“Education”, said Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela ‘Is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.
Thus I see MBA as not merely a degree. It’s not just a course that will allow me to gain an entry ticket into the fancy corporate world. It is a sea of experience and wisdom that I’ll plunge into to gain and develop essential skills for leadership such as effective listening and communication, presentation, team building, assertiveness and problem-solving skills.
Knowing that this period might be my last stint as a full-time student, I will make the most of it. This is the time to invest in relations, share and collaborate and strive for the pursuit of excellence.
Throughout my 2-year trajectory at SDA Bocconi Asia Center, I will work on building my competencies and skill set to become an effective leader.
I’ll work on polishing my Soft and core skills through multiple avenues such as participating in competitions, corporate projects, networking and solving case studies. I know that lectures and assignments will keep me busy, but MBA is all about going that extra edge and efficient task management.
The dynamic, diverse and intellectually stimulating nature of B-school competitions excites me. I’ll work hard to equip myself to participate in national level competitions such as The Brandstorm, YES Bank Transformation Series, L.I.M.E, Mahindra War room, Marico Operance, Godrej LOUD, Vodafone Voyage, Samsung E.D.G.E etc
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Following the legacy of my seniors, I’ll put in my 101% to bring laurels to my school.
I will closely interact with the faculty and business leaders. Our professors mostly come down from SDA Bocconi, Milan and are veterans in their subject area. They use case study based pedagogy and have an international focus. They use experiential learning and simulation methods in class too. Also, my school actively and regularly organizes sessions with guest speakers to keep us up with the latest trends and happenings in the industry.
Apart from the classroom teaching I also want to start an outbound programme for the International Masters In Business students where we all can reflect on our journey in the laps of nature through team building and sports activities.
During my time, I wish to be a part of the Student Placement Committee at SDABAC and perform the task of corporate liaison. It will provide me with an opportunity to gain a deeper insight and work with a variety of sectors and minds and at the same time bring positivity into my life. I’ll try to bring in new recruiters and profiles to my B-school and showcase the world the pool of talent SDABAC is thriving with.
I’ll also try to be a member of the student-run Marketing Club, Mercato Maniacs and explore my interest in this area. To improve my public speaking skills I’ll participate in the Toastmaster Club Sessions.
After my week 1 at SDA Bocconi, I feel that a school is not just a structure sitting in the middle of the town, but an epitome of life, built on the foundation of meaningful conversations, cemented by love and friendship, help together by guidance and knowledge, rising, growing every day in an attempt to touch the sky.
Which ABGP company you will like to work for and why?
ADITYA BIRLA FASHION AND RETAIL LIMITED
Textile and clothing sector is one of the oldest industries in India. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), “The close linkage of the textile industry to agriculture (for raw materials such as cotton) and the ancient culture and traditions of the country in terms of textiles make the Indian textiles sector unique in comparison to the industries of other countries”.
The Indian textile industry is estimated at around 108 billion dollars and is expected to reach 223 billion dollars by 2021. The industry also employs over 45 million people directly to 60 million people indirectly. It contributes approximately 5 percent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), and 14 percent to overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The textile industry is also one of the largest contributors to India’s export with approximately 13.5 percent of total export amounting 42.24 billion dollars
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Keeping the above industry statistics in mind I would want to work with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited. (ABFRL)
ABFRL is India's No 1. Fashion Lifestyle entity with a combined revenue of Rs. 6,633 crore for FY17, growing at a rate of 10 percent and EBITDA of INR 476 crore for FY'17 that has grown at 18 percent over the last year. ABFRL altogether hosts India's largest fashion network with over 7,000 points of sale across over 375 cities and towns, which include more than 2,000 exclusive ABFRL brand outlets.
The brand’s growing success is a fulfillment of the Prime Minister’s Vision of “Make of India. They have also partnered with State Bank Buddy to create a seamless, cashless & secured payment option for their retail customers across pan India store network.
As of June 2018, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) is the
1stto bring
American Eagle Outfitters(AEO) to India, targeting India’s vast youth population. I would want to work in the marketing division of this brand. With retail expanding independently through brick and mortar as well as e-commerce, the Indian fashion consumer now deserves futuristic and comprehensive Omni-channel options.
I will work towards attracting more investment into this sector and achieving scale across the value chain.
I want to be a part of the dynamic field of marketing specifically at ABFRL because it understands that as a specialist in retail, its people are its biggest asset and gives them a sense of value.
ABFRL is known for its professionalism and the superior competitive positioning that characterizes the company.
I see ABFRL as an organization that provides me with the
opportunities to climb the right ladder. Moreover, marketing gives an unparalleled understanding of how businesses operate across verticals and to be able to design solutions for business owners is a very
empowering experience.
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Prerna Malhotra
IMB Candidate (2018-2020)