The Aditya Birla Group became a part of our lives even before we realized that we are growing together!
One of the oldest Indian multinational conglomerates is in the League of Fortune 500. Aditya Birla Group stands strong in 34 nations worldwide and operates in a wide range of sectors including metals, textiles, carbon black, telecommunication and cement. As rightly said by Mr. K. M. Birla - “Great businesses are never built on the quicksands of opportunism”. Thanks to the sheer amount of passion, commitment and a will to lead and deliver, Aditya Birla Group is the third-largest Indian private sector conglomerate.
I have been using the products of the Aditya Birla Group throughout my life. Right from the school days, Freshwrapp aluminum foils have been used to keep the food in the tiffin box hot and fresh. My first ever loyalty card was of Pantaloons and later the shopping sprees continued to Allen Solly, Van Heusen and People, all a part of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), and are one of the top fashion brands in India, used by millions of consumers. Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership, and it is the leading telecom service provider in India and the second-largest globally. Undeniably, I am a Vodafone Idea customer. Going beyond, when I understood the importance of saving and decided to buy Systematic Investment Plans (SIP), without any hesitation I knew it had to be Birla Sun Life.
The humongous presence of the Aditya Birla Group across industries with superior quality products could not be better emphasized than the UltraTech Cement Limited, one of the largest cement manufacturers in India and the world’s leading cement makers belong to the Aditya Birla Group. It operates globally and apart from India, has a strong presence in Bangladesh, UAE, Sri Lanka, and Bahrain. The seed sown in the form of jute mills, today bears the fruits in the form of vast expansion, reflecting values, efforts, and dreams.
The group surpasses the conventional business models and also focuses on giving it back to the community by providing services in the health-care sector, education sector, steps to empower the girl child, women empowerment projects, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure and espousing social reform. A lot more focus is given on sustainable business. This is achieved in three major parts, the first being “Responsible Stewardship”, which helps manage the operations in a very responsible way. The second part is the “Strategic Stakeholder Engagement", which focuses on building a powerful relationship with the group’s stakeholders as well as with technical experts to study the effects of various major issues on the business and act accordingly. These issues include water and waste management, climate change, safety standards, and developments in human rights legislation. The third part is “Future Proofing”, which majorly focuses on building new sustainable business strategies.
Therefore, I believe, truly, Aditya Birla Group is ‘Taking India to the world’!
Challenges are Opportunities that shape us; The Challenge that brought me to #IIMTrichy
Everyone comes across various challenges throughout our lives. Without them, life would be so mundane. The latest that helped me understand my responsibilities as a child better, happened a year ago.
30th March 2018, I took my very first self-sponsored vacation to the land of Kathakali, Kerala. During this, a political strike was declared in the state. On the very same day back in my home town, my mother was admitted, she had a stroke attack. The destination which gave the feeling of serenity suddenly made me feel that I am stuck, both physically and mentally.
Next-day flights were not affordable. I had a word with my father, understood the situation and decided to leave on the scheduled day, which was a day later. Her hospitalization period tested me to the core. From being available round-the-clock to managing the finances.
For the next 3 months, it was all about reverse-parenting which taught and gifted me patience and gratitude. I eventually learned to strike the balance between looking after her, my work-from-home, household chores and to study. It is her optimism that kept me motivated throughout and helped me be here in #IIMTrichy today.
During this course of time, I learned it is necessary for everyone to be calm, hopeful and be ready to accept the situations as they occur. It is only when we accept we can improve and go ahead.