“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, but as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

– Booker T. Washington

Being one of the largest conglomerates in India, there is no such plane in my life that Aditya Birla Group has not touched. With the most essential element in today’s high tech world, the ever-growing Vodafone Idea Ltd. network - India's No. 1 Telecom service provider has been with me since I started using a mobile phone. All the development that we see around today in terms of infrastructural facilities would not have been possible without UltraTech cement - the largest manufacturer of grey cement in India. From roads to railways, ABG ever exists. The Hindalco ranges of copper rods have been used extensively in the development of railways in our country, being the largest in Asia. The highly enriched real estate sector also makes use of the widest range of roofing sheets, aluminium windows and structural available for both residential and industrial needs in the Hindalco range. Along with its global subsidiary, Novelis Inc., ABG has also been a part of every sip of beverage that we take in the scorching summers in India, by being one of the largest producers of aluminium can sheet and also the world's largest recycler of the same. It has also helped in ensuring our safety, by enabling lighter, stronger and better vehicles. ABG group is also present across rubber, tire, ink, plastic and paint industries globally via Birla carbon - a world leader in the manufacturing of carbon additives. The thing, with which I am most attached to, is ABG's Fashion & Retail industry. Dressing up from an age of 5years old till today, my constant has been Pantaloons. From casual to party looks, it has catered to all of my needs. Now entering into my dream B-school - IIFT and formals being my daily attire, brands like Allen Solly, Peter England and Van Heusen have been very handy in providing the most comfortable formal clothing.

I have always been very inclined towards serving the society, the reason behind my work with an NGO for 2 years. During my tenure, I faced severe challenges with my family as well as the society, on the grounds of clashing ideologies. I was criticized and put back. Along with this, I was also engaged in preparing for the upcoming entrance tests, while being in the final year of graduation. I felt myself on a little back foot compared to other aspirants for the interviews as I am a fresher. Rightly said, challenges test your resilience towards difficult situations. Proper planning and my strong and rightful will power helped me in continuing the work and here I am, sitting in my dream B-school – IIFT. Travelling from west to east to a totally different environment, I’ve also inculcated in myself adaptability and mindfulness. Aditya Birla Group’s efforts in contributing to the social and economic development and building better and sustainable way of life for the weaker sections of the society has always seem very pleasing and attractive to me. The concept of Big on Smiles is something much attached to me as I relate very highly with it and I’ve had past experiences with social activities. I feel very happy at my heart looking at such a big conglomerate working and addressing the ground level issues in the society by opening altogether a separate center for the same and reaching out to 7.5million people. ABG’s sustainable business policies are also helping in an overall environmental protection. The crust of the talk is the company’s aims at making a difference in the lives of people.

Shariya_Shaikh

“Big On Smiles” - The Common Link Between ABG And Me | Shariya Shaikh, IIFT

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