What we are today is nothing but a culmination of all our memories to date. These memories were shaped by our interactions with people, their surroundings and the choices that we made along the way. In this journey, some things have had the unique ability to impact our lives in an implicit way. Aditya Birla Group is one such conglomerate that has produced numerous products that have left a mark on my life and the lives of people around me. The Group had grown into a giant well before I was born, but I do believe that we have grown stronger and taller together as the years went by.
Just like every other kid that grew up in the ’90s and the early 2000s, I spent a lot of time playing cricket and cycling on the roads near my home along with my friends. We children through our eyes have witnessed towering apartments and offices come up all over the city. This was all part of the rising stature of the Indian economy and UltraTech Cements was one of the major proponents of this change.
In all my years at school, one thing that was a constant was the food that my mother prepared for me and my friends to eat during the lunch break. I still remember unwrapping the Freshwrapp aluminium foil and the aroma from the food filling up the air. Later, when I grew older and joined my graduation college, Idea was the network of choice. It was what kept me connected to my near and dear ones. During high school and graduation, Pantaloons had been my go-to fashion destination. The reason for choosing Pantaloons is simple. It had a great variety of clothes which resonated with my persona and made me develop a fine dressing sense.
Later when the time came for campus placements I turned to Peter England – a trusted partner for definitive professional dressing. During the long hours at work, it was Van Heusen and Louis Philippe that helped me portray a sense of calm and poise in front of my colleagues, seniors, and clients.
Life has not been a smooth sail for me. I had to navigate through trying waters on multiple occasions. Hence, I can re-affirm the age-old adage that if you have the will you will find a way, no matter what. All you need to do is to stand back up every time you fall and never give up.
I have always been the storyteller within my circle of friends, but I was unable to be the same person on stage. There have been multiple instances where I have frozen up on the stage or stammered my way through. I have faced a lot of rejection and to an extent even humiliation standing on the podium facing the audience. But failures are meant to make us strong. I have made an effort and improved a lot over the years, and I have still not given up. I might not be the best orator yet, but one thing is certain – I am never going to back down and will keep on participating in events and try my best to win a few of them.
Again, during my days as a programmer at an MNC, there came a time when I decided that in order to make bigger strides professionally, I need to pursue an MBA degree. Aditya Birla Group was still there with me. During the preparation for CAT, I did not get a chance to visit my hometown for more than a year. Vodafone Idea was the partner that kept me sane.
Later during the interview stage, I fell back on the trusted name of Allen Solly to help me portray a look of confidence in front of the interviewing panel. After long last, the wait finally ended and I got admission into one of India’s finest business schools – IIM Raipur.
But this is just the end of another chapter in my life. There are a lot more to come and I look forward to taking strides into a bigger, brighter future. Also, I am sure that Aditya Birla Group would have a major significance in my life in the times to come.
#IIMRaipur #ABGLPWooMe
