The most renowned management institute to watch 2023

SUCCESS THROUGH CONSISTENT HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION: A MESSAGE TO YOUNG MINDS....

They say, “Higher education is confronting challenges, like the global economy is about the need for a higher number of more adequatel trained, more highly educated citizens.” Higher education is essential for developing individuals, societies, and nations. It provides students with opportunities to acquire advanced knowledge and skills that are critical for success in a rapidly changing world. A college or university education prepares students for their chosen careers and fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Furthermore, higher education is a significant driver of economic growth, as it produces a highly skilled workforce that can innovate, create new products and services, and drive technological advancements. It also promotes social mobility, as access to higher education allows individuals from diverse backgrounds to break free from the cycle of poverty and achieve their full potential. The importance of higher education cannot be overstated, as it is a crucial investment in the future of individuals, communities, and the world as a whole.

Business Connect is a renowned name in the arena of Publication and here again, our team is back with its exclusive edition of the month. As always, our core focus for the edition is the ventures and institutes that are carving new ways in their respective realms. In this context, our editorial team had an interesting and joyful virtual session with the leadership panel of IIM Nagpur, a prestigious institution providing top-notch higher educational services across India. The Director of the institution, Dr. Bhimarya Metri shared numerous lesser-known facts about the same and also shed some light on his overall entrepreneurial journey so far. We truly hope and desire that this fascinating read will add some extra value to the lives of our global readership panel and will surely encourage the budding leaders out there to break the barriers and chase their dream.

Lastly, would like to wind up and sign off by leaving a few words from my end for the young minds out there! Success is often attributed to luck or natural talent, but in reality, it is the result of consistent hard work and determination. While it may be tempting to look for shortcuts or quick fixes, the path to success is paved with perseverance, discipline, and a willingness to learn and grow. As an editor, have had the privilege of witnessing countless success stories, and one common thread that ties them all together is the unwavering commitment to hard work. So if you’re feeling discouraged or overwhelmed on your journey towards success, remember that every step you take towards your goals, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. Keep pushing yourself, stay focused on your vision, and don’t forget that the reward at the end of the road will be well worth the effort you put in.

Gulshan Parveen gulshan@businessconnectindia.in

Vol - 5|Special Edition|March 2023

Publisher & Editor : Abhishek Kumar Dubey

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TABLE OF

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM) NAGPUR

PAVING BETTER CAREER GROWTH IN ONE’S MANAGEMENT JOURNEY…

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri Director of IIM Nagpur

PAVING BETTER CAREER GROWTH IN ONE’S MANAGEMENT JOURNEY…

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri Director of IIM Nagpur

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (IIM) NAGPUR

Revolutionizing the business schools landscape, IIMs have marked a gracious presence with its commitment to serve quality education in the field of business administration education. Most of the aspiring students turn to IIMs for their flagship programmes such as MBA. So far, these central government-business schools have been established across 20 cities in India. At present, we couldn’t help but acknowledge IIM Nagpur’s significant work in creating better education dynamics for its alumni and offering them a radiant future to turn their dreams into reality. IIM Nagpur began its spectacular journey in the year 2015 and since then, it has only witnessed a remarkable geometric growth. Today, in its campuses established in Nagpur and Pune, more than 250 students are painting the canvas of a brighter future. IIM Nagpur is known for its rapid growth and reputation across Indian land.

To get a deeper understanding of the Institutes overall functionality and educational objectives, we sat down with the Director of IIM Nagpur, Dr. Bhimaraya Metri. He shed light on various aspects of the institution that amazed us. We believe that our global readership will find this read equally valuable and insightful based on the success witnessed by the institution.

A glance at the flagship offering

The overall curriculum of their flagship MBA programme is regularly updated and revised. Also, keeping up with NEP 2020 fundamentals, they have also appointed a special committee. The programme was created with the help of 16 business executives and prominent academics. The current MBA class (2022–2024) is seeking education using the updated course material.

They’ve created a new department of humanities, arts, and social science as part of NEP 2020. (HASS). The Indian ethos, business ethics, Corporate Governance, CSR, and Sustainability course have all been introduced in the curriculum. What makes it unique is the fact that recently they have introduced a cutting-edge course on life management skills called Professional Management Practice (PMP), where students are encouraged to participate in the Bharat Darshan Programme, which immerses them in rural living. Students are exposed to both urban and rural environments in this curriculum, which helps them hone their management and decisionmaking abilities. Additionally, they provide a course on execution strategy and take into account the course material offered at prestigious business institutions both domestically and abroad while redesigning the curriculum.

The Global Immersion Module

Instead of a field immersion programme, IIM Nagpur offers a Global Immersion module. It happens in one of two ways: Project-based Global Immersion Programme and Global Immersion Programme.

The students in the project-based global immersion programme are exposed to cultures and business contexts outside of their native countries. On the IIMN campus, the students study for a week or two while learning about the businesses in Singapore and Dubai. After the preliminary investigation, the students go to Singapore or Dubai to engage with the businesses, examine their operations, and gather both qualitative and quantitative data. They come back to complete the analysis and provide a report after a week. They refer to this as a project-based curriculum for global immersion. It truly combines global exposure with phenomenon-based learning.

In order to thoroughly immerse themselves in the business culture, a group of students participating in the second Global Immersion Programme go to Korea or Japan or France and visit their partner institutions in addition to well-known companies and cultural sites. The students write a report about their experiences when they get back. These opportunities expose pupils to different cultures and ensure better growth.

Executive Education- creating an impact

When it comes to Executive Education, they have been ranked first among the 14 first and second generation IIMs. This education programme has created a spur in the landscape and currently, they have 25 post-graduate certificate programmes in hybrid mode. The finest thing about IIM Nagpur Executive Education is that it was a trailblazer in starting two innovative programmes, namely the Cyber Security and Data Science programme in partnership with FedEX Institute of Technology, Memphis University Business School, Memphis. Recently, in association with a professor from Copenhagen Business School, they happened to launch a new blockchain programme. IIM Nagpur has become a pioneer in PG certificate programmes.

IIM Nagpur is the first educational establishment in the nation to launch a programme in the field of ESG management, or environment, social, and governance. Though the Government of India has ordered all PSUs to submit the ESG report, they are the pioneers in beginning this initiative. Moreover, one of the first institutions to approach and work with Coal India Ltd. was IIM Nagpur. It established a satellite campus in Pune and began offering Executive MBA programmes for working people on both campuses. The second batch is now receiving training at the IIM Nagpur campus, and the sessions at the Pune campus will shortly begin.

Meet the men at the helm

IIM Nagpur’s director, Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, is a prominent academician, well-known educator, accomplished researcher, and shrewd administrator. The esteemed Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO includes Dr. Metri as a member (INCCU). He serves on the NITIE Mumbai Board as well. Dr. Metri is a visitor

IIM Nagpur. The Maharashtra Agribusiness Network Project (MAGNET), funded by the Asian Development Bank, has designated IIM Nagpur as a Center of Excellence. IIM Nagpur took on the role of a CoE to provide training and support for many stakeholders, such as farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), CBOs, SHGs, and Start-ups.

The Vidarbha and Marathwada areas have been touched by the MAGNET initiative, notably in the growing of oranges, sweet limes, and chilies. InFED has educated 42 women entrepreneurs and is raising awareness among young businesspeople. Six of these women business owners are now transitioning from the start-up to the scale-up stage. IIM Nagpur holds boot camps to raise awareness and encourage individuals to create their own jobs rather than just seek them out. Contrarily, CLIP concentrates on educating project managers, which is certain to have an influence on infrastructure logistics. IIM Nagpur CLIP and the Maharashtra government recently inked an MoU to conduct research initiatives.

Definition for success

We asked Dr Metri to define the term success based on his insights, he conveyed, “I judge an institution’s success when it grows both horizontally and vertically. The strength of the institute is shown by the vertical development. The initial PGP batch’s strength was 120 when we initially started, but it is now 250. We have relocated from our rental facility to a brand-new, cutting-edge campus in Mihan’s business district. The infrastructure and programme have grown in that way. And expansion is what is meant by horizontal growth. To serve the requirements of the Pune industrial sector and Western Maharashtra, we have established a satellite campus in Pune where working people may enroll in our Executive MBA programme. Similarly, we have also started the Executive MBA programme for the Nagpur campus. So, we have started this programme to fulfill the industry’s needs.”

