It's been a long while since I have been here. I realise the original purpose of this blog was to document my MBA travails and that purpose has been served. Thanks to the support I received from my friends and blog readers, I drew a lot of motivation to come to this space and expressing myself freely. I feel it's time now to go and bid adieu.
I realised I enjoy blogging more than any other hobby. So, I am sure I am going to start my next blog sometime soon. Until then, its goodbye.
5th Jan '09- Re-opening this blog to all readers on requests from few readers.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Adieu IIMA
A dear friend reminded me of nostalgia when he saw the word Adieu. Last 4 days have suddenly become very hectic thanks to the PXCL tourney (done on the lines of IPL) and the Capstone module. Add the farewell dinners and photo sessions the day becomes really looooong.
PXCL was another master piece of Xian creativity (this time it was Vinay's & Venky's). The eight a side 8 over tennis ball cricket tournament was done in total "Indian" style. Right from players getting bid to matches played under flood lights in the evening and of course entertainment (sans cheer leaders). ITC was kind enough to set up its promos. This event brought all of us together one last time on the campus before we left.... and leaving on a high note !
PXCL was another master piece of Xian creativity (this time it was Vinay's & Venky's). The eight a side 8 over tennis ball cricket tournament was done in total "Indian" style. Right from players getting bid to matches played under flood lights in the evening and of course entertainment (sans cheer leaders). ITC was kind enough to set up its promos. This event brought all of us together one last time on the campus before we left.... and leaving on a high note !
Captstone simulation enables each team to virtually run a company in eight rounds, each considered as one fin year. Great experience as the exercise nearly brings most dimensions of running a business to class room. Like real business, this one is addictive as well.
This one year at IIMA has been one of my best years at life both personally and professionally. Personally, because we made some good friends and lived a good life. Sudha rues her leaving the campus more than I do. And of course little Ujwal would not even comprehend that his friends group is going to dis appear. Readers of this blog would know of how much this one year meant to me, professionally. The other day at the farewell dinner I spoke of few things I experienced here - 1. Inputs on business leadership (the 'tools' as well as learning to 'think', the IIMA way) 2. Personal growth (self discovery and how I relate to world around me) 3. Mentoring and guidance from some profs on career. I am glad I chose to come here and not to other schools I was looking at.
Biju asked me if I would like to continue this blog. At this point I am not sure. May be I would, or may be I start another one. My family (including my parents & sister) would be around to cheer me when I graduate on the convocation day. I would probably be more regular here during next few weeks. But for now, as I sign off for now, one of my fav Floyd numbers.. wonderfully done...
This one year at IIMA has been one of my best years at life both personally and professionally. Personally, because we made some good friends and lived a good life. Sudha rues her leaving the campus more than I do. And of course little Ujwal would not even comprehend that his friends group is going to dis appear. Readers of this blog would know of how much this one year meant to me, professionally. The other day at the farewell dinner I spoke of few things I experienced here - 1. Inputs on business leadership (the 'tools' as well as learning to 'think', the IIMA way) 2. Personal growth (self discovery and how I relate to world around me) 3. Mentoring and guidance from some profs on career. I am glad I chose to come here and not to other schools I was looking at.
Biju asked me if I would like to continue this blog. At this point I am not sure. May be I would, or may be I start another one. My family (including my parents & sister) would be around to cheer me when I graduate on the convocation day. I would probably be more regular here during next few weeks. But for now, as I sign off for now, one of my fav Floyd numbers.. wonderfully done...
Monday, March 10, 2008
As we draw closer...
5 more days to go...if only there is way to stop time. Well that sums up our feelings just now.
an Ode to mother....
an Ode to mother....
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Bird Watching for a change...
24 days to go and it seems like yesterday, when I stepped in here. I can't think of a more appropriate example of how quickly time flies. All of us are going to miss this time for life.
Looking back, I couldn't have asked for more from this one year jiffy. I would rank the relationships I formed here as the greatest gift I got at IIMA above everything else. Also, professionally, I couldn't have asked for more - be it learning or post MBA options. I would dare say this has been by and large the case for most of us. We wouldn't have been where we are today, if not for PGPX and IIMA. And of course, we've been partying hard thanks to steady stream of job offers and the rolling placement format (that has helped stagger the parties!).
Looking back, I couldn't have asked for more from this one year jiffy. I would rank the relationships I formed here as the greatest gift I got at IIMA above everything else. Also, professionally, I couldn't have asked for more - be it learning or post MBA options. I would dare say this has been by and large the case for most of us. We wouldn't have been where we are today, if not for PGPX and IIMA. And of course, we've been partying hard thanks to steady stream of job offers and the rolling placement format (that has helped stagger the parties!).
