“One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever”
Given by Linda Lambert, an author of novels and texts on leadership, the quote stands very aptly for one of the defining moments in my life, let’s discover why; and how ABG found it’s mention in the same.
“What is your biggest achievement?” is a question often asked. And I can think of no other feat that developed me more than an opportunity and experience of having closely worked with not one, but two local start-ups alongside my engineering. Behind what might not sound like an outlying achievement, lie a few circumstantial conditions which I was limited by. Despite the same, what I strived to establish, if not an outlier, surely is a commendable accomplishment.
I come from the Govt. Engineering College of Bhopal, and I felt being at a disadvantage of location, opportunities and exposure in terms of both the college and the city, as compared to my competitive counterparts. The city had few options that could provide profile building opportunities, and my college being a complete lackluster in extra-curricular areas, clearly added to the disadvantage. I had it clear in my mind that no matter what, I have to hunt, or if needed, create my own opportunities for my extra-curricular and professional growth. That would also help me develop myself as a deserving candidate for a good B-school. That’s when I and a bunch of other alacritous colleagues, set out bringing about a change. Cut to when we managed to organize the college’s first cultural festival – Aavahan, a massive three day event, despite not very supportive administration and authorities. I went on to be an organizing team member of TEDxRGPV, the city’s first TED talk and an active campaign volunteer for the college’s youth run NGO. Outside of the college boundaries, I worked closely with another youth based group that organized several campaigns on social issues and a concluding conclave that witnessed presence of eminent political delegates and participation from city youngsters motivated to take part in nation building process.
Next in the line, I worked part time with two local start-ups, where eventually, I also nominated my able colleagues so that they, too, make use of the opportunity to earn, learn and grow.
This is my account of how I either discovered or created the required opportunities and defeated setbacks pertaining to lack of exposure and discoverability. Of how I strived to build an image for myself, developed my profile and earned while I was still studying. Of how I helped as many peers as I could, to achieve the same using the network I had built. And of how I witnessed the fruition of all the hard work, as I was able to make my place into one of the top ten B-schools.
All this while, I made a it point to exhibit utmost diligence and dynamism in whatever I did. After all, my performance was what helped me build my professional identity and enabled me to deem fit for further opportunities, which was how I was noticed and recommended for working with the start-up, as previously stated.
This brings us to the conversation mentioned in the beginning, when on a fine evening, I received a message from the Student Chairperson of the university’s e-Entrepreneurship Cell, a very bold and dashing female who recently interned at Tesla, asking me in her personal capacity if I would like to get myself recommended for working with one of her acquaintance’s start-up. Since it was the first one-to-one interaction I was having with her, I of course expressed my surprise over the fact that not only does she know me, but is also aware of, and has kept a notice of my work inside and outside of the college. Also, I happily replied with a very willing ‘Yes’. What followed next was even more surprising when the trendsetter herself, wrote “Also, if you don’t mind me asking, where do you buy your dresses from?” Never having felt so validated for my fashion choices ever before, my ego boosted to a whole new height and I found myself very instinctively and promptly typing just two words to aptly answer her query – “Pantaloons, ma’am”.