In the future, IIM Nagpur plans to expand its horizon abroad. Therefore, it could be regarded as an increase in the institution’s success and a growth in the researchers and intellectuals who work there. All of these are seen as integral parts of development. Teaching, training, research, and consulting all take place at the holistic business school. These four pillars serve as the foundation for comprehensive business schools, and IIM Nagpur pretty much defines these terms in its values. They have shifted to a colossal number of programmes, about 25 programmes in terms of research. The amount of intellectual capital is rising as well as research.

In the same vein, IIM Nagpur participates in several consulting projects and makes policies related to higher education. Success for the institution entails expansion in all these areas since it makes a substantial contribution to nation-building and participates in several committees related to higher education.

Notches on its belt

The cutting-edge campus of IIM Nagpur is the first NEPC initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and is located in the center of the industrial hub Mihan. The administration is quite pleased with IIM Nagpur’s growth, which is geometric when compared to the development of many Indian companies. The advancement of Executive Education and the initiatives made by InFED are other achievements that IIM Nagpur is proud of. Additionally,

They have crossed many milestones such as-

-IIM Nagpur is ranked 26th as per Fortune Indian Ranking 2022 for top B-schools.

-IIM Nagpur ranked 11th in the top institutions of national importance according to Outlook.

-IIM Nagpur ranked top 9th in IIMs &14th in top government B-School as per Business Today ranking 2022.

Basking in the glory of its grandiose success, IIM Nagpur as well its leadership panel has bagged many awards and accolades. A few of the worthy mentions are-

1. IIM Nagpur was awarded the prestigious GRIHA 4 Star LD Award from Hon’ble Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, on December 10, 2021 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

2. Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, was awarded the prestigious Dr. P.N. Singh Memorial Award by Higher Education Forum (HEF) for Outstanding Academic Leadership for the year 2021.

3. The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIMN) awarded the Competition Success Review (CSR) – India’s premier current affairs and career publication, Top Institute of India Award for the year 2021.

4. The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur) has bagged the prestigious Competition Success Review (CSR) Top Institute of India Award for the year 2022.

5. Indian Institute of Management Nagpur was awarded the Best B-School for Industrial Training in Future of Management Education Conclave 2023, organized by BW Businessworld on Thursday, January 19, 2023

6. Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, was awarded the Ambassador of Green Planet Award 2022 for exemplary contribution in promoting EV Ecosystem, Impacting Environmental Protection and Supporting Mission LiFE in India. The award was conferred during the ‘EY4EV INDIA SUMMIT 2023’ held on January 20, 2023

Also, a few of the considerable collaborations made by the institution with many big establishment across the country are as-

• IIM Nagpur has collaborated with VAMNICOM, Pune and has signed MoU on Monday, 26 December 2022.

• IIMN has signed an MoU with Indian Navy to conduct customized courses for Naval Personnel.

• Atlas Copco (India) Ltd. has signed a MoU with IIM Nagpur for skill development, R & D.

• IIM Nagpur has signed MoU with Govt of Maha to design disaster mgmt strategies.

• Coal India Limited (CIL) signed a MoU with IIM Nagpur on August 16, 2022.

• HPCL and IIM Nagpur signed MoU to promote academic and industry interactions.

• IIM Nagpur has been giving agri management lessons to farmers, has signed MoU with Maha Agribusiness Network Project.

• IIM Nagpur’s InFED has been selected under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme!.

• InFED has signed MoU with Toronto Business Development Centre, Canada.

The future outlooks

The main curriculum, executive programme, research, and consultancy at IIM Nagpur are all expected to expand. The administration wants to broaden the reach from Nagpur, Pune, and other locations while also growing in all four aspects of holistic education.

IIM Nagpur has numerous programmes planned for 2023–2024. Such as, The Center of Excellence for Corporate Governance CSR & Sustainability, or CGCS, has been established at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur.

The CoE CGCS aims to organize national and international conferences, seminars, round tables, management development programmes, guest lecturers, and other similar events both independently and in cooperation with the government, academic institutions, expert industry practitioners, consulting organizations, public sector organizations, and corporations.

A proposal on logistics for humanitarian aid has been delivered to the Maharashtra government by the COUNCIL FOR LOGISTICS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT (CLIP) of IIM Nagpur. Lately, they submitted a traffic study proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government. Training on effective logistics planning and execution will be developed, as well as courses for project managers seeking certification. Implementing the chief minister’s fellowship programme will be IIM Nagpur.

Acknowledging the Corporate Social Responsibility

IIM Nagpur recognises its CSR in the field and offers CSR courses to its graduates as part of the curriculum and engages in CSR activities. Around 120 NGOs participated in a recent NGO conference that IIM Nagpur conducted as part of Nagpur First; the event was a CSR endeavour. C-suites should engage in these elements for the entire growth of their workforce since CSR plays a significant role. It provides sponsorship to deserving needy students and scholarships to disadvantaged pupils. IIM Nagpur demonstrates its dedication to provide the smart and diligent students in the nation a better future by also making bank loans available to them.

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Meet Former Google CEO

Who Turned Google Into A Global Tech Giant Eric Schmidt Eric Schmidt

American entrepreneur and software engineer Eric Emerson Schmidt served as Google CEO from 2001 to 2011. He is known for transforming the company from a Silicon Valley start up into a global tech giant whose market is over $1.8 trillion today. Schmidt remained its executive chairman from 2011 to 2015, Alphabet’s executive chairman from 2015 to 2017, and its technical advisor from 2017 to 2020. Schmidt is the 54th richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $25.1 billion as of April 2022.

EARLY LIFE

Schmidt was raised in Falls Church and Blacksburg, Virginia. However, he was born in Falls Church, Virginia. He is one of the three children of Wilson Emerson Schmidt. His father served as a professor of international economics at Virginia Tech and Johns Hopkins University. He served in the Nixon Administration. Schmidt’s mother Eleanor had a master’s degree in psychology. Due to his father’s employment, Schmidt spent a portion of his boyhood in Italy, and he claims that this experience altered his perspective. After receiving eight varsity letter awards in long distance running, Schmidt graduated from Yorktown High School in the Yorktown district of Arlington County, Virginia, in 1972. At Princeton University, he started with architecture major but later switched to electrical engineering. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1976.Schmidt lived at the International House Berkeley from 1976 to 1980, where he first met Wendy Boyle who became his wife later. Schmidt got an M.S. degree in 1979 from the University of California, Berkeley for developing the Berknet network, which linked the campus computer centre with the EECS and CS departments. He also received a PhD in EECS from the same institution in 1982, with a dissertation on

the challenges of overseeing distributed software development and the methods available to address them.

CAREER

During his early life, Eric has faced numerous difficulties. He began his professional career by working for numerous technology firms. Eric was affiliated with Bell Labs, Zilog, and other companies early in his career. He served as Sun Microsystems’ first manager of a software engineer. In the year 1983, Eric began working for this software company. Eric began working with Novell as chairman and CEO in 1997. Schmidt joined Google as the Chairman in March 2001. He was given the additional title of CEO less than five months later. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founders, were appointed presidents of products and technology, respectively, at this time. Schmidt was hired as “adult supervision” for the founders, who were still in their twenties, according to a Silicon Valley witticism. In fact, the three were a triumvirate that ruled Google. Schmidt is credited for infusing traditional business structure features into the corporation. In August 2004, he supervised Google’s initial public offering of stock and functioned as a company spokesperson.

During Schmidt’s tenure, Google, already the owner of a popular search engine, launched a slew of new goods and services, including Google News (2002), Blogger (2003), Google Books (2004), Gmail (2004), Google Earth (2005), and Google Maps (2005). Google purchased the video-sharing site YouTube in 2006, followed by the advertising company DoubleClick the following year. Google took on Microsoft with the Chrome Web browser in 2008, and Apple with the Android mobile operating system. In 2011, Page resumed the Google CEO role he had abandoned ten years before, while Schmidt was appointed executive chairman, withdrawing from day-to-day operation of the company. Schmidt was appointed executive chairman of the Alphabet board of directors in 2015, when a new holding company called Alphabet Inc. was founded, including Google as a subsidiary. He held the position until 2018, when he left to become a technical adviser to Alphabet. He departed Google two years later. Eric worked at Apple as a member of the Board of Directors from 2006 until 2009. Apart from these pieces, Eric is linked to some political struggles. But under Barack Obama’s administration, he was a PCAST member.

