Term 6 Done - 75% MBA

Somehow managed to cross one more :). Did four subjects again this term. Consumer Behaviour (COBE), Customer and Market Performance Management (CMPM), Investing in Private equity (INPE) and Financial Statement Analysis (FSAN) were my subjects this term. It was a good fare with special mention to the faculty for CMPM and INPE. So many things happened this term and as usual it is over even before I realized it started.


Our ELP is almost complete with just some minor documentation left. All ELPs will soon get closed and focus will shift to placement preps next term. Mom left Hyd and is happily enjoying in Atlanta now. Sad news is that my exchange program looks lil doubful with the tension in TAU now. The strike has been going on for 2 months now. If it doesn't happen then I should find something else to do in April and May.


Me taking a 4 day break now. Got to finish some chores in Chennai and may be do some reading too. And to all readers of this post, wish you a very happy, successful and enriching 2008.

Anniversaries

It has been three years since then. For the first time me and S decided that enough was enough and decided to drive to Houston all by ourselves. It was a little more than a 12 hour drive and the interesting aspect was that both of us had never driven on a highway. So I said "One day we have to do it. Why not today". After roughly 7 hours reached Dallas and decided to call up M, my college mate and colleague, to see if we two can spend the night at his place. He was a gracious host. Just after dinner I logged on to read the worst news I have ever read in life. The entire coastlines of Bay of Bengal and nearby seas had experienced the worst TSUNAMI ever a few hours ago. All phone lines to India were jammed and after several hours finally managed reached my uncle to find that everybody we knew were safe. But sadly the damage was done and the situation was really bad. My roomie's brother had escaped by the skin of his teeth and when the videos came it was indeed shocking to see mother nature's fury. Today is the third anniversary of that day but the shock still remains. Well, it is a day for all of us to remember that we are all just tiny little things in this world order.

Today also marks 1 year since I was interviewed for ISB. ISB is quite a life changing experience and one year later, today, I'm looking at 3 more days to become a 75% MBA. At the same time I'm also quite tense about the fact that I have just 3 more months left and the job hunt phase is starting. So many pre-placement talks have happened. And so far nothing has excited me much. It is just the beginning say some but this time around I should not take up any offer just because I need a job. I hope I can hold up and not buckle under any kind of pressure. Thinking of the TSUNAMI is just the right thing now. These are small things after all. I should rather worry about my life goals instead. Ahem!

Solstice 2007

It has been 2 full days of fun at ISB. Probably the first clearly chilled weekend here. As such the mood in the campus keeps changing almost as much as the hyderabad weather. 'Solstice' is ISB's reunion event. Started in 2003 it brings alums from all previous batches back to ISB and everyone celebrates their home coming. This year's Solstice apparently had many firsts. With the placement season coming up in about two months, alum interaction to a good degree is centered around that. This time around our placement committee organized a day full of mock interviews conducted by the alums. Around 140 of got a chance to go for a mock and I was among the lucky ones. Good a fairly good idea about my preparation levels !!!

The highlights of Solstice this year were the new 'Events Lounge' created by our batch and the live performance last night by the 'Indian Ocean' band. Our batch was one studious batch. The average CGPA of students is up by 0.2 and everyone studies like hell. So whenever parties and music was played in any of the student villages there was a big hue and cry. So much so that there were heated discussions and meetings with the Deans etc. etc. After all these problems the Student Life Council (SLC) decided to construct a new 'Events Lounge' away from SV-3 near the nursery. It is a beautiful hangout and probably the best getaway that can be built on campus. Everyone is damn impressed. In fact on friday night I even saw some of the die-hard book afficianados at the lounge (Well, McKinsey shortlists are out and so books can probably rest for a few hours). I'm sure all future batches will be thankful to our batch for coming up with the 'Events Lounge'.

Indian Ocean's performance on saturday night was again too good. I have never listened to them live. Boss...The experience was just awesome. To add the the fun there was free booze too. All in all it was a wonderful night. Back to reality today with assignments and pre-reads. Anyhow, three cheers for an amazing Solstice 2007. As our SLC President rightly put it, Solstice 2007 was one of the most successful events in the history of ISB and by far the biggest Solstice ever. 'Class of 2008' rocks.

Chennai blues - III

Finally the last part of the torturous series is here :)
Part I
Part II

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"Welcome to Starbucks. What can I get for you today?"

"Two tall Cafe Lattes with cream, a croissant and a muffin"

"Can I get anything else for you sir?"

"Please use fat free"

"And the name on the cup, sir"

"Pramod...P R A M O D"

"Thanks have a good day...Next in line please"

As Pramod stepped out of the line he saw a familiar face.

"Hi Pramod. How are you doing?"

It was as if lightning struck him. "Hey I'm alright...How are you?"

