Inside EPGP - The plot is unfolding

So most of the intellectuals already know what goes inside management programs. Especially with these one year program where a 2-year schedule and material is cramped inside a single year, there is no breathing space. We have got lectures starting at 8:00 in the morning which means I have to wake up at 6:00 because of our accommodation a little away from college campus. I am still struggling to cope with this adverse change in my daily schedule. It is not deniable that accommodation at Ajmera is eating up some of my sweet sleep time. And the lectures are slowly moving towards interesting.

In fact, the first week looked like eternity and in eon years I had a busy schedule on Saturday. During the week got to learn about the nuances of different managerial aspects and it is not even tip of iceberg. The professors are highly rated and amongst the best in the country and there is huge learning curve available to be picked. Slowly coming to terms of it, and comparatively 2nd week is coming to an end faster. Yes, it has not been even 2 weeks into the course yet. The irony is that we have been assigned seats by the EPGP office and because my name starts with 'A', I am seated in front row. A far cry from my last row seat which could have made life much easier for me :(.

I think the regular group study sessions at Au Bu Pain is making it easier to learn. My fellow batch mates and 'partners-in-crime' Rahul and Martand have helped a big deal in picking up the basics in Financials and Data Modelling. Besides these sessions, there is hell lot of project work to be completed. Be it analysis of financial reports or looking at strategies which corporates employ these days, the plate is already full. But as it is said ' Hum honge kamyaab'.

Though it would have been a added advantage if we would have been staying at IIMB campus, but Ajmera is not bad. The gym is good which allows me to devote some time towards shedding excess fab accumulated over years. The icing on cake is swimming pool inside the complex and I can relax and freshen up after a hard day. I still have to utilize the other club facilities and hopefully I will be successful in coming few days.

Is this the society our future generations will inherit?

Just the other day, I have mentioned that when awakening starts, the common man can change the world. But it seems that we are still helpless when it comes to stopping crime against the opposite gender. There have been widespread protests against the brutality of crime happened on 16 Dec and it seemed that finally there will be fear in the minds of people and they will think twice before committing such crime. But the way the case has progressed in the fast track court, it seemed the perpetrators of such crime feel more secured.

I really do not have any words to describe the heinousness of the crime which happened couple of days back in Delhi. How sick the person is to commit such dastardly act with a 5-yr old girl? There is no place for such a person in this world. On top of it, the response by our police is unpardonable. Why is it that any action is being taken by our law enforcement agencies only when people are coming on to streets? It is the responsibility of our Delhi Police to protect the people and make people feel safe in their own city. Why do we have to run down the streets every time a crime takes place?

And it is surprising that such crimes are not being committed by high profile individuals but by folks who are even having difficulties in meeting their daily needs. One can imagine what would have happened if their was a big personality involved. Or rather it is also possible that those incidents are not even making it to headlines. It is high time that these criminals are brought to justice at a very fast pace. It is imperative that judgement in 16 Dec case is delivered soon.

Currently the only hope lies in the action taken by society. Like disowning the individuals or their families by their community or isolation of criminals by even the fellow inmates in jail. May the social stigma which such crimes are bringing becomes enough deterrent otherwise we will be ashamed to look into the eyes of our next generations for the world they would be inheriting. The crime might not stop immediately but only if we try, we could make this world better day by day.

Time to tighten belt

So the honeymoon period ended after Pegasus camp and its time to get down to do some serious business. Its been only three days the classes has actually started, and looking at the way it is going, this is going to be a really long one year. I wonder how is the notion that you blink and miss, and that time flies in this one year course. After being away from regular lectures for more than 10 years and to think of it that I had dozed off in almost every  training sessions at office, it is going to be an uphill task to sit for classes from morning to evening.

Nonetheless, the professors are highly qualified and have full faith in the batch's quality. That is why everything is moving like a Chinese bullet train where the train is not in direct contact with the tracks. Hopefully, soon there will be a transitional phase where we will converge with this bullet train.

