Great Lakes’ date with Dr.Ratan Tata

It’s not every day that one of the most influential business men in the world decides he wants to spend the day with you, but then not every business man is Dr. Ratan Tata. The Great Lakes Institute of Management was overjoyed to have Dr. Ratan Tata, who flew down all the way from Mumbai to our college exclusively to spend time with the students.

Accompanying him were Mr.Ramadorai and Mr.Mahalingam from TCS. Also present was most of the top board of TCS. I had the honour of escorting Dr.Tata from the airport to our college. The first thing one notices about the great man is the humbleness and warmth he displays. While numerous CEOs whom I have met shake hands with a certain sense of military detachment, Dr.Tata had the all important personal touch to the hand shake. He acknowledged the presence of everyone there, which included a small battalion from the Taj Coramandal who seemed fairly jealous that we were getting more air time than them. Off the grapevine, Dr.Tata visits them only one a year only for a few hours. So I guess we’re really lucky.

With the entire team, we proceed to the college. The two main events for the day, in terms of the official agenda were to inaugurate the Tecpro Faculty block and to bestow Mr.Ramadorai with the very first ‘Great Lakes Life Time Achievement Award’. But what the students were looking forward to was the interaction with Dr.Tata. Being the man he is, Dr.Tata made it very clear that he would speak for a few minutes and throw open the floor to questions. He very patiently answered the barrage of questions regarding the Tata group, leadership, career, the economy and many others. No question was treated with the normal diplomacy one would expect from a honcho at the level of Dr.Tata, but every student was given a frank and open response which left many students wanting for more time, despite the 45 minutes he spent only on Q&A.
Upon receiving the award from Great Lakes, Mr. Ramadorai spent a good amount of time giving the students insight into not only TCS but what the future held in store in terms of industry.

After spending some time with our faculty over lunch, Dr.Tata left by 3 PM to head back to Mumbai and to the hustle bustle of Tata House. From most of the updates on Facebook and Orkut, the entire affair had touched a lot of students who were over awed and overwhelmed by the personality that is Dr.Ratan Tata.

L’Attitude 13’05 – Phew! Whatte rush!

The blogging committee has been on a hiatus for a few weeks. Please don’t yell or scream at any of us, we were just too busy having a brilliant time at college. I’m going to start listing out some of the really amazing events that have been keeping the students at Great Lakes busy. Let’s begin with L’Attitude. This is going to be a long post, so I suggest you pick up a bowl of cornflakes or a nice beverage.

Held on the 8th and 9th of January, our annual B-fest L’Attitude was held for the first time at the new campus which you have read a lot about. This brought along with it a whole new set of challenges…and a whole lot of fun. We had nearly 720 entries from the various B-schools from around India. The various event organizers spent many nights with the professors trying to filter out the best entries for the finals to be held here at the campus. D-day arrives…. a gala event is planned, and the rain gods decide to be mean. While the inauguration was to happen indoors, numerous participants in the cultural events stand worried and praying that the rain stops. 11th hour, hardly any respite. The show goes on.

For the inauguration, we were graced by two very erudite and successful people. Our chief guest for the evening was the Honourable Minister for Corporate Affairs and Minority Affairs – Mr.Salman Khurshid. Our other guest of honour was Mr. A Vellayan, MD – Murugappa group. Both speakers addressed the students and press present on various aspects of business, corporate affairs and the future of the nation. The lighting of the lamp took a step away from the normal procedure and had the children from the nearby villages with whom the Karmayoga committee of the Great Lakes Institute of Management have been doing some good work with over the academic year.

The inauguration is over, but the students are given a great treat in the form of Mr.Sam Pitroda who promised to join us on L’Attitude. Mr.Pitroda took time to speak to the students over a video chat which lasted over an hour. By such time, the rain decided to give us a break, but the stage was still quite wet. This is where managing in a crisis for MBA grads kicks in. Making the best of a situation gone wet…sorry gone bad….the rock band set up in the corridor. The rest of the dances and songs went off really well. The first evening was brought to a close with a performance from the college band – The Straight Fs.
The second day of L’Attitude began with the CEO Talk by some of the best minds from business, politics, entrepreneurship and the works. The lists of our speakers for the morning are as follows:
1. P Murari, Advisor to President of FICCI & Former Secretary to President of India
2. K B Chandrasekhar, Chairman & CEO, Jamcracker Inc.
3. K Raghavendra Rao – Managing Director, Orchid Chemical and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
4. Srivatsa Krishna Former IAS
5. Ranganath N Krishna – CEO Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd.
6. Ajit Balakrishnan – Founder, Chariman and CEO Rediff.com

Once the morning talk was over, students from various colleges were fighting for top honours ( and big prize money). The events held focused on the finance, marketing, HR, operations and strategic aspect of Mergers and Acquisitions. I need to take the time to point out that Great Lakes played host to all the colleges and to avoid any sort of hullabaloo of partiality.

After long grueling hours of working and presentations, the evening moved on to the power talk. Mr. TN Seshan played moderator to the panel of Prof. Radhika Chadha, Co founder, Paradigm India, Shri. R Santhanam – Managing Director, Hindustan Motors Limited, Shri. Prashanta Kumar Mishra, Co-founder & Chairman Kalingasoft & Co-Founder & First Pro-Chancellor, KIIT University and our very own Prof. Bala V Balachandran. The power talk was one of the most active events of the day with Mr.Seshan moderating, most of the audience clapped and cheered at many of the remarks made by Mr.Seshan. The evening and the fest came to a close with the corporate quiz. Conducted by renowned quiz master, Gautam Bose, we had over 50 teams from all over India comprising of corporate India. The quiz went on for nearly 2 hours with none of the finalists willing to give up easily.

At the end of two days of fun, business and knowledge sharing, the campus went silent. Thanks to all the excitement of the last two days, most students decided to catch up on their sleep.I am sure that I’ve covered only part of all the excitement.

The Certain Disconnect

Today, we had the alumni meet at Great Lakes. For many of our alumnus, it must have been a great day to see an almost complete campus which is a farcry from the small single building at Saidapet. One could not help but notice the envy in their eyes that the Patriots batch (that’s us) were the first to get this swanky new campus. While many drew comparisons to other B-schools, I soon realized that despite its small size, the old building in the heart of Chennai was where all the magic began. And through its doors, many great students have passed out. And when I speak to our faculty, one easily notices the nostalgia oozing through when they talk about the old campus which is still very very special to them. The same is with the foreign faculty who still hold fond memories of the old campus, and end up being overwhelmed by the new campus. But then, isn’t that life? Constantly changing.

