The world is vastly different from when I officially enrolled in the MBA program at Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies. It was not extraordinary to get out of home every morning to get work done. The world was operating like clockwork and we were all concentrated at building robust futures. Then, one day in December last year, Covid-19 hit the world like a bolt of lightning striking a tree, challenging us in every facet of life as we know it.
Somewhere in March of 2020, the world realized that a tiny virus has taken over everything we do, and what was seemingly routine before is a mountain of a task now. While this realization is still dawning on some of us, we have realized that the only way forward is to adapt and accelerate learning in the face of uncertainty.
From what I had enquired, I knew that an MBA program offers a sharp learning curve that allows you to collaborate and learn from like-minded individuals with diverse backgrounds. Despite the chaos, technology has been our rescuer. I have learned of its true significance only now as I am faced with the life-altering fact that my MBA experience will be like no other. What impressed me most was how fast SIMS was able to provide us with the tools to connect remotely and focus on learning.
To inspire us, SIMS had designed a beautiful 10-day e-orientation - a once in a lifetime program that prepares student managers to transform into leaders of tomorrow. In this case, tomorrow which is even more unpredictable. As soon as the news of the online variant of the orientation spread, I was excited to experience something that no MBA graduate of the time had seen.
This experience acted as a more condensed simulation of an environment where we will have to make tough decisions with time constraints. We were guided by industry experts on how we must re-acquaint our motivations to guide change in the world we live in. Also, we were exposed to the host of subjects that we will be learning about to ease everyone into the course. Daily assignments were set to encourage us to read about the different building blocks of all subjects and in doing so develop an understanding in our own words.
However, the best phase of the e-orientation were the activities that brought us together despite everyone sitting in different parts of the world. The inclusion of fitness activities every day helped us in taking a step closer to better health - which is the need of the hour. Forging new relationships online is a difficult task, but the support provided by SIMS played a monumental role in all communications within our new community.
While the reopening of college campuses is still not in sight, I believe that this is our one opportunity to emerge stronger and more prepared. Everything is different and we as the batch of 2020 have to act like sponges to learn about the rapid changes that are transforming our environment and in many ways the subject matter of our education as well.
But most of all, this one of a kind orientation was has set us up to
MAKE A DIFFERENCE through resilience, collaboration and creativity.