EVERY STEP OF THE WAY - Anshula Mohapatra, SIBM Pune

The little things in life, have the most lasting impression. It can be as trivial as the food we used to take in our lunch boxes, where the aluminium foil of “Freshwrapp” with the sleek cutter edge box, saved the day for my family. It could be as important as the case study done in the captive power plant of Hindalco, at Hirakud which helped me as a student realise the theoretical concepts. It could be as integral as the casuals and formal wear we get from the stores like “Pantaloons”, “People”, “Louis Philippe”, “Van Heusen” etc.

Hence, Every step of the way, Aditya Birla Group has played a significant role in my journey so far!

At home, being the younger of two siblings, I am the observant, quiet and sensitive element in the family dynamics. As a result, I assumed the role of a confidante and a listening ear in my social circle as well. As an individual, I am perceptive to details, and it helps me stay organized. Academics has always been of importance to me. Throughout my education; I have always aimed at giving my best to the task at hand, with sincerity and hard work. This has helped me in delivering results even at my workplace. At times I am unable to gauge my own potential, which makes me doubt whether my efforts will result in fruition. Having stayed away from home for the past 7 years now has helped me adapt to changing circumstances and made me more patient.

I can recall two situations at two different points in my life which has made me the person I am today. When I was five years old, our family had met with a terrifying car accident. I was pleased about the attention I got at home initially, however as I grew up the curious gazes from the new acquaintances and the concerned questions by onlookers made me feel ill at ease. But, at heart, it was the prized Harry Potter scar of my own which made me dream of a letter from Hogwarts someday. Despite the bouts of low self-esteem issues experienced by me at school, I decided on focusing my attention on getting better at academics. Throughout higher secondary, I participated in various Olympiads and exhibitions which made me interested in the field of science. Having scored pretty well in both class 10th and 12th boards, boosted my confidence and enhanced my analytical thinking grey cells, paved way for my future studies in the field of engineering.

During my past work experience, through constant interactions with clients across various industries has helped me develop decision making skills. I was given the opportunity to spearhead a proof of concept of a process, which involved designing solutions based on the requirement given by the clients. Earlier I used to depend on getting validation from my senior colleagues as I used to feel their experience always trumped over my amateur judgement. However, this opportunity helped me leave a mark on the entire team, and despite my shorter span of experience, my senior colleagues valued my inputs and considered my suggestions. My peers and I have a symbiotic relationship, making it a conducive environment to thrive in. I believe in the 3 Cs of teamwork - Communication, Clarification and Corroboration, which makes me a good team player as well.

Perseverance and determination have been my innate and inherent virtues that have been instrumental in each decision I have taken in my life, thus, shaping me into the individual I am today.