The best thing to invest in right now is YOU!

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The latest annual report of the RBI for the fiscal year 2018-19 (or FY19) confirmed that the Indian economy has indeed hit a rough patch. The recent collapse of the automobile sector or the rising number of non-performing assets (NPAs), sluggish consumer demand or failing manufacturing sector; all played a part in this growth recession that is said to continue for the next 12-24 months. So what do you do in this time of a declining growth rate? Invest in yourself; get a management degree that matters and be ready to ride the new upturn that will come with a transformed set of skills!

Whether you want to broad-base your management skills or acquire in-depth domain specific management expertise in the growing sectors of industry, Goa Institute of Management has a course for you to consider. Here’s a course-wise list of highlights for you to scan and choose from:

Flagship PGDM

• Completed 25 years of existence and is currently ranked amongst the top 15 business schools by Outlook magazine and The Week (2018)
• Has consistently seen a rise in the quality of placements with an increase of 55% in the highest package offered and an increase of 32% in the number of pre-placement offers received
• Has an established network of distinguished alumni across the globe
• Unparalleled diversity that allows for great peer-to-peer learning
• Gives you to the opportunity to have an impact on society through Give Goa while you pursue your MBA

PGDM HCM

• 100% placements for 5 consecutive years since its debut! That’s not all. We maintained the average salary package even after doubling the batch strength for this program
• Students are placed across a wide range of industries where in depth healthcare management knowledge can be applied such as pharmaceuticals, national hospitals, IT etc.
• This is an application based management programme with a curriculum that is blend of management and healthcare functions and involves 50% practical learning with a hands on application of principles taught.

PGDM BDA

• We launched this program in 2018 and had to double our seats in the second year itself! This increase in batch strength got approved by AICTE as well…need we say more about the demand for this program from the industry and students alike? We think not.
• We are a SAS- powered PGDM BDA program
• We’ve got a robust curriculum put together by a 10 member board of studies – have a look at their names on our website
• We encourage interactive learning through our classrooms and data lab

In addition to the above we also assure you a green and picturesque campus, top rated faculty and state-of the art infrastructure.

Admissions to our programs are now open. To apply click here

P.S: We’ve also got another course – PGDM in BFSI – scheduled to launch this year as well. So, if you are currently working in the BFSI sector, look out for the details we will be putting up soon.

 

HEALTHCARE IS FOR EVERYONE!

Over the past many years, the healthcare sector was limited only to doctors and the allied paramedics. The absolute need for healthcare and its emerging value and complexities brought in a much wider angle to the sector, and paved way for the managerial roles. The trend of healthcare management is soon catching up amongst not only the doctors, but also amongst various other fields and industries.

Why Healthcare?

Call it the need of the minute, hour or even the century, as long as people are alive, the healthcare industry is bound to stay and flourish. From advancement of technology and inventions of new medical devices to various new methods implemented in hospitals on a daily basis, the rate at which the healthcare sector is growing has no limits. For any sector to run at its peak potential, it needs the best set of managers, who will put to use their domain expertise and bring about the best transformations in this field.

The Healthcare Experience:

Here is what the first year students from various diverse backgrounds have to say on pursuing the healthcare sector and the healthcare course at GIM:

1. Renuka Sharma, Dentist:
   
   “I am Dr Renuka Sharma, a BDS graduate from Mumbai with a clinical experience of 3 years. Usually when I mention my qualifications, the first question I face is, why MBA? Moving out of my comfort zone and plunging into a completely unfamiliar territory was a huge decision, one that I am thankful of having taken. The pedagogy at GIM is proving to be a perfect mould for an aspiring healthcare manager to learn and grow in an efficient way. Being a medical professional, I have personally experienced that this programme aims at honing the skills of every individual to become a socially sensitized, well informed and a highly efficient healthcare manager”.
2. Satyanshu Acharya, Computer Engineer:
   
