Bridging science and business through CDL-Rockies

MBA Diaries | CDL-Rockies Series

Paramita Chaudhuri Basu, ‘21 MBA

Vice President, Business Development, FYELABS

As part of our new CDL-Rockies alumni series, we’re highlighting graduates who took their MBA beyond the classroom through the Creative Destruction Lab–Rockies (CDL-Rockies). Paramita Chaudhuri Basu’s experience highlights how CDL-Rockies can bridge science and business, equipping students to contribute meaningfully to high-impact startups while shaping their own path into innovation.

Can you share a stand out moment or highlight from your time in the CDL-Rockies program?

I was involved in the Prime stream of CDL-Rockies. During my time in the program, I worked with two startups, one of which graduated and is now one of Alberta’s leading biotech companies in the wound care space. The company has built its own manufacturing facility, has been generating revenue for several years and has grown its team significantly. It is also Health Canada-certified for the use of its product. I remain close friends with the two co-founders and am proud to have played a meaningful role during the formative years of a “Built in Canada” wound care treatment.

Is there something that surprised you, or that you didn't expect, with the CDL program?

The CDL- Rockies program allows MBA students to select the startup they want to work with. I was drawn to the biotech/ healthtech startups because I wanted to experience the intersection of science and business firsthand. I was both surprised and impressed by the quality of the startups. Selecting just one was difficult, as each of them was tackling a complex and highly challenging problem. Ultimately, I chose a startup focused on addressing the fertility crisis.

Are there any skills or insights you learned from your time in the CDL-Rockies program that are still applicable for you today?

The CDL- Rockies program was my first opportunity to see how investors engage with technology startups. I was already working as an intern at a technology startup when the program began, so I was familiar with startup culture. What I learned through the CDL- Rockies program was the due diligence process that every investment opportunity undergoes, the rigour of engagement between startups and their investment mentors and the importance of coachability in successful founders. Today, I work with startups regularly through my role at FYELABS, and I find the insights I gained during the program relevant in every interaction.

Was there a hard moment during the program — and what helped you push through?

The program is designed to be completed over two semesters. The first semester is primarily theoretical, focusing on due diligence processes, financial analysis and related frameworks, while the second semester is practical and involves working directly with a paired startup. When my second semester began, I was enrolled in a full-time MBA program, working full-time with a startup, and actively serving in four leadership roles across university governance committees. Balancing these commitments was incredibly challenging. What helped me push through was the strong support of my family, as well as the meaningful and high-impact projects I was contributing to for the startups I worked with through the CDL- Rockies program.

Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at the Alberta School of Business?

I have always been interested in business. After more than a decade in academia in biotechnology, I decided to pursue an alternative career path at the intersection of science and business. I have an extroverted personality and enjoy meeting new people and building relationships — skills that are critical in business. While I already had strong soft skills, I wanted to complement them with rigorous hard skills. Pursuing an MBA allowed me to deepen my subject matter expertise and add breadth and depth to my PhD training. Having previously been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, I was already familiar with the university’s academic excellence, making it an easy decision to pursue my degree here.

How has your experience -- either in the MBA program more generally, or as a participant in the CDL-Rockies program -- impacted your career?

I took a long time to decide to pursue my MBA. At the time, I was at the height of my academic career, and returning to school meant taking a deliberate pause that could have been a significant setback to my professional growth. However, it became one of the best decisions of my life, both personally and professionally.

The MBA honed my communication skills, strengthened my leadership capabilities and pushed me well beyond my comfort zone, enabling exponential growth as a business leader. One of the most defining impacts of the program was my participation in the CDL- Rockies program. It illuminated a clear path into innovation, opening my eyes to a world I hadn’t previously known existed- and one in which I now work. I had long wanted to operate at the intersection of science and business, and the CDL- Rockies program became a powerful accelerator for my career.

Do you have any advice for future MBA students interested in applying to the CDL-Rockies program? Or more generally, do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing an MBA at the Alberta School of Business?

I always like to start with the “why.” My advice is to ask yourself: Why do you want to pursue an MBA? and Why do you want to be part of the CDL-Rockies program? If you can arrive at clear, compelling answers to both questions, then you should not hesitate to apply.

The CDL-Rockies program has a limited number of seats, all of which are in high demand and shared with students from the Haskayne School of Business. The program is offered only once a year, meaning you effectively have one opportunity to apply, so it should be your strongest application. If you want to work on live business cases with real companies and have a genuine opportunity to help shape their futures, then, in my opinion, there is no program better than CDL-Rockies to do so.

Is there something I didn't ask you that you'd like to share with us?

The CDL-Rockies program is both highly demanding and deeply rewarding, and it should not be undertaken lightly. The participating companies are startups within the CDL-Rockies Accelerator, where they receive substantial, hands-on support from experienced mentors. Each startup is tackling a problem with the potential for world- changing impact. Being selected to work with one of these companies is a great honour, both humbling and accompanied by significant responsibility. These are not hypothetical “business cases,” but real, operating companies. Under the expert guidance of professor Mark Huson, the CDL- Rockies program provides students with the structure and safety net needed to thrive while creating meaningful, real-world impact.

The Creative Destruction Lab–Rockies (CDL-Rockies) is a selective, mentorship-driven program where MBA students work alongside high-growth ventures to tackle real-world challenges. Applications are now open.