Interviewer: How was your journey with ABGLP and how ABGLP helps individuals grow into exceptional leaders?
Mr. Mehta: I joined the ABG Leadership Program after graduating from IIM Calcutta in June 2015. Since then, it has been quite an exhilarating journey for me. According to the design of the program, in my first year, I did 3 short stints with 3 different businesses (Fashion Retail, Health Insurance, Corporate Strategy) at 3 different locations (Bangalore, Mumbai, Brazil).
I spent the next couple of years working with abof.com (our e-commerce venture) and subsequently moved to the Chairman’s Office about a year ago. All these ‘experiences’ have been great learning opportunities for me – I learned how to manage ambiguity and quick decision making in a fast-paced work environment during my e-commerce stint while on the other hand, I learned how to manage higher responsibility/accountability, stakeholder management and multi-tasking in my current role.
It is this diversity of opportunities (and hence learnings) that the ABG Leadership Programme provides that helps nurture young leaders of today into exceptional leaders of tomorrow.
Interviewer: How does ABG maintain agility in today's unpredictable business world?
Mr. Mehta: There is a certain myth across campuses that businesses or companies which have been around for a few decades have not adapted themselves to the latest technology trends and are not that agile. I can’t say for all, but at ABG there is a good balance between quick decision making and well-informed decisions. There are certain time-sensitive opportunities (e.g. acquisitions) and the Group acts swiftly to lap up these.
In terms of day to day work here, we have certain businesses that are moving towards completely paperless processes. We have a multitude of projects running across businesses and functions to optimize processes and enable quick responsiveness across all employees.
Interviewer: How are collaboration and cross-functional dynamics ensured at ABG?
Mr. Mehta: Collaboration and cooperation are intrinsic to most of the roles here. There is a clear focus on ensuring seamlessness in activities and projects which run across various functions. There is a strong and efficient system of internal movements/referrals where employees may move to a different function and or business after a certain year – this, in turn, makes people well equipped for cross-functional projects.
Moreover, if you get the opportunity to work in one of the central corporate cells (like Corporate Economics Cell, Consumer Insights & Brand Development Cell, Corporate Finance Group, Corporate Strategy Group, etc.), your work may even transcend across businesses or industries and not just across functions.
Interviewer: What makes the culture at ABG unique?
Mr. Mehta: There is a certain openness in the culture here. There is a multitude of opportunities and you are encouraged to build your career path. People are valued based on the variety of their experience here and not just the number of years.
Interviewer: Cultural fit seems to be a buzz in terms of recruitment. What qualities should a potential candidate possess to be a cultural fit for ABG?
Mr. Mehta: Balance and flexibility are very important for a successful career at ABG. You need to be open to try out various opportunities across different functions and businesses to unlock the most out of the ABG leadership program. At the same time, you need to balance yourself between being an individual contributor and a team player.
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