There have been three different subjects which have been started in these three days and from tomorrow, will have to make some space in this highly congested brain for 3 more subjects. The added incentive of heavy study material is that we will be physically fit by the time this first term ends, with all the pot bellies crushed as part of collateral damage.

Dozing off now to catch some sleep to get recharged for another long day tomorrow.


 

EPGP - The journey commences

So finally here I was at IIMB campus on the afternoon of 9th April 2013. A dream come true for me to become part of this prestigious program at one of the best institutes in India. To be honest, there were more reasons for me to not join the program rather than for joining the program. EPGP is still in nascent stage of establishing itself and yet to reach a stage where it can challenge the world's best programs. But if the intent is to work in India after one year, this program is amongst the best.

As I started interacting with my fellow batch mates, the fears started to disperse.  A chance to challenge existing theories and principles with brilliant minds from this country is unparalleled. People from across the length and breadth of this country and lot of different experiences. It is an interesting experience to learn from people from backgrounds as diverse as Defense to Entrepreneurs to Marketing and sales.

First day went in registration for the program and second and third were for orientation. An orientation for settling in at Ajmera (the residential apartments) would have been better but hopefully everything at Ajmera would fall in place in couple of weeks. This reminded me of my earlier days in Bangalore.

IIMB has come up with a very innovative concept to ensure that all the students of this program are comfortable within few days of joining this program. We went to a 2-nights stay at Pegasus for some ice-breaking sessions. Pegasus is not a resort but functions more like a camp where we were involved in team activities (and activities were physically tiring :)). I have been a regular at office project events but this was totally different. There was no inhibitions and no restrictions as everyone was equal at this camp.

Initially it felt like these physical activities will take toll on each of us as I am sure, pretty much most of the batch would have indulged in such activities in long long time. It was physically tiring but was completely fun-filled. And then the urge to try things which we would have done long back. This camp brought back the memories of college life and the feel that we are joining the college back. Unfortunately, there was an injury too. I hope Pegasus takes measures to avoid such incident in future.

We all grouped together in the night and cracked jokes. Most of those were meaningless but brought much cheer. It was like everyone seemed to have come out of shell of monotonous work they have been doing. I am sure everyone had a time of lifetime at this camp.

On the last day of camp, we went for a trek to a nearby hill at 5 in the morning. It was the coolest thing to do. The trek was treacherous, but we managed to reach the top. It was just at stroke of that moment, that sun was rising and it came up from behind the mountains just as we reached to the top - a lifetime moment indeed.

The camp has ended but for each of us a different college life has started. Each one has huge aspirations and expectations from this program and surely no one has extra bucks to burn. Pretty sure, there will be good leaders who will come out of this program and make difference to this country's economy.
 

Joined IIMB as a EPGP Student

I was probably satisfied with whatever I had achieved in my life. Good salary, international trips, air conditioned office, staying with my family etc, I was having a totally laid back and relaxed life. It was after few 'patialas', I was enlightened by the discussion my colleagues were having about benefits of MBA. Prepared for GMAT and with luck on my side, got a decent score to apply to good universities around the world.

Came up with a list of 4-5 colleges who would have been proud to have me as a student. Applied to INSEAD, IIM A, B, C, and ISB was in pipeline. The application to SP Jain was just match practice.  A great saint once said, learn from your mistakes, and after INSEAD did not deemed fit at application stage, IIM A, B, C got lucky to have my interview scheduled. But it was destined that I become a student of IIMB.

Bangalore has called me back albeit in a different role as a student of 1 year full time residential programe (titled EPGP). I knew that life has now taken a different course and there will be some fresh breath and new chapters in my lifebook. Interesting but full of hurdles. The biggest one to go back to college life and develop the habit of learning reading books and attending long lectures.

Lets find out what is in store in this MBA programe in coming days :).