PERSONAL LIFE

Schmidt wed Wendy Susan Boyle in June 1980 who was born in 1955 in Short Hills, New Jersey. In the 1990s, they resided in Atherton, California. They have a daughter named Sophie. Their second daughter Alison passed away in 2017 due to sickness. Although some of Schmidt’s connections outside of work have garnered media attention, he and his wife continue to support charities.

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS

Eric has received restricted stock worth $100 million from Google. He was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2006. In 2007, he was additionally admitted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Books: Eric Schmidt has co-authored several books as well. The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations, and Business, written by Schmidt and Jared Cohen, director of the Google Ideas think tank, was published in 2013 and explores the geopolitical effects of the expanding usage of the Internet and information access.

How Google Works: Schmidt co-wrote How Google Works, a New York Times best-selling book, with Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle in 2014. Rosenberg is a current advisor to Google CEO Larry Page and was previously Senior Vice President of Products at Google.

The Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell- Eric Schmidt wrote this book with Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle in 2019

The Age of AI: He wrote The Age of AI: And Our Human Future, which was co-authored by Henry Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher (2021). He made a brief cameo appearance in Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels’ 2014 comedy Dumb and Dumber To. Additionally, he made a brief appearance in the HBO programme Silicon Valley.

Across the world, the demand for online, easyto-access learning and training is higher than ever. Service providers are queuing up to add value to the education sector by acknowledging profitable opportunities in this domain. However, it’s essential to know which of these online course platforms offer real value and why.

As the internet surges with increasing amounts of knowledge, online learning is fast becoming a preferred choice among learners and scholars of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Offering increased levels of flexibility, scalability and consistency to learners, online courses have successfully modified the norms of learning and now eradicate the need to be in a classroom itself.

Demanding less monetary investment and achieving remarkable outcomes, many digital learning platforms break through social and physical barriers by enabling individuals to obtain high-quality learning resources and to learn in-demand skills that open the doors to opportunity.

Some enterprises stand apart, however. One of the world’s most popular free self-paced online learning platforms, Alison.com, is one such example.

The numbers speak for themselves; Alison caters to over 17 million learners across the globe, with more and more people signing up daily. This dynamic and free-to-use platform offers basic training and workplace skills via its 2000+ free, in-demand online courses.

A pioneer in the field of education and workplacefocused learning, Alison is freely accessible worldwide and empowers millions of people globally by providing them with skills that are vital to learning, life and work!

Built-in Benefits - For Everyone, Everywhere, Anytime

Alison’s extensive range of free-to-learn online courses delivers the ultimate in user-friendly experiences, along with a range of nine categories, to browse if you’re not sure which course you want to complete.

With Alison, learners can gain knowledge on any subject matter; from Human Resources to the Occupational Health and Safety and thousands in between.

An intuitive search function allows a learner to find all courses related to a desired field of work. Courses are

available at Certificate, Diploma, and Learning Path levels and take anything from 1 hour to a few days to complete.

What sets Alison apart from other competitors in the EdTech industry is its ‘freemium’ business model, access to course assessments, high publishing standards and the company’s focus on noninstitutional training.

All learning on Alison is free, and learners can study and complete as many courses as they please - without the financial commitment. Should a graduate wish to purchase a formal document recognising their achievement, there is a nominal fee to pay.

The platform delivers non-institutional skills training and focuses on bridging the gap between skilled experts and those seeking to upskill.

Learners can freely test their knowledge gained by taking a course assessment. Learners who pass the test with 80% or higher are automatically certified and deemed as graduates.

With these key focuses in place, Alison serves enables learners to empower themselves by

• broadening their knowledge and skill sets,

• boosting their résumés,

• advancing their job prospects, and

• securing a bright and prosperous future.

With Alison’s popular updated online learning app (available to download and use for free from the Google Play store and the Huawei App Gallery), learners can enjoy ‘on-go-learning’ at their fingertips. The app and desktop interface seamlessly integrate to offer an easy transition between the two learning environments.

The App was designed to make learning as effortless as possible. A study-and-complete function enrols learners into any course they would like to study - all at the tap of a button. Learners can complete courses at their own pace, whenever, and wherever they are.

Learners are supported with career guidance, study reminders and free assessments. These features help to keep them focused on learning and achieving the milestones needed to reach their career goals.

GOOD FOR YOU –GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Alison’s growing portfolio of eLearning solutions is completely multi-functional and developed to empower not only individuals but also business and communities alike.

Multinational Corporations, Non-Profit Organisations, as well as small to medium enterprises, can all integrate the Alison training platform to their website by installing the Alison API. This feature helps to harness the power of online learning to upskill workforces and eliminates the need to login on multiple platforms.

Alison API, Groups and Publishing makes continuous learning and development, both efficient and cost-effective.

With Alison Groups, an appointed manager can monitor the progress and performance of a team collective as they learn. This feature, aimed at HR Managers, Business Owners and Learning and Development Departments, empowers teams of any size to upskill and increase their employability. Alison Groups seamlessly integrates with any of the 2000 free online courses available on the Alison platform.

CONNECTING LEARNERS AND TEACHERS THROUGH ALISON PUBLISHING

Alison is not just about free education. Alison also enables free skills sharing through its self-publishing programme by allowing subject matter experts to develop and publish courses on the platform freely.

The Alison Publishing programme is designed to monetise expert knowledge and skills and enable individuals to share their subject matter expertise with global or exclusive audiences. The programme is specifically geared to subject matter experts, professional publishers, corporate or government organisations, as well as non-profit foundations who wish to upskill staff or communities through private or public courses.

A free training programme hosted on the Alison platform introduces prospective publishers to the ins and outs of selfpublishing. The programme also allows publishers to earn a profit through advertisements placed throughout their course content.

To ensure learning content is of the highest quality, the Alison publishing team work closely with all publishers to review their courses and have a team of pedagogic specialists who help to ensure Alison learners experience the best in learning.

CERTIFIED KNOWLEDGE

Learning and assessments on the Alison platform are free and courses are offered at Certificate, Diploma, or Learning Path levels. When a learner passes the course test, they are deemed a graduate and can access proof of their test score via a downloadable learner record. Should a learner wish to obtain formal documentation of a completed course, there is a small fee to pay for a digital or printed certificate or diploma.

Unlike other platforms, Alison.com is not tied to traditional educational institutions that resist high-level disruption and seek to protect their outdated and inaccessible model.

The business strives to be a global leader in workplace skills, training and assessments and to offer high quality, accessible learning to people that traditional educational institutions have continually failed to reach.

Since its inception, Alison has been one of the most widely used providers in the online learning and career services industry. Recently, Alison partnered with two leaders in the professional development industry to strengthen its value chain.

All courses are accredited by the Continuous Personal Development (CPD) Service in the United Kingdom. Accredited CPD training means the learning activity has reached the required Continuing Professional Development standards and benchmarks, and the learning value has been scrutinised to ensure integrity and quality. This CPD Certification Service provides recognised independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD requirements.

The partnership with the National Health Care Provider Solutions (NHCPS) offers continuing education credits in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification and recertification. These certified courses are jointly provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and Save a Life by NHCPS.

KNOWLEDGE OF SELF LEADS TO SELFEMPOWERMENT

In July 2020, Alison launched the first of its free Psychometric Tests.

The Workplace Personality Assessment was developed in line with the company’s beliefs that all people are entitled to free education and skills training as standard, as well as knowledge about themselves as a person. This personality test is the first of a series of psychometric tests which will include free cognitive skills tests such as; verbal reasoning, numeracy and abstract reasoning.

The test assesses a person’s people skills, personal drive, work styles and learning styles. It is designed to uncover characteristics as an employee and colleague. The course highlights key strengths and weaknesses and gives personalised self-development tips. The results then suggest courses that would be most helpful to a person’s professional development and outline specific careers that they are most suited to.

A COMPANY WITH VISION

Social entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mike Feerick, launched Alison in 2007. His goal is to be a catalyst for social change by offering a one-of-a-kind free learning platform to be made available to anyone, anywherewithout restrictions.

