ABS ALUMNI OF THE MONTH

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    Question 1:
    How does it feel to return to your alma mater and reconnect with your college after all these years?

    Answer:
    It feels truly wonderful to be back on campus. Watching the students walk with their bags instantly made me nostalgic — I could see a reflection of my younger self in them. A rush of memories came flooding back, bringing a natural, heartfelt smile to my face.

    Question 2:
    You were actively involved in coordinating various activities, especially in the marketing club. How did leading teams and organizing events during college help shape your confidence, leadership, and decision-making skills?

    Answer:
    I vividly remember participating in a quiz competition — it was the very first event of the semester, and to my surprise, I won! That moment made me realize how important the spirit of participation and the excitement of winning truly are. From there, there was no looking back. I went on to win first prize in a research paper competition at an International seminar, which further fueled my enthusiasm for everything — from coordinating to participating — and helped me develop a wide range of valuable skills.

    Question 3:
    Starting your career as a market researcher at ITC and Aditya Life Insurance and moving on to senior marketing roles in banking and insurance, how has your professional journey influenced your understanding of the changing marketing landscape?

    Answer:
    My career journey has been truly transformative and it started with ABS. The faculty here were more like mentors who guided me beyond academics. During placements, I cleared almost every GD and interview, but when Aditya Life Insurance came, I initially refused the offer because of my own assumption about sales. Later, I realized that the first job doesn’t define your career — it simply opens the door to the corporate world. I joined as a Branch Manager in sales, worked hard for two years, and kept applying for marketing roles internally also. One day, I got a call from the head office — I was selected for a marketing position in Mumbai. That moment marked the beginning of my dream journey, and there’s been no looking back since.

    Question 4:
    As a Senior Marketing Manager at HDFC and now marketing professional at Canara life insurance, what strategies do you use to build and maintain customer trust in a highly competitive financial sector?

    Answer:
    Our ultimate goal has always been simple — to make the customer’s life easier and happier. In my role, I was managing channel marketing and working with numerous stakeholders, including Indian PSUs and banks. The mindset and work dynamics were quite different, especially since most partners were in the 40–50 age group. I focused on creating tools and solutions that streamlined their processes — helping customers check in, check out, and complete their purchases effortlessly.

    Question 5:
    Which skills or lessons from your market research days at ITC have been most valuable in your current leadership roles?

    Answer:
    Students today are truly fortunate to have access to advanced AI tools — they make learning and research much more efficient. Back in our time, we conducted research by going out into the field and collecting data manually. The college provides great support, but it’s equally important for students to stay aware of the current industry trends. Companies are now investing heavily in AI technologies, and the skills being developed today will be the ones in highest demand five to ten years from now.

    Question 6:
    What key advice would you give PGDM students in terms of internships and its seriousness?

    Answer:
    I completed my internship with InnovativeU, where I primarily worked in operations but also got the opportunity to contribute to live projects with Nestlé. My role involved visiting multiple retail stores from morning to evening, observing consumer behavior, and tracking the purchase of Nestlé products. It was a hands-on experience that taught me the importance of fieldwork — because it’s through understanding the ground realities that you truly begin to climb the professional ladder.

    Rapid fire

    • Favorite hangout spot on campus? – Canteen,
    • Group project hero or last-minute saver? – group project
    • Coffee break or brainstorming session—what fuels you more – coffee break
    • Best college fest memory that still makes you laugh? – Dancing abruptly on the floor
    • If your college life had a tagline, what would it be? - fantastic
    • During a college fest performance, the mic stops working—run, freestyle, or freeze? – Freestyle
    • Elevator gets stuck with your boss—would you rather engage into small talk or strategic silence? – Small talk