(Disclaimer: The author is a collector of small memories and subtle references in the larger scheme of things. She also loves to read between the lines and explore the metaphors of life. She finds vague correlations between everything. The writer, additionally, is a hard-core feminist who strongly believes in the cause of empowering women and creating a world where women truly have their own way.)
As I sit here in my hostel room, the one that is going to be my ‘home’ for the next two years of my life, with old Hindi classics playing in the background and reflecting upon how my life has changed over the last couple of months, a hoard of incoherent, half baked thoughts zip through my mind. To say that it has been a roller coaster ride would be an understatement. We have all built castles out of sand and dreamt about going to and acing at the ‘perfect’ college, haven’t we? But I now realize that actually realizing that dream is very different from staring at its images on the internet like a starry-eyed child stares at candy. It takes heaps of determination, hard work, perseverance, ambition, research, tears, sweat, patience and above all, every ounce of your self-confidence to get there.
I decided to pursue an MBA, one of the most coveted post-graduation programs in India, during the last year of my graduation for various reasons (that I will not bore you with, yay!). I always assumed that deciding on a career path would be the most crucial and difficult part of the process and while it is true to some extent, the road only got rockier as I moved ahead. I still remember the euphoria I felt on the day I received my first interview call from one of the top B-schools in the country. I felt like I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel but what actually followed was a round of grueling interviews, stressful selection processes, long hours of preparation and frequent bouts of self-doubt. For someone who has always believed in her own individuality and strength, these frequent bouts of hesitation and doubt were not only alien but also extremely discouraging. What came to my rescue, however, was Allen Solly. The day I first tried on my life’s first Allen Solly suit and the way it made me feel is clearly etched into my memory. The moment I put it on, I not only looked the part but somewhere deep down, I also felt like the part. That suit that day somehow made me feel confident that I could face (and ace) whatever lay ahead of me. Allen Solly (and Aditya Birla Group) truly made me feel like it was my world and I could navigate it in my own unique way!
As a part of their continuous efforts to empower women and ensure that the lack of appropriate dressing options is not the reason for skewed female representation in boardrooms, Aditya Birla Group was the first conglomerate to launch a line of business apparel for women through Allen Solly. They not only successfully created a niche for themselves in this market but also resonated the qualities of confidence, initiative, passion and a sense of giving back to society. A similar sense of confidence, passion for ensuring education for the underprivileged and doing something for the society is what made me join an NGO called Make a Difference. I worked with Make a Difference as an Academic Support Volunteer and taught mathematics to a class of 15 kids every week. A couple of days into the classes, I realized that medium of education being used in their school was different than the one I preferred to use in my own classes. I instantly knew that this was something I had to change. So, I decided to prepare all my lectures in Hindi from then on. The smile on their faces and the glint of understanding in their eyes in the next class was all I needed to motivate me further and make me more confident in my approach! Over the course of one year, we all struggled together as well as learned from each other but most importantly, it took me one step closer to making this world ‘my world’ in my own small and unique way!
Aditya Birla Group has touched millions of lives and continues to do so on a daily basis. It has taught the world the importance of ideas and innovation but most importantly, it has taught the world (and me) how to be confident in our skin and win life one day at a time! Thank you ABG for guiding my world and my way.