Khushi Singh is a Political Science Graduate from the University of Delhi, fresh out of college, studying at IIM Ahmedabad for their flagship PGP course. Her background is not one that is very common at business schools, and hence she brings a fresh perspective to the regular crowd. She enjoys writing as a medium of expression, both formally and informally.
Tell us more about your extracurricular achievements
- Junior Youth Empowerment ProgrammeVolunteered for a period of four years for JYEP which is a school-based youth organization. Presented the show Confusion Junction as a radio jockey for 90.4FM in 2017-18. Spearheaded the Bottles for Charity drive collecting funds for donation of prosthetic limbs. Attended and addressed five inter-campus annual youth conferences.
- International School-to-School Exchange -Was a part of a seven-member delegation to Tokoname-nishi School, Japan. Attended elementary school as a cultural exchange for a period of two months. Immersed in the experience of a host-family-oriented way of living.
- ICJ - Attended the 18th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World.4. Fellowship - Completed the Women Empower Humanities program by Panthalassa, Ohio, USA.
Tell us about a time when you messed up, and what you learnt from the experience?
Most of my undergraduate degree was completed in the online mode of instruction. This led to me becoming a bit closed off when it came to taking up new projects and participating in extracurricular activities. If I could go back and do it over again, I think I would spend time being more active in social circles during that time, because it would have helped in learning new things as well as offsetting some of the isolation and chaos brought on by the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Tell us something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.
One of the skills I pride myself on is expression through the means of writing. The first source of the realization that I have a knack for it was through essays that we would write in school. This was the particular variety of school assignments that I found myself most excited about. Of course, a lot of credit goes to enthusiastic teachers who were genuinely interested in reading what an exuberant fourteen-year-old had to say. Writing became a cathartic routine that I even now use to articulate and make sense of my personal emotions and opinions on downright everything. It helps me organize my thoughts and feelings, whilst also reflecting on them to understand my shortcomings.
What have been your two biggest successes in life? What did you learn from them?
The first major decision I made was in choosing to not take up preparation for the UPSC examination. I initially chose Political Science as my major with this motivation but realized the lack of resonance I felt with it. From understanding my disinterest in the procedure of the examination, and taking a conscious step away from it last year to switch career paths altogether, I feel very content with the choice I made. I truly believe I am in a much better sphere with respect to my academic aspirations than I would have been if I had stuck with my initial plan. The second would be decision would be whether or not to defer my admission to IIM Ahmedabad. I converted the college whilst still pursuing my undergraduate degree, at the age of twenty. I had been warned by a lot of people that work experience is prudent for an MBA degree. However, I went on to take admission without choosing to defer, because I did not want to create a break in my academic study. It can be difficult to get back into classroom mode once you lose the streak for it, and I did not want this for myself. Here we are.
Professionally, what is your ideal image of yourself five years from now? Where do you see yourself?
I will not pretend that I have the next ten years of my life figured out, however, in a broad sense of the statement, I would describe my long-term goal to reach a position of leadership in an organization where I can implement ethical practices at a larger scale and work to remove the stereotype of cheating and manipulation that is associated with the arena of business. I also wish to promote sustainability in business practices. While other goals might get added with greater clarity as I go about my journey of learning, these would be some consistent ideals I adhere to.
What is the one skill or characteristic you possess that you are most proud of, and why?
The biggest strength that I feel works well in my favor is the ability to articulate my thoughts well. Communication is key to most situations and being able to voice my thoughts and ideas clearly and without inhibition becomes an asset in expression. This quality helps me out in a multitude of scenarios, from presentations to discussions and interviews. It also helps me in understanding what the person before me is trying to communicate and allows me to provide help to anybody who might not feel the most comfortable in similar social situations.
In your opinion, what skills or qualities does a successful manager possess?
The skill I value most in terms of successful management is that of good time management. Punctuality is very well enforced at IIM Ahmedabad, and the first thing you learn here is to respect your time as well as that of others. With such a hectic schedule most days, managing your time well is a task in itself, but one that gives good returns.
Tell us about an ethical dilemma that you may have faced, and how you resolved it.
To begin this answer, I want to explicitly state that this is a moral conflict that I still struggle with some days. I have had trouble with my beliefs in religion many times lately. I face it most often in discussion with my parents, who are ardent believers. Considering that most of the mythology is based in ancient times, there aren't enough examples of characters I can relate to. To me, it seems like a bunch of men fighting over issues that could have been resolved with diplomacy and negotiations and a lot less bloodshed. However, it is also true that religion and faith have helped people in maintaining perspective and strength in tough times, which I do not have the right to take away from them. A counterargument in my head still asks whether religion does more harm than good in the present day and age where it divides people into identities they feel so strongly about that they are willing to kill for it. I still struggle to find a correct answer to this dilemma. While I do not agree with all statutes put forth by any particular religion, I understand the need for it. I understand why people relate so strongly to a sense of belonging with religious identities, even if I personally do not.
If you were the CEO of any company of your choosing, which company would you choose and what would your first action be as CEO?
If I were to be the CEO of any company I would choose Twitter to bring about substantial changes in the platform. With the growing penetration of social media, it has become a driving force for society itself, such influence has the risk of being misused, and the need for filtering user engagement on the platform to get rid of toxic, offensive, or provocative content has been something that has been brought up by school kids, professional athlete, politicians and governments alike. My aim would be to create a zero-tolerance system for bullying, intentional misinformation, discrimination, and various other issues.
Any Other Comments Or Factors You Would Like To Highlight About Yourself?
Beyond academic goals, a lot of my personality was shaped by the liberal environment of my undergraduate college. I was in a women's college at the University of Delhi, and the freedom of expression and thought offered by the institute created a safe space for everybody who was a part of it. I wish to be able to inculcate in my peers here and in any subsequent work environment, I am a part of the same sensitivity in order to create a truly inclusive and diverse atmosphere that provides equal sanctuary to all the persons involved.
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