Never a dull moment

  What they do not teach in IIMA I went to IIMA after three years work experience. Campus placement was not easy for those with work experience as our names did not figure in the short list of leading companies who were on “fresher” only mode. Most of the oldies got offers much after the crème de la crème were placed. My final interview was a different city and I flew for the first time. The interview with MD was informal. I was offered a cup of tea in a stylish manner ( I had to do half the process of tea making without spilling. Over the years I have managed to avoid such tea drinking as I have not developed the spit an polish demanded of a a true professional . I prefer the overboiled ready to drink tea ). Everything went well .MD asked me about the job I held before joining IIMA. Then the tide turned churning the tea I had consumed. MD popped an innocuous question - Now that you have completed MBA from IIMA, if you were to go back to same job, how differently would you do it ? ...

I was exhausted “academically” when I finished BE Hons in Guindy in 1982. I was keen to work. First job turned out to be boring though the team was young. My dad had a four break while at school and completed his schooling late. He stood first in school in SSLC. He went to Madras and secured a job in railways. He was keen I should study further. But I was not. I was clear I was not made to be an engineer. I made an attempt to secure admission to par- time MBA in a leading college but failed. Our boss was from IIT Madras and IIMC. He used to ask me now and then, ” Is this all you want to do ?” In 1984, my colleague Balan secured admission to IIMC. Balan went away to IIMC little realising that he would prove an inspiration. I told my dad I would make full hearted maiden attempt at CAT 1985. My motivation ? More than getting out of the humdrum job, I wanted to do something which would do him proud and that something should not be easy for others to achieve. Result? If somebody was to pick...