A Journey: Beyond Presentations - Saksham Yadav's Story

“I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to find yourself. Your own reality - for yourself, not for others”. This phrase from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has come to define my purpose and has been the touchstone of reality in my journey to truly discover myself as life peels me like an orange.   And in many ways the phrase above, quintessentially defines what MBA has in store for you. The whole experience for me was an opportunity to push myself and discover new facets of my personality.   And trust me on this, my three years at Ramjas College, studying English Literature, enjoying college fests, experiencing unbridled freedom had not prepared me for what was in store for me at SIBM Bengaluru. The ability to articulate, contest and question wasn’t enough to ideate, conceptualize and execute which constitutes a typical day at SIBM Bengaluru and there began the process of learning.   I still remember the frenzy that surrounded all of us when we were subjected to the Harvard Pre Induction Module assessment at the end of first month. It had then seemed nothing less than ordeal; the some among us even called it outright atrocity. But in retrospect, the gruelling week prepared me for the rest of the semester and set me off for a journey that has been truly rewarding.   The life at a B School is different from what we have had experienced at an undergrad level. It’s no longer how good an assignment you can individually conjure but about how good you can deliver as team, how you synthesize and leverage the best amongst yourselves. And it really makes you stick together especially when you will be bombarded with counter questions and criticism- warranted or unwarranted from a faculty known for its research orientation in the industry. And, this perhaps, make you embrace to the bone “united we stand and divided we fall”.   The presence of clubs and committees add a different dimension to the delirious chaos that encapsulates the life, at SIBM Bengaluru at its fully residential campus, in the heart of Electronic City. One might feel, spoilt for choice when applying to be part of these specialized units, however I think the decision to join one of these entities should solely rest in the answer to the question “Which one aligns with your personal goal the best?; Which will help you become a better individual two years down the line?.” The answer won’t be simple and straight forward for the most but then that’s what managers are expected to solve -problems- business or otherwise.   My cousin, who will off to a B school this year, recently asked me in one stretch of breath “Do you find good friends, true friends?” And my answer to the question was essentially an affirmative because when the sun will set on the horizon and you will walk out of the sanctuary all that would matter will be the memories and the respect that you earned.   A lot of us who do an MBA have gone through circus of first preparing for CAT, XAT and SNAP, and then GD- PI rounds, come to believe that life is a race and competition is cut throat but what we fail to realize if we invest in ourselves and aspire not to let our circumstances define who we are and end up becoming all these details are inconsequential and have no tangible import on reality.   And with this, I will urge, each and every future manger, to look beyond the clutter, beyond your perceived boundary, beyond you inhibitions and gladly embrace change! 

  “Let us, then, be up and doing,

        With a heart for any fate;

    Still achieving, still pursuing,

        Learn to labor and to wait.”

About the Author: A guy who believes in continual exploration of new things; especially about himself and the world around him; wants to be ‘been there, done that’ kind of hotshot, has few streaks of grey hairs which he tactfully hides [~smirks~]. The guy prefers to go by the pseudonym ‘Sak’ and how can I forget is six feet, four inches tall (not really a brobdingnagian though). 'Sak’ is currently, interning at FCB Ulka, Mumbai; Coordinator of Corporate Sponsorship Committee at the college and represents it in the Student Leadership Council as its member and has been a school prefect and ardent participant in debates and extempore in the past. He regularly contributes articles to SIBM Bengaluru’s monthly newsletter Symbeat and has covered the Marketing and Human Resources sections. Perhaps, the most irritating characteristics is his nerving habit of being the devil’s advocate, of trying to find and bring our what might have been the reason of an individual’s action; of questioning everything ; a habit he picked up while studying Literature. This is Saksham Yadav, signing off, wishing all the green horns about to live the MBA dream exciting two years [try to be reckless and assertive – a bull if you prefer] and more importantly a very bright and successful managerial career.  
Connect with me on: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/saksham-yadav-a6717479 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saksham.yadav Twitter: https://twitter.com/cyclonite12