Aditya Birla Group - Connecting the World - SDA Bocconi Asia Center

How am I going to stay in touch ? A question that bothered me when people close to me were moving abroad. With my father travelling abroad for business for the larger part of the year and childhood best friend relocating to Switzerland, the need for me to stay connected with them was a huge cause for concern. However, as for most of my generation, my apprehensions were short lived owing to the boon of mobile phones and strong cellular network. Being able to reach out to anyone at any time by simply making a call or sending a message is now a way of life. Unknown to me, Aditya Birla Group, a 26% stakeholder in Vodafone Idea Limited, had already played a huge role in my life by being a giant in the India telecom industry. Like me, across India and the world, several people are unknowingly benefited everyday by the products and services offered by this Indian multinational conglomerate that has businesses ranging from textiles, fast moving consumer goods and financial services to cement, metals and agri-business. Today connectivity cannot be a privilege for people in rich countries. Not only is it essential to fulfill peoples personal needs but also plays a role in global business. It increases productivity and enables transparency. Many companies can provide connectivity but only few can connect everything. The Aditya Birla Group over their 162 years in the business, has been able to achieve this. However, business aside Aditya Birla Group also ensures their products not only cater to the needs of their customers but also ensures sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.  

Challenges faced and how I overcame them

Challenges are unique to individuals and the way different people deal with these challenges also differs. What may be a challenge for one person, may be another person’s strength. That being said, I firmly believe that a person must find their own groove to overcome a challenge rather than mimicking another. For me, the inability to say “no” has been a challenge which has often led to issues that could have been sidestepped. This does not necessarily mean not participating, rejecting a proposal / opinion or denying to help someone. I realized the importance of this, when in a work space I saw a clear division between future leaders and people who are driven to be led. It was evident that I must maintain a balance between selflessness and selfishness. To overcome the challenge that I was facing, I realized that I would need to prioritize activities better and also change my thought process. I would have to change this approach not only in my work space but also my personal life. This change, although mine, affected people around me as well. It entailed me explaining to them the reason for my change in behavior, although not drastic. Further I also became aware, that actions or decisions do not always require an explanation. It was a conscious effort over a prolonged period that induced the habit of prioritizing activities both work related and personal. Although I have made considerable progress and can safely say that this is no longer a challenge, I still believe that a change in environment will always require me to be aware of my pitfalls.