Why Aditya Birla Group is big in your life?

Aditya Birla Group is the name that resonates with Indianness. It is not just a company but pride of India. It leads the rankings globally in Aluminium, Viscose staple fibre and carbon Black. It is truly a global company with employees of 42 different nationalities working in 34 countries. It has a footprint in varied sectors such as metals, apparel, chemicals, fertilizers, cement, financial services, viscose filament yarn, telecom. It’s an epitome of diversity. With a revenue of approximately US$44.3 billion in the year 2018, it is the third-largest conglomerate of the country. Every Indian has been associated with some or the other product of Aditya Birla Group in his lifetime. They also have an immense contribution to the social sector through Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives. Such is the impact.

I have a fond memory from childhood. Every child has this curiosity to try their father’s clothes. I tried wearing some of his shirts and it was at that time I was introduced to Louis Philippe. It was 7-year-old me who could not even pronounce the word properly. I told my father I also want to wear a Louis Philippe shirt once I start going to work. Fast forward to August 2016 when the day finally came. I went with my father for shopping and the first thing I bought for my work life was a Louis Philippe shirt and that moment was quite nostalgic. That brand takes me down to my childhood memories and that is the impact ABG has made. It was my first formal branded shirt. Now, this is what they mean when they campaign ‘Big in Your Life'. This shows the legacy Louis Philippe has and even after so many years it still is the No.1 choice. Aditya Birla Group has revolutionised the Indian apparel industry by introducing India to leading brands such as Allen Solly, Louis Philippe, and Ralph Lauren, Forever 21 and many more.

It is just one of the ways ABG has impacted my life. The Bigness of ABG can’t be defined in just words. It’s the attachment and emotion you associate with it.

How you overcame challenges to achieve your ambitions in life so far?

It is rightly said that life is full of ups and downs. It is how you handle it. Giving up is conceding that things will never get better, and that is just not true.

It was 2017, just a year completed at work. I started understanding the nuances of business and decided to pursue management education. At the same time, I got an opportunity to work on a demanding project. It was a great learning experience but at the same time, it was challenging with stringent deadlines. Late nights had become a frequent phenomenon. Parallelly my CAT preparation was in full swing. The pressure had started mounting. I started feeling low and started questioning myself on the path I have chosen. I didn't want to compromise on my work front as that was my primary responsibility. Many times, I felt I should quit CAT preparation and focus on my work and maybe try next year. But then the desire to pursue management education within me didn't allow me to quit. I thought maybe this is how life is. If everything one wants would have come easily, one wouldn't value it. I took it as a challenge and reminded myself that this is just going to make me stronger whatever may be the result. I wouldn't have the regret of quitting and rather would be proud of myself to have faced the hurdles.

I finally cracked the CAT along with a great appreciation for my work at my workplace. I got admission at IIM Nagpur and I can't express how it feels when you have achieved what you wanted overcoming all the challenges. This journey has instilled in me the confidence to overcome any hurdles I would have to face to achieve my goal.

Ashwin Joshi

The ABG Connect