If there is one thing that an Indian can be absolutely sure of, it is that when the sun rises in the morning, the first ray of light will hit a product that is designed by the Aditya Birla Group. Founded in the year 1857, the last 162 years of the journey that the Aditya Birla Group has undertaken, has indeed set a benchmark for the other conglomerates to follow.
Aditya Birla has evolved their process over time and are now one of the biggest private sector conglomerates operating in India. With a diversified product range spanning various industries such as the cement industry, chemicals, retail and telecommunications, it is almost impossible to come across any Indian whose life has not been touched by the ABG. From the Ultratech cement laying the foundations of the buildings, to the Pantaloons and Allen Solly store supplying comfortable clothing to millions of people around the world, the Aditya Birla Group have truly made their mark in the world’s market, and this is just scratching the surface. But what makes ABG truly special is their ability to cater to a wide range of economies. Irrespective of whether I need an affordable product, or I am willing to spend on a luxury, I know that the ABG will have the required product to satisfy me.
There is a lot to be learnt when the growth of the ABG is considered from their time of inception till the present day. A company that started with Cotton trading now has its hands in majority of the industries, and it serves as a huge inspiration to budding MBA aspirants such as myself. It also teaches a major lesson that persistence and determination are two very important aspects to succeed, and the willingness to play past a challenge is indeed required. With the varying Indian economy over time, from the 19
th century to the growing economy after the Independence, to the state it is in now, ABG has always stood tall and has been the ideal company to learn from.
The light beyond the darkness #IIM Trichy
The biggest challenge I have had to overcome so far in my life, would be adjusting to college life in Kerala. Having been born and brought up in Bangalore, I had always lived in the comfort of a home. After finishing my 12
th standard, I had secured an admission into the engineering program at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut in Kerala, and this meant that for the first time in my life, I had to move away from the confines of a home. The challenges of getting used to a completely new environment at that point of time was a tough one to face. There was change in lifestyle, eating habits, academics and the new people that I had to meet.
Being an introvert, it was hard at the beginning to make new friends, and the language barrier did not help at all. However, this did prove a good opportunity for me to learn a lot of things, and I was determined not to let this drag me down. I was also aware that I had to adapt to the surroundings quickly, as I had some of the brightest minds of the country competing with me. With hard work and perseverance, I was able to make my time in college a success and graduated out with flying colours.
Another major challenge, was when I decided to pursue my MBA. After two attempts at clearing CAT, and not being successful, it was time to take a step back and see if this was indeed the right choice for me. However, I was determined to succeed, and put in the work required to clear the exam and the subsequent interview to get an admission into a B school. This further reiterated my belief that every problem has a solution, which is only obtained by putting in the hard work that the solution demands. I am now a student of the Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli, and I am ready to handle the challenges that the institute offers.