He believes that education and skills training could be made free online through the use of advertising and a combination of free and paid (premium) services –making it self-funding and hugely scalable: the dynamic free online learning platform that Alison.com is today.

Today, Alison’s business model of largely advertisingsupported education is one that has endured and flourished.

Where other large free learning platforms have struggled to find working business models - and are often tied to traditional educational institutions that resist highlevel disruption to protect their traditional and, often inaccessible, ways of doing things.

“When I launched Alison, I had a vision that it would someday become one of the world’s largest websites; that in time we would see it educating anyone, anywhere, in any subject, at every level, in any language … for free!” he says. “But the vision went further than that. If we could integrate free publishing, we could

start a huge, unprecedented transfer of knowledge and skill across the world and free psychometrics for everyone which could empower many with greater self-awareness and eventually, confidence in them.”

“I strongly believed that, with free education and work-based learning, we could promote social progress and provide access to valuable skills; skills that could elevate anyone and help build purpose in everyday life,” he says, identifying the ‘sustainable’ manner of Alison’s operating model as the unique and critical tenet behind its success to date.”

Today Mike is responsible for strategically defining and leading the Alison organisation, enabling it to be a driving force for universal, quality workplace-focused learning and empowerment for all, leaving no one behind.

The social vision of education continues to be a personal source of motivation for Mike, who aligns Alison’s overarching goal to the vision of a world of free education within the UN Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26 ‘Education shall be free’.

“I’ve seen first hand the difference Alison’s powerful free online learning platform can make in the lives of people,” he says. “Alison is harnessing technology and open-source learning to help upskill billions of people who need and value education, knowledge building, collaboration and real-world problem-solving skills.”

Mike is an Asoka Fellow, UNESCO (2010) and WISE Award winner (2013). He is also Founder and Chairman of Ireland’s National Diaspora Programme, Ireland Reaching Out and travels worldwide as an invited speaker on both Alison and his innovative approaches to improving global access to free education. In 2018, he was a speaker at the Forbes CIO

EVERYONE A CHANGEMAKER

Using open-source infrastructure, Alison focuses its services on fostering positive change and ‘employability’. Its premise is built on positive social change, creating opportunity, prosperity, and equality for everyone.

The majority of its learners are located in developing countries or the unemployed, young, elderly, or emigrants in developed countries. Users include thousands of businesses, schools, and universities as well as individuals.

Once you have completed any course, you can then proudly prove your achievements and knowledge with diplomas and certificates, allowing you to go out and

shine in that job interview!

“We are experiencing a significant increase in mobile usage compared to this time last year – there is no doubt the pandemic has impacted how we will access and consume education in the future. In fact, 60% of our users are on mobile, and of those, 70% use Android devices,” says Feerick.

“Our goal is to reach billions of learners globally, and the updated app will help us in that mission. It also helps us to make education accessible to anyone and anywhere, irrespective of gender, geography, economic status or any other barriers to access. It is eye-opening that only 7% of the world’s population has been to college, and that shows the opportunity that free e-learning offers.”

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

For escalating the growth and keeping abreast of market trends, R&D is the crux, and ‘Team Alison’ pays proper heed to this, investing around 30% of turnover into this arena annually.

Through sheer strength in technological innovation, Alison has attempted to drive all costs of education to zero with the help of unique automation and AI.

They believe that with the help of advanced technological processes, they can deliver more quality services at a lesser expense.

In this respect, Mike elucidates, “R&D can allow us to get the cost out of the old system of expensive traditional education - and that means streamlining systems and processes.”

MANY FEATHERS – ONE CAP

Alison has been accredited with multiple awards and accolades. The organisation received the ‘Honourable Mention Award in Information and Communications Technology’ at the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize in Paris in 2010 and a highly prestigious Innovation Award at the ‘World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)’ awards in Qatar in 2013, amongst others.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE FOUNDER’S DESK:

“Be an avid learner! Set time aside to upskill and broaden your knowledge. With a plethora of free resources available online, you can access the world of knowledge at your fingertips. Keep up with your curiosity as that will feed your imagination – the greatest power of the human brain.”

Alison CEO, Mike Feerick

MIKE FEERICK | CEO & Founder of Alison

Top 10 BEST CLOTHING BRANDS IN INDIA

Top 10 Best Clothing Brands in India

Over the past few years, India has been seeing significant growth in the fashion Industry, giving rise to new brands. According to statista.com, revenue in the apparel market amounts to $87.6b in 2022. The market is estimated to grow annually by 5.10%(2022-26). The largest segment of the market is the segment women’s apparel, with a market volume of $39.5b in 2022. This number shows how much Indians are fashion-conscious and give attention to their outfit.

With an ever-growing number of fashions offering highquality clothing products, it is challenging to identify which brands are the best ones to go with. After all, in the fashion world, your clothing can make or break your identity! And the quality of fabric, durability, and design play a vital role in how you present yourself in front of others and how confident you feel.

Whether you are seeking to add some new clothing brands to your closet or replace them with new ones, we have picked the top 10 best clothing brands in India based on their popularity and quality.

Before moving forward, let me increase your general knowledge – India is the world’s second-largest textile and apparel producer behind China, as of 2022.

Best clothing brands in India

Pepe Jeans

Nitin, Arun, and Milan Shah – three brothers of Indian origins opened the first store in London in 1973, named it Pepe Jeans. It became one of the European best-clothing brands by the 80s. As the name suggests, Pepe jeans is a denim and casual wear jeans brand. This is one of those brands that has been tried and tested by millions of Indians. It has a wide range of choices in clothes for both men and women and represents classical yet contemporary style, with its wide range of tea-shirts, jeans, shirts, and jackets. Pepe jeans have over 440 stores worldwide and only around 200 outlets in India, nearly 50%.

FabIndia

FabIndia is a well-known clothing brand, opened in 1975 by John Bissell. The brand has a wide range of clothes and specializes in the diverse traditional craft of India. Back in the early eighties, the brand used to sell hand-made Women and hand-printed garments. Not just that, it also pushed further its products to non-textile industries like Organic foods, personal care products, and handcrafted jewellery.Speaking of the brand presence, FabIndia operates 327 stores across India and 14 international stores. The brand offers complete ethnic wear for women, men, and kids. Besides that, the brand also makes soft furnishings, rugs, and bed covers. To date, they are exporting Goods to over 40 countries.

• Flying Machine

The very first store was opened in 1980. Flying Machine is a clothing brand, that has been offering fashion-forward clothing to a wide range of Indian customers since 2003. The brand is best known for its homegrown denim band and high-quality streetwear. It is India’s one of the best clothing brands and has massive popularity among youth.

With an attractive design and affordable retail price, the brand collection offer: T-shirt, turtleneck, polo shirts, Jeans, and more. Flying Machine also sells cost-effective accessories like bags, and sunglasses, to complement your fashionable looks.

Peter England

The sound is so much English that you probably end up assuming that’s from England. But there is a surprise! It is actually a part of Madura fashion & lifestyle, a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd. This is one of the most trusted Indian brands, specializing in men’s clothing, and considered among the best clothing brand In India. It has a collection of everything which require in a men Closet. They have everyday use of clothing as well as casual shirt, Jeans, and trousers. If you are wondering which brand has the best quality t-shirt, you may consider this brand.

Wrangler

Wrangler is an American manufacturer of jeans and other clothing products, founded in 1904. The brand is owned by Kantoor Brand Inc., which also owns Lee. The brand has transformed the landscape of western fashion with its durable, comfy denim. Apart from it, Wrangler also sells fashion accessories like caps, belts, and soaks. This brand has been operating as a manufacturer of one of the best clothing brands in India. The popularity of this brand among Indian teens and working professionals are very impressive. You can also find pairs of trousers and Denim shirts in any Indian men’s closet. The brand offers high-quality clothing at an affordable price.

Van Heusen

The only thing Dutch about is the name of this brand! It is an American brand that operates under license to Madura Fashion & Lifestyle in India and other parts of Asia. The brand owns some of the most luxurious brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Warmer’s, Olga, and others. They specialize in office wear for both men and women and also sells some causal wear options like T-shirt, skirts, trousers, blazers, and accessories.

