Q: That’s quite an interesting and unique career graph, especially with an HR to Sales Transition and back again to HR. What made you choose Sales as a career and then come back to HR?
A : Well, I always wanted to spend time in business roles at some point in my career and I was thankful to the GMC Program , which offers cross-functional rotations. I was lucky to have mentors in the HR space who helped me make a smooth transition to the Sales Function and backed me to succeed. I really enjoyed my career in Sales and Account Management as I was able to understand the nuts and bolts of Sales and P&L Management. When I later got an interesting opportunity in HR with Amazon, I thought I could use this opportunity to apply my learnings. Both the switches were never planned too ahead in advance and it was a function of opportunity and interest. I am lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. Both Mahindra and Amazon believe in potential and competence for the role and are not rigid in prior functional experience for certain roles, which helped me. I have enjoyed my stints in both HR and Sales and looking back, I feel they have made me a well-rounded individual.
Q: What made you explore the world of writing?
In my 6-year stint with Mahindra Group as part of the GMC program, one of the roles which I enjoyed the most was when I was working as the E.A. to the Head of Sales. This role helped me develop my writing skills as I used to draft a lot of emails and executive summaries.
After 8+ years in corporate, I decided to take a 6-month break during my daughter’s birth to be of help to my wife. It was then that the writing bug bit me and I decided that why not laugh at myself through a book chronicling my journey. I have always believed that humour is a great stress buster and if you are able to bring a smile to others’ faces, you have impacted them positively. This is how the book was born.
Q: What are the main themes of your book “Hilarious MBA Memoirs”?
Inspired by real-life incidents, “Hilarious MBA Memoirs” is a hilarious autobiographical satire on the life of an MBA grad from one of India’s best B schools through childhood, college, and corporate days. This rib-tickling stressbuster chronicles funny anecdotes throughout the protagonist's life right from the rote learning methodology in childhood, to the struggle in his MBA days (making a CV, fish-market group discussions, social media mishaps, summer internship fiasco, date nights gone wrong, etc.), followed by his journey as an eligible corporate bachelor struggling to find a wife through the arranged marriage route, and culminates with a heart-warming climax.
I am sure the readers will find the anecdotes extremely relatable and I hope the book will bring a smile to their faces. It is a light and easy read, which is around 130 pages.
Join us at Klub AltUni and interact with Hari on careers and tackling gap years and layoffs while applying to jobs. Check the details of Klub AltUni here!
Q: What is your message to the MBA aspirants and graduates out there today?
1)Focus extensively on input/process metrics and minimize worry/obsession about outputs. If we focus on the inputs, the outputs will take care of themselves.
2) In today’s pandemic-induced stressful times, it is important to devote time for self-care. Your life goals should not consume your life and people should not have regrets about spending time with family and friends.
3) The last message would be to ensure that you have no/minimal regrets while making choices. Risks pay off in the long run (with broad-level backup plans) and it is important to listen to your heart.
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