I will try not to get into the nitty-gritty of the event, which would be covered by another blog. When we sat down for the afternoon session, the previous batches of Great Lakers, on whose hard work we reap benefits, showed us videos they have made of the lovely little campus we had. And while nostalgia filled up in me like a pint of beer, as I looked upon all the interesting seniors we have, I sort of began missing the concept of a two year course. While one part of me is happy that the usual hazing and ‘Call me SIR’ did not happen, another part feels that there is a total disconnect from batch to batch.

There are no urban legends handed down though the generations. No gyan sessions about dos and don’t you dare’s. No long unproductive evenings spent over an ale discussing strategy to raise hell in the next class and the all important….placements! While ragging is officially taboo…I believe this is the one part of the course us chaps in the one year MBA are missing out on. And with this, there remains a greater disconnect within the alumni where people are oblivious to the existence of others. I guess, this is where we, as a college need to start focusing on. With sufficient batches having passed out, it is paramount for us to develop the all important ‘network’….not only merely for job recommendations, but much more like making new friends. At the end of it all, it comes down to weighing the pros and cons of the One-year program vis-à-vis the two year program.

Mr. S. D. Shibulal, COO Infosys Technologies On “Technology and innovation”

Great Lakes institute of Management today played host to one of the leading lights to our generation. Entrepreneurship wasn’t this close to Great Lakes, when one of the cofounders of Infosys visited the sprawling campus. Dr. Bala V Balachandran, Dean Great Lakes introduced the guest by referring to the spirit of entrepreneurship that we know as Infosys today. Over the next hour and a half Mr. Shibulal took the cohort on a journey of five global trends sweeping the world and in turn changing the way we live, work and enjoy our lives.

First major trend discussed was the tremendous growth of telecommunications. Gone were the days of endless waits of trunk calls, instant access is the new age mantra. This phenomenon has single handedly leveled information access for both the haves and have-nots.

Second trend mentioned was the Connectivity-paradigm. Global delivery model that Infosys started with wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the technology ecosystem available at the time. This has made innovation a phenomenon of not just developed economies but developing ones too. Gone are the days of monopoly of innovation.

Third trend was the changing demographics, especially the aging of populations in USA, Japan among others. This has definitely made health care the most talked about topic today. Technology can help by developing smarter medical devices. In response to question about another off shoot of this phenomenon, audience responded with Knowledge management in organizations. Mr. Shibulal later explained how aging of the working population would strain the knowledge transition processes in organization.

Fourth major global trend was Sustainability. With Copenhagen as backdrop, this point cannot be emphasized more. Increasingly, major corporations understand the implications of green practices. As an example speaker mentioned how power utilities would seize to remain unidirectional and instead develop into multidirectional multidimensional model.

At last the speaker mentioned the trend of smarter organizations. Citing Infosys as an example, from its infancy as Infosys gained size, complexity of the processes increased. This increase was not linear but exponential, and this underlying fact of increasing complexity is what companies world over are trying to solve. How to make organizations less complex? The speaker went on to elucidate the characteristics of smart organizations and four dimensions of such organizations: simple, adaptable, learning and sustainable.

The floor was then opened to questions and discussions flowed from the corporate governance, sustainability to business consulting and coming of age of Indian IT industry. The audience was awed by the depth of the session and by the presence of a stalwart of Indian entrepreneurial zeal. Indeed a truly remarkable evening to remember.

Dr. V. Kasturi Rangan of HBS on ‘Business at the base of the pyramid’

Christmas Eve in the campus can hardly be bettered. Tiny little light bulbs strung round the flower heads ran along the stair case. Glistening purple antennae of ornamental work embroidered around the lonely pillars suffused life into them. So overwhelmed was earth that as if to breathe heavily through the newly acquired life, she metamorphosed a lady from the dead timber with all the bulbs running through the threads of her sari’s hem. It was not until the loud music lolloped in the air and ricocheted in the basketball court; it was not until the juices of succulent dishes encircled the tongue in a viscous grip that all the pensive fellows realised the memories that they were going to retain for a long time.

 

But before any of this happened- as before the species evolved in the ocean bed, sun’s ultra violet rays fertilised the primeval Darwinian soup- Dr. Rangan, with his piercing evocation of emotions in patriots, appealed to all the future business leaders to uplift the society. The speaker observed that the 65:35 distribution (base of the pyramid: top of the pyramid) was inching closer to 50:50. He observed that by the year 2040, a good proportion of the world’s population would have crossed the $2000/annum mark; today’s pyramid would have become a rectangle by then.

 

Citing examples from HUL’s Shakti program, Nestle’s diary practices, Manila Water Company’s audacious efforts, Dr. Rangan noted that profits were merely means to the ultimate goal- uplifting the society. In his lecture, he delineated the differences between the innovative business practices and the initiatives adopted by businesses in the form of CSR. The former, he assured would lead to the benefit of the society, later he felt were of apocryphal nature.

 

Towards the end of the session, Dr. Rangan appealed to the class the urgent need for social responsibility and shared a firm belief in the class (of 2010) pursuing the same.

Yale-Great Lakes 4th International Research Conference

Theme: Managing responsibly with confidence.

Distinguished speakers:

Bala V. Balachandran, Northwestern University,

Seenu V. Srinivasan, Stanford University

Keynote speakers:

Vasanthi Srinivasan, IIM Bangalore

Siva Nathan, Georgia State University

Navniet Sekera, I.P.S., Lucknow

Gerrit De Vylder, Leuven University, Belgium

Research papers  presented are from:

Amity University, Rajasthan, Anna University, Chennai, Anna University, Coimbatore, Annamalai University, Cochin University of Science & Technology Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai Hindustan Springs Mfg. Co, Bhadravati IBS, Ahmedabad IIM, Ahmedabad IIT, Roorkee PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore Rajagiri School of Management, Ernakulam Reva Institute of Technology & Management, Bangalore SSN College of Engineering, Kalavakkam University of Windsor, Canada Velammal College of Engg & Tech, Madurai.

Dr. Venkat Krishnan opened the day long session with his eloquent praise for critical thinking. He opined that the evidence based management techniques are all pervasive but ill embraced. The speaker held the industry culpable for their reserved stand and intransigent mood- performance appraisal techniques force fit the employees into predefined brackets despite the fact that empirical evidence points to the fallacy of the process. Dr. Krishnan, quoting examples from the infamous article on evidence based management, greeted all the guests with a warm welcome.

Dr. Bala V. Balachandran inviting the guests, extended gratitude to the members present for their share in rendering NASMEI (North American Society for Marketing Education in India) event a great success. Event NASMEI conducted on December 18-19, 2009 is third Great Lakes-NASMEI Marketing Conference. Dr. Balachandran appealed to the students to lay greater emphasis on empirical based research, with those words he wished the guests from academia, industry and the police force a great success.

