Internship At The West Coast Of Gujarat - Mayuresh Shekhar Joshi - XSoS

By XIM University Bhubaneswar

Excitement combined with curiosity and a bit of anxiety was the kind of mixed emotion that struck me when I got selected for Aditya Birla Group’s Indian Rayon unit in Gujarat. Excitement for entering into a new realm of the corporate world, curiosity for the suspense of what the two months of internship had in store for me and a bit of anxiety for how able I am to adapt to this new sphere of corporate sustainability. It was a good surprise at first to be selected for such a big corporate house in the country.

Keeping my CV ‘market ready’ and updated helped me get a first shot entry to this corporate manufacturing giant. I realised that CVs are not a just a piece of document, but a window to our character and personality which helps others make a better decision about us. I started preparing for my internship by keeping myself updated about the project that I was allotted with. I started by first brushing through all of my first-year subjects which aligned with the project assigned to me. Furthermore, I included regularly reading up on the current sustainability trends in the market and how companies are aligning their framework with the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI-G4) norms. Sustainability reports proved to be a good indication of the status and the mindset prevailing in the corporate world for society and environment along with profits.

Most of my friends landed up being in big cities and towns, whereas I ended up being in a very small port town of Veraval near the beautiful sunlit shores of Gujarat. It was my first-time visit to the beautiful land of Gujarat, which made it even more enlivening. From the vast beautiful sunny beaches to the delicious ‘faafda, khakra, dhokla’ the place even though small, resonated a sense of peace and calmness in a person’s heart. The sea breezes at night and the melodious sound of the waves hitting against the rocks with a lighthouse in the background made many nights and evenings pitch perfect. The transcendental Somnath and Junagadh forts proved to be like a cherry on the cake. I was received with warm greetings and kind hearts as I entered the factory for the first time and into my workplace. I was fortunate to have good-at-heart alumnus welcome me into the company and guide and help me at almost every next step to be taken, which made me realise that without strong, valuable relationships we cannot stand tall in the world of competition.

My mentor and guide came to me as a person who breaks the stereotypes of a ‘boss’. His caring and selfless guidance, be it personal or professional spurred me to inculcate qualities of a leader which leaves a person unmatched. The environment and work culture which at first perceived to be like a typical stringent manufacturing unit of a company slowly proved to be a bit different as and when the days progressed. I started blending in with the ethos that existed, which I found to be quite diverse. Apart from most of the shop floor level employees being from Gujarat itself, the administration was full of people from many corners of the country. In short, I found it to be a culture where a person can easily fit in and is welcome to work with people of different beliefs and lifestyle.

My first year of the MBA in Sustainability Management from Xavier School of Sustainability proved to be really helpful in the kind of work that was assigned to me. It gave me the necessary tools and means to efficiently work on different areas of my project. As I started getting acquainted with my work and understood its every little detail, I was confirmed and able to relate to the classroom sessions and the practical implementation of my learnings in the course. I was able to see the importance and significance of the course and how it was the need of the hour to save our planet. I realised my thought process and behaviour was stimulated to act and respond in a way which created a win-win situation for all. I delivered assistance to the company by providing it with consultancy on conformance to the international and national sustainability standards by helping it see the true picture of where the company stands. I helped in formulating plans of action to close the gaps to meet international and national standards. It tested my innovative skills which can bring new but simple solutions to complex sustainability problems of a corporation.

A trip to the school started by the company on the World Earth Day was quite eventful and proved that had the right habits and character inculcated in us in our childhood, the world wouldn’t have been in a situation of crisis today. The innocence and curiosity of the children brought back the nostalgia of running through the school corridors in uniforms. I accumulated a lot of learnings during my two-month experience which I believe will surely help me take mindful decisions in the future in my professional and personal life. I realised that although it’s just a start for India in the world of modern sustainability, one step forward is much better than no steps taken at all. Also, it will certainly be a bumpy ride for the country as its stepping into a domain which requires a complete overhaul of not just machines but also behaviour. I realised that a mindful leader can change the course of a market towards a better future. Aditya Birla Group might not be just perfect yet in its sustainability initiatives but a start somewhere has begun and the enthuse in its top management leaders assures of a future where businesses dwell hand-in-hand with society and environment.

I was very fortunate enough for being a part of the Somnath beach clean-up initiative during my internship tenure. For me, it opened gates to the reality of the world stricken down by its own misdeeds. Pollutants and plastics strewed everywhere and into the ocean, it was a scene which made me rethink my behavioural habits and be mindful of every action that I perform. For me, the most important lesson to be learnt of all was that the job I will be doing after a year from now, will not just elevate my standard of living but will also increase my standard of life. This itself gave me a sense of satisfaction and contentedness which one does not find in today’s era of a monetary ecosystem where people are driven only by money.

The upcoming generations interested in this field should know that giving sustainable solutions driven by innovation and simplicity is the key to unlock a satisfying and uplifted life. Corporations are craving for individuals who are ever ready and curious to solve problems in a sustainable way, as it’s the only chance for every small and big corporation from saving itself and others from seeing the doomsday of the planet. It surely won’t be a piece of cake making people see the importance of saving our home and bring in sustainability. But then, when a lion runs towards a deer for food, the deer runs for a much greater purpose – SURVIVAL!

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