Allen Solly

Another English name - but it is an Indian brand, launched in India in 1993. With an impressive presence in the field of online and 207 stores across India, Allen Solly is among the top clothing brands in India, owned by India’s giant Fashion & lifestyle organization Madura. The brand is introduced as a premier international label, attracting Indian customers to buy affordable products. They have high-end styles and cater to every age group, for men and women.

Levi’s

The reason denim has been able to stick around with us for so long, because they are so darn comfortable. Wearing jeans can sometimes be like a chic pair of tights, and if you are at work all day, then you know you don’t just want to look great but feel great too. And what could be more perfect denim jeans than Levi’s. Live’s is an American multinational ironic clothing brand. It is trusted by millions of consumers –known for its timeless yet stylish pieces. The reason why Levi’s has captured most of the denim jeans, it is trusted for innovation, quality, performance, durability, style, fit, and more. Whether plain or plaid, cotton or corduroy, Levi’s never fails to offer a wide variety of designs and fabrics. They don’t just have good jeans, but they also sell a T-shirt, jackets, Joggers, Polos, and accessories.

ZARA

If you are a little bit fashionconscious, you don’t need an introduction to this brand. The brand has been operating for the past 44 years, and it has been in India for almost a decade now. The reason why ZARA is so popular is that their stores get new designs within two weeks. ZARA has its principles – They reduce the quantity manufactured for a particular style. In such cases, people can’t miss those new stylish clothes that can make them look unique and different from others. Zara is a Spanish multi-national clothing brand that cannot have competition with any. The brand’s success has largely been driven by its ability to keep up with rapidly changing fashion trends and offer premium quality clothing, accessories, footwear, and beauty products.

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger is one of those clothing brands In India that comes up with class and elegance. Although the brand was founded in 1985, it took time to enter the Indian market. In India, Tommy Hilfiger’s first store was opened in 2008. Despite such a late entry, they managed to gain popularity among youth. The brand makes high-quality men’s and women’s clothing that carries a sleek, modern-chic vibe. Doesn’t matter if you are choosing classical jeans or one of their colorful button-downs. You’ll instantly find yourself looking stylish.

Conclusion

The list above may help you to decide what apparel companies are the best clothing brands in India. But if these are quite familiar and looking for others, you may choose these –

• Biba

• Monte Carlo

• Peter England

• Belmonte

• AND

One-Stop E-Learning Platform For Computer Science Geeks

Entrepreneurship is not a destination, but it is a journey filled with hardships. One must always choose this path if they’ve dreamt of it, and criticism will come by default, so you must learn, grow, and then move on. Lastly, while taking any step, always hunt for knowledge and believe in yourself and your ideas.

SANDEEP JAIN Founder

Kajal Dobhal | Business Connect

A market research report has projected that the Indian online education market will expand at a CAGR of about 20 per cent by 2020, worth about 18 billion U.S. dollars. Also, by 2021, the online education industry in India will experience a growth of about X6 times. It is surprisingly true that by 2021, 9.6 million people will be enrolled in online education compared to 1.6 million users in 2016. Currently, with the whole buzz around the pandemic, the e-learning portals have been flourishing.

GeeksforGeeks is a computer science portal created by-geeks and for-geeks. The Portal has set industry standards for quality and systems that others thrive on matching. It is focused on producing quality rich content under multiple fields like Data Structures, Algorithms, Programming Languages, and Interview Preparation. For the Computer Science geeks, the Portal has an ocean worth of information to offer.

EXCLUSIVE AND OUTSTANDING MINDSET

Behind the inception story of this one-of-a-kind EdTech startup is the motivation of Sandeep Jain (Founder) to address the placement problem of Indian Engineering students. Jain identified that a considerable number of students experience unemployment after the completion of the degree as companies tend to ignore tier-III engineering colleges for placement. Further, he noticed that due to campus placements students lack knowledge in the procedures of off-campus placement.

Sandeep took steps in this area because of his passion for teaching and to tackle the students’ placement problems in India. He realised that for addressing all the above issues, there was no dedicated platform. Then came in the picture, the concept of GeeksforGeeks. Jain began writing blogs to help students plan interviews, and the demand for the information gave recognition and growth to the Portal.

From conception to completion, it’s admirable how GeeksforGeeks has marked its presence in the e-learning world. Making their way out through the crowd, the Portal offers new

members to contribute research-driven articles and even pays for it. The vast collection of computer science-related articles and the opportunity for being an essential contributor is not yet available with any other e-learning portals in India.

Sandeep Jain is the genius mindbehind this unique platform; he commenced this massive e-learning platform in 2009. Jain is an IIT Roorkee alumnus, and he likes to solve programming problems in the most effective ways. Apart from GeeksforGeeks, he has worked as a Software Developer with DE Shaw and Co. and as an Assistant Professor at JIIT Noida.

A PLATFORM FOR EVERYONE

For Computer Science folks, GeeksforGeeks is a blessing. The USP of the Portal is well maintained with the most extensive collection of Computer Science topics, and curated articles that are keenly focused on the updates of new technologies and inventions.

Furthermore, the site has a dedicated section for free e-learning courses and freelance writing prospects. Here, industry experts and professionals share their expertise and experiences through video lectures. GeeksforGeeks offer all these unique advantages exclusively for the field of Computer Science.

Besides, the ‘Learner-centred techniques’ that the Portal closely watches is the weakness and requirements of the student. The GeeksforGeeks squad coordinates with students and challenges them, and also offer dedicated TAs for doubt assistance. The dedicated team of professionals have created Portal where students can track their progress, and problem-solving assistance is a significant part of learning methodology in the Company.

GeeksforGeeks, a platform that is highly committed to the career of students,uses countless strategies to improve the excellent participation of students in online courses, which includes problem-solving through a dedicated doubt-clearance team, track-based learning, assessment tests, premium video lectures, and much more. In addition, the career development opportunities offered by GeeksforGeeks includes internships, lifelong access to classes, theoretical material by subject matter experts and the course completion certificates. Besides, additional features are included, which depends on the type of courses opted by the student.

The GeeksforGeeks portal possesses well-researched explanations to several mysterious questions, and it even has a dedicated section for interview preparation material for several exams like GATE, UGC NET, ISRO CS, which covers everything fromscratch.

Diving into a wide variety of online courses, GeeksforGeeks is becoming the #1 choice of e-learners. The e-courses offered by the Portal includes mock interview courses, computer science’s subject-specific courses, and placement preparation course for pre-final and final year students. Further, language courses like Java Fundamentals, Java Backend Development, and C++ STL is also provided. Besides, data structures, algorithm, test series and low-level design courses for SDE interview preparation, OS, DBMS, and CN are some other courses offered by GeeksforGeeks. Not just this, the fast-paced e-learning portal even offers complete interview preparation courses, and a handful of free courses like Sudo GATE, Fork Python, Fork Java, and Fork CPP.

TECHNOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Keeping pace with the latest technological advancements is crucial for every e-learning portal because it provides room for growth and development of the Portal as a whole.GeeksforGeeks are navigating their way and are standing clear of the crowd as the Portal thathere develops and introduces extremely up-to-the-mark content based on emerging technologies of the era.

One can easily find curated blogs on areas such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, React, NodeJS, Blockchain, Virtual Reality, and others. Besides, the Portal has introduced courses on new languages like Python and React. The variety of courses is helping students in learning, project development, and are adding weightage to their resume, which will eventually help them to get quality jobs.

In addition to technological advancement, and by giving a keen emphasis on the R&D, GeeksforGeeks focuses on addressing the demands of students and working professionals. The Portal closely checks the problems and builds effective solutions for interview preparation.

As unique as it is in the business, the Company analyses the recruiting practises of companies worldwide to help students get placement. Via the feedback evaluation, the Portal re-structures the courses, and this unique policy is making GeeksforGeeks the talk of the town.

WORKFORCE – AN ASSET

Considering the workforce as their best asset, GeeksforGeeks meets the employees’ needs. Additionally, the Portal ensures to elevate the motivation of employees and preserve their enthusiasm, for the same, variety of techniques like constructive feedback, monthly appreciation rewards, recreational games, festival celebration, paid leaves, work from home, health insurance, fully stocked refreshments, and many more are used. Besides, the Portal takes care of freelancers by awarding them with “Geek of The Month Award”.

