Honestly, I had no idea how big of a role Aditya Birla Group was playing in my life until I started my MBA journey at XIMB. I was researching about various companies and found out that ABG is responsible for so many of the everyday brands that we use and like such as Pantaloons and Planet Fashion stores which showcase popular brands such as Louis Philippe, Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Peter England. I remember browsing for business formals recently and couldn’t find a right fit for me due to my XXL size. After several stops, I bought one set from Louis Philippe and another from Peter England. I was so relieved as they had the right colour and size for me, and I was shocked to find out that other popular brands don’t cater to XXL size segment. Also, Peter England has the most affordable suits in the entire market, which is a big deciding factor for students who are just starting their career. Wearing these business formals gave me a sense of pride and confidence to navigate through the hustle and bustle of my new MBA campus. Pantaloons is my go-to-mall for smart casuals, flip-flops, jackets, bags, etc. I have a Pantaloons loyalty card associated with Payback since a decade and I absolutely love it when I earn reward points and exclusive membership discounts while shopping. I have also experienced the stores of Forever 21 while accompanying my wife, who has nothing but praises for the brand and their latest trendy designs. I personally use Idea-Vodafone mobile services, which is now the largest telecom company in India and provides a robust 4G LTE data service. Idea-Vodafone services are yet to let me down even while travelling in remote locations of my state Odisha. Mobile data is the oxygen of the digital era and Aditya Birla Group is leading the pack in that industry. UltraTech cement is a household name that has been synonymous with cement in India since decades. The beautifully depicted emotional TV Commercials that they have been running since my childhood have been the finest ads on TV so far. They have expanded into many other sectors such as e-commerce, finance, textile, chemicals, etc. Aditya Birla is not just a brand anymore; it is an emotion. An emotion that fuels the desire of 1.3 billion Indians and gives them respite from the rat race of life. ABG has left an indelible mark in our society by becoming a juggernaut in this country and has built a legacy for itself for future generations.
“Great things never come from comfort zones.”
I was once a happy-go-lucky kid aspiring to be a professional gamer during my engineering days. Having won several accolades in National eSports tournaments (Counter-Strike), I was determined to venture into the field of gaming and make a name for myself there. I was good at it as I had fast reflexes and decision-making skills. But fate had other plans for me. My father’s business went downhill due to the global recession and he encountered several health issues. His entire savings were spent on his medical expenses. I had no siblings and my parents were separated since my childhood. I was living with my dad. I had to drop out of engineering since I couldn’t pay for the final year fees. My father expired soon after and left me a huge pile of business debts along with my education loan. I had no where to turn to, no one to guide me. But I picked myself up, started working as a field sales agent and saved enough money in a year to start a small business. My startup flourished and I managed to clear all the debts in 3 years. I worked hard; I was persistent to be financially stable. Then I managed to buy a hatchback car and a 2-BHK flat in my hometown. I got married, completed my graduation through a distance course, scored a decent percentile in CAT and landed up at XIMB. My father-in-law now takes care of my business allowing me to focus on my new MBA program. This was a cathartic experience for me, and it changed me into a responsible, mature person. It instilled in me a sense of confidence to overcome any obstacle that come my way. I was forced to go out of my comfort zone, but it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.”
- Jack Ma, Alibaba Group
#ABGLPWooMe #XIMB