My MBA injected a huge dose of ambition in me, as it did for the others in my class. It shaped our dreams and with the exposure, we thought of careers that spanned consulting, strategy, finance, international business leading to leadership roles.If Engineering taught me how to analyse, then the MBA taught me how to synthesize! It helps build context and a wider perspective. The MBA has shaped my ability to think and apply a framework to any situation. It also helped build a powerful network of highly capable friends! My AMP from Harvard helped me re-energise and re-shape my world view with influential leaders from across the globe!
Learning from peers
Besides learning from our professors, I learnt hugely from my peers. IIM-C had some of brightest, most talented students from the best institutions in the country — IITs, LSR, MCC, JNU, BHU to name a few! This is also true in work life, where brighter, well read and more talented peers bring out the best in us, enable learning and create an engaging workplace! On a personal note, I enjoyed the diversity, sampling varied traditions, foods and languages from across the country!
Learning through experience
However, a lot of what I learnt later came through experience. I learnt how to align energies of large teams to a greater goal and getting them to work like one unit. One also learnt about the interplay and dynamics across departments that builds value (or can destroy value!). Lastly, one learnt how to take that intuitive leap of faith – beyond data or analysis, using judgment.
The highs and the lows
How much am I learning? This has always been the barometer I have used to gauge my highs or lows. By virtue of having worked in a dynamic, young organisation like Titan, I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to work in diverse areas like strategy, P&L management, brand management, international business, retail, incubating new businesses, supply chain. I can say that my career has hence been a journey of continuous learning - like being on a perennial high!
Keeping myself updated
There are several interesting forums online: strategy, digital commerce, innovation, design thinking, besides on ground industry forums and seminars – essentially be more external facing, and develop an educated view on new emerging ideas. Also, teaching in B-schools is a wonderful way to be updated not just with the subject matter but also on Gen Y/Z, their aspirations, ideas and thinking. Have also taken to blogging and find that it helps me discover some golden nuggets on leadership that I have acquired along the journey.
What I am reading now
My recent memorable books were A New Earth by Eckart Tolle ; Asura, the tale of the Vanquished by Ananda Neelakantan and Culture Codes by Cloitaire Rapaelle. At present I am reading The Shift - The Future of work is already here by Lynda Gratton. Pending on my reading desk is Boards that Lead by Ram Charan.
What young managers should be reading
Besides regular must reads such as HBR, Indian business dailies and magazines, The Economist for a global perspective, I would recommend reading an eclectic mix of books that will stretch your imagination and build a larger world view on diverse areas. Some classic books that can shape your thinking are: A Road Less travelled by Scott Peck and Man’s search for meaning by Viktor Frankl.
And, books for all young managers
First, Break the Rule by Marcus Buckingham & Donald Clifton: Relevant for all young managers wanting to build an engaged team and Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Coleman and Why we buy, the Science of Retailing by Paco Underhill; an anthropologist’s view on shopper insights. Do also check out What the CEO wants from you by R Gopalakrishnan makes for a smooth read in classic story telling style.