
Here is Mihir’s story
Can you tell us more about yourself?
I’m Mihir, an alumnus who joined ISKL back in second grade in 2014. Born in Munich, Germany, to an Indian family, my international background followed me closely as I resided across Romania, Singapore, and finally Malaysia, where I was fortunate enough to join the ISKL community. Graduating just last year, I’m proud to call myself a member of ISKL’s vibrant, diverse, and talented Class of 2025.
Do you have any advice for students who are currently pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme?
The IB is both a challenging and rewarding program, but in totality, its difficulty is largely due to two primary factors: academic rigor, as well as long-term decisions. Whilst I’m unsure how beneficial this advice would be for the class of 2026 as they’re approaching their final semester, here is some broader advice for incoming IB students:
Academics may be naturally difficult, but luckily, they’re largely predictable. A big struggle many students have throughout the IB is overcomplicating assessments and tasks. I can’t stress this enough, but make life easy for yourself. As the IB is ultimately a standardized system, there is an underlying formula to assessments, essays, and internal assessments. Once you have a grasp on the system and structure of your tests, focus your effort on revision and practice questions. Whether it’s active recall or spaced repetition, use scientifically proven strategies to boost your learning and be efficient with your work. When you’re swarmed with IAs, assessments, and extracurriculars, these optimizations go a long way in helping you recalibrate and keep going. After all, the IB isn’t a sprint, it’s a two-year marathon that rewards consistency and long-term clarity.
Whilst academics are tough, they don’t tell the full story for many students. Having a clear goal and timeline helps supplement your IB journey tremendously. For instance, a student applying to a university in Australia wouldn’t have to worry about predicted grades compared to US applicants. Fundamentally, these tertiary decisions underpin our goals, which in turn dictate an IB timeline.
But the truth is, it’s difficult to have a full grasp on your future and ambitions by the time you enter Grade 11. Everyone has a different journey, and navigating your way through the IB changes dramatically based on these objectives. For many students, knowing which countries or programs they want to apply to feels far away, which can make the IB feel even more daunting. I certainly can relate, as I was one of those students myself.
My biggest advice for students feeling this way is to learn what it means to fully reflect and understand yourself better. Learn what you deeply treasure and value, whether that’s a fulfilling career or a lifestyle-driven one. Your dream might not be your career, and that’s perfectly fine, so consider a future or career that enables your dreams. Although it’s by no means easy, these values give you clear academic and career goals built on genuine desire. Your values are the groundwork, and your goals are your anchor; together, they create a pathway that assists you in choosing universities, IB timelines, and future career progression.
Once again, whether it’s in academics or values, aim to simplify the path ahead of you and make life easier for yourself. The IB is overwhelming, but very possible with hard work and clear goals. You’ll naturally make mistakes, and you’ll most certainly learn and grow back stronger.
Stay consistent, trust the process, and remember: the IB doesn’t reward perfection, it rewards persistence. Be resilient, be strong, you got this!
Please share your experiences so far after graduating from ISKL, and what you have been doing.
Since graduating, I’ve begun pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Finance at Durham University. Durham is a beautiful town, and I’ve been fortunate enough not only to meet wonderful people but also to explore a great variety of opportunities. Within Durham, I currently work as a Quantitative and FX Analyst at the Finance Society, and I’ve also undertaken a role as a consultant at 180 Degrees Consulting, working with NGOs and startups alike.
Externally, I’ve recently begun working as a Project Director at Headstart Global, screening and overseeing micro-internships for startups in investment management, artificial intelligence, and more. I view the first year as a prime opportunity for exploration, and I look forward to challenging myself to foster even more new connections and pave the way for future opportunities!
Do you have any thoughts on your career pathway?
The benefit of pursuing finance is that I have a quite clear, albeit difficult, career pathway laid out for me. I’ve just finished applying for spring internships, which set a trajectory for summer internships in my second year and accelerate my chances of securing graduate roles when I finish my studies in 2028.
Beyond internships, I’m also considering taking on an industrial placement. With these professional experiences, I aspire to take on roles in high finance, with my end goals particularly geared towards buy-side divisions ranging from private equity to hedge fund management.
I find finance particularly interesting as it sits at the intersection of multiple industries, whilst being less theoretical and more applicable than economics. Whether it’s media, technology, energy, commodities, consumer goods, or even healthcare, finance is an incredibly global industry that appeals to my wide range of interests and desire for worldwide learning.
Who or what inspires you or has influenced you?
My father is, without a doubt, the biggest inspiration in my life. I deeply value my identity as a global citizen, and without his sacrifices and dedication to my upbringing, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Career-wise, I take a lot of inspiration from individuals ranging from Jamie Dimon and Warren Buffett to global leaders like Mark Carney and Barack Obama, for their transformational leadership and visionary thinking across the globe.
I also think it’s valuable to frame influence not solely based on the past actions of others, but also on your own future potential. Matthew McConaughey once said that his hero is “himself in 10 years”, that “every day, every week, every month, and every year of my life, my hero’s always 10 years away”. That always really stood out to me. Even as I appreciate the legacy of leaders and people I value around me, I always try to keep a hero 10 years ahead of me that I can keep chasing.
Most memorable moment at ISKL?
My favorite moment at ISKL would likely be IASAS MUN. As it was my first IASAS back in 2023, it naturally holds a soft spot for me, and the opportunity to travel abroad with a team of eccentric yet brilliant personalities really made the experience that much better.
IASAS taught me a lot of things: it reminded me of my competitive nature, taught me the value of connection, and showed me what it means to give it your all. From roaming the streets of Taipei and Manila with the team to fostering new friendships with students across the world during committee sessions, I’ll always look fondly upon these memories. Big shout-out to Mr. Martin, Ms. Newton, and all the attending students and alumni who made moments like these special!
Which Panther superlative best describes you, and share why you chose this superlative and how it shows your Panther spirit!
I’m the Most Baik Panther (meaning kindhearted) because I have a fundamental belief that empathy and understanding are amongst our most valuable assets. Life is never black nor white; there always exists a gray space of nuance, detail, and perspective lingering amongst our friends and experiences.
Tell us why ISKL is special to you:
I Suka (Like) ISKL because it’s a tight-knit and empowering community that is truly shaped by international values.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
I think growing up in our world means understanding that nothing is certain and nothing is promised. So much is unpredictable in our lives; the only real thing you can control is yourself and what you think, so reconcile with the boundless horizons of “possibility” and seek out what’s most true to you.
For me, embracing this also means recognizing that we all truly are the same, not defined by passports or borders, but by experiences. If compassion is an outcome of inward reflection, to me, creating a better world is the physical manifestation of that, utilizing our individuality and values as a force that embraces differences and aims to shape change to drive unity.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff member who always has an anecdote to tell, loves to share some insights into their passions and interests, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.