ABG - The one that touches millions.
Having taken the first step towards a career in Business Management, I, like everyone, look up to someone to derive inspiration and courage. There are many examples of such inspiring figures all over the world but one of our country's sons proved several years back that you can never lose if you put up a strong fight. At the tender age of only 28 years, Kumar Mangalam Birla took responsibility for the reigns of this huge conglomerate owing to the unfortunate and untimely demise of his father. But after that, there was no turning back. He made a total of 26 acquisitions in 17 years, both in India as well as globally and this was the highest number achieved by any Indian multinational. Aditya Birla Group has become an integral part of our lives concerning the fact that anywhere we go and anything we use, their presence is felt in most of the cases. Their brands have catered to customers in a large number of sectors, be it Ultra Tech Cement for constructions or Allen Solly, Peter England for apparel. Hailing from a middle-class family, Pantaloons is my go-to place in case of fashion decisions and it is so pleasing as a customer that ABG has made sure it takes care of the needs of different income groups as well. ABG stretches across 14 industries, traversing around 35 countries and has stamped its authority in many sectors by emerging as the national leaders. From bridging gaps to providing banking services, from upgrading our wardrobes to responding to our chemical requirements, Aditya Birla Group has ensured that it makes it impossible for its customers to imagine a life without its products. They have contributed a lot towards the society as well which encompasses the 18 charitable hospitals that are run by the group, thereby providing service to more than 1 million villagers. When a company plays such a pivotal role in shaping generations and their choices, it is bound to dictate a special position in the hearts of the individuals who derive utility from its services. ABG has a rich legacy upholding itself and I believe it is destined for further growth in the coming future.
Backing down was never an option.
"Hi All, my name is Debojyoti Guha. I am a very fun-loving guy who takes a lot of interest in music and…………………(long pause)" – this was the first and unfortunately the last line of my very first speech in front of an audience of roughly 200 people. The year was 2012 and it was the first day of my college life. Well, it turned out to be a very important day since I came to know two things about myself that day:
- I am a really bad speaker and I cannot express myself properly in front of a moderate-sized audience (stage fright or lack of articulation, who knows?).
- I realized that carrying and presenting myself with confidence in front of a big crowd is something which I want to master – An ambition was discovered.
There began the journey of self-exploration and a tiring fight. A fight to keep myself motivated every single day to come out of my shell. A fight that helped me realize that the world can sometimes be a hard place to breathe in. I was termed incompetent, not up to the mark in comparison to the other "good speakers". But that one thing which I knew for sure was that I was not backing down from this challenge. The hurdles kept on increasing in height with every passing day, so did my leaps. I still remember motivating myself every single night, standing and speaking in front of the mirror with one zeal in heart, I need to be a better speaker than I am today. Did the barriers break me down? No, they did not. Did I learn to face difficulties in life? Yes, unquestionably I did. Did I become an awesome public speaker? No, not at all. But yes, I gained a lot of confidence for sure and that came from the constant validations that I received from my teachers and peers. I am still a work in progress and have a long way to walk to realize my ambition. However, do you know what makes me happy and keeps me going? The fact that I am headed in the right direction.
#ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB
