Vicky Abhishek
IBS Pune, (‘00)

Manager, GE Corporate IT Security & End-user helpdesk programs for Asia Pacific
GE

Me and my family…

I am working with GE for past 6 and half years, currently managing the GE Corporate IT Security & End-user helpdesk programs for Asia Pacific, based in Shanghai. I have worked in India, US and China – holding various positions within GE IT team.
I am happily married to Nikita Sanwaria. We met at IBS Pune and now we’re blessed with a cute bundle of joy, our son – Aryan, who is 20 months old. Nikita was working with AT&T and then GE (Certified Six sigma Black Belt) with IT & Quality functions. Currently she is enjoying time at home with our little devil!

My career graph…

I can boast of a very comprehensive exposure to almost all facets of IT – software, telecom, hardware, network, operations and business development. I have got mostly project or program management roles while working with global teams. I was luck enough to get exposure to multiple cultures managing small to large teams.  GE is a continuous great learning experience. It all started with KPIT though – my campus placement job and one of the best companies for laying down the foundations for fresh MBAs. KPIT’s commitment to management trainee development program and people oriented focus made it a great place to work.
Currently I am leading a team of 32 people, scattered all over Asia Pacific, dealing with multiple cultures and issues with one single goal: Improve IT compliance and service standards for GE offices across the region.

Personally, HR has been my passion than a mere functional vertical. I love to meet interesting people & observe HR dynamics in organizations. Adventures with “Finance” started with IBS and since then it has been an integral part of planning, delivery and decision making process.

The sojourn at IBS…
 
I can never forget my great batchmates and all the fun that we had while going through the two years of hard work. IBS curriculum sets very high standards and it was very satisfying to excel there and also find a soul mate in the process – Nikita!

We had some real fun moments while  organizing events, competing with other B-Schools in city, attracting corporate involvement and on the other side - boycotting weekly tests J, going for road trips to Konkan beaches (organized in less than 2 hours in high ‘spirits’), trekking expeditions to ‘Singhad Fort’ during midnight and camping on mountain tops during the freezing December nights … … those were the amazing times!!!

Ideas of a perfect life…

If there is something as ‘perfect life’ for me, it would be taking care of my parents, spending more time with my family and still be useful to society as long as I live. Wealth, health and energy are enablers and will not always remain the same.

Life after IBS…
 
A mad rush J ! I can’t claim that I moved across many companies like many of my batch mates. But within GE I have taken up consistently bigger roles and also moved around a lot. It has been a very rewarding experience so far. Mostly I am the youngest in the meeting group or the board room, wherever it was – India, USA, China– but never the least contributor!

Hard lessons learnt in Finance and IT project management during MBA were put to test everyday and I also added value to myself consistently with additional certifications and  courses along with the great foundation that IBS offered.

Ideal in life…
 
There is nothing like honesty, hard work and truth – rest all will fall in place over time! I firmly believe that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

On facing high pressure situations at work…

If you are not working under pressure, you are in a wrong job – so it is part of the game and one has to learn to live with it. I do it by breaking my weeks on Friday evenings and resuming on Monday mornings. This gives me time and space to recover and relax.

Balancing work and family…

This is something which has gone out of control over last 3 years in Shanghai, due to differences in time zones and teams scattered all over the region / US. But I am working on it J - the correct answer will come from my wife and son on how I am performing.

Biggest lesson in life…

Never underestimate your opposition.

De-stressing …

Playing with my son mostly, he is at his naughtiest best when I step in home. Also watching cricket (missing it since I left India) and going for long drives with family.

My hobbies…
 
Reading poetry; mostly Hindi and Urdu, I love to explore new destinations. Therefore, I like traveling to new places and learning more about them.  I also read a lot of management books and articles.

Lessons life has taught…

Everyday I learn something. This will continue till I live. I have learnt a lot from many people, but my only ideal is my father – with all his achievements and greatness, you can never find a person more humble and more eager to learn. I also learnt over time that there are no defeats, only setbacks and hence keep fighting it out – you will come out in flying colors.

My friends / batch mates at IBS…

Thanks to ORKUT, I am connected to all of them. I have never lost a connection with a single friend from my school days till date. IBS had lot of great ones to offer. Every time I am in India on vacations, I make sure to meet up some of the friends in town and catch up with them. Most of them are busy with their own sojourns – it is interesting to watch how all of us went through the same courses but diversified so much 5-7 years down the line.

My views on IT industry in India and abroad in the next five years …

In Information Technology, the focus is shifting from supporting the biz to leading it (cost efficiency), from enabling a product to shaping a new product – so very exciting times are ahead, but those with real skill sets and knowledge can only make a difference. So work on the basics when you have a chance to do so.

Advice to the young starters…

Learn multiple skills and develop your horizons when you have an opportunity to do so. Don’t get too focused on one vertical. So even if you are pursuing a finance career, find out how HR works or how Marketing works. This will help you tremendously when you start in corporate world. The next 2-3 decades belong to India and a broad foundation would mean better equipped to handle great things coming on the way.

Plans for the future…
 
Keep learning and growing with the years. If I can surround myself with smart people all the time I guess it will be my biggest achievement. ◊