Dr. Shyamsundar in his presentation on CNT, theorised that the consumption, numbers and technology define the landscape of our planet’s future. Pointing to the evidence on the screen, the speaker asserted that it is too late to react let alone recover the decimation of natural resources including water throughout the planet. In a different context, the speaker shared hope for a better future, a future with management trainees and engineers from reputed schools and colleges of our nation pursuing careers in research and teaching professions.

Dr. Seenu Srinivasan presented a research paper on ‘Marketing of services’. His presentation included his express critique on the incompatibility of some of the empirical techniques available for his research. This, the speaker professed, fuelled the need for a novel technique-ASEMAP. Dr. Srinivasan presented the findings of his study and answered queries from the audience.

Ms. Vasanthi Srinivasan from IIM, Bangalore explored the roles of government, non-profit organisations and explored the current trend of later eating into the former’s share. Quoting examples from Infosys, Bharti and Wipro, speaker commented on the need to distinguish between criticism and critical thinking. She observed that the former differed from the later insofar that the later required the thinker to state the problem in such a way that it allows for a solution.

Prof. Siva Nathan speaking on ‘Innovations from India to the west’ referred to GE’s reverse innovation practices. He asserted that the MNCs no longer consider India and other developing nations as markets to explore the boundaries of ‘economies of scale’. Today, all the developing nations including India are seen as breeding grounds for innovation.

Mr. Navniet Sekera opened his speech on a provocative note. In response to his fairly innocuous question ‘what is the maximum lending rate of finances in India?’ audience responded with a 50%,100% and a preposterous 200% at one time. But, the speaker announced 3650% under his breath and thus prepared ground for one of the most fascinating speeches of the day. The speaker steered the audience that was recovering from the recent shock, into the lands of Indian police force. Through his rich anecdotal experiences, Mr. Sekera asserted that ‘problems are assets for a leader’. He finished with an earnest request to all the guests-share the wealth you acquire with the common man.

Dr. Gerrit De Vylder spoke on how India has been an inspiration for Europe throughout history. He noted that the gradual erosion of traditional values in Europe drove the people in a quest for newer outlook of the worldview. Indian spirituality, Dr. Vylder observed, has filled the vaccum thus created in Europe.

The day included presentations of research articles from other students, academicians and researchers who flew from all parts of India just for the occasion.

Impervious belts of activity around the waists of events (Nasmei, Yale conference, L’attitude….)

‘A cyclone warning’ read the mail,

Worried patriot imagined the worst.

Stately, he bit at his last nail.

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The devilish ensemble was on the foray,

Nature’s spectacle of angst and exhibition of lust was about to begin.

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Frogs in the farm forgot their mating calls,

Snails in the silent night paused,

Birds in their flight hung up their feathery coats,

Sky ensnared the clouds on invisible hooks,

Trees puckered, their lips sewn shut,

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Giant sea snake slithered through the ocean’s bed,

Scampered across the dark pools,

Mines of gold it tattered, sighs of schools of fish it battered.

And rose its hood of destruction,

Breeze of malevolence haloed its bulbous head,

Tendrils of uncouth desire clawed at its neck.

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The devilish ensemble was on the foray,

Nature’s spectacle of angst and exhibition of lust was about to begin.

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‘But, I have signed the Copenhagen petition’,

Worried patriot stroked his chin.

‘Prepare the team to escort Nasmei conference invitees’

Rubbing the sleepy eyes, noted the patriot

With her eyes doused in red, face flushed with sleeplessness.

‘Yale conference team!, everyone, let us ring up the PR Agency’,

Scuttling his fingers across the head,

Pointed a patriot to the grand old clock that ticked away imperiously

‘Let us ramp up the database, registrations are pouring in for L’attitude 13’05’

With those words, she picked the receiver.

‘ooph! Telangana’s torrent of turmoil’

Nipping crumbs off bread and sipping caffeine from coffee

He emptied his thoughts volubly.

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The disconcerted snake rested on burgundy soil

(for the industry waste polluted the sea bed)

Enquiringly slipped through the descending sky,

On the Foggy evening. Extended its tongue,

(a slight drizzle now)

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The devilish ensemble was on the foray,

Nature’s spectacle of angst and exhibition of lust was about to begin.

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A whiff of corrosive tumult gripped the snake.

While the world puckered, Patriots at Great Lakes flowered.

Outside, they withdrew their tentacles,

Here, we pulled our swords and broke the shackles.

The snake hissed (lightning, thunder…)

But, the impervious belts of activity around the waists of events

(Nasmei, Yale conference, L’attitude….)

Hinged us down. The snake’s hiss remained a mere whimper

Cat’s purr, dog’s bark or the nature’s hiss,

We staged our spirits indomitable,

laid wistfully oblivious

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The snake respectfully retracted,

The patriots’ impudence lay protracted

The hazy outline redolent of apocalypse receded,

‘Chennai cyclone weakened’ so read

The morning news paper.

L’Attitude 13005’

Registration opens on 08th DEC.

DATE – 08th Jan 2010 to 09th Jan 2010

HOMEPAGE: http://lattitude1305.greatlakes.edu.in/

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL –

L’Attitude 130 05’ is one of the most awaited events of the academic year. The festival is a pot-pouri of events and competitions for both students and people from the industry. This mega happening encompasses events from various spheres of management education such as marketing, finance, operations ,strategy and H.R. These events tests participants – some of the brightest mgt minds and future business leaders on their intellect and thought leadership. The students intensely compete against one another on different aspects of the business world, creating a great learning opportunity for all.Participants come from the crème de la crème of Indian business schools.

This year’s events:

Arthvridhi: game of valuation

A game of valuation in a dog-eat-dog age of inorganic growth of corporates. You are expected to exhaustively cover various aspects of financial valuation of a company’s aquisition target.

Chanakyaniti: CEO conclave

The powerhouses of the business world come together to provide the best mix of perspectives on major challenges facing business and industry today.

Ranniti: strategy simulation game

A game to test your predatory skills. As part of a strategic consulting firm, you would need to identify an overseas acquisition target for an Indian company, develop an acquisition strategy and cross cultural negotiation tactics.

Rahasya: Online treasure hunt

A cryptic game designed to make you look at things laterally. A wide assortment of quizzes and puzzles linking “anything under the sun” that will question your knowledge, challenge your intellect and test your analytical abilities.

Samkara: HR strategy game

A game of confluence of people for greater value creation. You are expected to analyze and resolve a situation involving M&A activity while focusing on people management skills for the newer challenges posed by situations like this.

