Reflective Journal II

of

Enhanced Career Acceleration Program

Submitted to S P Jain School of Global Management in partial fulfilment of the requirement to

complete the unit of

ECAP

By

VARUN KULKARNI (ED20ONL022)

S P JAIN SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT

GEMBA – ELO – BATCH 03

The lines “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” by Dickens never felt more
real. The day I found out that I’ve secured admission in one of the most prestigious B
schools was one of the most exciting days of my life. However, excitement soon gave way to
inhibition and doubt. Securing a seat was just the first tiny step. Managing an MBA program
alongside the flurry of work that my full-time job entailed seemed like a daunting uphill task.
While the world was adjusting to the new normal and dealing with a whole lot of
uncertainties that the pandemic presented, heading back to academics after almost a
decade of work life was a different kind of new normal for me, intimidating and thrilling all
at once.

But the orientation was wonderfully designed to help me overcome all the limiting beliefs I
had with regard to time management. Knowing the team was an inspiring experience as it
gave me a sense that I was not alone in the journey. The thought that so many incredibly
accomplished individuals were also juggling between their respective jobs and the program,
offered relief and confidence. Getting to know the teammates, their expectations from the
program, their motivation to upskill, and above all their willingness to constantly learn and
better themselves was quite stimulating.
The orientation gave a good sneak peek into what to expect, how to navigate through the
processes, and made us all feel a lot at ease.

The skillsets ranged from the basic to most complicated ones. Take excel for instance. While
I always felt that excel is an excellent tool to calculate faster, make things look more
organized, make data look more readable, the session on excel spreadsheet by Dr Vanita
Bhoola shifted my perspective towards a whole new set of possibilities that could be
achieved using its many functionalities. Until now, my capabilities with excel were limited to
four or five tools and formulas. Data is golden for most businesses today. Excel not only
makes it presentable but adds quality and finesse to it. It helps in inferring insights which is
what helps businesses anticipate strategies that would help them stay ahead in the game.
All businesses are moving towards automation to save time, speed up productivity and
derive maximum ROI. And excel is a genius tool for getting quality regardless of quantity. A
tool can take up so much load and free up my time which I could use for tasks that required
analysing and brainstorming is a real asset. The session was a fantastic addition to the
course and not something that would be helpful in the future but something that came in
handy as I balanced work life and academics.

Given my initial reservations about time management, the session by Ms Parmita Debnath
helped immensely. The initial two months gave a flavour of how challenging it could be to
continue juggling between work and the MBA program. As humans we’re prone to feeling
anxious and stressed when too much is to be done in too little time. This holds true not only
while pursuing studies and work but during any stage of life when we’re handling multiple
responsibilities at the same time. With that understanding, this particular session, I felt, was
a learning for life. It laid emphasis on how to prioritize tasks and organize our schedule to
avoid burnout. Understanding the difference between urgent and important, understanding
the tasks that require direct involvement and the ones that could be delegated is an
indispensable skill to hone as we mature into more senior roles and work becomes
increasingly overwhelming.
Time management has a direct impact on performance. A little disciple can go a long way in
improving the performance while lack of it can adversely impact it. Effective time
management is a trait that I have always observed and admired in successful people and
tried to inculcate within myself. An entire session dedicated on it was a great value addition
at this stage as most of us were struggling to do justice to work as well as the course that we
had enrolled into.

On similar lines, the session on stress management by Bijal Oza was absolutely on point. We
were already in the midst of the pandemic, trying our best to distribute our attention fairly
towards all aspects of life from work to studies and also towards our families. Engulfed by
paranoia, we were trying to do the best that we could. But the approach that the session
taught was a great learning. There can be umpteen situations in life that will require diligent
thinking which is not possible while we’re stressed and can negatively impact decision
making. Today it was pandemic. Some other day it could be something else. Being
surrounded by uncertainties is quintessential of life.
As individuals we were all very driven. But that lasts as long as we are able to chew what we
have on our plate. As the pressure of attending classes, submitting assignments, and making
presentations added to the already hectic office schedules, a lot of us felt burnt out. So
being driven was not enough. The session made me realize two things. One that if there is a
session designed to help cope with stress, it meant what we were going through was not
unusual, and if it is not unusual, there must be a solution. Second was the stress
management techniques that helped me think clearly, prioritize better, and approach all
tasks with a calm mind and an organized manner. That made rest of the course time much
easier. As we grow into leadership roles in our current organizations or startup something of
our own, we will have more responsibilities and that would mean more pressures. So, this
session was a great value addition that prepared us for better decision making regardless of
circumstances and challenges.

Pursuing an MBA degree right after college and pursuing one after some work experience
are two very different things. With the latter, which was the case with us, a lot of our
mindset is already conditioned by what we’ve observed in our careers. We weren’t starting
out professionally, we were all somewhere in the middle of the ladder. When the mind is
fresh like in the case of the former, it is easier to absorb others’ experiences and advice. And
there’s less questioning. I feel fortunate for the interactions with alumni at this stage as I
was not only able to understand their experiences in depth but relate to similar situations
and had a window into what I could have done differently. I had a lot of my questions
answered, understand how EMBA should be approached, what would and wouldn’t work
and visualize my goals more clearly.
Given my unusual academic background, this degree always meant more to me than it
would have to most people in the program perhaps. The wisdom that the alumni imparted
was a combination of academics and experience and definitely one of the best curated
sessions. A structural approach to challenges can achieve faster and better resolution.

