Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Halting at ISB

Halting at ISB

I am an ISB-class-of-2010 admit. It gives me a bit of pride and lot of relief when I say that. It means a lot and thus it surely worthwhile to reflect upon what it means to me.

I have seen many of my friends talk about their "journey to ISB" and "journey in ISB". My journey was never to ISB. ISB is a halt on my journey. And this is a very important halt…

I have paid the acceptance deposit and would be joining ISB in April 2009. I am currently preparing myself for the impending year-long halt at ISB. And in this blog, I would be writing about few experiences leading to this halt or experienced in preparation of this halt.

(I am not focusing on the "journey in ISB" even if it's another journey.)

Why do I say that ISB is a halt?

Ever since coming out of undergraduate college, I was running…. running towards??

Was there a goal? Yes and No.

Yes, it was there. But, it was blurred. There were issues with visibility as there was a lot of fog and mist. And it leads to multiple perceptions of the goal… Techie, product innovator, scientist, professor, entrepreneur, CEO and ……

As my perception of the end goal kept changing, the path kept changing. My marathon was not only powered by the desire to meet the perceived end goal, it was also powered by certain short-term goals and passion towards certain things that I enjoy.

Multiple non-aligned motivators… Result was good and experience was great… Was it optimal (??).

I have no regrets though… I enjoyed every bit of it and am proud of some of my accomplishments. And I feel that the path I took gave me a mix of perspectives which is not so easy to get.

However, as and when the fog started clearing, the goal started becoming more visible. That's when I realize that I need re-fuelling and course correction. And that's where ISB comes in. So, I look at ISB as a halt for re-energizing and course-correction and as an impulse that will pull me out of the local optimum.

Journey before halting at ISB – Why and the why now?

I have joined an Indian product development start-up right after my undergraduate studies and have been with the same organization for the past 7 years. Few years into my stint at this organization, I became what people sometimes call a Techie. But, then I wasn't even the typical techie. I became the sort who hopped from problem to problem. I was neither the "typical domain expert" nor the "typical project manager".

Leadership at my organization was kind enough to put me in a role which suited me the most. This was a back-end R&D team, a team which thrives on innovation. As I started settling down into my new role and started slowing down, the fog started clearing out. And soon the realization dawned, that I was in the right field (broadly speaking) and in an interesting role and organization but not going in the right course.

To be more specific, I did not want to be an engineering team manager. I wanted to deal with things on either side of it -- Hard-core technology and business. And starting from a R&D-team, I wanted to move into technology strategy and business development. However, soon realized that it is not so easy in my case and that I am off-course and am stuck in a local optimum.

Business studies were something that was always on the radar. However, I thought I would shoot for those programs which target the guys who probably who don't need it (IIMA PGPX, MIT Sloan Fellows etc.). But, as soon as the realization happened, I changed my plans and decided to go to a B-school right away. For many, B-school after 7 years of work experience is a bit late. For me, it was after advancement of my plansJ.

Journey before halting at ISB… Initial reactions

Initial reactions to my decision to go for B-school from people around me were hardly positive. They varied from "You MBA, You sure ?" .. to "You look confused" .. to.."Why MBA?" .. to.. "You are better than that".. to.. "you don't need it".. to.. "You don't come across as MBA stuff".. to "I always thought you need something like this". I don't blame them. I expected them to react that way. I chose to take all the advice from the people around me but still decided to chalk out my own course.

"And my course had a halt at a B-school."

And once the decision has been taken there was encouragement from all around.

"Why ISB?"

Another question that used to come back most often was "Why ISB?"

To answer it in one phrase, "it's the package". We always keep saying that B-schools look at the whole application. The package matters. However, while it is not as explicitly mentioned, the same is true for the selection of schools by the candidates as well.

The package that ISB offers consists of a one-year fast paced program, top-quality faculty from schools worldwide, diversified peer group and a significant cost advantage. This package was irresistible. It fits rightly in my context. I need a short re-energizing break and what could be better than this.

