Vatsal Bagadia spent most of his life in a bustling urban environment; but, when it came time to research management programs, he knew he wanted a change- both in terms of quality exposure and management understanding. That was the reason he decided to do his PGDM at Jaipuria Institute of Mangaement, Indore. Little did he know, however, that not only would he be offered a “change in the landscape of learning”, but also an opportunity to completely transform his life. And, what was the result of his decision to attend Jaipuria Institute of Management, Indore? An impressive, placement with the renowned company, XL Dynamics.

The well-earned placement with XL Dynamics has set the aspiring entrepreneur on the right track. Vatsal wants to use his learning at the institute as a guide in his professional life, as well as future business ventures. He is immensely grateful to his institute for giving him a solid educational platform: “I was given all the facilities to ensure that I had a comprehensive learning experience. The learning environment was conducive to my growth as an individual”.

Vatsal also told us about the different activities promoted by his institute. The goal of these activities is the well-rounded development of students, in addition to preparing students for the pressures of the corporate world: “Group assignments and presentations with a specific deadline were helpful in understanding the value of time management and team effort. Rigorous working schedule inside and beyond the classroom also helped us to a great extent”.

But, of course, Jaipuria, Indore offered students like Vatsal a taste of a real life corporate experience by giving them a chance to interact with industry professionals. He also talks about the decentralization of responsibilities during events, which helped students improve their ability to work as individuals, as well as part of a team. “Each one of us had to handle one responsibility or another and it made us aware of what was to come in the future”, he says. “Being able to interact with corporate professionals was a big boost too”.

There is one particular activity that Vatsal believes left a deep impact on his learning experience. “It’s the fusion class, which focused on different aspects of self-development, including communications, preparing for real life interviews, etc. There was a lot to learn from that class; right from discipline to maintaining a down-to-earth attitude, and respecting your peer group. For me, this class was a game changer in many ways”.

Vatsal encourages his juniors to take advantage of initiatives like these that will guide them towards their overall development. He also shares his own mantra to get through the program with flying colours: “Hard work with a hint of smart work is the key. You need to keep yourself constantly engaged in things that will help you learn and grow. At times, there might be no logical reason or reward for hard work, but you should persist as results will follow”. Judging by his success, Vastal’s mantra is a good approach to succeeding as a student and as a professional.

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Indore organized a National Seminar on “Demystifying the Union Budget” on the 13th of March, 2015. The Budget is a much discussed topic, and it has assumed great significance this year given that it came from the new government that has promised to implement important economic reforms. Moreover, it came at a time when the world is taking notice of India’s growing economy. But as is well known, the youth of the Nation plays a major role in building its economy. The seminar tried to involve them in the discussion, while offering offered valuable insights about the budget.

The focus of the Youth-oriented seminar was an analysis of matters of significant importance to the nation, economy and society at large. In keeping with the theme of the event, it was coordinated by students under the guidance of Dr. Bakhshi and Prof. Kalyani Parmal, faculty of Jaipuria Indore. Thus, not only did the seminar offered students the experience of hosting an event of such magnitude, it also created a dynamic and democratic platform for them to introduce fresh perspectives and present their views on the Union Budget.

The seminar was divided into two segments: the Analysis by Experts in the Technical Session followed by the Presentation Competition for the Students. Dr. Nitin Merh, Assistant Dean offered the keynote address, which was followed by a compelling talk by Dr. Priti Bakhshi. According to her, “discussing [the] Budget is not just an intellectual exercise – it is also about balancing the books and a practical accounting effort. It is a highly delicate balancing act and gives some directions or a road map to achieve a particular growth.”

Mr. Shravan Garg, Ex Chief Editor, Naidunia, was the Guest of Honour. He covered the important area of the Budget’s impact on FDI, Retail, FMCG, Real Estate and Infrastructure. He also discussed how it had would affect average citizens and corporations alike. The panel discussion that followed had eminent personalities like Dr. Ganesh Kawadia, Head, School of Economics, CA Manoj Gupta, Tax Practitioner, Mr. Ashok Badjatiya, President, GIST and CA Anurag Joshi. Each panelist made crucial points that connected with the Youth.

Discussing everything, from the expectations of the budget to the impact it has had on various industries, the panelists drove home their points through relatable examples. The experts spoke about how the budget had affected Direct Taxation and shed light on matters like Make in India, Social Security, Capital Market, Corporate Finance, Real Estate, Manufacturing and more. The Open House session that followed allowed the students to raise questions, share their doubts and express their perspectives on a wide range of matters, which impressed the esteemed panelists.

The “Post-Budget Analysis” inter-institute Presentation competition was in keeping with the seminar’s theme of involving youngsters in the larger discussion about economic matters. Students were up to the task as they came up with well-researched presentations on different aspects of the economy. A highly-engaging question and answer session with the panel of judges followed. Thus, the event that brought together industry experts, academics, media professionals and students from leading management institutes came to an end.

The winners of the competition walked away with handsome cash prizes. But everyone was going home richer in experience, notably the knowledge that the Youth of the country is a crucial stakeholder in its economy.

Writeup Courtesy: Madyantika Mehra
Pankaj Prabhat, PGDM 2014-2016