Kayakalp: branding challenge

Kayakalpa is about changing the face of brands. Participating teams are expected to come up with new strategies to reposition brands after M&A activity. The decisions involving such change in the brand spectrum is the challenge promised.

Jigyasa: corporate quiz

Curiosity that motivates investigation and study is the natural condition of one’s mind. Source knowledge from all avenues and be a part of a challenging quiz essentially based on happenings in the business world around us.

DEADLINES – Registration opens on 08th Dec 2009

By

L’Attitude 13005’ committee

Event site: http://lattitude1305.greatlakes.edu.in/

Nirman 2010 – B-model Competition

Great Lakes announces launch of Nirman 2010.

Entrepreneurship is more than a fad; it is the need of the hour. With India poised for rapid growth, we are at the cusp of a major upheaval. The amount of innovation from India has increased tremendously with major companies considering India as their strategic innovation hub. But we are still a long way from creating the next Google or 3M out of India.

Nirman 2010 aims to give wings to the ideas that will fire India’s engine of growth. Are you game for it?

For more details, visit:

http://www.greatlakes.edu.in/nirman2010.php

Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Hon. Leader of opposition, Goa on “Leadership, Good governance & Management”

Executive Director Prof. Sriram opened the session with his eloquent display of warm welcome to the guest. He remarked that the decision to enter politics for any individual shrinks in relevance and the individual belittles politics, for the image that the field has gathered over years is anything but pretty. He showered praise on the guest for such an audacious decision.

Mr. Parrikar’s speech began on a note of flirtatious humour, oscillated through the trenches of bureaucratic imagery and political despondence before finally resting on the firm shoulders of his talk on leadership. “I told my ministers; Finance and Education sectors would rest with me. Former everyone clamoured for, agreed after thorough examination of pros and cons but later no one cared for” reminisced the speaker of his first day in office as CM. Responding to a question from the audience, speaker asserted that “Education precedes population in the list of priorities for the progress of our nation”. Education rips past every other parameter and sits right on top, such was the firm contention of the speaker. In referring to Bureaucrats, the speaker claimed that “Bureaucracy is the water in that glass” pointing to the glass before him, he continued “water takes the colour and taste of the politicians”.

Referring to oft cited comparison between CEO and CM, he mentioned a CEO can choose his team but a Chief Minister doesn’t have similar freedom. This is when leadership is very important. Giving anecdotes of 1965 war with Pakistan and Kargil he mentioned the importance of leading from the front. He emphasised the pivotal role character plays in the development of a leader.

Through his amazing recollections of adorable short stories, he observed that a leader is one who is “literate, educated and wise”.  Through the gripping tale of a herdsman and a consultant, he mimicked the ostentatious outpour of extravagance which could have been avoided. Later, he narrated few anecdotes of his, and through them demonstrated to the audience, the power of “leadership with focus”. In response to another inquisitive patriot (class of 2010), Mr. Parrikar noted that bureaucrats have to made accountable, and this act he contended, would lead to the progress of nation.

The program ended with Prof. Veeravalli’s vote of thanks.

EOS, ‘A touch of Class’ by Mr. Dhruv Bhusan

Mr. Dhruv Bhusan opened the session with the contention that ‘soft skills form the overarching tool in the whole repertoire at avail for a business man’.

In the context of ‘what life will be like after an MBA’, he referred to the business deals that happen on a golf course, on the dinner table or even over coffee. And, the people that the table of discussion comprises of -different people from different backgrounds, diverse fields and domains from the industry. He observed that the first impressions still last, be it the cover of a book or the face of an MBA.

Referring to a scene from the movie ‘Wall Street’, the speaker reemphasised his remarks about the corporate life and the subtle nuances that make or break a deal. He noted that although as a professional person one is proffered with acute business acumen, it is the little pinch of charisma that makes the professional sublime.

About positive first impressions, the speaker played us clips from ‘pretty woman’, he pointed out that ‘good manners will open doors that the best education cannot’.

He ended the session with an open invitation for a session on Networking, throwing parties and everything that is inclusive of the gamut of social etiquette, business etiquette, table manners, etc. that complete the MBA education.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Great Lakes

On the 26th of November, 2009, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji blessed the green campus of the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, with his divine presence. The occasion was the inauguration of the MILK (Meditation and Inspiration Center for Living and Kindness).

While taking a look at the proposed plan of meditation centre at Great Lakes Institute of Management Guruji said,” We need to convert the square places into to quixotic places. It should be zigzag. Management is converting the squares into rounds and then again rounds back into squares.  Management is all about just going along with what exists. Not making something new but going along what is there already.”

Vishnu shakthi: Vishnu just rests on snakes doesn’t have to do much. Brahma takes care of the rest. Brahma does the creation. Vishnu does the maintenance whereas managers do both creation and maintenance.”

“Youth has great opportunity and can create a new world as the world is now looking for a paradigm shift. World is currently facing some kind of stagnation. A new paradigm shift is needed and will emerge only from India. “

“Life is enthusiasm. Life is love, life is compassion, life is creation and if these things die out in you then corpse would just come out of you.”

Guruji laid his emphasis on the need of innovation and creativity. He stressed upon inculcating creative ideas rather than confining ourselves to managing what already exits.

“Monetary prosperity is not actual prosperity. Inducing life, the spirit, spirit of enthusiasm, life what India gave to the world.”

“The whole world is a big family-Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We never thought in those terms of being different. We believe in Viswamanav. We learned teamwork from Japan, Etiquette from British, Marketing from US, technical skills from German and India gave human values to the world. Americans are very good at Marketing. Americans can show the moon on full moon day and sell it- that’s their skill of marketing.”

One anecdote: “I asked all my devotees, to do something creative as creativity is reflection of consciousness. Three months later, all came up with some great projects. One team came up with ice cream (Eggless) and started proving that that ice cream is the best in the world. Similarly, some other teams also started proving the same thing. One lady, who was very fragile, came with one project i.e. making handkerchiefs. She spoke about 17 points how it is best in the world. All points were logical.  You see Marketing skills are better in US than their products”

“We in India have great products but we lack marketing skills. “

He gave an example of tourism. Tourism – 12 Million go every year in Greece, only 3 Million in India. After looking at the pillars in US, people say, our country has much full worth pillars than these.  However we do not expose or market ourselves.

There are 7 points that India can be proud of and that have not been explored yet

Food: There are so many varieties of food in India. Tripura, a small place in India itself has more than 200 varieties of food. North Indians don’t know what different items of south Indian dishes are. And so do the south Indians. We don’t market ourselves properly. We have greatest varieties possible in the world, but we don’t project ourselves.

Tourism: We have great part of history which we don’t capitalize.

Music & Dance: So many types of dance and music which we haven’t even projected so far.

