Excerpts from a submission

Folks, here is a personal take away (discovered during a submission) I thought I should put here.

Leading To Make a Difference (excepts from a note "Why leaders can't lead: The unconscious conspiracy continues" Warren Bennis)
True leaders lead fully integrated lives, seamlessly fitting their careers in their professional lives. It is important for a leader to see the inherent limitations, ambition, talent and capacity for learning puts on the real growth of the individual. He must strive to make these qualities his servants rather than master. A leader identifies his true calling by leveraging his strengths. He also leverages strengths of his people by encouraging them to think. He has the vision to rise above the intrinsic narrowness of the life around him.

Reflections: One year at IIMA, I have been feeling the constant internal dialogue between academic input and my real world experiences. Perhaps that is the reason why these reflection notes are designed in the first place. Sometimes I am challenged in the usage of expressions to mirror these internal conversations, but reflection notes are the best that can get to capture this essence. I must admit all this has accelerated my personal growth like never before in my life and now there is a yearning to keep this going all the while. I wonder how I would accomplish this.

One way is to read select literature and books. Another is to surround myself with people with who I can have such conversations. And yes there are reflection notes (I can consider writing them in my diary on weekends may be). The importance of stepping back amidst busy life and cultivating the ability to collect the pearls on the way cannot be underemphasised. I would say this realisation is the greatest gift IIMA has given us.

Finally, I have IIPed

It's been a long while since I have been here. My apologies for the unusually long absence. I have just finished my IIP (International Immersion Programme). I have been to Amsterdam Business School for the academic component and did my internship in India. Well, it has been a eventful five weeks to say the least. You see, I am building a case for long absence.

First, it was a week at ABS. I am stunned by the quality of the faculty (pleasantly surprised actually). A friend at ABS tells me that they have carefully picked on the faculty to teach us this time. Feels really good in the end to be taught by one of the best corporate law profs in Europe(McCahery), one of the most reputed finance profs (Florencio Lopez Silanes), who I am told is touted to be in the reckoning for a nobel prize for his work on origin of corporate law. Amsterdam was so hectic that we could barely pull out time for other things that Amsterdam is known for.
Amsterdam was exhilarating in many other ways. I have met some interesting students, few desi ones at ABS and a Pakistani student on exchange. The school's support staff was amazing, thanks for all the help Kirsten, if you are reading.

The next phase of IIP was back in India. I was working on a supply chain project in the garment industry. For reasons of confidentiality, I cannot talk much about the project. On a personal note I have been able to get into a nice fitness rhythm, but for the recent injury. So grounded for three weeks before I start running again. Can't see my new pair of Nike & iPod+ turning into a sunk cost, if not anything else.

I have also been getting requests from the PGPX III students about information and other help. Whilst all of the 2's are happy to share most information, it would be useful to have a 3's rep. to collate issues of common interest and liaise with me / us.

As 2007 fades away and a new year begins, for most of us it's a new beginning. Here's also wishing our syndicate partner Rajesh a speedy recovery and healthy new year.

Internship offers & PGPX III Admissions

We did a press conference today. You'll see details in media very soon.

Salient points:
International Immersion PGPX II

1. All students received at least one offer, with some companies being turned down.
2. Significantly higher interest this year with 38 international project offers and 34 domestic.
3. Wide diversity in sponsoring companies ranging from IT, Retail, FMCG, BFSI etc (Microsoft / EDS / Intel / Unilevers / Future group /Morgan Stanley KPO/ Yes Bank / Cisco / Posco / Frankfurt Stock Exchange and so on)
4. IIP module is unique component of PGPX which has a week of academic input at a foreign university and 4 weeks of project work at a sponsoring company. Last year a good number of these internships were converted into pre placement offers.
   

PGPX III Admissions

1. Increased applications this year - 1352 from 849 for last class.
2. Average gmat score 731 (among the highest in the world)
3. Single class (section) next year
4. Appx 40 students currently working abroad
5. 10% are women students
   
6. Foreign students % - No change from PGPX II

With this, PGPX is emerging as one of most sought after MBA programme for experienced people, at least in India for now. Also, the interest among recruiting companies for internships & placements is overwhelming. Companies are discussing dates for recruitment as we come back from IIP by December 3rd week.

Why does the Global Indian gets drawn to PGPX- Financial Times profiles an Xian.

Della Bradshaw, Business Education Editor, Financial Times was here, last month. She spent sometime with us in the class, listening to Shafeeq present market entry strategy for a company wanting to go abroad. She has interacted with a couple of Xians (from the reverse brain league) and has picked up Sanjay to profile in her publication dated 15th October. Here are excerpts from her article.

After working for Cisco Systems for seven years in Silicon Valley, Sanjay Kuberkar decided it was time to return home to India. "I was keen on moving to Asia [not necessarily to India only] because of the rapid growth the region has enjoyed in the past few years, and the opportunities that growth presents to a professional," he says. "These opportunities are not available in the US."