Sustaining an equitable environment, GeeksforGeeks safeguards the opinion and feedback of every person associated with the Organisation.

MARKETING TACTICS

Look-alike businesses exist in the market, but what makes them unique and top-notch, is an exclusive marketing strategy. Here, GeeksforGeeks is giving a tough competition to its competitors through its integrated marketing strategy. The Portal follows a B2C model of marketing. The emerging e-learning portal has three core strategy for competitive marketing of their products and services, and they are:

• BracketI: E-mail Marketing -GeeksforGeeks looks out to create a gigantic knowledge-sharing database to generate leads and create a pool of educational database that also provides updates on the Portal offerings.

• Bracket II: Organic Marketing via Social Media - The Portal have succeeded in marking their visibility on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and Pinterest with a comprehensive social media marketing approach. Today, social media marketing is vital for the growth of any Organisation.

• Bracket III: Paid Media Campaigns - Paid media campaigns on the Google search & display network is an active part of the digital marketing plan. GeeksforGeeks hunt to comprehend user behaviour, acquisition, demographics, and website traffic to augment the search results and returns.

ACHIEVEMENTS TO BOAST UPON

Centred on the achievement of GeeksforGeeks’ students, the Organization considers its real achievement. The zestful e-learning portal’s most significant achievement by far lies in being ranked 300 in Alexa Rank, and 50 in All India Rank. Also, students of the Portal who undertook several courses are placed with industry tycoons like Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and many more.

Leading from the front, the GeeksforGeeks team is working day and night to bring this e-learning portal at the top. The Portal is continuously accumulating best-in-class resources from the industry for the courses they provide.

To increase the reach of the Portal, an upright focus is being paid to the marketing of the content. Further, the Company currently looks forward to improving its products and services and wants to create new market standards for the e-learning domain.

TOP 10 BEST MOTIVATIONAL PODCASTS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

In the current era we have a good number of sources that entertain, educate and motivate us. Podcasts have special place among them for being convenient and handy. The easy to listen to advice in the areas of life where you actually need it. These podcasts will help you get motivated and work for your personal objectives by increasing your professional alternatives and offering practical advice on how to live a happy and fulfilling life at home. So put on your headphones, relax on the couch (for the time being), and browse the list of Top 10 best motivational podcasts to pick your new favourite one.

1. THE MINDVALLEY PODCAST

The Mindvalley Podcast focuses on the specifics of personal development. You may overcome limiting thoughts and step into your power with the assistance of this top-rated motivational podcast. It is jampacked with practical tactics and strategies that will enhance your performance, thinking, and beliefs. At present, the Mindvalley Podcast is best motivational podcasts on YouTube Vishen Lakhiani, the company’s creator and founder of Mindvalley, is the podcast’s host. Experts and professors from a range of disciplines, including psychology, physics, business, and spirituality, are included in the episodes. Every 2–7 days, brand-new episodes are made available. They usually last between 30 and 1 hour.

2. THE GARYVEE AUDIO EXPERIENCE

Gary Vaynerchuk is a business owner, CEO, investor, and motivational speaker who hosts his own podcast and is known for his no-bullshit approach to public speaking. The GaryVee Audio Experience, one of the best motivational podcasts on apple, is a great choice for listeners who appreciate high-energy speaking and demanding self-accountability since it combines motivational speaking, dialogues with other experts, and direct questions and answers. We discovered that a lot of the programmes focused on issues connected to work smarts, life growth, and general self-improvement. The majority of the podcast is made up of straight-talk advice from Vaynerchuk’s own experiences and other tales from his job

While we all are making effort to lead an optimal life, feeling demotivated now and then is a common feeling. None of us wake up everyday with the same fiery willpower to pursue the fixed and planned goals. On top of that there could be some shadow of bad habits that not only make us undisciplined but also drag us behind.

and personal life. For in-depth listening, the GaryVee Audio Experience combines short, snappy episodes with longer, more indepth ones. Vaynerchuk frequently promotes a grind culture way of living due to his high energy and direct demeanour. Therefore, avoid it if that’s not your thing.

3. HOW TO FAIL

It may not come as a surprise given that one of the few British podcasts here celebrates failure because it isn’t a particularly America n trait. Elizabeth Day, a well-known Northern Irish author who also wrot e the book “Failology” on the same topic, is the author of the book

“How to Fail.” A guest speaker discusses their mistakes and the lessons they learnt from them every week. It’s encouraging to lear n that people like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Jameela Jamil have erred a nd then changed. However, as the visitors are typically British, i t is also consistently funny and conspicuously devoid of humblebrags.

4. ART OF CHARM

The hosts of the Art of Charm podcast, AJ Harbinger and Johnny Dzubak, teach us how to master interpersonal dynamics, relationships, and being your best self. This podcast offers a totally distinctive viewpoint from the bulk of entrepreneurial-based broadcasts in addition to being inspirational. The “Art of Charm” places considerably more of an emphasis on the relational component than the majority of self-help books do on self-improvement, high-performance habits, and corporate success strategies. Certainly, this one is among the best motivational podcasts for young adults Because our success is so heavily reliant on our social and emotional intelligence, this podcast teaches us how to simply get better with others. If you apply the lessons from these incidents, they may alter not just the way you view relationships but also the direction in which you choose to go in life.

5. PODCAST BY TONY ROBBINS

There is no need to introduce Tony Robbins. His expertise as “an entrepreneur, #1 NY Times bestselling author, philanthropist, and the nation’s #1 life and business strategist” is described on his very own w ebsite. All of that is impressive, yet it almost seems too modest.

The legend that is Tony Robbins. He has been known as a “motiva tional speaker” for many years, and he does so without actually pre aching to his audience. The podcast covers a variety of topics, includ ing money, happiness, starting a business, and more, all while offerin g insight that can only come from the host. It gives you access to the sa me depth of knowledge available in his books but in a more laid-back and palatable way.

6. TED TALKS DAILY

Yes, it’s true that TED Talks have evolved into a bit of a midd le-class cliche. The readily digestible, 18-minute lectures on a wide ra nge of topics have grown so commonplace in culture that they have even inspired light parody.

They’re not all geniuses. However, there is a tonne of gold to be found, the topics are almost always fascinating, and, to be honest, th ey are frequently really brief. Explore the vast internet history or s ubscribe to Elaine Hu’s daily podcast, which will provide you with a whole new topic every day.

7. THE SCHOOL OF GREATNESS

Lewis Howes, an All-American athlete, author, and entrepreneur, is the host of The School of Greatness. Howes conducts interviews with some of the most accomplished individuals in business, sport, entertainment, science, and other fields. Author Dan Harris, businessman Gary Vaynerchuk, and comedian Kevin Hart have all previously appeared as guests. Each episode includes tales, methods, and advice that will spur you on to develop and live a better life. Overcoming fear, managing relationships, love, success, business, and other topics are covered. Every two to three days, Howes releases brand-new episodes that last anywhere from six minutes to an hour.

8. GOAL DIGGER

Jenna Kutcher is an entrepreneur, mother, and business adviser. On her Goal Digger podcast, which frequently features conversations with other local experts, she discusses marketing, social media, money, branding, and more.

The value of taking time off, changing careers, and seasonal Instagram techniques are some recent episode subjects. Goal Digger falls among the best motivational podcasts for women.

9. THE MINIMALIST

A lot of people need to listen to the uplifting podcast that Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus provide. How to live a meaningful life with less is the main focus of The Minimalists. This podcast is like a breath of fresh air in a world filled with excess. The shows on this list are a fantastic source of inspirational sayings and concepts. They also try to pique the interest of the audience, which is really intelligent. The goal of the minimalist movement is to encourage people to be content with their possessions and do without unnecessary items. The episodes are refreshingly uncomplicated, just like everything else about this podcast, from the website layout to the themes chosen. Each one addresses the major issues and concentrates on a certain topic. They inquire, for instance, “Is there a healthy form of nostalgia or is it intrinsically pointless to grasp onto the past” in an episode named “Nostalgia.” These two regularly appear in the top charts of Apple Podcasts because of their fresh perspectives and eye-opening originality.

