Way2Top

I have to fill the CAS questionnaire based on my recruitment experience. I am also asked to prepare for a possible video recording session about my recruitment experience with the target firm. In fact, CAS is pursuing around 2-3 persons (from each firm) to do this activity. The resulting materials will stand as a repository for the subsequent batches.

The Yearbook preparations are in full swing. Since I do not have one from my undergraduation, I am looking forward for this Yearbook. Will treasure it. Please make it professional and fun-filled guys.

Holi celebrations are planned for next week. Looking forward to that. I have seen last year photographs, which depicts mirror pools of Student villages filled with coloured waters and everyone rolling over on the colourful pool! I hope something similar to that will be organized this time…

Away from all these things, I am surprised by the power of internet to link up totally different people. To be precise, I am talking about the power of blog. I have received emails like, “Bharani, I know one senior project manager in so and so firm…If you want I can arrange a meeting with him…”! Not to forget the loads of wish mails…and enquiry mails. I have replied to some…haven’t replied to some…Apologies to those who haven’t received replies from me…Will enforce myself to reply to all those pending emails. I have also made few friends over the net, who share similar values and philosophies in life.

I would like to link up many blogs. But my page design does not allow me to put up 100’s of links. I am looking for a good solution (long-term) which will solve the problem of endorsing and linking other blogs, without worrying about growing list or growing page size (preferably new idea other than putting up in side bar). I am planning to create a separate page just for links…But I am worried if that will dilute the gratitude that we show by putting up the links in first page? Any suggestions…?

PS: Dave has raised some concerns about Lack of ethnic diversity in Indian B-schools…I agree with him to some extent…It will take time to build international diversity. We do have ‘few’ foreign students coming here under exchange programmes..But apart from that international diveristy does not exist. Give us 5 years….may be there will be an improvement in this aspect

Almost everyone is placed in the batch (Less than 10 waiting for their matching placements). The Average salary, highest domestic salary, highest international salary, number of consulting jobs…all the records are broken and new benchmark has been set for the next batch! ISB will be publishing the placement details only on April 1st week. Please hold on till then…

Everyone seems to be relaxed in Term 8. Definitely I am! Have 3 classes each on Monday and Wednesday. Rest of the days are available for all other activities, including time to study. Have been watching movies for past few days. Went out for dinner. Sleeping a lot. I have decided to pamper myself as much as possible by eating/sleeping/playing lot. Need to regain the 8 kgs back. I was around 70 when I came to ISB…Now I am 62.5!! This is stark contrast with few people who have grown thicker by miles! Stress seems to have opposing effects on different people…

Planning to clean my room and pack things slowly. Need to purchase an external hard disk to store all photos, documents, mails etc., Looking for some good deals. Have to start the hunt for apartment/house in hyderabad…preferably near Hi-Tech city (Banjara hills/Jubilee Hills). Also, I am expecting a trip to office to meet the management team, sometime during next week….

My parents are already after me for marriage…I cannot keep them waiting for long. So in a way, my bachelorhood is also fast approaching an end…though I don’t know how soon!

Mr. US President was impressed by ISB’s infrastrucutre and Entrepreneurial focus exhibited by ISB.

The ISB website has comprehensively captured the entire visit.

The person sitting behind me commented, “Both Mullford (Ambassador) and Mr. US President had their mouth open when they entered the Atrium!”. Well, I didn’t notice it or I missed it apparently..

George Bush was his usual self when he walked in his quick style and with his hand wave to the audience. As soon as he sat down on his chair, he started speaking…Effective time management. He was convincing for most of the answers, though not all…Well, the entire feeling of Mr.President sitting and chatting with young entrepreneurs and students, and being within 50 metres of radius from President was surreal. The axis of world power was sitting at the axis of ISB (Atrium)…That’s what is called Centre of attraction!

I guess, Somebody should have mentioned to him about the 300 million middle class in India, because he was emphasizing on that fact and the potential associated with the fact on more than 2 occasions.

He has good sense of humour. One person started introducing himself by saying…”My name is X. I am doing so and so…I graduated from this college…I listened to your speech yesterday..I think it was spectacular…”…Mr. President snubbed smilingly…”Let’s leave it there…”

One lady introduced…”I graduated from Carnegie..”. Mr. President replied..”You should be smart…Because only smart people get admission there!!”..

Another person introduced himself…”My name is …I am into Textile and Media industry…”. There comes a reply from Mr. President, “Textile and Media…Interesting combination…You can dress well in movies!”

He answered questions on topics ranging from Outsourcing issues, Bilateral agreements for funding, Pace of globalization, Economic patriotism (Mittal case), Port clearance and issues, Textile & Media Industry, Telecom & Power, Renewable energy etc.,

His Suggestions for developing countries (like India) to become developed countries:
- Focus on Infrastructure development. Especially infrastructure that will expedite market movement and knowledge movement.
- Atleast 50% of population (especially under 25 years) should have basic skills (read, write, subtract!)
- Emphasis on Good Tax policy. Current tax policies encourage tax evasion. Moreover, the current tax policies are quite complicated. They need to be addressed.
- Focus on HIV / Trafficking issues(Prevention, tackling, distribution of drugs etc.,)
- More tools and opportunities should be made available for entrepreneurs.

Something for myself…I noticed that our side of audience seats were captured by Times of India..with a caption “ISB Students listen in rapt attention…”!

Myself, Gautam and Vineeth sitting next to each other

I read an article “Top 25 powerful women in Indian Business”. It was inspiring and encouraging to read the success stories of such women. From male chauvinistic society to women-empowerment-oriented society…India has come a long way…

The things that are happening at B-school are no exception. Corporates are spending efforts to enhance the women-men ratio. B-schools understand the phenomenon and are accordingly increasing the percentage of women in each graduating class.

The words of a HR personnel of a reputed firm sums up the situation…”Yes we do have quota for women. We are looking to recruit atleast one female from ISB…We have orders to maintain certain ratio of women-men in management”.

The benefits@work are also more skewed towards women. They have special IT exemptions, special flexi-timings, special holidays (well apart from maternity leaves!), special career path (fast track) etc., Sometimes, I think…”The benefits are more weighed towards women…unfair ”. From women asking for equal rights…soon the situation might turn towards men demanding for equal rights!

So, if you are a smart female, and are ambitious and career oriented, it makes all the more sense to join B-school and enter into the corporate world. They are waiting with their arms wide open…All you need to do is pick your line/career and work towards that…But the challenges on personal front such as parental pressure, marital challenges etc., still remain…Women who can balance both personal front and professional front do succeed exceedingly well.

The batch of 2006 in ISB has 19% females (which translates to around 70). The number and % are expected to go up in the class of 2007….There are scholarships exclusively for women (Like Anand group, Novartis etc.,). Even ISB has increased the merit-based scholarship amount and numbers (some reserved for women)…ISB is leading the way in empowering women…no doubts.

The visit of George bush is officially not yet confirmed, because it never gets officially confirmed! But as of now, he WILL BE visiting ISB on March 3rd.

The security is top-level. Sniffer dogs, Snipers, mine-sweepers, security gadgets, detailed plans, special passes and ID cards and the list goes on…

It will be great to see him and hear from him first-hand! ‘Once-in-a-lifetime experience’…that’s what DIG of Police has to say about this visit….But this visit is definitely good for ISB community.