He decided to use an MBA as a tool for returning to the Asian market and looked at programmes throughout Asia, including China. He decided on the PGPX (post-graduate programme for executives) at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, a one-year post-experience degree similar to MBAs offered in Europe by IMD or Insead.

This year's statistics for the PGPX programme show that Mr Kuberkar is not atypical of the class. The average age of the participants is more than 31 and, although almost all are Indian nationals, more than 80 per cent have worked outside India and half of those had returned to India from overseas positions in order to join. Perhaps the most telling of the statistics is the average GMAT score of the class: 699, comparable with any of the world's top MBA programmes.

Mr Kuberkar believes it will open doors. "After the programme, I hope to either start a new venture in the healthcare sector [the business plan for which is in the works] or join a venture capital firm," he says. "This is quite a different plan from what I had decided when I entered PGPX, but PGPX has pushed me to think differently and think big and, at the same time, helped me discover . . . and appreciate my strengths."

The full article is available here.

No wonder, I see more & more desis (during the recently concluded interviews for next class) wanting to come back home and wanting to make PGPX, their beach head.

Color on Canvas says it all !

As we near completion of term3 and head towards different destinations for our International Immersion Projects, it dawns on me that the time left before we graduate would be less than 3 months from the time we return to campus after IIP (in mid December). As the countdown begins, I hear from the pioneering class on how dearly they miss the campus life. It kind of feels touchy & feely already ya. We've hit off as class from the T-Nite time and developed family level relationships. Here is a tribute to class X, mostly done by the spouses group. These works were created during T-Nite time.

1. You can have the cake and eat it too. Many faces of Class X.

Credits: Spouses group (Neelima & Payal)

2. As we draw closer to convo, smell the the confidence and dreams in the air !

Credits: Spouses group (Neelima & Payal)

3. Beating the market..

Credits: Chatty

As Professor Seshadri mentioned, learning and skill acquisition has been the key focus so far in first 3 terms. Not surprising, considering we have taken a year's time out to do this, at this stage in life. But keeping material engagements (read placements) to the end of the programme, where they should actually belong has been a hallmark of this year's sojourn.

Good luck to each of us, as we discover the road ahead and make a new beginning. Amen.

When Kids have all the fun !

This blog would be incomplete without talking about the bunch of people who are making the most of their stay here at IIMA. Yes guys, we are talking about the future of India, the generation Z - Kids of MSH (married student housing) are having a blast out here. Many of us, in similar life stages, have kids of nearly same age. There are so many kids in the 3-6 age group that we have organized for a dedicated van for all the kids to the neighboring school. But when they are not at school, they either gang up at one of our flats or freak out as their moms yap at the adda. I often turn green with jealousy looking at these Z's. Bete tumhaari bhee baari aayegi !

For those with slightly older kids, the dynamics at home are quite tricky; the conventional discussions on kids' grades at school are completely obviated. And for justifiable reasons. After all fathers are smarter than kids- they are not going to open Pandora's boxes!

Experiences of a Prof who taught PGPX

Prof DVR Seshadri who teaches Strategic B2B Marketing Management wrote about his experiences about teaching our class and contrasts with that of teaching PGSEM folks at IIM, Bangalore.

I have also been meeting aspirants of PGPX III (next academic class), who were here in Ahmedabad for interviews. One of the common questions is about the class experience and peer group learning. Whilst many of us often write about our class experiences (often a student perspective), rarely have I come across a professor's perspective. I am sure, professors who teach Strategy, B2B, M&A in different schools would concur with Prof Seshadri.

To read Prof Seshadri's article, click here.

The Cricketing Spectacle at Baroda

On this 11th morning, about 20 of us, die hard cricket enthusiasts woke up at 5 am in the morning and driven down to Baroda to watch India play Australia, with a hope that the series will be leveled. Well, the experience has been short of a terrific one despite India caving in meekly. For me, this being the first time at a cricket ground in India for an ODI, it added to excitement. The experience was good because of the gang I was with. Also, to see the demigods in flesh and blood from about 10-15 meters distance was interesting, at least as it began in the morning. As the day progressed, I did not personally like the attitude and way some of the 'boys' played. To say the least the Indian team's attitude sucked big time and I am not talking about loosing the match.

We were sitting right next to pavilion and had the opportunity to see the players closely. The players who stood close to where we sat (third man / fine leg depending) were Hopes & Lee (while India batted) , Harbhajan & RP Singh (while the Aussies shoved us). It is amazing to see how players throw attitude even when people cheer them and root for them. For instance Lee acknowledged when ever the crowd yelled well bowled when he returned after bowling a good over. I liked the way he acknowledged and simultaneously concentrated on the game. Take Bhajji on the other hand- his gesture was as if he is God's gift to mankind when the crowd said well bowled (after the 1st over). May be he is used to this way, after playing in many grounds in front of the cricket crazy fans. But great people always had humility even when they became big and I suddenly discovered these guys were also mortals. It's us who put them on this demigod pedestal.

