Changing Times

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A Step A Day, Careers, Cathleen Benko, Trends

Cathleen Benko is the Vice Chairwoman & Chief Talent Officer for Deloitte L.L.P. She writes in the New York Times about how the old order is changing for the new in corporate America. Only about 15 % of families there now have the traditional pattern (which many of us grew up in) where Dad went to work and Mom stayed at home to bring up the kids. Career mean different things to different people. The days when moving up the organizational hierarchy was equated with career progress are over.

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True Talent Speaks: Prasanna & Rolls Royce

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A Step A Day, Careers, K. Prasanna, Rolls Royce

Many students feel that the college they studied in determines their future in the job market. At times, I have heard young people say with cynicism : ” He is from XYZ College that’s why he gets all the chances. My college is not well known and therefore I have to struggle more in the job market.” There is some truth in this statement. However, what matters is your capability which can set you apart -irrespective of where you studied. In this context, the story of 22 year old K. Prasanna makes interesting reading.

Kaushalendra-Following His Dream

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A Step A Day, Careers, Kaushalendra

The entrance examination (called CAT) to the Indian Institutes of Management is considered to be one of the most competitive of its kind in the world. Each year thousands of aspiring Indians try to get admission to the prestigious IIMs. The reason is obvious- on graduation they are assured of plum jobs in some of the world’s leading corporations.

In this context, the career choice made by Kaushalendra on passing out from IIM Ahmedabad, often rated the best IIM of the lot is quite astounding. He has started selling vegetables off a cart in the sweltering heat of his hometown- Patna in Bihar.  His dream is to make his home state a vegetable hub.

Harsha Bhogle: Follow Your Passion

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A Step A Day, Careers, Harsha Bhogle

I have always admired Harsha Bhogle- not only as a fine cricket commentator but for being one who chose to make a living out of his passion- for cricket. Read this interview with him in the Business Standard. He and his wife, Anita run Prosearch Consultants. I like Harsha for his knowledge of the game of cricket, his fluency and his humility.

These days we are much more open to the idea of rather unconventional careers.

Indians at Harvard Business School

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Careers, Harvard Business School, Indian Economy, MBA admission

For many a bright professional, the world over, a dream is to be admitted to the Harvard Business School. The venerable school celebrates 100 years in 2008. It’s mission: “We educate leaders who make a difference in the world”.

Guess which country sends most candidates (after the US of A of course) for the Harvard regular MBA program? That honour goes to India which sent as many as 38 students for the batch of 2009 made up of 900 students. HBS assistant director in MBA career services, Kurt Piemonte said, “Increasingly, we find Indian students want to head back to the country to pursue their careers. There is a real interest in India and the trend of returning to India to work is catching up. The number of students who have not been in the US before and want to return to India to work is rising.”

India already has a strong presence in the teaching side with 15 % of the HBS Faculty being Indians or of Indian origin.

Also, as part of its plan to globalise its curriculum, in 2005, HBS opened the India Research Center (IRC) in Mumbai, one of the six research units across the world. The research centre will help build HBS’s knowledge about the Indian economy and the corporate sector through case studies and original research work.

These are clearly positive by-products of the greater interest evinced in the Indian economy by almost everyone-including the Harvard Business School.