Over the few months I have spent at Darden, the one thing that I have observed is that you need to communicate to be successful. You build rapport, friends, relationships and all that matter using effective communication. I have seen naturals as well as people who cringe at that thought. But I believe that everyone can communicate well and its just that they have developed a mental block. It helps if you are well read as you can pick up a conversation about any topic and lead the conversation into something meaningful. And Everette Fortner's(Executive Director for Corporate Relations and Career Development, Darden School of Business) blog is an excellent reminder of the efficacy of communication. I would encourage a read.
Happy reading
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Student Life Re-visited
It’s been a while since I last wrote, but b-school is so demanding on your time that you have little left for anything else. It’s been close to a month since school started and I thought it would be apt to write about my experiences as a student (again) and life in general.
To start off, Darden is a wonderful place to be and I am glad I chose Darden. The place is overflowing with energy, creativity and ideas. And they catch you very soon. Classes are very discussion based (case-method) and this has 2 benefits. 1) You are forced to speak out and this is a good thing and 2) your thoughts are challenged, so you learn to think on you feet and focus on giving accurate answers. But let’s leave the class room for a minute. How about the campus? I would use a single word to describe my home for the next 2 years: elegant. As with any organization, people are Darden's biggest asset. My professors and friends in class are some of the most accomplished people I have known. All have this urge to succeed in life and that is an eclectic atmosphere to be in. The aura we all create lifts each of us to succeed together.
Darden is giving me lots of opportunities to train to be the leader I want to be. I had my first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt at student politics. But the whole effort had me writing and practicing giving speeches. I wanted this challenge to give me some experience in public speaking (in election mode). But I did manage to get into the student admissions committee. And I am also on the opportunity consultants groups and so on. This gives the idea of what happens to my time and also what sort of opportunities I have to hone my skills.
Will keep you updated about my journey....but before I leave, check out this photo.
To start off, Darden is a wonderful place to be and I am glad I chose Darden. The place is overflowing with energy, creativity and ideas. And they catch you very soon. Classes are very discussion based (case-method) and this has 2 benefits. 1) You are forced to speak out and this is a good thing and 2) your thoughts are challenged, so you learn to think on you feet and focus on giving accurate answers. But let’s leave the class room for a minute. How about the campus? I would use a single word to describe my home for the next 2 years: elegant. As with any organization, people are Darden's biggest asset. My professors and friends in class are some of the most accomplished people I have known. All have this urge to succeed in life and that is an eclectic atmosphere to be in. The aura we all create lifts each of us to succeed together.
Darden is giving me lots of opportunities to train to be the leader I want to be. I had my first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt at student politics. But the whole effort had me writing and practicing giving speeches. I wanted this challenge to give me some experience in public speaking (in election mode). But I did manage to get into the student admissions committee. And I am also on the opportunity consultants groups and so on. This gives the idea of what happens to my time and also what sort of opportunities I have to hone my skills.
Will keep you updated about my journey....but before I leave, check out this photo.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Update
I have been keeping this under wraps for a long time, but its now time to come into the open...
No....I am not gay...thank you....
I applied and got into Darden School of Business (University of Virginia - www.darden.edu).
A lot went into this and I am glad to be there.
No....I am not gay...thank you....
I applied and got into Darden School of Business (University of Virginia - www.darden.edu).
A lot went into this and I am glad to be there.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
A tribute to a gentle soul
My dad meant a lot me. I always assumed he, along with my mom, to be next to me at all times, good and bad. Over the last 3 years, I have been outside India; I used every opportunity to talk to them. No one drew more happiness from my achievements (big or small) than my dad, me included. I will always love him for that. He made me work hard to achieve something so that I could tell him as it would bring him happiness.
He taught me the importance of eating our food together. He made me realize the significance of family and his commitment to keeping his family together really amazed me. He used to insist on frequent family holidays, doing fun activities together, cooking on a coal stove ,helping each other at all times and much much more. It is because of him that I relish our forests, our mountains and, of course, our food.
He was a very intelligent man, no doubt about that. And I attribute what ever intelligence I have to him. Perhaps the one thing that I would most love to inherit from him is his jovial attitude, willingness to help and kindness. He always had a smile on his, no matter what the obstacle in front of him. We had our rough moments in life, but he smiled through out. Perhaps that is the reason none of those moments really mattered to me then and now. I knew, and he knew too, that we would get out of that phase. But keeping the smiles going has paid rich dividends in terms of memories.
The best decision I took in life has to be when I invited them to spend 3 months during summer of 06 with me in the US. It cost me a lot, but I was determined to give my parents a trip of their life time. And what a trip it was. We literally drove around the US allowing us to bask in and absorb this country's pristine beauty. I am glad I got to enjoy those sounds and sights with him. He enjoyed the most and in the end, that’s what really mattered.
My father passed away in December of 07, just a month and a half short of my admission into the B-School of my choice. He was so involved in the process and I am sure this would have made him happy. I dedicate my success in school and life to him, for I have nothing else to offer him as a final tribute.
Checha, I love you.......................As I cry while writing this, I truly wish you would have been with us for a long long long time, but I will try hard to rest with the knowledge that you are still with us listening, looking, talking, playing, smiling and being a part of our lives.
He taught me the importance of eating our food together. He made me realize the significance of family and his commitment to keeping his family together really amazed me. He used to insist on frequent family holidays, doing fun activities together, cooking on a coal stove ,helping each other at all times and much much more. It is because of him that I relish our forests, our mountains and, of course, our food.
He was a very intelligent man, no doubt about that. And I attribute what ever intelligence I have to him. Perhaps the one thing that I would most love to inherit from him is his jovial attitude, willingness to help and kindness. He always had a smile on his, no matter what the obstacle in front of him. We had our rough moments in life, but he smiled through out. Perhaps that is the reason none of those moments really mattered to me then and now. I knew, and he knew too, that we would get out of that phase. But keeping the smiles going has paid rich dividends in terms of memories.
The best decision I took in life has to be when I invited them to spend 3 months during summer of 06 with me in the US. It cost me a lot, but I was determined to give my parents a trip of their life time. And what a trip it was. We literally drove around the US allowing us to bask in and absorb this country's pristine beauty. I am glad I got to enjoy those sounds and sights with him. He enjoyed the most and in the end, that’s what really mattered.
My father passed away in December of 07, just a month and a half short of my admission into the B-School of my choice. He was so involved in the process and I am sure this would have made him happy. I dedicate my success in school and life to him, for I have nothing else to offer him as a final tribute.
Checha, I love you.......................As I cry while writing this, I truly wish you would have been with us for a long long long time, but I will try hard to rest with the knowledge that you are still with us listening, looking, talking, playing, smiling and being a part of our lives.
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