One difference from watching it on TV versus in the ground- you can see what you want to, rather than what is being shown. This is where it dawned (hard) on us- the difference between both the teams. Bhajji again for instance, had an option of running for a catch at deep midwicket (the risk is - he may miss it and the ball may run down to 4) or taking it on first bounce with reasonable surety. No prizes for guessing what he did!! The point is if we have lost the match in our minds before we even tried, no one can do much. In this case, the only message I got was - what is the point diving for a ball when the match is gone already. So much for the spirit of game.

The other aspect which sucked big time as the stadium infra. I tell you, it reminded me of the customer choice, during license raj in India. I wish I had taken some pics but this one is the most disgusting aspect of the day. There were open toilets (can you imagine??) or the so called eye wash of a makeshift 4 ft x 4ft (tinned) four walls (or three walls + an open door). Which Indian woman would use these toilets? For men - of course it doesn't matter(we get close to nature pretty fast!). Barring arrangements for water, every thing else was bad. There was hardly any choice for food (for lunch) and the PA system was jarring. We paid Rs.2000 each for this spectacle (which was kind of middle range). This reminded me of the Bajaj scooter and the Ambassador car of the 70's and 80's when customers in India did not have a choice.

Agreed cricket sells in India. It is ironical that despite Indian Cricket being one of the richest in the world, the fans get such a raw deal. How long will the fans be taken for granted? For once I am so happy Subhash Chandra started ICL. I really wish them good luck and want them succeed. If BCCI starts to learn only when competition teaches them, then best of luck to them. Mr Pawar, there are plenty of lessons to be learnt from Hindustan Motors and Bajaj Auto. What does it take to create a Kingsmead / Wanderers / Lords in India? Why can't we have good facilities where people can go, have fun and really call it entertainment. We have many lessons from again the multiplexes and malls in India. If they are very close to being world class and there is willing public to pay and use, then why not world class stadiums? For instance, compare the drainage facilities in the ground between Lords and the best in the country. The Bangalore ODI would have been saved; I am sure the ROI for just putting an efficient drainage would be very attractive. But who is looking at it?

Why don't we professionalize BCCI? Run it like a corporation and the top team (the CEO and other C's) of the new entity will be accountable for say a board. Dissolve all the state level associations and create just branch offices of the new entity. With the advent of TV we don't have to worry about taking cricket to Indian villages; 6-7 world class venues in cities with good airports and hotel facilities are just fine. I am sure if BCCI has this intent and really keen to make this change, there will be many takers to join them in this journey from even institutes like IIMs.

But, like in many areas in our country, what we really need is the leadership. Who will bell the cat and put an end to this spectacle? But on a lighter note, our gang did well to have fun despite the many hardships. Well that explains why this spectacle still goes on.

The Ethical dilemma

One of the most heated and passionately debated topics ever in the PGPX class, the ethics class was close to most us, for obvious reasons. Whether it was Olivia Jones (the protagonist in the case) dilemma or numerous experiential examples shared in the class, one thing was clear- the definition and understanding of ethics is not uniform and homogeneous. However, the notion of ethics that one holds seem to affect others positively / negatively, to certain degree and measure. This makes the effected party to respond and thus a debate on correctness of ethics is already on cards. As a manager of a corporation engaged in international business, one is expected to run into this debate many a time. It is perhaps important to recognize the heterogeneity of the meaning of ethics people hold.

I would see two outcomes as a result -
a) Being aware of one’s own definition should help clear out of questions and debates as one would have clarity of thought and her position on a debatable stand point
b) Respect other’s ethical stand point and not make value judgments. Even a Supreme Court judge very rarely is pushed to pass a judgment on ethical stand offs. Other mortals can clearly wait and resist the temptation.

Tête` - à - tête with McKinsey & Co.

Consult dada, McK was on the campus a few days back, for an informal interaction with Class X. The idea was to have a chat, so that Xians had an opportunity to clarify their minds on a consulting career with McKinsey. McKinsey must have got some feelers on our class at the same time. What was interesting is that this is not a pre-placement talk but a precursor to it. Can you believe it? I mean, many of us appreciated the investment McKinsey is making to getting to know Class X.

How about a switching into a consult career? How would your work-ex be relevant in what you would doing at McK? How does it go 5-6 years from the start? How do you crack McK interview? and the list goes on. Two members of the PGPX pioneering class attended the discussion and their presence and input gave people some more clarity on what is this career all about.

The interest (mutual I suppose :) ) was evident from the fact that the meeting over shot well over the scheduled time. Beginning 9.30 pm, it lasted 3 hours + despite submissions / exam next day. So, overall the discussion went off well, gave us a lot of clarity. I must add that people in Class X, seem to weigh all the pros and cons of this career before saying 'go'. It depends on the age, previous quality of work-ex, aspirations (and the pecking order there) and family circumstances for one to make this call. I am sure a good number in the class would be taking shots at the most admired consult.

But for now, it was a good start, although not the maiden one. BCG had the honours of making the first PPT (or any other interaction) with class X (way back in August).