Arjun's eyes welled up. "It has been a long time...hope alls well with you..."

"Yeah...pretty good"

"I still feel sorry for that night"

"In some ways its for all of our good"

"Yes...I think...may be"

"Of course...You should meet Radha. Hey Radha, this is Arjun, the one I was talking to you about. Arjun this is my wife Radha"

"Hi Radha...You both make a great pair". Radha knew everything about Arjun and what happened that night.

"You are so lucky. Pramod is truly a treasure"

"Boss...I'm far from that"

"You have so not changed"

"Coffee for PRAM 'ODD" said the lady. Radha reflected. She was indeed lucky to meet Pramod. And ever since she heard that story she had always wanted to meet Arjun. And today her wish came true. It was about 6-7 years ago. That was when Pramod was not really sure if he wanted to be with Susan. There was a palpable tension in the relationship and one day, after a long discussion and argument with Susan, Pramod went to pick up Arjun from the airport.

Arjun was coming back after six months and it was not difficult to notice that something was amiss with Pramod. Notwithstanding his jet-lag, he made Pramod to take the next exit so that he can drive himself. As Pramod took the exit they heard a small thud behind and some squeaks.

“What’s that”

“Donno man. Let’s just get home soon”

The next day was probably the worst in their lives. Apparently Susan had been following their car and when he took the sudden exit, she tried to take a sharp turn too. The thud they heard was actually Susan’s car toppling over. Help reached her several hours later and she did not survive the crash. Pramod was shaken and Arjun had pangs of guilt for having made Pramod take the exit.

Shortly, after Pramod relocated and soon enough decided to go to Chicago GSB for an MBA. Radha was doing liberal arts at Chicago and after knowing each other for a while they decided to get together. Arjun moved around too and was now an associate vice president of a large American firm.

“You should come home for a dinner”

“Sure man. I’ll call you soon”

“Take care dude”

“Bye…Radha you are a very lucky gal”

“Yes…Indeed” thought Radha as a tear went down for Susan.

Why MBA?

This question is rather too late in the day for someone who is a week away from becoming 75% MBA. But before imaginations run wild, lemme clarify that this post is not really one more figment of my self-introspection and neither is it intended to mock at anybody else's perspective. Notwithstanding why I'm doing my MBA, it sometimes is intriguing when I hear the rather wide ranging (some puzzling) answers I get to hear from some of my batch mates and the several b-school aspirants I interact with. I never thought that the MBA meant so many different things to people. Some of the puzzling ones include

i) I wanted to stretch myself
ii) My Dad challenged me to do an MBA
iii) The chicks are too good man
iv) I think I must become an entrepreneur but I don't have a business idea
v) I really missed college life
vi) I knew I needed a change but couldn't figure out what

While these may sound funny at first shot, the individuals actually managed to put them across convincingly. People indeed have different takeaways from this thing called MBA.

'Solstice 2007' will happen this weekend. We are expecting around 150-200 alums on campus. It is gonna be lot of fun and placement gyaan at the same time. Meanwhile, R1 results of the 'Class of 2009' are out. Welcome juniors. Two aspirants I helped in some ways are thru (Several others in Pagalguy did too) and one more is waitlisted, while the one I thought would sail in very easily missed out.

Finally the third part of last story is getting ready and will be out soon enough :) :).

Chennai blues - II

"Surprise, surprise. Just close your eyes and sit here". Pramod sat on the couch wondering what Susan had up her sleeve.

"Ok. Open your eyes now"

"Wow. That is a surprise indeed. Let me try some". Pramod slurped and had a spoonful of the gajar-ka-halwa.

"So. Where did you buy this from?"

"Naughty. I made it for you"

"You are kidding me"

"No. Ever since you mentioned that you miss the halwa your mom makes I was planning on this. I googled up the recipe"

"And where did you get all the ingredients?"

"I went to the Patel store and bought these. The lady was really curious who I was trying to impress"

"And you told her my name?"

"Whatever is wrong with you. I will never get the idea of you secretly dating me"

"Nothing is sure as of now. I don't want the gossip hungry Indian housewives chirp away about us and get the story across all the way back home"

"Are they so bad?". Pramod just finished the halwa and gave back the bowl for a refill.
What does your friend Arjun think about us?"

"Arjun... He will support me in whatever I do. Just that I need to make up my mind"

"Take your time sweetheart". Susan gently kissed Pramod and rested on his shoulders.

Pramod continued his halwa feast. Everything was so sweet about Susan. But for her anguished past, a painful divorce and losing custody of her child. She was too young to have gone through all that. But now that she has found Pramod, life had a new meaning.

Pramod had never experienced so much attention in life. Everything was great about life now. It was all like a dream. But somehow he still knew there was something amiss.

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To be concluded...