The mission of Aditya Birla Group (ABG) is to deliver superior value to their customers, shareholders, employees and society at large and they have succeeded in doing just that. As a premium global conglomerate, ABG has a vast variety of companies and subsidiaries under its wing, that affects people all over the world.
As a young woman aspiring to climb the professional ladder, ABG primarily touched my life in the form of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL). It is said that if you dress for the part you want, half the battle is already won. As a student on budget, ABFRL’s leading
brand, Van Heusen allows me the comfort of shopping for a variety of products that are in the premium segment. The products are long lasting, suited for a wide range of body types and are easily available, all of which are primary requirements for people having a busy schedule.
In ABG’s vision to diversify, Aditya Birla Telecom Ltd.’s (ABTL) company Idea Cellular merged with Vodafone’s India subsidiary to form India’s largest telecom operator. Having always been a user of Vodafone, this merger fortified my belief in Vodafone as all companies that fall within the ABG umbrella would automatically fall in line with its mission.
An indirect, but important way ABG has touched my life is in the form of Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ABHI). As a student, my insurance is still managed by my parents. ABHI ensures flexible plans along with the added benefits of Health returns and Wellness Coach. The ease of buying and using this insurance when needed has enabled me and my family to live life more care free.
ABG, with its foothold in a variety of verticals, has ensured that it needs no introduction anymore as it continues to grow and make a mark on everyone across the world.
Overcoming challenges to achieve my ambitions in life so far
“A skilled Business Analyst draws out the needs that are not yet known.” I read this quote a few years ago during my engineering and it piqued my interest. As I researched more about a Business Analyst (BA), the job functions of a BA such as developing technical solutions to business problems seemed very appealing to me. After asking around and learning about the companies that offered this job profile, my ambition to take up BA as a career option was reinforced.
One of the biggest challenges I faced during this period was coding. Although I understood the basics and the syntax, I could not write optimized codes despite knowing the logic the program had to follow. Since I was studying Computer Engineering and coding had become my weakness, it affected my self-esteem and I developed a fear of coding. This was a huge hitch since a good BA is supposed to know how to code. So, in order to derive more confidence during this time, I joined the Computer Society of India which enabled me to work in teams and speak in front of a large audience.
Not being able to code properly affected my scores due to which I decided not to opt for placements in the final year. After giving it a lot of thought, I affirmed that I should not let this setback affect me and I should approach my goal from another angle. I chose to pursue MBA immediately after college. My first preference was NMIMS, Mumbai but I could not clear the entrance exam. At this time, my self confidence was at an all time low since everyone around me had either a job offer or an admission offer whereas I had neither.
After graduation, I received a mail from a friend regarding a job opening. I applied and gave the interview. To my delight, I was selected! I worked diligently while studying simultaneously for my MBA entrance exams. I quit a few months later to focus completely on my MBA entrance exams. Since I had more free time, I researched the skills required for a BA and completed courses such as Microsoft Excel, SQL and Tableau which I believed would bring me closer to my goal.
I gave my exams with utmost sincerity. Although I could not clear the cut off for NMAT in my first two attempts, I finally scored well on the third attempt and also cleared the interview. My joy knew no bounds! At this juncture, since I had some free time on my hands, I decided to face my fear of coding head on. I enrolled for a course in Python and gave it my best shot. In a short span of a few weeks, I was completing the assignments without much help. As I progressed in the course, my self confidence increased and I learnt that my fear of coding was just a mind block. I may fail a few times, but if I sincerely keep up my efforts, I will eventually succeed.
Now, I am studying in NMIMS, Mumbai, and learning things I could not have even imagined. Although I have climbed a few steps towards my goal of becoming a Business Analyst, I still have a long way to go. I may fall multiple times, but that will never stop me from getting up again and aiming for the stars. This is just the beginning.
#NMIMSMumbai #ABGLPWooMe