Dress & Jewelry: Appreciated world over. We have no proud of what we wear. Places like Thailand, Indonesia were very proud of their dress and jewelry. We are not. We don’t feel good about ourselves. Low self esteem, we are eating out our attitude and culture.

Information Technology: This will take India to new heights.

Ayurveda: 280 kinds of flora & fauna, not available in India which is not available anywhere in the world. We don’t pay any attention to that. These are going to be the future medicine of 21st century.

Triphla – formula taken from India and foreigners patented it. Similar things are happening all over the world.

Indian Spiritual Values: The market of Yoga is $ 27 Billion in United States itself. Ninety-nine of local US people dominate this market. They started preparing materials for yoga which is a product of India and our gift to the world. People are invited to do mantra and chanting in some building in New York. In India in temple if someone chanting, we don’t even bother to look at them.

Question & Answers:

Ques. Do we have to be interdependent and do we need to look for interdependency?

Ans. You don’t have to be interdependent. It is just that you need to realize it. The word independent is obsolete. It’s the nature that we are interdependent on. We have one nature, one ocean, one air, one earth where everyone is dependent upon it. People are one! We are interdependent!

Ques. Why do we meditate with our eyes closed though we have to live our life with our eyes open? Is it possible to do Meditation with eyes open?

Ans. It’s a second step. First step is where mind is involved (eyes closed meditation, once mind is centered) then you can go ahead with the other ways as well. There are different kinds of meditation like walking meditation. Your very action turns into meditative state.

Ques. Guruji you said Life is simple, but why it turns so complex. It is very difficult to make decisions. Why can’t we avoid things which are complicated?

Ans. Life is simple while people are complicated. Why can’t we avoid things which are complicated?  We have too much time in life so we make things complicated.

Life is very simple! Life is very complicated! Both exists depends on the circumstances and our perception at that point of time. Life is combination of both.

Ques. According to Raj Yoga it is said that practicing meditation is meant for people who are recluse and follow strict and definite approach to reach salvation. Meditation is difficult for a person with much responsibility in walks of life. You said everyone should meditate what are the implications of this on normal person.

Ans. There are different forms of Raja Yoga. In some they do practice Raja Yoga is Royal Yoga. To teach the prince how to do yoga as they have so many responsibilities to complete in such a short span of time. Meditation is useful for people in walks of life.

Ques. You have highlighted the importance of innovation and creativity, but with that comes a lot of risk and uncertainty. It’s only after numerous failures that a successful new technology/ product is evolved. So how should one manage the failures that come as a by-product of striving for innovation? How to rise up after each failure and restart the journey to discover something new?

Failure is part of the process. Meditation will help how to go ahead in spite of failures. Innovation without failure is possible if you are able to use your intuition perfectly. Both should act perfectly to achieve zero failure in innovation. If intuition is not in proportion then you fail more often.

Ques. In Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna says that one must not care about the result of his work. But if we do not think about the fruits that follow our hard work, then what will motivate us to do that hard work.

Ans. No control over fruit of action. No domain.  If the attention is only on the end result, then you can’t perform.

If you take a runner, if he starts looking behind who is running, and not looking at the path he need to run, then ultimately he will lose out , how much good the runner may be.  You have to follow your own track, to complete the run whether you lose or win. Lord Krishna is utterly practical in his advises. Krishna says to Arjuna: This is complex, but these are the ways to do it.

Ques. There are so many practices, so many paths which one to choose.

Ans. Yoga is everything together. Everything comes along. Which path to choose?

Which path is the best: Answer: My path

Sudarshan Kriya will help. This suits today’s young minds that are very busy with schedules all around, and can’t work with too many conditions. In short time with deep experiences and no side effects.

Ques. Is it good to practice religious practices as now I am on the path of meditation and sometimes don’t feel like practicing them.

Ans. It’s a matter of culture. It creates an atmosphere with a sense of joy. There is nothing wrong in celebration, fire crackers etc. Traditional practices help and bring a sense to family and children.

Moaists: Their house lacks pictures, no lamps, when children grew up they grew with lot of emptiness.

In Russia, there was no religion for 40 years. There was a destruction of cathedral and they built swimming pool on that and now after that catastrophe they again built church.  If people don’t practice religion, they start feeling the vacuum. And finally religion helps them understand this.

For spirituality – there is no need of religious practices.  Cultural practices always help in traditional practices and help young minds.

Ques. Guruji why is that Sanskrit language that originated in India finds its second reference in Chicago. This is still the case.

Ans. You are asking my question! Sanskrit – giving away ownership.

You know Dr.B.R. Ambedkar : Asked that Sanskrit should  be our national language after 15 years. It was seconded by Nasiruddhin Ahmed.

Malayalam contains 80% of Sanskrit, Telugu 70%, Kannada 70%, Tamil 30% , Hindi 80% . And even foreign languages also similar to Sanskrit like Swasa – Sister , Duhita – Daughter . However, we have lost the link somewhere and lost to establish the reputation of Sanskrit.  You know what rain is called in Italian. Rain – Piyorja(Italian) – Panjanya (Sanskrit).  They are so similar in many aspects.

Ques. There are some schools of thoughts that say that you must always be aware of what your competitors are doing. Because if you don’t see you competitors you will be like a bridled horse. You will end up making the best calculator of the world when the world has moved to computers. So how do you reconcile the two schools of thoughts?

Ans. Challenge to manage two contradictions is the job of the youth.

Looking at competitor, one should be aware of the competitors at same time one should have an eye of Arjuna. Be Aware of what’s happening around you and one-pointedness towards the goal.

Over ambitiousness will not lead to anything.  Improve your intuitive ability, enthusiasm, relaxation. It will give you everything that you need to.

Courtesy: Mr. Gurava Reddy, Patriots, Class of 2010

Lock Stock and Trade at Great Lakes

Great Lakes, with the firing mechanism- a coruscating metallic lock (the biggest mock IPO event); fitted on the wooden butt end -stock of the gun (20 acres green campus); Powered with nine cylindrical smoking barrels (seven of these were Great Lakes teams) fired incessantly for over eight hours.

Even as the met department issued signs of warning, even as the torrential rain consumed the east coast road, Great Lakers escorted the enemy tanks (teams from other institutions) to the war zone. And, soon it began.

Prof. R.S. Veeravalli-Director Executive MBA, opened the event with the characteristic elegance and composure that he is known for. Welcoming the guests, he quipped that Great Lakes has been busy praying for rain this morning, so the visitors would remember the day for a life time. He later remarked that the memorable day has been made possible by the judges who have confirmed to be on the panel, and expressed his deepest gratitude for making to the event despite the deluge.