   “I always wanted to be a part of an elite B-School and here I am, having joined PGDM(HCM) program in GIM because it is one of the best healthcare programs in the country. The program focuses on all probable domains of healthcare and is not restricted only to the healthcare professionals but also involves people from different backgrounds. Post graduating as a computer engineer, I worked for almost four years in LIMS domain, which involved many healthcare based clients. I believe eventually with the help of this program I will be able to understand the healthcare domain in a better way and be able to map user requirements in healthcare IT with my prior knowledge and expertise”.
3. Garima Dayal, Biotech Engineer:
   
   “Being from Biotechnology background, I have always been inclined towards being inquisitive about new advancements in technologies, especially in the medical field. Going for a career in Healthcare was a conscious choice because there is a lot of scope to improvise the current healthcare scenario in India. Personally speaking, I joined the Healthcare Management course at GIM to develop the skill sets required to manage the dynamic industry of Healthcare”.
4. Somdutta Banerjee, Journalist:
   
   “I did my graduation in Journalism, but was extremely inclined towards the healthcare industry. I used to read articles and news pieces on healthcare so often that I finally made up my mind to get into this sector. I came across the healthcare management course in GIM and knew exactly what I wanted to do. Here at GIM, being with numerous other people from different backgrounds and experiences is truly an enriching experience and the peer-to-peer learning actually never stops”.
5. Jagrity Singh, B.Com Graduate:
   
   “I was quite clear about doing my masters in public health as I aspire to make a career in social work in public health. The healthcare management course at GIM serves best to this purpose, as it is one of the most sought after programmes in the country. My commerce background, rather than being a hurdle for me to be acquainted with the healthcare space, turned out to help me in a better way to see the healthcare spectrum from a different lens. Before entering into this course, hospitals meant only doctors and patients, and only after getting here, I got a chance to explore the various managerial aspects of it, especially with the help of KYHP (Know Your Healthcare Provider)”.

The student testimonials above, themselves proclaim that learning never stops at GIM, neither do the opportunities to achieve excellence. Health indeed unites everyone towards achieving a common goal of improvising the healthcare scenarios in the country.

Life tips from Rituparna Chakravorty

She’s a formidable force to reckon in Corporate India; a founding member and current EVP of TeamLease Services- a Fortune India 500 company listed on the NSE & BSE, that has hired 17 lac people over the last 17 years and has 2 lac+ open jobs everyday.

Amongst the other feathers in her cap, she was recently awarded the IMC Distinguished Alumni award on the 3rd of August 2019 at the 10th Indian Management Conclave in New Delhi.

And while she is putting India to work, she’s a strong believer of “Work is not Life”. We caught up with Rituparna Chakravorty (GIM alumna 1997-99 batch) to talk about things other than TeamLease. Here are excerpts on her take on positivity, opportunity and the diversity of choices.

If you are having a bad day, does it show? How?

Usually it doesn’t. For me there are bad moments and there shouldn’t ever be a bad day. I think especially as a leader, mask of command is extremely critical to ensure that your team, the troops around you stay focused, they continue to believe in their goals, in the work that they are doing and hence even if there are bad moments I think it is important for us to learn the skill of turning poison into medicine and make it as short and as quick as possible.

I think we are all humans, so it’s possible to have a bad moment, but it’s about the choice we make as an individual of ensuring that the very next moment we are able to switch to a different mode. And I think we need to embrace positivity at every moment. I think it’s a non-negotiable element whether it’s at work or a personal front. Very few people will probably ever get to see me having a very long stretch of a sulking face or being upset or being angry.

“Bad moments yes, but never a bad day”

What do you think generates opportunity?

A person’s state of mind. If you are positive and looking forward to life, you will always find a way to create new opportunities for yourselves. And by opportunities I do not essentially mean just a job, I mean opportunities to have a friend in your life, opportunity to build new relationships, opportunities to grow, opportunities to learn. At the crux of all of it is the way you look forward to life and what’s your outlook and without a positive outlook I do not think it is possible. And also of course curiosity, because somewhere these are joint at the hip. If you are a curious person, if you are a positive person I am very confident that you will be short of opportunities.

