Tell us about a time when you messed up, and what you learnt from the experience?
At times unnecessary tension and stress take the best out of me. During my second year in college, I qualified at the district level of the "federal bank speak for India competition" and was participating at the zonal level. It was a big platform with many talented people and eminent personalities judging the competition. Debating wasn't new to me however at that point when I saw the huge crowd and my extremely talented competitors my nerves got the best of me and as a result, I couldn't perform well and couldn't clear that level.I learnt that getting tensed and running away is never a solution and that I shouldn't be bothered by my competitors and should have faith in myself. and after the failure in that level and the learnings from the competition I made sure that I qualify the zonal level of the competition next year and become a semifinalist.
Tell us something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.
I am an extroverted person however staying indoors for over a year due to Covid 19 inflicted lockdown has made me someone who enjoys my own company now. Given a chance, I would prefer to sit in the corner of my room reading a book or binge-watch a series on a weekend than going out and partying with friends. I was the soul of any party before the pandemic and now I think I can classify my life into pre and post-pandemic me.
What have been your two biggest successes in life? What did you learn from them?
I consider passing out as the college topper in economics after failing to get admission in the first place and joining as a wild card entry. I had no prior background in economics and being positioned in the first rank among the best minds of the state and passing out from the best Economics department in Kerala is something that I am quite proud of. Another success I would like to mention is the successful launch of REFLATE 2019. I was fortunate enough to be selected as the student coordinator of REFLATE 19. We had to build everything from the scratch, there were a lot of criticisms which we used to our advantage. I had a good team to support me which made it a lot more efficient and easier. From finding sponsors to planning, promoting, and executing we did everything, and the hard work paid off, the event was a huge success. It made me believe that anything is possible if you have the will to take risks and face the consequences.
Professionally, what is your ideal image of yourself five years from now? Where do you see yourself?
I currently have no formal work experience so my immediate goal is to get a taste of the corporate world and learn its nitty-gritty. In the long term, I aspire to become an expert in the field of finance and management and work with international organisations like the World Bank Group and IMF. In order to attain my goals, I wish to complement my background in economics with finance, marketing, strategy, and leadership and gain a comprehensive understanding of the world of business and management.
What is the one skill or characteristic you possess that you are most proud of, and why?
I am most proud of my communication skills and my people management skills, it has always helped me to stand out of the crowd. Having good communication skills and being an approachable person has always helped me in building a good rapport with my teammates and thus I was able to manage and lead teams consisting of people from different age groups and different backgrounds. I believe effective communication is the key to solving problems and I am blessed to have it as one of my strengths.
In your opinion, what skills or qualities does a successful manager possess?
I believe creativity and the underlying ability to think innovatively is the single most important qualities which should be possessed by a manager. "Business has only two functions marketing and innovation." - This famous line from Czech-born writer Milan Kundera sums up why innovation holds such importance when it comes to becoming a successful manager. The ability to think differently, pursue that idea and take calculated risks are important for a manager. A manager should have good communication skills and he/she should be able to bring the best out of his teammates.
Tell us about an ethical dilemma that you may have faced, and how you resolved it.
When I was a member of the school council I was put in a difficult situation when a few other members of the council misused their powers for saving their friends from disciplinary actions. It was the responsibility of the council to maintain discipline and to help teachers implement rules and regulations among students. The biased actions of these council members were totally against my ideals and I wanted to let them know my displeasure without hurting them. I thought that it was better to let my actions speak rather than confronting those senior members so once when my own sibling was on the defaulter's list I made sure that she was subjected to disciplinary actions before anyone else and I did this in front of the other members which made them realise their mistake.
If you were the CEO of any company of your choosing, which company would you choose and what would your first action be as CEO?
I would choose to be the CEO of Kerala Transport Corporation a public limited company. KSRTC has been a symbol of hope in the lives of middle-class Keralites. The government-owned transport company ensured that all parts of the states were well connected.KSRTC had bus services to even the remotest of the places in Kerala which the private players often ignore. However due to decades of mismanagement the company is on the verge of bankruptcy and closure. I would like to become the CEO and revamp the activities of the company. My primary focus will be on improving the efficiency of the workers and build a proper work culture. I would also like to reduce the red-tapism associated with the working of the company and give it a new structure.
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Check The List Of InsideIIM’s 50 Most Promising Incoming Students 2021 Here!
For the Class Of 2022, we are back with the 8th season of InsideIIM's Best 50 - India's Most Employable MBA Graduates - Class Of 2022! If you're graduating from a B-School in 2022, you're eligible to take part in this competition! Grab the chance to bring out your best side and impress your recruiters and peers. Take the opportunity to show the world why you are special, on your own terms.
If you're using a web browser (Mozilla or Google Chrome), then you can take part through this link. Otherwise, please download the Kampus App (Android | iOS), and head over to Competitions.
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