Some of us took some time out and went on a bird watching expedition to Nalsarovar and had a fabulous time together.
Six of us set off for Nalsarovar lake, 65 km from Ahmedabad. Vinay was the orchestrator and the rest of us - I, Gaurav, SanjayK, Ashish and Parry (Pramod) followed suit. Unusually, we were enthu to wake up and 5 am and catch the sunrise at the lake. The sight of rarest birds like Flamingo, Coot, Busturd was perhaps the driver. Memories of this trip make up yet another page in the eventful one year at IIMA.
My Sony digicam was more than handy and I was pleased to see some nice pics coming up (above: Seagulls feeding on nuts thrown by visitors as Sunrise happens).
Monday, January 28, 2008
What do I want to do and Where do I want to go?
Indira Parikh, the greatest OB prof in India (in my humble opinion) is teaching us a course called Managing Leadership in the context of organizational growth. The course has opened a set of fundamental questions.
I realise external triggers almost always were the genesis of my (major) career decisions be it going to Engineering (because every one considered good did that); or even doing an MBA. Yes, I have personal reasons as well. When I look back I was amazed at the options that were opened with schools like ISB coming up in India way back in 2002. In 2002, some of my most stellar colleagues had left to join ISB which caught my imagination. What was considered a remote possible option was alive again for me. 2007 saw me get there although by then I have broad based my target set (and of course my research led me to choose PGPX over others). On the other hand, I feel I did not do justice to my hidden interest and talent for Carnatic Music. I mean I haven't found time in my busy life to nurture this interest thus far. It is this paradigm of ignoring internal self and acting primarily on external triggers, which was my focus of reflection during MLCOG.
This discussion would be incomplete if I give an impression of undermining the power of looking around to learn and make choices. The point that is being made is, in this perpetual race of doing well, one has forgotten to stop by and ask what do I want to do and where do I want to go. Easy questions but no so easy answers. And certainly, making choices is certainly not easy.
Avnish Bajaj (of Baazi.com fame) lectured us some time back and I am reminded of his four pillars of life - 1. Professional 2. Personal& familial 3. Social 4. Spiritual. To hear it from Avnish esp after what he has achieved (IITK + HBS + GS + McK + Entrepreneur), comes with so much weight. I may be sounding like a bit like a soul after an Osho treatment but I kind of feel the sooner we ask ourselves these questions, the better off we are.
On a more trivial note, it has been a long while since I have come this space. Many things have been keeping me busy. I realise we would be leaving IIMA in another 47 days; can't believe how time has gone by. As I say bye for now, I reminded of Budha's saying: "All that we are today, is a result of what we thought".
I realise external triggers almost always were the genesis of my (major) career decisions be it going to Engineering (because every one considered good did that); or even doing an MBA. Yes, I have personal reasons as well. When I look back I was amazed at the options that were opened with schools like ISB coming up in India way back in 2002. In 2002, some of my most stellar colleagues had left to join ISB which caught my imagination. What was considered a remote possible option was alive again for me. 2007 saw me get there although by then I have broad based my target set (and of course my research led me to choose PGPX over others). On the other hand, I feel I did not do justice to my hidden interest and talent for Carnatic Music. I mean I haven't found time in my busy life to nurture this interest thus far. It is this paradigm of ignoring internal self and acting primarily on external triggers, which was my focus of reflection during MLCOG.
This discussion would be incomplete if I give an impression of undermining the power of looking around to learn and make choices. The point that is being made is, in this perpetual race of doing well, one has forgotten to stop by and ask what do I want to do and where do I want to go. Easy questions but no so easy answers. And certainly, making choices is certainly not easy.
Avnish Bajaj (of Baazi.com fame) lectured us some time back and I am reminded of his four pillars of life - 1. Professional 2. Personal& familial 3. Social 4. Spiritual. To hear it from Avnish esp after what he has achieved (IITK + HBS + GS + McK + Entrepreneur), comes with so much weight. I may be sounding like a bit like a soul after an Osho treatment but I kind of feel the sooner we ask ourselves these questions, the better off we are.
On a more trivial note, it has been a long while since I have come this space. Many things have been keeping me busy. I realise we would be leaving IIMA in another 47 days; can't believe how time has gone by. As I say bye for now, I reminded of Budha's saying: "All that we are today, is a result of what we thought".
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