In our list of India's Best 50 - the 50 Most Employable Students from the Class of 2020-22, we feature MBA students who have walked that extra mile and done that little more to stand out. One of those featured in today's story, Adyasha Mishra, has shown an incredible amount of passion to achieve her true potential. Read on and find out her story!
The following are Adyasha Mishra’s set of responses to a questionnaire floated amongst MBA graduates to determine the top-50 Most Employable MBA Graduates of the Class of 2022. Amongst the massive number of entries and responses being evaluated, Adyasha's story and profile stood out. Here's her story in her own words.
Name an instance where you wanted something and went out of your comfort zone to achieve it OR Tell us the biggest risk you have taken so far in your life.
I took the step of pursuing a Bachelors in Agriculture in spite of cracking the national entrance tests for engineering exams. Those around me questioned my choice at letting go of a potentially bright and employable career ahead for a subject that did not have much scope. However, my leap was laden with faith that I wanted to study the roots on which our civilisation and our society rests. I was not disappointed: the theoretical and practical knowledge I have gathered are invaluable. Farmers are replete with management lessons, knowing the best to manage their land, labour and resources to yield productivity. While working in close quarters with the rural farm families during my rural work internship, I realised the ground realities associated with the field. It left me deeply moved to acknowledge the strength in their survival, and inspired me to associate myself with their upliftment, in future. I have realised that they had mastered the art of nurturing crops and people alike.
When was the last time someone relied on you? OR What did you do which was purely for someone else - a truly selfless act.
As Covid-19 spread its terror, we took to online education and learning. However, privileges don't come to all. When things dialled back to normalcy and our house help got back to do the chores, she was extremely worried about the education of her daughters in Std. 8th and 10th. Although I was extremely caught up with the first-year toiling of an MBA, I took up the exercise of streamlining their study schedules. We decided on the timelines to read, gather thoughts, clarify doubts, and do the exercises. In two months, I could tell both the girls had developed a liking for garnering knowledge which was assuring. The elder daughter did well in her boards, and got enrolled in a government diploma college, much to everyone's surprise. My intent was to keep the spirit of knowledge and learning going especially for women of this section who need to be financially independent through education and skill-building, and I was glad that I was able to contribute towards it.
Tell us about a time when you disagreed with an opinion/idea/decision. What did you do about it?
While working on the compilation of data on the socio-economic profile of one of the largest districts of the state for my rural internship stint, there were clashes of opinions about the method. Leading a team of 15, with different working styles and having an underlying streak of competition to excel in the individual projects, I realised that communication and clarity of thought were important. I categorised the sections and collated the information on a piece-meal-basis. On completion of a particular cluster, we gathered to brainstorm on the aspects that needed refinement and made necessary modifications. Everybody's opinion was factored in for the consensus. In this way, the step-by-step method helped us cover all the important aspects without conflicts. At the final presentation, we were adjudged the top two teams among 24 teams.
What is the one thing you can claim to have some level of expertise or depth of knowledge in - it could be anything - a subject, a sport, a hobby, a venture, an initiative which has led you to do deep work in that field?
I co-founded a literary club, six years back, that initiates and addresses social dialogues. The club manages over 200 volunteers. My key responsibility has been to build and motivate a team that comprises people from different age groups and professions, who employ poetry to create a better world. I work together in the conception and execution of multiple formats of events, with the motive of giving back to society, qualitatively and creatively. We host independent events, partner with reputed institutions and literary festivals, as well as cater to the digital audience through weekly newsletters, podcasts, and e-events. Managing the PR and social media verticals have made me aware of the sensitivity that certain topics may project to the diverse cohorts who are associated with us. From the feedback we get from our attendees and poets, it is evident that the club has done a fair job at flitting the fine line between serving the literary as well as the social purposes.
If 10 Million Dollars (approximately INR 75 Crores) is given to you to use it any way you deem fit what would you do with this corpus?
I like to think my life fits into four quadrants: personal, professional, family and social, each quadrant deserving an equal share of resources, time and energy.
Personal and Family: 3 million Dollars Saving up in FD to secure a steady income source. Taking a culture and heritage tour across various geographies to understand their thoughts, beliefs and social constructs. Hosting and attending coffee meets, symposiums on society, polity and economy
Professional: 5 million DollarsInvesting in a social entrepreneurial venture in the agricultural space incorporating data analytics and AI for predictive forecasting by integrating market intelligence to ensure supply chain streamlining. Founding nation-wide incubators for social dialogues to be initiated on caste, gender, and mental health especially in the underprivileged section to empower them to lead a life reinforced with financial and social security.
Social: 1 million DollarsDonating to organisations like Mann Deshi Foundation, Goonj, and Teach for India to contribute to the space of literacy, financial empowerment, and social change.
Read the stories of the other Employable Graduates here!