Somnath, a SIBM Pune Alumni (Batch of 2016)
Did you have any work-ex prior to joining b school?
Yes, I worked for Zycus Infotech Pvt. Ltd. For 22 months as a Procurement Analyst based out of Mumbai.
Where did you do your summer internship at? Did you convert a PPO/PPI?
I did my Summer Internship with PepsiCo Holdings India Pvt. Ltd. I was based out of Gurgaon while I was working on improving the Forecast Accuracy of PepsiCo’s premium beverages. I was unable to secure a PPO there.
Tell us about your internship interview and experience.
It was a good experience. The group discussion topic was on the ‘pros and cons of having celebrities endorse goods/products’. The interview was focused on why I wanted to join the company, what skills I can get to the table, and how I work towards achieving the goals I set for myself.
What hard/ soft skills do you recommend students should learn during b-school?, and which might help them to bag a PPO?
Acknowledging that any case/problem may have multiple solutions viewed from different perspectives is the first way to go. Networking is also highly important. Learning from the internet, teachers, seniors, and peers is all part of the 2-year journey and that must be done throughout.
Tell us about your current role in detail.
I work for Cisco as a Customer Project Specialist in their Project Management vertical. I manage 2-3 different small projects as a Project Manager. I work on different key accounts as a Project Coordinator under various Program Managers in the US. My clients include - Discover Financial Services, Exelon, T-Mobile amongst many others. It involves coordinating with the Client and the Engineers and ensuring that the scope of the project is executed under the requisite schedule and costs.
Please describe your career trajectory (Designations and responsibilities).
Post my engineering from RAIT (Mumbai University), I worked as a Procurement Analyst with Zycus Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai. In the 22 months I spent there, I did analysis for clients like Nestle and Stoneridge, and supplier and performance management for Aramark etc. It was during that time, I decided to do an MBA. So, I did that from SIBM Pune with a specialisation in Marketing. While I was doing my MBA there, I got the opportunity to be part of the Alumni Team which allowed me to network with the esteemed Alumni of my college. Post my MBA, I have been working for Cisco and I continue to do so.
Which decisions have shaped your career in this particular way?
I chose to focus on a lot of extra-curricular activities during my engineering and MBA. I was fortunate enough to be the Editor in Chief and a Marketing Head of my engineering college and also a senior member of the Alumni Team. The learnings from each one of them were:
- Perspectives gained from peers around me
- Independence to own my responsibilities
- Learned how to be street-smart
All this helped me become the person I am today.
If not this, what alternate career path you would have chosen after MBA?
Well, I am someone who has a lot of hobbies such as Cinema, Cricket, Reading, Travelling etc. Well, for a marketing graduate a job in sales would have been the way to go, so that may have been my alternate career path.
Which careers are most sought after in the market today by employers and why? What are their gestation period?
FMCG is always in demand but it is a high-pressure job and sales can be a lonely first couple of years. IT Consulting, Brand Management, and Marketing are also those that most marketing MBA students try and gravitate towards.
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