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Dubai man slammed for offering unpaid project to top Indian B-school students

Dubai man slammed for offering unpaid project to top Indian B-school students

India Today22-06-2025
A Dubai-based professional's attempt to offer a 'live project' to MBA students was slammed online, and not without reason. Sahil Deshmukh, an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow graduate and current Manager in the Global CEO's Office at Erba Mannheim, posted a call on LinkedIn inviting students from India's top business schools to work on a strategic project, without pay.advertisementIn his post, Deshmukh specified he was looking for MBA students from institutes such as IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, XLRI, and MDI for a remote project lasting 3–4 weeks. The catch? It comes with no stipend.
'Looking for MBA students from IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, XLRI, MDI, or other top B-schools for a short-term live project,' he said. 'There's no pay, but it's a good opportunity to work closely with the leadership team on strategic initiatives,' Deshmukh wrote, adding that the role would suit someone seeking 'real-world exposure.'Take a look at the post here:In an update later, he said that the opportunity is closed as he has received 'more than enough response'. 'Closed. Have gotten more than enough responses. Will selectively reach out to relevant profiles/DMs. Thanks,' he said. advertisementThe response online was far from supportive. Professionals and students alike criticised the offer, calling it exploitative and tone-deaf, especially considering the rising cost of elite management education in India.'Let's put an end to the exploitation of unpaid internships. It's time we stop normalising this toxic work culture,' a user said, while another added, 'You want someone from a top B-school to work hard, add value, and walk away with nothing? That's not an opportunity, that's audacity.'One of the users said, 'Pay. It's not a difficult thing to do.'Several users pointed out that terms like 'contribute meaningfully' and 'work closely with leadership' often translate to full-time commitment, and without a stipend, it sends the wrong message.Sahil Deshmukh's offer may have been well-intentioned, but it soon turned into an example of what not to post in the name of opportunity.Trending Reel
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