They came, they wooed, they are here to stay!_SDA BOCCONI ASIA CENTER_#ABGLPWooMe

PART A: 

Elon Musk said, “Great companies are built by great products.” This statement holds great truth and Aditya Birla Group has been an exemplar of being one of the finest conglomerates the world has ever seen. Impacting lives since 1957, the ABG commands respect as the country’s third-largest private sector multi-industry company. With a revenue of USD 44.3 Billion, the company is also part of the Fortune 500. From manufacturing to consumer-based, ABG has made a mark in diverse interests. Implicitly or glaringly, it is no surprise that ABG and its businesses have made their presence felt in our lives. 

Responsible for the sprawling highways dotted with houses and high-rises that we come across while commuting, ABG is the largest manufacturer of carbon black globally and also the largest manufacturer of white cement in the country through UltraTech. Carving a name in fashion and retail, one of the largest market sectors in India, brands like Louis Phillipe, Allen Solly and multi-brand stores like Pantaloons have been attracting a majority of the corporate working class in our nation. Introducing brands like Ted Baker London and Ralph Lauren through its premium brand venture The Collective, ABG has taken luxury fashion and retail to newer heights in India. Spreading its roots into various fields, ABG is at the forefront when it comes to telecom with Idea, textile and chemicals with Grasim Industries and lastly, insurance and finance with Aditya Birla Capital. 

While the company has indubitably proved itself when it comes to its efficiency and expansion, their continuous efforts in building a sustainable world and reaching out to the remote recesses of India are also equally commendable. Collaborating with international organizations like WHO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well as NABARD, SEWA and a number of small-scale NGOs, the ABG has made a difference in over 5,000 rural areas through medical services, managing schools, mid-day meal provision and basic training programs for industrial skills. Creating an enormous positive influence globally and nationally, in every possible sector, ABG is persistently leading India towards a brighter future. 

PART B: 

Born in a quintessential Indian family and growing up as the youngest member, I was bound to be the most pampered kid. However, my father taught me to become independent at a very young age. Living in a hostel and away from family since 10th grade, I have been changing cities from Bhubaneshwar, Visakhapatnam to Bangalore and now Mumbai. 

Pursuing engineering was one of the most hectic periods of my life and it was all the more difficult as I struggled to keep my passion for acting alive through a host of cultural activities and relentlessly trying to be an all-rounder. Being a twenty-something engineering student with a love for acting and a vision to study business management, who stays away from family can give rise to a host of conflicts. From existential to self-worth, life often presented me with a smorgasbord of crises. Coming to Mumbai was an additional side dish on that smorgasbord. Adjusting to the fast-paced life, finding a house to feeling homesick, I felt a range of emotions which may sound overtly glorified but the human mind, after all, is a complicated little place. Over time, however, the culture shock died down and Mumbai has been one of the biggest eye-openers for me. The city of dreams taught me that dreams seldom come easy, even to those who are persistent and determined. While I worked in casting, learned acting professionally and studied for CAT, I came across like-minded people whose journey were perhaps totally different or similar. Nevertheless, these people and knowing more about their experiences kept me grounded throughout my journey.

Performing in front of the camera, on stage for those applauses have been the most joyous moments of my life. Getting into one of the most prestigious international B-schools has been the sweetest fruit of all the efforts so far. There were times which weren’t as smooth, however, my foundations like my family and friends were very strong, much like the ABG. While success and ambition can be two, very subjective terms, my biggest lesson has been that it is the journey that ultimately shapes you into a better person as you carve a linear towards your destination.