On the ebullient day of June 25, with the buoyant sun overhead, I left to the City of Joy, Kolkata to transform my dream into a reality. I was greeted with a flurry of the South-West monsoon. I reached the management abode called Indian Institute of Foreign Trade that was imposing in the serene neighborhood of Chowbaga.
Soon, I was allotted my hostel room. As I took a stroll to get my basic amenities in place, something caught my eye. A few of my friends were lazing around the pond inside the campus. Little did they realize the thumping that was awaiting them. Nevertheless, as I moved along, I struck a chord with a lot of people that included my fellow batchmates, the housekeeping staff and the security personnel. The first day ended on a great note with all of us as excited as ever for the formal inauguration.
The morning arrived. The auditorium was filled with the buzz of the inquisitive and budding leaders of the future in their best attires. The dignitaries arrived, the lamp was lit and we were raring to go. In the evening we were asked to report at the auditorium and I felt something coming our way. It did. We were greeted by a few stone-faced young men. The auditorium soon transformed into an unofficial military camp. With lectures on business etiquettes that ran into hours and strict monitoring of the hygiene, it felt like these men suffered from OCD. It was a milestone if I could manage an hour’s sleep during the day. The icing on the cake was the Yoga class that sneaked into my daily routine. The climax of the pond scene that I witnessed on my first day unfurled during this program and these men ensured my friends would never think of the pond ever again. This week-long induction program helped me get accustomed to the life at a B-School.
Two weeks into the course, I find myself doing things that I had never imagined. A fine group of friends, an illustrious batch of seniors, eminent faculties and a campus bustling with activity all day long. Quite a remarkable experience. Here I’m, penning down my journey at this prestigious institute and giving it my best shot to make it to the Aditya Birla Group Leadership Program.
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ABG Company:
Anchored by over 1,20,000 employees belonging to diverse nationalities, Aditya Birla Group is in the League of Fortune 500. It continues to be one of the top players in the lifestyle, cement, telecom, insurance and asset management and retail segments. With a plethora of brands such as Van Heusen, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly, Peter England, Pantaloons and Aditya Birla Capital Limited under its umbrella, ABG would serve as a perfect platform to showcase my leadership abilities and gain a well-rounded learning experience. I would love to add value to fuel the growth of the finance and FMCG sectors at ABG.
Aditya Birla Group has been instrumental in transforming budding managers to young leaders and I’m looking forward to being one among the exemplary lot.