What’s your take on the work-life balance ?

“We need to have a diversity of choices”

there is no one thing that you can pursue right through the day. We are humans, we need diversity, we like choices and hence if I need to keep myself motivated; if I have to keep myself agile and fresh and towards the goal; for us to stay energized and motivated, we can’t just be focused on work. Work is always there in my mind but even to sharper in our decisions, to have more compassion and empathy around the job that we do; to have creativity, for innovation it’s very important to surround yourself with forces which motivate, which keep you fresh. Spending time with my daughter and travelling with her, is one such thing. I have to do both. My daughter understands it, and I understand it. And more than the quantity of time you spend doing anything, it’s always about the quality of time, whether it’s at work or spending time with family and friends. Even if you are able to meet a friend for just an hour a week, it’s about how engaged you are and how involved you are, how much you are listening, how much you are sharing within that one hour, rather than flicking your phone, being distracted. Kids for example do not need too much of our time, to be honest they love to be left alone. But I do ensure that when I get back from work and am not travelling, before she (daughter) sleeps I spend 2-2.5 hrs with her. So, it’s really not about one over the other (daughter and work), both are important, in some situations one will get priority over the other, but so is life! And that’s just how you need to balance it.

 

 

Methods to Connect Big Data Analytics to Business Solutions

A vast array of big data functions are used to arrive at solutions, and to understand the working behind it, one primarily needs a basic understanding of the term Big Data Analytics and amount of activities it encompasses. Big Data Analytics is the complex process of examining large and varied data sets or big data, to uncover information including hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends and customer preferences that can help organizations make better and informed business decisions. It is a form of advanced analytics, which involves applications involving elements such as predictive models, statistical algorithms and what-if analysis powered by high-performance analytical systems. Now that you have a clearer picture of what Big Data Analytics is, let us venture into the various ways in which its applications help in determining optimum business solutions:

1. BEGIN FROM THE GROUND-UP: Be well aware of what works and what does not, as a detail-oriented approach of the situation will always give a clear picture of the problem at hand. By identifying and defining the problem in a correct manner, half the process is already complete.
2. TIME-ORIENTED APPROACH: Since the work is more inclined towards a client-based model, a more detailed approach would be required to understand the root-cause of the problem. For this, one needs to break down large amounts of data from the past and be able to draw conclusions from it by using the correct tools.
3. CONFLICTING OPINIONS: “Conflict breeds creativity”, since the field of data analytics is never certain, looking at it from a wider angle or multiple perspectives might turn out to be more fruitful than focusing on a single perspective. By doing so we would be able to uncover certain important nodes of information one might have previously looked over.
4. ADAPT TO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES: The world of data is an uncertain and rapidly changing one as new inventions and revolutions often take the industry by storm. New technologies like Machine learning, Robotic Process Automation, Block-chain, Cloud Computing and Programming and Visualization Tools are always popping up at every corner. By embracing these technologies, we reduce the workload of employees and increase our efficiency by multiple times.
5. STAYING RELEVANT: One of the most important success factors of businesses is staying current and updated, and the same applies in big data analytics too. Due to plethora of changes that surround industries, staying current and up to date not only helps companies explore the various capabilities of big data tools but also throws off any close competition and gives them first mover advantage.
6. INTEGRATE DATA ANALYTICS: Companies are bound to use the full potential of analytics during problem solving, product positioning, branding, etc. They are destined to achieve much higher efficiency if they integrate data analytics as a part of their organizational structure, as by doing so, the entire mindset and approach starts to differ in a vital and desirable way.
7. PLANNING: “Plans are useless, Planning is indispensable”, but one of the most critical steps in solving any problem is planning. It needs to contain a road-map with a fixed goal or objective and should take into account the past shortcomings and future threats. Here, past data and predictive analytics play a major role as their combination with the right big data tools would assist in accurate planning and execution.
8. ANALYTICS AND STRATEGY: Data in an isolated form cannot give us results, we should also be able to apply logic into that data and infer or derive information that can be useful. The process of implementation involves a lot of conjecture and trial & error. Thus, analytics can positively be used in a gargantuan manner to reduce the occurrence of error and help to strengthen crucial business operations.
9. SMART WORKFORCE: The birth of new age technology has given the world tools that can make mundane jobs far more interesting. Moreover, solving business problems is not an overnight affair; it requires a huge amount of time and attention to little details. That is where data tools become the unsung heroes by making life simpler and reducing time and workload of employees.
10. EMBRACE FAILURE: “We learn from our mistakes”, companies need to see failure in a new light as it informs them about the areas where they are still incompetent and what they need to do to improve and avoid repeating the same mistakes over again. In today’s world of fast-paced technological transitions, data enlightens us better than anything on what works and what does not.

