As an intern, the first day is always nerve-wracking. With so much on the line—wondering if the project will be manageable, if there’s a chance to secure a pre-placement offer, and if the company culture will be a good fit—the anticipation can be overwhelming. However, my
experience at RPG was nothing short of extraordinary, starting with a warm welcome that included cookies, goodies, and ready-to-go ID cards. The group's Chief Talent Officer personally addressed us, sharing stories and encouraging conversations, which instantly
comforted us.
Senior leaders from all the group companies dedicated their time during the induction, talking about the organization, its business, the heritage of its brands, and the exciting possibilities for collaboration. We were in awe of the respect and attention we received, feeling truly valued. The two-day induction concluded with a memorable heritage walk through the Worli Koliwada, an RPG foundation restoration project. This experience introduced even a resident Mumbaikar like me to newer vantage points of the sea, offered a different perspective, and allowed us to banter & bond.
On the third day, we embarked on our respective assignments, each of us diving into transformative experiences. In HR studies, role-modelling is often cited as a reason for the need for diverse representation in our organizations and especially leadership. I witnessed
this firsthand during my initial interactions with my guide. I was inspired by her and thought, "This is who I want to be in a few years." It was a privilege to learn from people who inspired me daily.
A part of my project involved interviewing frontline sales employees, which turned out to be incredibly enjoyable. The team ensured I had everything I needed for my experiments, whether it was riding pillion with a female employee around Mumbai as she took orders for different tyre sizes from dealers or calling sales folks across the country to understand how HR could make their hectic jobs more comfortable. Many employees became invested in my project, often checking in on my progress. They would say, “Chalo, humare liye policy bann jayegi aur aapka internship success ho jayega.”
Despite everyone’s best intentions, there were of course challenges that sometimes arose in getting access to people’s time or certain resources. However, navigating these challenges brought a sense of fulfilment. With immense support from the RPG Team, we successfully completed all our projects.
The internship wasn't all work and no play, though. We were invited to join all the cocktail dinners that fell in this window of time, which were super fun. Then, networking dinners were organized specially for us, which were a blast and provided ample opportunities for networking, further bonding and not to mention shaking a leg!
The two months at CEAT were an incredible journey filled with immense learning, inspiration, and lovely friendships. The company’s culture allowed us to flourish, and the sense of accomplishment from achieving our goals was immensely fulfilling. This internship was truly a remarkable ride, leaving us with unforgettable memories and invaluable experiences.