IBSAF WORLD - April 2008

I got my first job in 1995 at Union Carbide after finishing my engineering from Jadavpur University. After that, I pursued my studies from IBS during 1997-99. After completion of my MBA, I worked at TCS for the next three years. Since then, I have started my own enterprise with constructive help from my friends, especially Rupam, Jayanta and Uddipan. Our first customer was my alma mater - Jadavpur University.

Reflections on visiting IBS again in a changed role ...

Visiting IBS as an interviewer for the MBA admissions program held its own charm – especially when one discovers that IBS has undergone more than a sea-change. Everything, ranging from the size/style/stature of its campus facilities to its standing in the industry has grown manifold. This visit also offered me the opportunity to meet other IBS-ites like Ajay, Vamsi, Chirag, Ali all of whom are my batch mates from other IBS campuses. I had met them last during a fun & masti program in 1998. The visit definitely gave a different kind of a nostalgic feeling.

The role of IBS...

IBS taught me a very important lesson that helped me build my confidence. It is: It does not take the government’s stamp to do well in the market. The customer is the ONLY king.

My initial experiences…

I, along with one of my friends, started the business with a plan that I will leave my job first; and he will quit his after a year. At the end of the year when the business could not pick up enough, my friend ran off and never came back. That’s my everlasting lesson in business - if the terrain is not safe enough, then, depend ONLY on yourself – don’t expect others to share your burden. If you invite others, invite ONLY during your good days.

My enterprise and my dream of taking it abroad....

Perceptually, in business, the word 'abroad' is slowly taking a new meaning – it’s probably a place where you cannot reach. Depending on my business/network/resources, Bihar can be 'abroad', but France might not be. In the conventional sense of the word, we feel that there is a huge, attractive market in India itself and we have not been able to tap its potential substantially. If anyone wants to provide me an opportunity to do business abroad, please contact at i@trainingcogroup.com. I will really appreciate that.

IBS now v/s IBS then…

During our times, low confidence amongst students was one thing that was commonly prevalent. We even used to share building with other tenants. The library was not enough adequate and of course, there were not enough staff. And NOW?? Students are so much more confident about their IBS branding. The future students are almost going over the board at the prospect of getting a seat at IBS. It now has a large own building, multiple premises in the same city; state of the art library, increased number of faculty members, large hostels…the list actually can go on. It is definitely a face change. And definitely a most welcome one.

IBS ranked 9th ... my comments ... …

Wrong. I think we are the first. When we, the old IBS-ites, met this time, we took pride while going through an Outlook B-School Survey which showed that as far as market capitalization (I don’t know if there is any more proper English word for what I am trying to mean) of IBS was concerned, the IBS students are raising the LARGEST amount of salary from the market. It gives a real boost to the whole IBS scenario. We are now a substantial force to reckon with.

My IBSAF experience …

Frankly speaking, I could not make much time until recently to get associated with various IBSAF activities except for glancing through the IBSAF World. When I received this invitation mail from IBS to take part in MBA admissions procedure, I knew that it surely will be a telling experience to be able to choose our successors.

The information or features that I would like to see in IBSAF World…

New progress of IBS vis-à-vis competitor B-Schools
New facilities for IBSAF members
Contributions of IBSAF members in the IBS community
And definitely the ones which you already publish like articles from old friends, achievements of old & new IBS-ites

The ways I would like to be more involved with IBS…

In ‘STRATEGY-MAKING’ … for the pathway for IBS & IBSAF
In contributing towards betterment of QUALITY with regards to education process, career issues and institutional issues.

IBS and IBSAF … as I see them in the next 10 years…

IBS : Significant MBA education brand in the globally important education destinations. Also, I believe that, IBS would do better if it keeps the 'finance' niche associated with its name - it may help fight the names like IIM effectively.
IBSAF: A Federation meaningfully & substantially contributing to Indian people's lifestyle & wellbeing (rich or poor). And of course helping the alumni to come together & create a multiple effect.

Suggestions for young starters ...

Feel like a 'starter' every morning - it will give enough of impetus to work better
Do not compete with or copy your seniors. You may be more intelligent than them. Don't accept lower benchmarks created by others/elders/people of previous generation. Create your own benchmarks & cross them. ◊

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