10. OPTIMAL LIVING DAILY

This one is the best podcasts for success and motivation. If you wish you had the time to read and take in some of the best blogs’ inspirational content then this one is for you. Because it selects the best internet content and condenses it into a 10-minute clip, pay attention to Optimal Living Daily. Amazing, isn’t it? It is hosted by Justin Malik, who provides daily readings on a variety of subjects, including productivity, minimalism, life-hacking approaches, and much more. There is no way you could miss out on inspirational content to lift your spirits if Optimal Living Daily is on your list of podcasts to listen to. This one is among best motivational podcasts on Spotify.

Celebrating Four Decades of Educational Excellence Marching ahead under a Visionary Leadership

indranil Roy | Business Connect

The pioneer in educational excellence, Dayananda Sagar College of Arts, Science, and Commerce (DSCASC) is one of the premier educational institutions located in Karnataka, Bengaluru. The institute was established in 1978 under the aegis of the MGVP trust. Currently, it offers 3 PG programmes (MBA, MCA, and M.Com.) and 4 UG programmes (B. Com, BBA, BCA, and B.Sc.) that are all affiliated with Bangalore University.

Shri R. Dayananda Sagar, a visionary educationist, industry leader, and philanthropist, was the founder and Chairman of this College. He founded Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Peetha (MGVP) trust in early 1960. A series of educational institutions were started under this trust, aptly called Dayananda Sagar Institutions. Today, it is headed by the able successors of the founder Dr D. Hemachandra Sagar, and Dr D. Premachandra Sagar to take it to new heights of Educational Excellence.

The institution has an imposing history of innovative education, with a comprehensive range of programs right from KG to PG to PhD in a broad spectrum of disciplines that include Engineering, Dental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Health Care, Nursing, Allied Health, Information Technology, Arts, Commerce, Business Management, etc.

THE VISIONARY – DR NAGARAJ SHENOY

Under the leadership of Dr Nagaraj Shenoy, Principal & Director of DSCASC, the institute is honing future leaders and entrepreneurs. He has over 25 years of experience in Engineering and Management colleges. In academics, the visionary did his graduation in Civil Engineering and earned Two Doctorate Degrees for Research Works in the Management domain. He was honoured with the prestigious “Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Award” in 2018 and received fellowships from The Institution of Engineers (India) and the Centre for Education Growth and Research (CEGR).

USPs OF DAYANANDA SAGAR

Dr. NAGARAJ SHENOY Principal | Director

A unique business incubation centre, called ‘DERBI’ encourages entrepreneurship among students. Through this centre, many students have started their own businesses and received funding. AIMA Biz Lab - a Business Simulation lab for Commerce and Business Management programs, has been initiated by the institution. In Bengaluru, this is the only second lab of its kind. This would provide the students with a business-like scenario to experiment with. They can access this feature on both their laptop and mobile device.

The “Blacbook Thought Leader Speaker Series” is a unique opportunity for students to meet with young & successful firms, during which entrepreneurs who have been featured in Forbes’ “30 under 30” list, share their experiences and key takeaways with the students. This activity aims to inspire young minds to think creatively, investigate societal issues to offer answers, and find a niche for their business pursuit.

“DSI Insights” - a knowledge portal that features the latest business opinions and thoughts from distinguished experts on the most critical business subjects. Students, professionals worldwide, and managers can use it for free to find solutions to the most recent problems in finance, marketing, strategy, supply chain management, and technology. These initiatives have made DSCASC an Institution of high reputation.

On the campus of Dayananda Sagar Institutions, there are students from several states and different countries. Students from any location or linguistic background can feel at home in this diversified setting. In addition, the institution houses centres to teach a few prominent foreign languages. The institution’s culture has been carefully developed to be one in which individuals can communicate, express themselves creatively, and grow while using a variety of languages.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES IN THE EDUCATION SPACE

To promote higher education, the government is launching several initiatives. This includes providing scholarships to underprivileged student communities and providing particular book banks. Additionally, the government encourages students to enroll in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) on platforms like NPTEL and Swayam. DSCASC is effectively using all these measures by Government. They have currently become a guiding light for all the underprivileged students to avail various scholarships and make the best use of the books in the library.

SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THE POST-COVID ERA

The education industry has experienced significant disruption due to COVID. Only online classes were an option, and numerous extracurricular and nonacademic activities were carried out via the Zoom meeting platform using the students’ creativity. The primary obstacles in using the online teachinglearning model are maintaining focus and keeping students’ interest. They have been holding several counselling seminars and soft skill training workshops to assist students and staff in comprehending and adjusting to the altered situation.

THE EVOLVING MARKETING TRENDS

Ever since the technological changes started taking unprecedented rapid pace, the whole market situation, flooded with disruptive innovations, created a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world. DSCASC encourages students to be highly flexible, multi-skilled, and innovative to survive and excel in this trend. Their main aim is to help students acquire critical thinking abilities, problemsolving skills, and entrepreneurial attitudes to maintain their competency in a relevant and long-lasting manner.

INSIGHTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF R&D

The education system primarily performs two functions: disseminating existing knowledge and creating new knowledge. The first one in this is accomplished through classroom lectures, but the second one is achieved only through the conduct of research. Without research, an institution stagnates and could eventually become obsolete. The story of Nokia, the No. 1 brand in the world, which went out of business in 5 years is a classic illustration of the effects of ignoring research.

The faculty members at DSCASC are required to produce research articles routinely. Under the supervision of faculty members, students are also encouraged to present research papers at national and international conferences.

FACILITIES OFFERED BY DSCASC

Located in the heart of the city, on a spacious, green campus. DSCASC has all the student-related amenities within the campus. It has–

• State-of-the-art Digital Library

• e-Learning Resources

• Wi-Fi-enabled campus

• Excellent, unmatched sports facilities

• Environment That Supports Entrepreneurship

• Incredibly diverse, heterogeneous mixture of students

ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES ON THE WAY

The institution gained the Grant-in-aid status in 1983. New programs were being introduced to meet the demands of the market. The institution received 2F and 12B recognition from the UGC in 2015. The institution successfully finished its third cycle of NAAC accreditation in 2018. It is ranked among the ‘Top 10’ degree colleges and has developed a reputation as one of the most prominent Educational Institutions in Bengaluru.

PAINTING THE CANVAS OF DSCASC’S FUTURE

In the next five years, the institution is planning to attain an Autonomous status. This would pave the way for the college to implement all the ideas for an Institution of Excellence. Then, the college wishes to reach within the ‘Top 50’ in the NIRF ranking. They plan to increase their research output with funded projects, consultancy, and training. They plan to enhance students’ social orientation to make them the assets of society.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

The institution has established an ISR (Institution Social Responsibility) Cell to educate students about the many societal issues and encourage them to act on them. In accordance with it, students frequently go to Government Schools to learn about their problems and offer solutions. The institution organizes student visits to orphanages and old age homes to donate some needy materials. Additionally, it intends to sensitize the students toward Social Service.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Always keep learning and keep moving throughout your life. This is the only way you can keep growing irrespective of the disruptive changes in the World.

Hacks to Book Cheap Flight Tickets

Concerned about the cost of the flight tickets? Well, looking for and purchasing inexpensive airline tickets might be tiresome. However, if you use specific tricks, you may potentially save a lot of money on airline tickets. If we’ve piqued your interest, continue reading to get all the advice that will enable you to purchase the cheapest plane tickets.

1. Make Early Reservations For Flights

One of the most common pieces of advice when it comes to booking a flight is to do it in advance. It is supported by some very compelling logic. The demand for the specified location for the specified dates rises as the days draw closer. You should plan your flights at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance, if not more. Booking your flights in advance is absolutely vital if you are considering an international trip. This is one of the most commonly used International Flight Booking Hacks. You also need to organise your visa, travel insurance, and other crucial travel paperwork before going abroad. You must have sufficient time available for the same. As a result, you must schedule your flights in advance. The other travel documentation that will assist you expedite the procedure can be obtained once you have your flight ticket in order.

