Serendipity. This was the first word that came to my mind when I reflect on my selection to the Capgemini E.L.I.T.E Summer internship program 2019. I joined the MBA program at IIM Kozhikode after working for two and a half years in the technology industry and having liked my work. Thus it was a no-brainer for me to apply to the E.L.I.T.E Internship program and was fortunate enough to get selected to it.
Right from the time we stepped onto the Capgemini Campus on our first day to the closing night of the on-boarding week, it was evident as to how meticulously the entire week had been planned. After some ice-breaking sessions on the first day, we went straight into the Consulting Skills workshop, where the first thing that we were taught was to expect ambiguity and learning how to deal with it.
The rest of the week consisted of sessions covering the depth and breadth of the work that Capgemini does, to various soft skills sessions such as “Emotional Intelligence” and “Getting small things right”. Apart from the knowledge that we gained from these sessions, we were also given the opportunity to connect with esteemed leaders from the organization and gain invaluable insights from them.
The next eight weeks flew by in a blur, but one thing was for certain – my expectations after the on-boarding week were not let down. I had the opportunity to work with the
Engagement Capabilities and Project Start-ups unit, which is one among the eight different teams that work in close coordination under the umbrella of the
Global Delivery Excellence organization for Financial Services.
Given the vast expanse of the Delivery Excellence organization, I was given some time to accustom myself to the work that each unit does. Once this was done, I dove straight into my project, which centered on a training program to augment and improve the capabilities of Delivery Executives in the Insurance and Banking Business Units. Simultaneously, I was also tasked with assessing various engagements within Financial Services to determine their adherence to the model of delivery propagated by Capgemini. Gaps were identified, and the results were, in turn, presented to senior Delivery Executives during the training program. In spite of being an intern, the level to which I was encouraged to take ownership of the work, was a pleasant surprise.
Apart from being exposed to the numerous aspects of delivery (right from reviewing a deal, contract management, to customer satisfaction), the time that I spent working closely with the heads of all units gave me a wide array of exposure, an invaluable network and new perspectives than I never could have imagined.
In addition to the project work, we were also encouraged to work on Cookie projects, conduct knowledge sessions, and community building.
Throughout all of this, we had senior members of the E.L.I.T.E team and other E.L.I.T.E trainees as a constant source of mentoring. Their presence and support over those two months was something I am immensely grateful for.
Overall, the entire internship experience was magnificent, and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment had enriched me in terms of learning and development – both personally and professionally.
Fast forward to a year later – now an MBA graduate and having secured a Pre-placement offer (PPO), I am delighted to join the E.L.I.T.E program full time and cannot wait for the exciting journey ahead.