Judges:

1. Srinivasan Vishwanathan, partner at Apt Talent Partners, Inc
2. K. Ramakrishnan, Executive Director & Head, Spark Capital
3. Mr. R. Narayan, VP, HDFC Bank

Mr. Vishwanathan recalling his meeting with Dr. Bala V. Balachandran (Dean and founder of Great Lakes), noted that his visit to Great Lakes has been a memorable one. He observed “I have not seen such an event anywhere else. Perhaps this is one of its kind; a unique one”. Later he spoke about the sea change in the style of investing today, from what it had been twenty years prior to now. In this context, he noted “I think it was Reliance that changed the way we looked at stocks”. Moving on, he explored the rationale behind the shift. Technology, he opined, shrunk the product life cycles and has brought in short term focus.

The event began with all the teams presenting the companies they represented while investors sifted in their minds, their priorities.

T. S. Eliot resignedly postulated in 1915 (albeit in a different context)

Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse

Every one of us, ones playing investors, ones representing the nine companies, all of us submitted to neurotic indecisiveness in the face of suffocating intensity of the game as the event began.

Every single minute, someone in a corner somewhere in the big hall of three hundred switched his priorities of investment. The worried ones left the hall to sip hot coffee in Bajaj Bistro, the jubilant ones sat meditatively staring at the steel structure in the India Cements Amphitheater.

And, so it went on for over eight hours.
Please check out the winners at our Achievements page.
http://www.greatlakes.edu.in/studentAchievements.php

And the sun was gone!

There was never a longing for sun in Chennai as it is now. It has been a week, sun is held back by the thick clouds that look menacingly towards the earth. I still remember those days when sun would enquiringly peep above the horizon, searchingly shed light on the edge of my table cloth, paint it yellow and pale. Light smoothly slides over, finds a coffee mug or some such object, and glides over it (for the morning light is still weightless); reaches the end of the table, swoops over the edge, and floats on the floor much as a reptile with no legs. The light now passes over a spoon lying on the floor and swathes it crimson gold; now reaches the end and crawls up the wall, above and above it climbs until the wall is flushed yellow.

Must be a cold morning breeze, for the leaves of the tree beside my room gently tap against the window. Slowly the light grows in intensity, now it has gained some weight, it slips from the surface of objects to explore their bodies and uncovers them one after another. Light explores the objects that are submerged in darkness and brings them to life, lifts them out, much as an explorer underwater pulls one out of water; gives form to the table, spoon, floor and the wall. Gradually the objects are rid of their golden colour, now they are firm, inelegant and exuding raw energy. Some glisten as if they find sun inhospitable; others merely stand alive and naked in the sun.

As the sun ascends higher and higher, the light on my bedroom wall slips as if sun is pulling it back; I watch as the light desperately clings on to my spoon here, and table there, I still watch aghast as the last pools of light resting on the curtains by the window part. And the sun was gone.

That was last week, and since then it has been raining here in Chennai. Classes as usual, but the students have reserved themselves with playing football indoors; from upstairs one can see students leaving the canteen covered with umbrellas. The progress of construction of guest rooms inside the campus is slightly hampered by the torrential rains; some of us sneezing (some have moved on to catching cold already);  atmosphere humid and air clean, sky dark and clouds menacing, floor slippery and slippers muddy, shoes heavy and clothes clinging to the body, head scratchy and body aching.

Every one of us is waiting for the sun. The thick clouds are still protesting saintly and the sun has so far failed to pierce them; the clouds above are so low that they are brushing the tips of tall trees beside our campus, and resting on some mountain or plain in the horizon.

So far, no sun!

There! There! Cried out a great laker

There! There! Cried out a great laker at eight forty five on a bright morning,

At the sight of vision in his head that was forming

The rainbow in the sky receded into the background,

While he treaded on the road to class, lonely and awkward

In the class, he chided and others were thrilled,

For able though, he left the assignment unfinished

The lecturer grimaced and the lonely warrior produced,

‘Parts missing’, the lecturer exclaimed ‘splendid, you have achieved’

Doubtful warrior protested,

And the lecturer censured

‘Your work is a mark of genius, for you have twisted the ending’ explained the bald man on stage,

Baffled but delighted, acquiesced the young sage

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A golden bird alighted in manamai,

Impressed fortune upon the great laker and said ‘hi’

The bird (guest lecturer) dipped its wings in pools of great lake,

And was treated with a big candle, coke and a cake

Golden fluids dripped him (great laker) wet as he stepped into the pool, in glee,

The clock chimed four quarters past three

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It was raining and he wore his trousers rolled,

The sky was pallid and weather cold

Munching heavily on the evening snacks, gratified with every bite,

He enquired with his team, of the tasks for the night

‘So much to do, so little time’, complained his team mate ‘what with the cold weather, I am not even fit’

‘Whining doesn’t help’, said he ‘it’s for our own benefit’

Together they finished the assignments, little did they realise that it was three in the morning,

Widely yawning, his friend scathingly argued ‘it is so very boring’

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But, it is….he yawned ostentatiously, staring pleasingly at the wrist watch,

And they all went into the TV room to watch highlights of the previous day’s match

Then they parted, slept for little over two hours,

Before waking up to read the first fifteen pages of the next course

The washing machine was swallowing his shirt buttons one at a time,

And he thought ‘aliens are behind this conspiratorial crime’

Thoroughly enjoying the picturesque beauty of the fields from his room’s window,

He started, at someone behind him, the shadow

‘We are getting late’ adjudged his friend ‘for the class’

So, he ran madly and almost fell into the pool, trying to prevent from bumping into the lass

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The library so huge and wide that he sat in a corner overlooking the gym,

To avoid feeling empty and vacant, he pulled the blinds before him

Rain left the mirrors clean, oh the outside weather was so still!