Over the years, businesses always come up with their own success mantra such as successful collaborations, skilled employees, ideal resources, clarity of thought etc. Today these mantras are shifting towards Big Data Analytics since it can be used in each and every domain of business and the cost of avoidance in this cutthroat industry is too big of a burden to bear. These basic yet thought provoking methods further bridge the gap between the world of Big Data Analytics in business and subsequently aid in data powered solutions.

“You can be the next Dolly Khanna” – Prof. Manas

Heard of Dolly Khanna? Well she is a Chennai-based investor who is worth more than Rs. 400 crore, according to a report by the Economic Times. She is counted among the top individual investors on Dalal Street. A house wife by choice, Khanna has a knack for identifying lesser-known quality stocks at the right time to bet for multibagger return.

Although the stock market is primarily dominated by male investors, there is an increasing trend of women investors making their mark, despite challenges and the dynamic nature of equity markets. Many studies in the field of investments reveal that both the attitude and temperament required to be a successful investor are naturally present in women. Many studies also have shown that portfolios managed by women investors have done better than those managed by men for the same time period.

According to Jennifer Lerner, a psychologist at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government,

“There’s a general emotional difference between men and women as they perceive and take risks”.

Women are less afflicted than men by overconfidence, or the delusion that they know more than they really do. Negative events like natural disasters, terrorist attacks or a financial crisis usually make men more angry and impulsive. Women on the other hand are less impulsive and take fewer actions. They are also more pessimistic or realistic about what to expect from the market and therefore with the right guidance can do much better in the stock market.

So, for all the women reading this, I invite you to attend my workshop on art of investment. For all men reading this, please pass on this message to women you know, and maybe attend the session with your partners. I also request you to inspire women in your families to learn how to manage their money sensibly. Your household’s investment portfolio will be less risky and more diversified if your wife helps manage it. Chances are, her ideas and emotions will complement yours, and you will both end up wealthier. At least one of you will end up wiser. If they could handle you well, they could also handle their money best.

Come and learn the art of investment in a way that you will remember forever.

The workshop is on Sunday, 29^th September 2019, at Dempo College premises, Cujira Complex, Bambolim from 10 am to 4 pm.

Call +91 8007300380 or Email manasmayur@gim.ac.in to block your seat now!

 

WORKSHOP ALERT! Come and learn the Art of Investment – A note from Prof. Manas

The purpose of conducting a workshop on the art of investment is twofold; first, highlighting where so many go wrong and second, understanding the successful investment strategies focussing on some of the most popular investors like Warren Buffet, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala etc.

A lots of investors adopt many different approaches that offer little or no long-term success;

They usually enter the market at the wrong time, their investment decisions are based on tips from brokers, friends and experts on television shows. They don’t know what to see in a good stock. Little wonder that for most retail investors, the stock market is a gambling place. They are frequently lured by the prospect of quick and easy gain and fall victim to the many fads of the stock market. However, there are also small investors who have made extraordinary gains from stock investments. No, I don’t mean only the lucky ones. A small but growing tribe of small investors is understanding the fundamentals of investing before entering the markets. They have learnt that the key to earn from the market lies in understanding the art of investment.

