Part A

Picture this: It is 2005, you just turned your flip phone on and the idea sign greets you. You open the browser for Facebook and receive surprisingly fast internet on 2G. You then open you lunch packed in Freshwrapp and eat away whilst refreshing and chatting.

Now, picture this: It is the present-day, you’re preparing for b-school and buy all your business formals from Allen Solly, Van Heusen or Pantaloons. You pay for your purchases using BHIM ABPB and head to your new campus. A site nearby is under construction, and you can see sacks of Ultratech cement lying everywhere.

It is very evident from both the scenarios that the Aditya Birla Group has held a significant part in each of our lives, whether evident or unseen. It has been doing the work on front lines under brands such as Van Heusen, Pantaloons, Ultratech etc, which are too prominent to be missed. On the back lines, it has been involved in a lot of metal, textile, and financial businesses, the presence of which is not evident but is implicit in our everyday activities. Not only is the brand prominent in India, it has even created a global footprint and has exclusive rights to the international brand ‘Forever 21’.

But it doesn’t just end there. The involvement of ABG in Corporate Social Activities has been zealous and has managed to create substantial impact on the lives of people. Be it educating women and engaging them in their plants, or the focus on eradication of polio and corrective surgeries for already affected people, they have improved the lives of hundreds of people and create better standards of living.

The making of the first MNC from India was no easy feat, and the group has been working tirelessly for over 85 years to be able to create the impact it has today. They have established their presence on all 6 continents, and are growing further every day. They are the world’s largest recycler of aluminium, 3^rd largest producers of cement and India’s largest MNC with manufacturing operations in the USA. Their legacy continues to garner praise, they continue to grow forward with their mission of delivering superior value to their customers, shareholders, employees and society at large.

Part B

“Challenges are the stepping stones to success.” As cliché as the statement sounds, it holds more truth than meets the eye. Everyone faces challenges at every point in their lives. But what matters is how they face that challenge and emerge on the other side. My life has been no smooth journey either, and I’ve faced my fair share of obstacles in life.

For a larger portion of my life, I had been an introvert. All through school, I only had one or two people to call friends, and, if left alone, would sit in a corner and never talk to anyone new. Even while sitting in groups, I’d always prefer staying shut and just listen rather than ever contribute to the conversations. When I joined undergraduate college, this habit led me to a lonely place, where more often than not, I used to stay back in my room while everyone was out having fun or creating memories. It took a conscious effort over 3 years of college to move out of this cocoon. I started by initiating conversations with classmates, and my good communication skills helped. I pushed myself to talk to new people and not hesitate in asking for help, and the person that graduated from college was starkly different to the one that entered in.

Another aspect where I struggled was academics. Ever since I was in primary school, academics came naturally to me. I could always score well without studying, and nobody said a word. The complacency and struggle that came after it is something I had to struggle with for a larger portion of my life. Hard-work always supersedes excellence, and rightly so. It took me a long while and a good number of failures to get out of the complacent stage and stop taking things for granted.

There have been many more aspects where I’ve faced struggles, but they have made me who I am today. One just needs to keep a strong and determined head, and it doesn’t take long for things to fall into place.

Riya Parwani

ABGLP Woo Me, FMS Delhi