He caught cold, so reluctantly swallowed a pill

Perused through the day’s news, grimaced at a politician’s fate,

Made notes of some, for a future date

The white little doggy was dancing in the rain, while he was searching for ‘the times’ in the shelf,

Prancing and pulling hard at the branch of a tree that dropped low, the doggy enjoyed all by himself

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The sun descended, stars conjured as if in a trail,

The academics lady released the score card, so read the mail

‘come let’s go to mahabs’ his friend craning his neck into the grade sheet proposed,

‘But it’s nothing really, oh nothing really’ he read the lyrics for the song he composed

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The canteen was chaotic and the queue long,

So he left the place to try a hand at ping pong

Horrified at the defeat he ran upstairs, the mirrors inside the gym had a lustful sheen,

Heaving he returned after finishing a round on the jogging machine,

At dinner, he eavesdropped on some fellows, about economy, they were quacking,

After dinner, the cute little dog approached him, with its tail wagging

He pat the dog around the ears,

And struck a chat with a chap about the market bulls and bears

Morning glory of canteen-spider of drowsiness

After filling her plate with bread sandwiches, a bowl full of cornflakes and hot milk, she proceeded to sit in a lonely corner of the canteen. There she held the sandwich loosely between her fingers and brought it closer to her mouth. She was in a rather pensive mood, for she bit into the sandwich meditatively, almost mechanically she chewed her food, and was staring into blankness. Her plaintive mood depressed him, and he rolled his tongue over the over-chewed remains of a single bite of sandwich, much as a bull does in its period of rumination on a lonely afternoon under the shade of a banyan tree- with the sun trying to look through the leaves that shifted with a small whiff of air; and the flies poking into the thick skin; and the white swans deliberately walking over (with their thin weakly long legs, as if in eternal fear and trepidation of something or someone watching them, slowly balanced on one leg, and the other tucked in, about to be deployed. Oh but one must think! Above all one must be sure if the other leg has to be deployed or not. Look around and only after absolute certainty should one walk), the giant mammals preserve their stately state.

The man standing before the kitchen door wonders if breakfast cereals had fibers of melancholy in them, hidden inside they would await a victim, and once in mouth multiply and secrete a juice that produced the hormones of melancholy. And, now he is dragged in too. The network of rumination (the frightful clarity of staring into abyss) drags in each and every occupant of the canteen. Every new person that entered into the canteen, choose (by the inherent virtue of an unknown treaty) some place calm, some place morose, lonely, uneventful, once here the person would reveal himself, expose to the open jagged ends of the spider net. And, it goes on, the invisible spider crawls up above the floor of every single person’s mind, hooks them up and suspends them, baits them for every new person that enters the canteen. It is only a matter of time before everyone submits to the omnipotent and omniscient spider-the spider of drowsiness, and everyone merely stares into the abyss.

Great Lakes canteen is a rarity in itself, it has the seething brilliance of an afternoon, and accommodates almost punctually to the chaotic snacking of the evenings, princely (and stately) catering of the night, but above all preserves the glory (with a certain wickedness) of the mornings. After a vertiginous night out (with the brain servicing room for more, and more, and more….. flooding of information), and barely enough sleep (for the dusk sinks they are awake, and the dawn rises they are awake), Great Lakers wake up to a fine breakfast. Each student walks into a lonely corner of the canteen; (mornings) canteen is rid of the usual chatter, the kitchen door is open and the milk man walks in and out delivering packages of milk, a lonely person (where there would be tens during the rest of the day) stands before the counter serving nonchalantly, the white dog before the canteen door would still be sleeping, the maid inside the kitchen leisurely chops off carrots (or potatoes or tomatoes…). The absence of hubbub in canteen makes it such a desirable place that only sleepwalkers would fail to notice. Someone turns on the radio from inside the kitchen, or the delivery van has come and the man is unloading the day’s vegetables (fresh from the market), and the men get to work solely, slowly, languidly. The morning glory of the canteen lasts only for a precious thirty minutes (on some days, it lasts longer, perhaps on a Sunday), and it gradually dissolves into the surroundings as the kitchen crew pours in.

And, just as the morning glory of the canteen dissolves, the spider of drowsiness retreats into its shelf, and all the students un tethered and unhooked from the bonds of the spider, become active and the day goes on until the next morning, until the spider wakes up, until the morning glory of the canteen magically conjures up.

 

Frigid splendor or splendid frigidity?

Frigidity, ah I reprimand such an indecent display of nature’s will! She thought as she looked about her helplessly. Unhitching the torn sari’s end from the hatchet lying on the dried and woodened floor, she gaped at the horrific sight before her. Dusty wind stormed towards her, hurling dry twigs, sticks of wood and burnt ash (of trees that the villagers fell). Wind passed her by, now swooping to collect debris by the hut here, now dropping it on the corpse of a buffalo there. Poor thing, he is limping now, she thought as she approached her husband. Fatigue and fright had deprived him of humanness. He felt dizzy and nauseated; he hated himself for the nature’s wrath (famine). He trusted no one, the figure approaching him was menacing, no they would never understand him, mankind was upon him, it was a terrible curse, to be born and to live a life such as this. Her husband was talking to himself; he bothered her, only yesterday he talked about killing himself. Such a terrible thing to say, for a man like him, they had better lives, in those days; he walked about the village in his neatly ironed cotton shirt, but now, nature with her spiteful venom dried up their wells, sucked up the clouds (so high were they now, it no longer rained) and ruined their lives. ‘The terrible creature again’ he ran madly, ‘they are going to kill me now’ he screamed with mortified terror of the unknown and crawled up into the attic that disturbed the kettle that was suspended from the roof. The kettle tumbled on the floor, with the pugnacious dog by its side, for the rice from previous night was now emptied out of it. The creature maliciously craned its neck and faced the indescribably hapless owner, dropped its neck and began eating as the owner watched the day’s food being snatched away mercilessly.

Splendid, ah how I like it! Such a beauty, the drapes fluttered joyously as the hostess opened the window. Wind blew the drapes over the smooth round pillars, lollopped over the velvet fabric and caused a rapid flapping- tut, tut, tut, and the hostess closed the window, duly apologizing for her mannerisms. The window doors creaked softly, reminding the hostess of the remarkable job done by her carpenter. I must invite him for the party next time, she thought. The wind receded, with one huge whimper and the drapes slowly settled into folds by the window side as if life beneath them has been sucked away, and wrinkled, there, they lay for the rest of the party. A man in an impeccable suit, brown hair, blue eyes and stout shoulders walked into the big hall that was radiating with energy. The hostess soon recovered (for she wasn’t expecting him) and stately, she approached him. ‘How delighted I am that you accepted my invitation’ she rejoiced with her cheeks flushed. His hair was drawn back and neatly combed, ‘he looks fabulous’, she thought.  The hall was decorated with majestic velvet drapes, a huge chandelier in the middle suspended from the roof that mimicked an octopus with the tentacles (coloured in gold) running all the way from the roof to the floor (thickening on their journey) and branching into the pillars draped in velvet. The hostess lifted her cat and patted it. She fed her cat with the most delicious food and blushed as the creature took turns between licking its paws and nibbling at the bread crumbs.

The stark contrast between the two lives is depressingly clear. ‘Great Lakes’ endorses the idea of fundamental disciplines. In its attempt to build leaders of tomorrow, the institute has sworn to deliver on its promises-to churn out men of character, of desire to balance the pans (of rich and poor, of educated and uneducated, of good and bad). It is said that a nation progresses together with all of its people or merely tips the balance way off. Great Lakes is endeavouring to foster social responsibility among tomorrow’s leaders. It is the responsibility of tomorrow’s leaders to build a strong nation- a nation full of heroes.