We humans are all prone to be influenced by two fundamental psychological emotions, greed and fear. This is as true in investing as it is in every other walk of life. Indeed, Ben Graham (the father of value investing) even went far enough as to say “The investor’s chief problem—and even his worst enemy—is likely to be himself.”

Evidence of this harmful investor behaviour and its impact on investor’s portfolio return is recorded by many studies. The results aren’t pretty. Over the last 20 years, where the market indexes have done extremely well, the individual investors’ performances are very sad. This has largely resulted from buying and selling at just about the worst possible point in time. Sure looks like Ben Graham was right—we really are our own worst enemies.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. We can learn to make better decisions—it isn’t easy, but it is possible. This workshop will take you on a guided tour of the most common behavioural challenges and mental pitfalls that investors encounter and provide you with strategies to eliminate these innate traits. Along the way, we ’ll see how some of the world’s best investors have tackled the behavioural biases that drag down investment returns, so that you hopefully will be able to learn from their experiences and go on to make superior returns and have fewer losses.

Come and learn the art of investment in a way that you will remember forever.

The workshop is on Sunday, 29^thSeptember 2019, at Dempo College premises Cujira Complex, Bambolim from 10 am to 4 pm.

Call +91 8007300380 or Email manasmayur@gim.ac.into block your seat now!

World Health Organization collaborates with Goa Institute of Management

World Health Organization collaborates with Goa Institute of Management, Healthcare Management for early inputs on functioning of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) across the districts of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The healthcare management (HCM) branch at Goa Institute of Management (GIM) recently conducted a study across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand to provide early inputs and to assess the functioning of world’s largest health protection scheme – Ayushman Bharat; launched nationwide in September 2018. World Health Organization, which is also the technical support to National Health Authority (the apex body responsible for implementation of Ayushman Bharat), collaborated with Goa Institute of Management to conduct a study on “An Assessment of the Trust and Insurance model of Healthcare Purchasing under PMJAY: Examining two States”.

The main aim of the study conducted was to provide early inputs to improve programme design and implementation in the states and also provide recommendations for national policy level revisions.

A team of 5 members from the Healthcare Management branch of GIM, went across 12 districts of UP and Jharkhand (8 and 4 respectively) to conduct in depth interviews and discussions with stakeholders (Private, Public and Beneficiary) to capture the strengths and weaknesses of each of the two types of models- Insurance and Trust, under AB-PMJAY.

They also evaluated the models based on their structural capacities, process efficiencies and performance output. This entire collaboration of governing bodies, with educational institutes at such an early stage of the scheme demonstrates the willingness of the Central Government to leave no stone unturned to make their flagship scheme a success. The inclination towards an evidence-based decision making in healthcare in India is a much welcomed and progressive step, something that is bound to make us reach greater heights not only as individuals, but also as a nation on the whole.

The team, comprising Dr. Kheya Furtado (Principal Investigator), Dr. Arif Raza, Devasheesh Mathur and Nafisa Vaz of Healthcare Management was invited to present the study at the one year anniversary event ‘Arogya Manthan’ in New Delhi. The valedictory session was chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.
They presented their study to Dr. Harshvardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare; Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO National Health Authority and PMJAY and Dr. Henk Bekedam, World Health Organization Representative to India.

JOINT VENTURES- BEYOND ACCESS AND ACQUIRE?

By Dr. Akshay S. Bhat,
Professor- Goa Institute of Management

In 2004, there was a bandwagon of joint ventures (JV’s) formed in the Indian commercial vehicle industry. On further investigation, it was not only the commercial vehicle industry but also the whole automotive sector which had a preponderance of strategic alliances or joint ventures since inception. Among-st the joint ventures formed in the same industry a few were successful and a few failed. Why? 

Overview

Three dominant theoretical lenses are used to explain joint ventures: Transaction Cost Theory (TCE); Resource Based View (RBV) and the Strategic Behaviour View (SB).