I had looked at few other courses as well - "Kellogg-MMM" and "Sloan-LFM". These were dual-MS-MBA programs. However, concerns with the longer duration, limited class size, cost and last but not the least the impending recession made me decide against applying to those programs.

Preparation for the Halt.. An enriching year…

The 12-month period that proceeded my "ISB-class of 2010 admit" was a highly enriching year. I have gone through a learning process encompassing GMAT, school selection and the application process. More importantly, it has been a year of brainstorming and a year of knowing thyself. The B-school apps ensure that. It was a year of making friends and a year of searching for lost contacts. It also marked my entry into the networked world - the world of blogs, discussion groups and social networking websites.

This period started with the GMAT. I had postponed it twice, much to the annoyance of my wife. Finally, when I did not get consent to postpone it for a third timeJ, I decided to take the final week-off from work and prepare for the exam. Constrained by the amount of available time, I looked for quick preparation tips from net and what I saw was an ocean full of innumerous posts on GMAT experiences and suggestions. It told me that discussion forums on net are not for wasting time alone. There is a large community out there collaborating and working towards their goals. There are a lot of people out there selflessly helping strangers out there in the competitive world.

Then came the apps. Filled the IIMA-PGPX app in few hours on the final day and rightly got served with a ding (without interview). If ever there was any complacence, it vanished in a minute. The apps shattered my myth that self-awareness was one of my strengths. The process of apps helped me look at myself from different perspectives. It surely helped me become more aware of myself. The app and the interview also introduced me to the concept of selling thyself. These are the learnings that I will always carry with me.

The interview, the discussions of Pagalguy and the D-day (20th Nov2008) were surely fun.

Moments of the Holy Mail

The experience of the moments of the result is something that I cannot express in words. Mail came in at the end of the day; ending a week of anxiety and a day of restlessness. While I don't rate it as the most significant achievement in my life, the experience is something that was unique and something that I don't remember experiencing anytime earlier in my life. It goes beyond relief or joy. Sure, there was a relief that I have not missed the opportunity to steer my career in the direction I wanted. There was a lot of excitement about the ISB experience. There was a joy of crossing another milestone. Further, there was a renewed sense of confidence.

There was something else as well… ???

Looking forward to

I am looking forward to a transformational experience and an all-round enjoyable learning process. I am looking forward to meeting a group of 560 people with diversified profiles and learning from their experiences. I am also looking forward to making some good friends on the way.

I am looking forward to the ISB experience.

I am hopeful that this year would help me put me put my leg back on the accelerator with renewed confidence and energy.

 

 

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Learnings from B-School Apps - Part1

What was I?

A Techie… you could say that… But, frankly speaking, I still don't know the definition of that term!!!

A Software engineer …. If every guy whose job expects him to write a few lines of code here and there is a software engineer, then I am a software engineer.

An IT guy … That's a term I could never understand.. But, then I dealt with information all through my career!!

I always wanted to say I am a DSP engineer and 999 of 1000 people I meet wouldn't understand that. I thought I can say I am a telecom engineer. Now, only 3 of 10 I meet would understand what it means and 1 of these 3 would realize that it's not the complete truth.

*********************************************

A techie, a programmer, a software engineer, IT guy.. So many terms… they look all the same for few.. All the very different for many others…

I see myself and many others like me trying to use these words in many ways to communicate something and struggling in vain to get our point across..

And what's this point that we are trying to get across?

Hey…… we are not the typical stereo-type IT guys.. We work on blah.. blah.. blah… Whenever, you find someone who probably understands something related to IT, we start of these rants…

And, when a person who doesn't understand any of this comes along, we say "I am a Software engineer…". That word earns respect from those people who don't know better. I have done that n-number of times when trying to impress a land-lord to rent out his flat to me.

Are we hypocrites?

"You could say that" Or rather "You should say that"

My wife would say that…

All these days, I didn't mind being a hypocrite but always minded being branded along with the so called stereotype IT engineer.