Great Lakers win accolades!

The conundrum of success and failure is never ending one. You don’t succeed if you don’t try. But when you try, failure is at a knocking distance. But try, you must!

For starters a B School event is nothing like a normal event. Add a heap of a Quiz or two, 1 teaspoon of B Plan contest, one trading simulation game, two crates of white paper contests, for appetizer a Debate contest, as a garnish add a Rock music performance, Eureka you have a B School event.

Present batch of Great Lakes, Patriots, are there all across B Schools these days. These festivals are an amazing place to showcase talent but more importantly it’s a vindication of all your learnings both in the class rooms and out of them.

Every now and then news of a new conquest comes trickling. The quietness of East Coast Road, with an occasional car zooming towards Pondicherry, is in stark contrast to the hectic preparations for the latest event being done inside the Great Lakes campus. May be this very unique mix of ethereal beauty and best management education makes us who we are.

The ongoing ‘Footie’ – Great Lakes football championship is the icing on the cake.

Check out the latest news on Great Lakes Student achievements @:

http://www.greatlakes.edu.in/studentAchievements.php

Hidden purse and passion

He opened his eyes slowly, looked at his wife, first the chin, then the nose and finally the forehead. She was sewing, with her lips pursed (as all women do while sewing). He watched her intently, was it the morning’s fog that was rubbing its back against the bedroom window, was it the day’s first shaft of light that slantingly stroked her ears, was it the jocund manner in which she brandished her needle as a child does its scars, he no longer remembered, but she was beautiful, and nothing else mattered. She muttered something indistinctively, rose and brushed the crumbs of bread on her frock, flapped it once in air, pulled the needle away, started, as if she has seen a ghost. He never woke up so early, she held his face up by her pink palms and kissed him on the lips, there is nothing whatever the matter with him, she declared after examining his sleepy eyes and wrinkled forehead with her lips.

Here at Great Lakes, students approach electives as the protagonist did his wife. First the perusal of course outline, then the first session, and finally the assignments. All the trepidation is washed away and the students begin to love the electives, for each elective taught by the best and only the best in that field. Most of the professors fly from US, for they feel united in the sublime cause (to be the change, be the best and make India proud) for which the institute stands for. And, the professors shower their love (fuelled formidably by their passionate reverence to the subject) on the students, just as the protagonist’s wife did.

Holding her purse in one hand, tea cup in another, she approached him. Washing the tea around with a spoon, he lent his eyes to the purse. She was hiding her hands behind her, such a ravishing beauty she was, he thought. Much as a hen spreads her feathers and guards the nest and eggs, she was hiding something from him. He shaded his eyes with the back of his palm and looked at her. With glistening eyes and hair that had fallen over her forehead, with the sun that flew in to catch her smiling, with the parrot on the window sill picking at her wings, with the cat that stopped licking its paws, in the bright morning, she looked frightfully gorgeous. He stroked her cheeks with his palm, held her hair that was smoothly caressing her forehead and tucked it away, rolled it over her ears with his thumb and index finger. Slowly he extended his arms about her, embraced her and pulled the hidden object out of her hands. It was the purse; it had a beautiful rose knitted on one side. After thorough examination, he indicated to her that the rose was so good that it had to be in the middle rather than on a side.  Ah she liked him for that! She loved him the most when he commented on her hobbies. The moment was so precious for her, it was a moment that she lovingly gulped in, if someone walked into the room right now, they wouldn’t realise that a precious and intimate moment had just occurred, and she thought, it was so intimate that only she and her husband would know, it was theirs and no one would notice. She loved him for that.

Much as the relationship between the protagonist and his wife, the lecturers hide their most precious objects (case studies, assignments) until the very end. And, at the end of the course, students lovingly embrace (with a thorough understanding of the subject) the case studies and business plans. And the lecturers are so delighted with the display of passion (by the students in their deliverance of the assignments) that they tuck the moment close to their hearts. And the relationship between any guest lecturer from any part of the globe and the student stays fortified forever, as they promise to come back to Great Lakes, for little did they knew (or expect) that passion of the kind displayed at Great Lakes existed.

Visited Godrej Sara Lee Limited

 

It was just today early morning at 1AM when we returned to our campus after having the best two days as a part of Great Lakes. It is not often that you as students are treated so well by a corporate industry and that too by one which is among the best in the country.

We arrived in Mumbai on Oct 22 and were handed over two Innovas which were to be used by the nine of us to go around Mumbai on a sight-seeing trip. Quite a few of us had not visited Mumbai earlier and we made the best use of the vehicles and covered as much as we could from the Gateway of India to Queen’s necklace to the new suspension bridge. All this included a lunch at a Mexican restaurant which just added flavour to the trip. Lots of photos were clicked at various points, most of them being close to the beach area which presented a scenic view.

All exhausted we made our way to the Godrej guest house at Vikhroli by 7PM. The Godrej housing colony at Vikhroli is a huge campus and seems like a town in itself. All the people freshened up and moved out again at 7:30PM to go on to the next leg of our journey, to a new mall pretty close to the Godrej campus.

The next day after a hearty breakfast at the guest house mess, we all got ready to visit the Godrej Sara Lee office which was five minutes drive from the guest house area. We went straight into a meeting with the top managers of GSLL – Executive Vice President (PSO), K.Somanathan and Associate Vice President (Manufacturing H&BC North East) – R.S. Gopalakrishnan who explained to us about the processes within Godrej Sara Lee. This was followed by a meeting with the Deputy General Manager (Marketing) – Vinod Salvi who threw some light on critical marketing concepts in a manufacturing industry. After this we had a session with the HR Manager – Pooja Sharma. It was good to interact with the top notch managers of a top company. We then proceeded to have our lunch at the Godrej cafeteria. After lunch we were escorted to the R&D centre where the R & D Head – Dr. Sreedharwe showed us how the products in GSLL are created and tested, we then actually got to see the R&D centre and its practices; it was a very insightful trip across the R&D centre. Next was our meeting with Mr. Mahendran, the MD of Godrej Sara Lee wherein all of us shared our two day experience with him and also got to talk exclusively about Godrej Sara Lee as a company and its future plans. It’s always good to listen to person of his stature. It was 4:30PM and two Innovas were waiting to drop us back to the airport for our flight back to Chennai.

We reached Chennai at 11PM due to a delay in flight and reached the campus by 1AM. It was a trip which will be remembered very dearly by all the nine of us, for it was a trip which showed us why Godrej Sara Lee is a leader in quite a few segments of the market!

By

Syed Zoheb [syed.zoheb@mail.greatlakes.edu.in]