But the academic treatment using the above theories for joint ventures are mostly static and focus on the end states. But, a series of questions on formation, success, failure and termination need to be asked at multiple levels in order to fully appreciate such hybrid organizations. Also, studies have focused more on benefits to the parent firms who are stakeholders in the JV.

Therefore, we were prompted to ask is there something more in a joint venture organization?

So, we decided to explore joint venture firms by conducting studies in the field.
We garnered variables and questions from our literature review. Based on Eisenhardt’s study: we did not form any association with the variables or the questions, so if there was an observation during fieldwork which would be counterfactual to what literature said, it would be a new finding. In this iterative process of going to the field, observing and connecting findings with literature, we observed that joint ventures evolve, and this was an understudied area.

For a detailed study we shortlisted three joint venture firms based on the objectives set for it during formation. One firm, had met its intended objectives and built up upon new objectives, the other had not met its stated objectives and the third was in line of meeting its stated objectives.

A historical reconstruction of cases from primary data and secondary information was done. Important events were then identified and the responses of the parent firms as well as the joint venture management to these events was noted. From the cases it was found out that the joint venture too influenced it parent firms. Extant literature largely dealt with the influence of the parent firms on the joint venture.

On deeper inquiry, independent JV evolution influenced parent firms. Literature which is limited in this area, spoke largely about the evolution of the relationship between parent firms. We noted however, as time passed the JV set new goals and followed new paths, these changing goals and paths influenced its own longevity and the association between the parent firms.

So, the research question we wanted to address was: “Why do some joint ventures move beyond their intended objectives?”

This study therefore looks into the evolution of joint ventures, the conditions under which they evolved and the role of the joint venture manager in the evolution of the joint venture process. The role, knowledge and network of the JV Manager played an important role in achieving intended objectives, or in lieu of intended goals, setting new goals and paths for the JV firm.

Therefore the theoretical explanations which are given by the dominant lenses of TCE, RBV and SB are from the view point of JV’s being formed for intended objectives. But as the JV evolves (because of changing goals and paths) the same explanations may be subject to change. We also show that, these theoretical explanations tend to be complementary.

This work is designed to help scholars of strategy and those involved in collaborative ventures in firms. What I highlight is that joint ventures can also be wellsprings of innovation rather than just tools to transact, acquire or position.

HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL? 5 TRIED AND TESTED TIPS!

What is success? What does it meant to be successful? To succeed or be successful means different things to different people. To some it’s about getting to the top rungs of the corporate ladder, to others it’s an accumulation of wealth and power and to many others it is about making a positive impact in the world. Whatever it means to you, and before you put any of the below tips to action, you first need to define what success is to YOU.

Succeeding in life is the work of a lot of factors and while we continue on our journey to get where we want to be, here are 5 tips we’ve learned on succeeding in life:

1. Dream BIG

It all starts with a single thought. One of the most important factors that separates the most successful people from the rest begins with a single thought. This single thought — if cultivated — grows over time into the empowering habit of thinking big and propels you towards achieving your dreams.

2. Set goals

Be SMART with your goals – make them Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time bound. Align them to your definition of success and keep them visible at all times because goals that are set and put away are forgotten are often never achieved. Review your Goals each week and track your progress, make them something you should achieve instead of something you ‘could’ achieve ‘someday’.

3. Believe in your capacity to succeed

Success has to be something you can imagine yourself achieving. Anticipate roadblocks, be aware that you will come across naysayers and people that will doubt your ability to succeed, but most importantly don’t give in, find a way to overcome and deal with them. In moments of uncertainty, lookout for the goals you set, pick one out and go after it with all that you have.

4. Be brave

Don’t be afraid to introduce new ideas, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t be afraid of going outside the norm. If you can think of a better way to do something, do it that way. If you fail, try again.

Thomas Edison inventing the lightbulb was the result of several hundred failed attempts. In an interview, he was asked “How do you feel after all of your failed attempts?” His response was epic, he said “I didn’t fail, I learned hundreds of ways not to invent the lightbulb”. Let that be your guiding light.