But, I am tired. And I think I have not just been struggling in vain but I have also spent lot of energy on a useless cause.

What was I trying to prove? Coming from a niche sector doesn't make you more talented. If you are talented.. you are talented.. that's it. I should have realized it long back.

Some of my best friends, highly talented guys, have been working in IT services for many years and they have made their mark. I know they are talented and capable. They have proved it and have made their mark.

Then, why do we foster this feeling? It's just that we were looking for a way to show-of without actually appearing to do so. We don't want to get lost as one among the millions and at the same time don't want to explicitly say.. " I am talented, capable.. These are my achievements.. This is where I studied… blah.. blah and blah..".

So, we try to boast using different words. More often than not we end up confusing the people listening to us and make a fool of ourselves.

"I honestly plead guilty."

**********************************************

One year of my journey to B-school has been a period of introspection and a period of observation. It helped me reflect upon a lot of things.

It told me that

"Every industry/function has some much variety in itself. It has so many challenges. There are so many profiles that exist with in it. If you come from a niche sector and you feel good about it… good for you. Enjoy the feeling and let it be…"

There ends the matter.

It doesn't make sense to try hard to show the difference in places where it doesn't matter. Being niche is only being niche. It is not equivalent to being talented. It neither means that you are at an advantage. In fact, it sometimes could turn into a disadvantage.

***********************************************

It has been a significant learning.

Firstly, it told me that I should say "I am a software engineer / IT professional". Say something else only when it matters.. as in a B-school App J J

Secondly, Being diverse or coming from a niche sector has nothing to do with talent.

Note: Give yourself 110/100, if you understood what I was trying to say J

Monday, November 24, 2008

Wait And the Anxiety

Ending a long, agonizing, thrilling, painfull, sweet, nerve-wrecking, absorbing wait of 3 days..... the results for the ISB Class of 2010 -- R1 applicants ... were sent out on 20th November.

ISB has always maintained that results would be published on 20th November. But, then its difficult to control anxiety, the rumours, the mischief mongers and the ensuing panic..

Well, anxiety is infectious....
In these days of Web2.0, where everyone is hooked onto social networks through discussion groups and blogs, anxiety and rumours can spread faster than virus. That's exactly what happened in the week ending 20th November.

Speculation, which often causes huge financial losses, has this time caused immense mental stress on the innumerous ISB 2009 R1 applicants. Candidates, unable to concentrate, started speculating and theorizing stuff. The now infamous document update theory, initially proposed by narnikhil, has become a phenomenon. One theory lead to another and immense amount of creative energy has been spent on creating theories that speculate results and the time of announcement of results.

The eventual flooding of discussion forced the Moderator of Pagalguy to Lock a thread for a few hours... Isn't it akin to the suspension of trading on BSE to end bear runs !!

Moments of the Holy mail
Keeping all theories at rest, the results started trickling out at around 9:00 p.m IST on 20th Nov 2008.

I sighed .. a sigh of relief..
My wife shouted.. out of joy
Congratulations started pouring from all sides...

Well, it wasn't the same with each of the applicants. Some were not so fortunate. Some highly deserving candidated lost out.
It just brought out 2 aspects :
  • Its not about talent --- its about projecting it
  • Luck has its place --- no one can displace it

And the very presence of this second aspect called luck, causes anxiety.

Why are you so anxious ?

There were questions floating around.. Why are you guys so anxious ? As future managers, you need to learn to wait with patience and blah.. blah.. blah......

I don't agree..

Agreed, a leader should be able to deal with failure.

But, to be mature.. to be a great manager.. to be a leader.. doesn't mean you don't have feelings.

You are still human...

I feel we were completely justified to be anxious.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

My philosophy ... My first Post

If you don't find the challenge in a problem, look again; if you still don't find it, this problem is not for you.
-- yours truly
If you know how to do it, you should not be doing it; you might be denying someone else an oppurtunity to learn.
-- yours truly

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

-- Mother Teresa