On 12th June, 2017 nineteen management graduates walked into a unique fast-tracked program of leadership - the Capgemini E.L.I.T.E. General Management Program. Coming from different backgrounds, geographies and colleges, they had one common dream. Determined to change this dream into reality, they were charged with energy and enthusiasm ready to enter into the journey of rigour that awaited them.
The onboarding journey was not merely attending HR sessions and training, it was a lot more than that. The five weeks brought with them exposure to senior leadership, insights into the financial services ecosystem, domain knowledge, a lot of learning and fun along the way.
Exposure:
The key highlight of the 5 weeks was the leadership sessions from global CXOs and heads of business units. As we listened to the leaders talk about the business strategy, their insights and more importantly their experiences, we could not be more grateful for the exposure this program was providing us with. Be it formal leadership sessions scheduled during the weeks, or the interactions during the welcome dinner on the first day of joining, every experience was overwhelming and enriching.
Learning:
The one theme that was consistent across the 5 weeks was learning. It spanned across domains, technology and skills to enrich our knowledge, enhance our effectiveness in work and communication and prepare us for our career ahead. While knowledge sessions focused on technology specific and domain-specific learnings, there were dedicated sessions for emerging trends in the industry.
Learning from content is one thing, learning by experiencing is another. It is mostly latter that sticks in the mind. During the course of the 5 weeks, we got to be a part of the Live Twitter chat on World Retail Banking Report in which we also contributed to the discussions. To know about the CSR activities, we were sent to organizations supported by Capgemini where we talked to the stakeholders involved and learned how the initiatives are impacting so many lives.
Development:
When I look back on the initial days of joining and compare it to the present day, I have come a long way from what I was to what I have become. I have changed in the way I conduct or attend meetings, the way I deliver a presentation and the way I work. The change can be attributed to two workshops during the onboarding - the Consulting Skills Workshop and the Pinnacle Workshop. While I had received feedback on my presentation skills and soft skills in the past, the Pinnacle Workshop ensured that I overcome the challenges and achieve significant improvement within 3 days.
Fun:
Though the training was intense, the core team made sure we don't lose out on having fun. The first week made us put our Sherlock hats on, solving clues and running around to various landmarks they represented with our cameras ready to click the quirky poses that we came up with. The next event was bowling during which the team bonding reached a new level, which continued with the Laser Tag event where team members got each other's back to win the game.
The onboarding journey ended with the most rigorous and the best week - when nineteen of us travelled to the lovely Les Fontaines campus of Capgemini for the face to face CSW workshop. The 3 days of CSW workshop was intense, to say the least, but it was the most fun too.
On 17th July, 2017 nineteen E.L.I.T.E. management trainees started a new journey (rotation projects), they had changed from what they were when they came to what they are now. They now realise the essence of those five weeks and they are grateful to the team for making it possible.