The past two years have been really testing our emotional and mental strength. The kind of
new normal that everybody the world over has been dealing with was not an easy one to
cope with. One could say that working from home would have offered some respite but
what we have seen happening around us everyday and the news that we’ve been reading
have amplified our insecurities and uncertainties in the most terrible manner possible.
The session on managing change in the new normal by Mr Raj Bowen was quite an eye-
opener. Nothing can be taken for granted and if one is to survive, one must always be
prepared for change, good, bad, or ugly. We can be the best workers, the best leaders,
among the most successful entrepreneurs equipped with the best strategies but if we are
not able to quickly digest the unexpected changes that life can and will present without
notice, even the best of strategies fall through.
I realized that the idea is to always focus on doing the best but also be prepared in the face
of unfortunate events that will always be beyond my control. How I react when I am faced
with such instances is the true measure of how successful I am and will be.

The course also included skills like building a CV which is an exercise that we have all been
doing mostly when we are looking at a job change. The importance of building a good CV
cannot be underestimated. We mostly build our resume from the perspective of a
candidate. The session by Ms Anupriya taught us to build it keeping the recruiter’s
perspective in mind. A CV is actually an advertorial on our skills and how must one create an
ad? Just like an ad, this piece of personal marketing should have what it takes to lure a
customer (the recruiter in this case), entice them into believing that the skills listed are what
they’ve been missing in their organization.
As a good marketer, one must know their marketing value and how to best market
themselves. The rule one size fits all doesn’t work here, and some tweaking must be done
every time while applying to a different job. The skills listed in the CV must be aligned to the
organization’s objectives. We have very limited time to catch the recruiter’s attention.
Therefore, the CV must be developed in a way that stands out among the rest. It is the first
bait and must be irresistible.

We had more than one session on alumni interaction. The second time around, it had a
different tonality and purpose. We got acquainted with people who had chosen different
paths after finishing their program. I personally felt that this session was one of the most
amazing ones as it gave me the understanding that despite the educational degrees and
qualifications that we choose at one point of time, we should always feel free to choose our
passion and the line that gives us most satisfaction and happiness. The fact that we will be
alumnus of an MBA program, should not be restrictive in any manner. The degree is meant
to equip us and not limit us in any way. This interaction felt very liberating. Interacting with
people who had chosen different paths post their MBA degree also gave an idea about how
such options exist and gave us a comprehensive understanding of different entrepreneurial
approaches. This round of alumni interaction opened a whole new set of possibilities and
instilled more confidence in me.

Following right after this, the timing of the session on market disruptions couldn’t have been
better as we were all in the middle of one of the biggest disruptions of all times. Many
industries had been reeling under the effect of it. Many businesses shut down while many
were on the verge of shutting down. There were also those that survived and survived
beautifully. The pandemic induced disruption was one of its kind, but disruption could be
anything- a new technology that suddenly makes your business outdated, a new product
whose advantages outnumber those of the existing contemporaries, etc. The session by Mr
Selvan Dorairaj explained how the biggest threats are the ones that we never anticipate.
As market leaders it prepped us with the knowledge of how agility is not a trait to be
developed during tough times but an attribute that we must anyway hone to be successful
in any endeavour. It is not a market strategy to be developed during disruption but a fire
extinguisher that one must have already in place in the event of any contingency. Most
companies that survived and thrived during these past two years had their backups in place
and a lot of them saw these times as an opportunity to innovate and grow.
Assessing existing resources, diversifying efforts, studying competition, identifying new
demands and sometimes creating them fall under conventional marketing wisdom. What
this session taught was to be ready to do the unconventional should the times demand so. It
was a very valuable lesson and resonated perfectly given the times.
All successful leaders have a vision but being able to communicate that vision is a different
ball game. The session on presentation skills for managers by Prof Malavika stressed on
exactly that point. To become a successful leader or a successful marketer one needs to be
able to present their vision in a way that it inspires their teammates. Just creating a good
presentation wont’ achieve much unless it is owned and presented well. As leaders if we’re
not able to present in a clear and concise manner, we cannot expect to be followed by the
team.
Communication and presentation skills are how you market yourself. Ideas are dime a dozen
but without the right presentation and orator skills, they hold no weight. A good
presentation is one that is adapted to your target audience. Ultimately it boils down to how
well you can market your business. It is much more than words, diagrams, and smart art. It
is about how well those tools are deployed by you to connect and convey.

