The clock in the mess said 9:15 pm, and I realized I have 15 minutes more to rush back to “Acad” (Academic) block before the classroom doors are locked. I could feel my eyes tired and heavy with sleep but of course why wouldn’t I? My day started at 8 in the morning and I’ve only had 4 hours and 15 minutes of sleep last night, to be precise, after completing the tasks and assignments. But I continue to talk myself out of being clumsy and cribbing for not having my luxurious sleep (8-10 hours), back home, 2 days ago. I brace up myself and walk into the classroom for my presentation, which is a part of the induction program for the newly joined batch. The excitement of having joined an IIM drove most of my colleagues (including me) to buckle up in spite of the tiring day, as the roller coaster ride continued for the second day.
An entire year has passed by since that day, and I still remember how I managed to look alive throughout my part of the group presentation, though almost dead tired on the inside. That was probably a first of many presentations we’ve had in college in the past one year. Like in a war time movie, our time for battle comes towards the end of every semester when we have back to back project presentations. The last few days of preparation is nothing less than a tale for every group. During the discussions, strategies continue to be considered one after the other as a new loophole turns up in the previous one. The night sees soldiers sapped and their eyes tired and dead like a zombie. But they continue to stay awake and survive on coffee. A few hours of sleep and we are up and adorn our suit of armour (business formals) ready to charge ahead, while our professors await to scrutinize our work. Irrespective of how weary we are from the limited hours of sleep, once suited up, we are alert and on our feet tackling questions, shot like arrows.
In all the time spent, our suit of armour is probably the most favorite and hated thing for almost all of my colleagues. Be it the torching summers or chilly winters, we sweat, shiver and outshine ourselves in them. For each one of us, more than the free time and fun time, we always remember the sleepless nights, our suit of armor and the endless number of assignments and presentations. Because these are the things that shape our spontaneity in thought, sharpen our minds and make us bullet-proof to last minute crisis.
ADITYA BIRLA RETAIL LIMITED
Retail sector is one of the most competitive industry we see today. For any marketing enthusiast, the industry is like a sumptuous meal, with a variety of strategies like different dishes in a meal. In this industry, to work with a big brand like Aditya Birla would give me first-hand experience of how analytics and customer experience shape the marketing strategies that a big player like Aditya Birla adopts. To be a part of such a huge player, and learn from and contribute to such a big brand is the best learning for a marketeer