Aagam Parikh from IIM Shillong is one of India's Most Promising Incoming MBA Students 2021!
Aagam Parikh has been born and brought up in Mumbai, and has graduated from the prestigious H.R College in 2019. He is also a CFA L3 candidate. As a person, he tries to stay grounded and understand everyone's perspective, and be more understanding and form deeper bonds.
The following is Aagam Parikh's set of responses to a questionnaire floated amongst incoming MBA graduates to determine the top-50 Most Promising Incoming MBA students of 2021. Amongst the massive number of entries and responses being evaluated, Aagam's story and profile stood out. Here's his story in his words.
Tell us about a time when you messed up, and what you learnt from the experience?
I had initially signed for the CA program and after clearing CPT (the entrance exam) with ease, I could not manage to clear IPCC exams(the second level). That was the first academic failure I had suffered in life and it truly shattered me. My confidence was low and I used to curse myself for not doing better. However, with the help of my parents, I stood back up. I identified my weaknesses and decided to study for the exam in parts. I worked hard for it and made sure that I ace the next attempt. I am glad to say that I overcame this challenge with effort, dedication, patience,, and positivity. It is rightly said that failure can teach you more lessons than success.
Tell us something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.
People think of me as someone who is mentally strong, emotionally balanced and not very reactive to tough situations. However, I do feel that I am more emotional than that. When I am alone, I often think about what others must have felt about what I said or what they think about me. I may potray that I am tough in difficult situation or that I will not shed a drop of tear. Eventually, when I am alone and thinking about such situations, it does not get easy. I would like to be more vocal about it and talk to someone who is close to as I feel it is completely okay to feel these things.
What have been your two biggest successes in life? What did you learn from them?
Compassion, empathy and sympathy are the most crucial values one must imbibe in life. I had the opportunity to volunteer for a local NGO where we had to take a survey of the students who had enrolled for a scholarship. I was shattered to see the conditions which they lived in and the lack of educational facilities. We made sure everyone got their required scholarship but it made me wonder about how unfair it was for the children who grew in poverty. Everyone has a right to equal education and opportunities. Soon, I started teaching the son of the security guard of my building and volunteered for 'English on Call', an NGO which taught English to students from vernacular schools, overthe phone. Such experiences add a different dimension to life and I truly believe that it is essential to grow in life and get mature as a human being. I would describe as my biggest successes as I helped other people inspire to achieve their goals and get a better life.
Professionally, what is your ideal image of yourself five years from now? Where do you see yourself?
Five years from now, I visualize myself working in a private equity firm. Thus doing an MBA will open the various domains for me to enter that particular industry. The various skills and knowledge acquired in the course, can land me a role in an investment bank from where I can climb up the ladder and get into a private equity role.
What is the one skill or characteristic you possess that you are most proud of, and why?
The characteristics that I am most proud of are empathy and compassion. Everyone at a prestigious institution like IIM comes with a great academic profile. However, it is important to have the human values to be a successful manager once you graduate from the institute. I feel that is what sets me apart. Thanks to my parents, I feel I have been brought up in the correct way to have those values imbibed in me, to understand what the others are going through and what I can do best to help them. There is enough negativity and hardship in this world. Even a small glimpse of showing your good heart and intentions can bring a smile on someone's face and make their day. It is imperative to understand this and have it ingrained in one self. At an institution like IIM Shillong, these values are going to be further nourished and I already notice that through the sustainability week. Thus, I feel these values set me apart as an IIM graduate. This consideration of mine has been noticed in many situations. I would just like to highlight a simple situation where I helped an elderly couple cross the road. They were struggling to cross a busy road during broad daylight. In the unforgiving traffic of Mumbai, no vehicle stopped for them or no person even noticed them. I saw them struggling when I was crossing the road and helped them cross it too. When we were on the other side, they gave me their blessings. This is what is required to succeed in life.
In your opinion, what skills or qualities does a successful manager possess?
A successful manager must be a great leader and motivator of the people who he/she is managing. It is imperative for the manager to sympathize and empathize with his workforce. Being approachable and open about various topics is what helps people connect to their leader. Apart from that, the manager must have great organisation and multi tasking skills to finish off the work efficiently.
Tell us about an ethical dilemma that you may have faced, and how you resolved it.
After the college lectures, my friends and I used to stand outside the college and indulge in the food. Once, a poor kid stole fries from a friend's hand and the other one tried to do the same with me. However, they were caught and everyone started yelling at them. My friends wanted to take them to the cops or their parents to teach them a lesson. I was of the opinion that we should get them extra fries and nicely make them understand that stealing is inhuman. Their action was due to the lack of formal upbringing and the harsh conditions they grew up in. Stealing was the only option left for them to get good food. Others thought that this would encourage them even more. We ended up talking to their parents but got them food too. One must defeat evil with good and by being understanding.
If you were the CEO of any company of your choosing, which company would you choose and what would your first action be as CEO?
I would like to be the CEO of Tata motors. Tata is a brand that resonated with every household in the country. With such strong goodwill and being one of the top motor companies in the world with a portfolio of luxury car brands like Jaguar and Land Rover. However, in recent years, the company has been making consistent losses. Several factors are adding to it. Hence, I would like to be their CEO and help solve these issues. Firstly, there has been a microchip shortfall which is stalling the supply of cars. Hence, I would address the problem by integrating the supply of such chips with TATA ELXSI, their IT sister firm. This would be a relatively expensive and a long term target, but this would solve the issue of relying on external companies. With the advent of the EV revolution in India, these chips are going to be having an increased demand. They can be supplied to the other car companies too, to reap profits out of it.
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For the Class Of 2022, we are back with the 8th season of InsideIIM's Best 50 - India's Most Employable MBA Graduates - Class Of 2022! If you're graduating from a B-School in 2022, you're eligible to take part in this competition! Grab the chance to bring out your best side and impress your recruiters and peers. Take the opportunity to show the world why you are special, on your own terms.
If you're using a web browser (Mozilla or Google Chrome), then you can take part through this link. Otherwise, please download the Kampus App (Android | iOS), and head over to Competitions.