Passion + dedication
DEEPA KURUP
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IIMB toppers speak of the efforts they put in and the challenges that lie ahead
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Achievers all: Shaveen Garg, Shyam Patwari, Aswin V., Alok Mishra
It was a glitzy event for fresh graduates at the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore. Yet, the mood was that of nostalgia, rife with emotions and the realisation that their two-year stint at this institute was coming to an end. The Hindu EducationPlus caught up with four of the top achievers from the batch of 2007-2009, and spoke to them about the aspirations, their experiences at the college and the road ahead. While some of them spoke about their
unforgettable experiences at the college, others even spoke about the merits and de-merits of a course like this.
With a long list of achievements to their name, a fruitful college life and some warm memories, these students stand at the brink of their professional lives. Here is what they had to say:
Shaveen Garg (gold medal for best all-round performance, IIM-B Post-Graduate Programme, 2007-2009).
(This all-rounder’s achievement list runs rather long: academics, sports, consulting club, NGO work and volunteering with tutorials. He also is one of the 10 students (across all IIMs) who won the Aditya Birla scholarship, and did his under-graduation from IIT-Bombay. He is set to join the Boston Consulting Group)
“I wanted to do a bit of everything, and I did just that during my two years at IIM-B. I guess that paid off. I think one thing that characterised this award too is that I took part in every aspect of IIM-B. While academics was always top priority, I did a lot more than just that. It takes some planning and hard work.
“For instance, I am truly passionate about dancing, so when an event would come up I would plan in advance so that other schedules are not affected. I chose a career in consulting because it is a challenging environment: every three months a new challenge comes up which is completely different. Also, since I want to start my own business some day, I will need a variety of experience which consulting provides on a platter.”
Shyam Patwari (first-rank holder, IIM-B Post-Graduate Programme, 2007-2009).
He hails from Tinsukia, Assam. A CBSE topper in both 10th and 12th Standards, this steady achiever was the “Best outgoing student” from NIT-Surathkal. He is all set to join McKinsey firm.
s from paying regular attention in class, and doing small things right like working towards your exams and being consistent. It is a lot about understanding your course, because everything is application-based.
“The course is great because it is a good mix of theory and industrial application. I chose a consulting profile because I like the exposure it gives you. I did my summer internship at McKinsey, where I realised that consulting is the field that teaches you to deal with a wide range of ideas and fields. And that is important to me for, eventually, I want to be an entrepreneur!
Aswin V. (second-rank holder, IIM-B Post-Graduate Programme, 2007-2009).
This Bangalorean completed his graduation in Electrical Engineering from IIT-Madras. He accepts that between the IIT and IIM he has had the best of the education world on offer in India, and looks forward to a job at Boston Consulting Group.
“Winning awards is of course a great thing, and finishing second in one of the best educational institutes is an honour. I was doing pretty well, academically, and it was rather steady but I really did not expect to win an award. I stepped into the world of management because being an engineer I wanted to explore outside technology and engineering, and broaden my perspective. And now that I have finished the course, during placements I chose a consulting job. This profile involves a lot of problem solving and analytical stuff, which is interesting to me. Since I have never worked before, I am really looking forward to my work life.
“About my IIM experience: I will truly miss the peer group, which comprises the best of the best, needless to say. It’s been a great two years.”
Alok Mishra (gold medal for best all-round performance, Public Policy Management). An officer of the Indian Information Service, he has more than 10 years of experience working in the I&B Ministry. Currently, he is posted at the Press Information Bureau, Mumbai, and manages media relations during high-profile visits)
“The course has provided me with a unique perspective of policy-making in a fast-changing national and international scenario. It has given me a perspective which can be used to make government administration more responsive to the needs of the people. I am hoping I will be able to contribute to that.”
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