One of the most brilliant sessions that the course included was on enhancing positive
quotient by Ms Geetika Maria. It emphasized that life is not all about ups regardless of how
driven and how ahead we are in the game. There will be lows and when dealing with the
lows our mindset has to be resilient enough to not be cowed down. In times such as these,
positive quotient helps ensure that our mind serve us and not sabotages us. Again, it would
happen when we accept that lows are also an inevitable part of the journey. And working on
acquiring a resilient mindset proved extremely beneficial not only in work life but also in
personal life.
It helps create balance between the many facets of life. The ability to bounce back when
plans fail, the ability to restart after an unforeseen misfortune should be a way of life if one
is willing to grow. Especially as we grow up in hierarchy, we are looked up to and stakes are
even higher, we are expected to guide and set an example of how we were able to
overcome challenges. The session with the many examples that were discussed was very
fruitful. The course imparted not just skillset but included sessions like these that male one a
holistic leader/manager/self starter.

The third alumni interaction followed towards the end. It showed us how the previous
students have changed or transformed their careers. While moving from what they were
doing earlier to a completely new domain, this session highlighted how EMBA can be a
powerful tool in your pocket while planning any career moves.
It is always an advantage to gain from others’ experiences and successes. Interacting with
alumni on lines of how they’ve made bold transitions gave a feeling that the program equips
you not only with mechanical knowledge but with the ability to figure out anything at any
stage in life. All the alumni interactions had a different flavour and were designed to give us
an all-inclusive understanding of the choices we make, how they impact us, what options we
have in any scenario but the most important takeaway from these was the confidence which
we’ll carry all our lives. With so many interesting luminaries talking about how life turned
around for them or how they turned around their lives, the future seemed more and more
manageable and happening. The course has been structured wonderfully around the idea
that it prepares you for life and not just for the role that we’re currently playing in our
current organizations with nitty gritties of how to grow into it further.

Dean Gary helped us understand the importance of one’s professional strategy planning.
Only wanting something is not enough but you also have to create a planned and strategic
approach towards achieving those goals. It' important that we see ourselves in future time
horizon and plan things accordingly. Only then you can accomplish what we’ve set out to
accomplish. This particular session ironed out the last of the creases and summed up the
experience in a brilliant way. It taught us the importance of adding discipline to our lives and
how it can positively nurture us and help us be better at whatever we deem fit. Everything is
achievable if we just have the right mindset, the right planning, the right skillset and most
relevantly the right approach. The session laid emphasis on focusing in the right direction
and pursuing our goals with unwavering attention. Navigating through challenging
situations, understanding team dynamics and becoming a leader in the real sense are some
irreplaceable teachings that made a wonderful addition to the course.
All the sessions in their unique ways taught different life skills that catered not only to
professional development but to all-round development.
 Individual Strategic Plan
   
STRATEGY SUMMARY (in 35 words or less) VISION & VALUES

   

Vision
I aim to become an influential global
business leader leveraging my innate
capabilities of thinking it through, curious To be a rational and compassionate leader while taking the team
nature & ability to maintaining with together on the path to success
composure in challenging times.

  Mission
 
To establish an oprganisation that has been built on the strong
 
foundation of fairness, innovation & equality
 
  Core Purpose
 
  To create something that solves the real problem
 
  Values
 
  Innovation, Equality, Ethical
 
  Strengths
 
Inquisitive Nature, Ability to cope up with changes, First principle
 
thinking
 
  Weaknesses
 
  Too Much Politeness, Occassional procrastrination
 
  Opportunities
 
  To play a cross functional role in business and marketing
 
  Threats
 
Not being able to cope up with the changes happening at a rapid
 
scale
 
   
   
    
 
   
GOALS STRATEGIES
   
BHAG: 10+ Years BHAG - 3 Strategies
Move to Business Side from marketing side
Build a personal brand

To be a CEO of a Billion dollar enterprise

Upskill to be relevant for the position

Targets: 3-5 Years Targets - 3 Strategies

Create a relevant network
To be in a CXO position in a industry leading enterprise Be a thought leader in the industry
Start Cross functional movement
Goal: 1 Year Goal - 3 Strategies
Get a professional mentor
To be an effecive leader capable of managing high performing Start coaching the team towards next level
teams effectively Be more involved in areas putside scope of
work
Key Strategic Issues - current Key Strategies Issues - 3 Strategies
Build a habit of rapid execution
Slow pace of execution , Stuck in a marketing focussed profile,
Start exploring other areas outside scope
Lack of work expericne in large corporation
Get well versed with process driven approach
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
   
   
    
CRITICAL NUMBERS & OTHERS ACTION PLAN - NEXT 3 MONTHS
   
1 or 2 Critical Numbers What
Company valuation of $1 Bn USD To build a personal brand
  Scale the team

   

1 or 2 Critical Numbers Who

S&P 500 Organisation Myself along with Mentor
   
   
1 or 2 Critical Numbers How
Leada team of 20+ People By chalking out the growth path with milestones
   
   
1 or 2 Critical Numbers When
Have 7 day sprint approach for faster
Next 6 Months
execution
   
   
Brand Promise Measure - 1 or 2 Critical Numbers
To be honest, hardworking & ethical Number of followers on Linkedin
  Number team members
   
Sandbox (where you compete)  
Current organisation  
   
   
Capabilities  
Ability to execute things in effective manner  
Long term thinking perspective  
   
Stakeholders  
Myself  
Mentor  
Organisation  
Team Date: 30 April 2022