5. Be a person of action, willing to work hard

You may be led to believe otherwise, but hard work most often trumps talent. When you first meet a person labeled as successful it is easy to believe that it came to them effortlessly, butin reality, the truth is far from it.

Not convinced? Consider this.
Michael Jordan, the legendary basketball player was dropped from his high school basketball team because his schoolmates were considered “more talented” than him.Walt Disney was told that he had “no original ideas” and “lacked imagination” by the newspaper that fired him, and Oprah Winfrey was deemed “not fit for television.” And what did all 3 of them do? They worked hard and went on to become household names in the exact fields that they were considered not talented enough to be in.

What you may have noticed is that most of the above tips have a similar chain of thought – Being positive. The key to achieving success, in whatever you wish, therefore comes down to the way you approach it mentally. It’s simply the play of mind over matter.

 

 

 

THE FEVER OF A BUSINESS FEST

College life is incomplete without the much talked about “fests” and a b-school is no different. Along with the usual cultural fests, majority b-schools in the country have business fests, aimed at creating a platform for exchange of ideas and innovations related to business management. What happens behind the stage of such a large-scale symposium? What exactly goes into conducting so many events?
Goa Institute of Management recently concluded SAMRIDDHI 2019, their 3-day annual business symposium, held from 23rd to 25th August.

And here’s a low-down from Team Samriddhi on the nitty gritty of organising a 3-day symposium. 

1. GETTING THE THEME RIGHT

The journey began in the December of 2018, about 7 months before the event and trust us when we say it takes a whole lot of individual and group research, brain-storming and delivery to get this right. So we researched, spoke to one another, consulted our faculty and industry leaders to draw up a list of  high impact themes that are current, relevant and relatable. We then presented these to our Director Dr.Parulekar and after a lot of deep deliberation with him we hit bingo with ‘TeXperience’ for this year.

Theme for Samriddhi 2019: TeXperience

2. ALL ABOARD

To get the right speakers on board, you’ve got to click with the right circles in the right context. And given our theme for the year,  we trusted technology to help. So we used our very active Samriddhi LinkedIn account to reach out to industry leaders that we believed could contribute and engage our audience with our theme. After multiple iterations of acceptance, confirmations and a few regrets we arrive at the final list of speakers. Once we lock them in we share a brief on Samriddhi and theme with them and also outline our expectation from them.

Similarly to on-board other B-schools, we send out and invite along-with posters and any other content we have created, to each of them.

Speaker for day 2: Harish Iyer

3. THE ELEVENTH HOUR RUSH

We divide and rule! Quite literally. There is a lot to be done – from guest pick-ups and drops to administrative duties and event management- so delegation takes centre stage here. One of the most anticipated and exciting part of this entire journey for everyone on campus is the décor of the auditorium for the main event. All of us irrespective of our clubs come together under the guidance of the literary society of the college to decorate the venue according to the theme.  It takes a few sleepless nights, a hundred cups of  coffee and equal plates of maggi for the venue to be set a day before D-Day.

Students decorating the Multi-Purpose Hall

4. D-DAY

TBH our 3 day symposium is like a whirlwind and we are only a team of 12 so we rely quite heavily on our army of volunteers to get us through it. We divide responsibilities amongst ourselves to make sure that the event is glitch-free. As a team we handle the event within the auditorium, while our volunteers take care of every single detail outside.

Inauguration Ceremony, Samriddhi 2019

5.ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

It’s over in a flash, but it isn’t time to throw in the towels yet! It’s that time when we realise that over 6 months of hard work really paid off. The adrenaline and nerves maybe resting now, but we’ve still got some stuff to get done. We close Samriddhi for the year by sending out our thank you emails, cash prizes and certificates.

Dhol Tasha at the Closing Ceremony, Samriddhi 2019

And if you thought we are done? Think again. We meet again to kickstart work on Samriddhi 2020! Because just like the learning at GIM, this journey too never stops.