2. Subscribe To Airline Newsletters

Newsletters on cheap flights are worth the spam. They hunt down the best flight prices on the web and compile them for you! They essentially do the laborious work. Again, flexibility is required to fully benefit from the offers sent through these services because sometimes they are only valid for a short period of time and might not always include deals to your desired location. Yes, 99% of them might not work for your schedule, but paying attention to the discounts will make sure you don’t miss a great one. In addition, frequent flyer bonuses are frequently offered in airline mailings. If you frequently travel, these bonus offers can help you earn some fantastic upgrades and free flights. The Flight Deal, FlyerTalk Mileage Run Deals, Airfarewatchdog, Secret Flying, and Scott’s Cheap Flights are a few of the top airline newsletters you should subscribe to.

3. Plan Your Journey During OffSeason:

Be flexible with the destination and the time of year you wish to travel when making flight reservations. Every travel destination has a certain travel season. During the busiest times of year, everything related to tourism is extremely expensive, including flights, hotels, and other tourist attractions. One of the best times for airlines to profit from flights to a certain location is during peak seasons. Intriguingly, a seasonal airline operates flights from the UK to Goa from October through December because it is the busiest time of year. Even on the global market, there is a great demand for flights to Goa at this time. Similarly, around Dussehra, Kolkata ticket costs increase due to an increase in travellers scheduling trips there.You may need to accept the possibility that you won’t be able to travel to your favourite location during its prime season if you want to avoid overspending. One of the best things about some travel places is that there are numerous times that

are acknowledged as the best seasons for travellers to visit. You can travel to Himachal Pradesh, for instance, both in the summer and the winter. Although the northern state’s summer is often its busiest season, winter is also seen to be a wonderful time to come because of the lower tourist volume. They are friendly and have advantages that will make you happy.

4. Check For Round-Trip & One-Way Flights

It’s a general misconception that round-trip tickets are less expensive than one-way flights, but that may not always be the case. Finding individual one-way tickets has (many times) proved to be significantly less expensive than round-trip prices. For instance, JetBlue and Southwest only charge for one-way tickets; the cost of a round-trip flight is simply the total of the two one-way fares. Finding separate one-ways at the best price is easy using Google Flights.

5. Explore All Of The Travel Search Engines

Another crucial step you should do when booking a flight is to look over all of your possibilities. An airline ticket is an expensive luxury, so finding a cheap bargain would be beneficial to your finances. You must use travel search engines like Inter Miles, Expedia, Skyscanner, etc. for the same. One benefit of using these search engines is that they provide a listicle with all the flight information you need to make a decision. You can compare the ticket costs for your journey destination as indicated by each airline by having a list of all flights in front of you. Also, you can check to see whether any certain airlines outperform the competition in terms of services, advantages, miles, and other things. Also, you may verify that the costs are within your pricing range while buying a flight.

6. Search The Flight In Other Currencies

Have you searched to see whether it would be less expensive to purchase that flight in a different currency before you buy it? Or use the currency of the place you are leaving from or travelling to. Budget airlines frequently, but not always, require that you pay in the currency of the nation from which you are flying.

The majority of airlines will offer a currency change option on the page. Make sure you are incognito and that your device’s location settings are off, or that a VPN is active, before you do this. Booking a flight and paying in a different currency could save you a significant amount of money, but only if you’re using a credit card with no international transaction fees! Otherwise, all of your efforts to save money while doing this will be in vain!

7. Before Buying A Flight, Delete All Of Your Browser’s Cookies.

Here is a useful flight booking tip that will enable you to find a great deal without being discouraged by the internet. Browser cookies frequently keep track of all the online browsing you perform and notify the relevant page.

The travel sites are informed about what you’re looking for over repeated searches on the same subject. Through the process, they end up reflecting to you an inflated price structure. Therefore, it would be preferable to erase the browser cookies in order to prevent obtaining a flight ticket at an inflated price. You’ll then get the best flight ticket costs to use for booking.

8. Go For An Early Or Late Flight.

When making flight reservations, timing is crucial. Your wallet will thank you for booking in advance. But the booking time isn’t the only factor to consider; the flight time is also crucial. You may have observed that some airline flights with strange schedules, such as those that take off very early in the morning or land very late at night, have very inexpensive tickets. Have you ever questioned why airfare prices are so low during such weird hours? It is fairly easy to draw the conclusion. Nobody enjoys travelling at strange times. People decide against booking flights at unusual hours due to the numerous issues that they raise. But if you want to book a cheap flight, this is one of the best tricks you can use. Yes, there are a few potential annoyances. However, keep in mind that you are also reserving a cheap flight for yourself while making significant financial savings. The money you save can be spent in the tourist location

on other enjoyable activities. When travelling abroad, don’t just rely on well-known airlines. Some airlines you probably haven’t heard of often offer the most affordable prices for transatlantic flights. Check out WOW Air, Norwegian, and XL Airways France, advises Keane.

FAQs

Q.1- What Are The Tricks To Book Cheap Flight Tickets In India?

1. Make early reservations for flights

2. Subscribe to airline newsletters

3. Plan Your Journey during Off- Season:

4. Check for Round-Trip & One-Way Flights

5. Explore all of the travel search engines

6. Search the Flight in Other Currencies

7. Before buying a flight, delete all of your browser’s cookies.

8. Go for an early or late flight.

Q.2- What Are The Flight Ticket Hacks?

1. Before buying a flight, delete all of your browser’s cookies.

2. Subscribe to airline newsletters

3. Follow airlines on social media

4. Buy separate tickets for big groups

5. Avoid booking over the phone

6. Visit the airline’s website directly

Q.3- How Can I Get Big Discounts On Airline Tickets?

Flexibility of timing is a key factor in order to get big discounts on airline tickets. When making flight reservations, timing is crucial. Your wallet will thank you for booking in advance. But the booking time isn’t the only factor to consider; the flight time is also crucial. You may have observed that some airline flights with strange schedules, such as those that take off very early in the morning or land very late at night, have very inexpensive tickets. Have you ever questioned why airfare prices are so low during such weird hours? It is fairly easy to draw the conclusion. Nobody enjoys travelling at strange times.

NotJustLex Navigate the Ways of the Legal World

NotJustLex Education LLP (NJL) was founded by Abhishek Sinha in late 2019 with a vision to be the very first ‘finishing school’ for law students and professionals across the country. NJL is a platform for young lawyers and law students to learn, express and improve their skill set by laying impetus on participatory learning. With the onus of producing the future leaders in the legal world of tomorrow, the company is committed to provide accessible high-quality legal learning and aims to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applicability.

The specialised moderated classroom training programmes and online sessions by NJL focus towards assisting students in enhancing their ability to meet on-the-job expectations set by law firms, corporates, and clients. NJL programs aim to provide its learners with a distinct professional edge in this competitive corporate environment. The exclusive range of courses offered at NJL include:

• Corporate Training Programmes: Specially curated for legal professionals working in law firms or Indian corporates.

• Advanced Course on Drafting & Negotiation of Investment Agreements

• Certificate Course On Understanding Private Equity Investments In India

• Certificate Course On Commercial Contracts in India

• Course On Sports Law in India

• Certificate Course On Finance for Legal Professionals

Apart from these, NJL hosts several webinars and training programs, across a wide range of legal and softer issues. They also have a dedicated legal blogging platform.

The organisation was established when Abhishek decided to do something regarding the huge gap that exists between what students learn at law colleges and what is actually expected from them in the real world. Making quality legal education accessible to all by bridging this gap was the primary motive behind the inception of NJL.

At NJL, all sessions are conducted by industry experts. Adding to NJL’s strength is a conducive learning environment buoyed by classroom-like training, ability to manage &

clarify doubts real time. Further, all courses are based on ‘participatory learning approach’ which implies that learning is primarily through engagement with the participants. NJL intends to facilitate a process of collective analysis and learning. Therefore, the organisation has structured all sessions to be moderated through live video interactive streaming. They are live sessions, unlike the mundane, monologue-type recorded sessions. Not even a single session of NJL’s courses/programs are through a recorded video. During the ongoing pandemic, NJL offers all their basic programmes at zero cost for law students. If any learner is interested in pure learning, it comes at zero cost. NJL, however, will review this structure once the lockdown is completely over.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

ABHISHEK SINHA Founder

Kajal Dobhal | Business Connect

NJL keeps limited participants per batch for a better scope of interaction. The students will not need any prior reading for the sessions. Learning can be on the move as the sessions don’t require making notes. What is discussed is what is learnt. All discussions are moderated by subject experts. Assessment is based on participation in the sessions and completion of online assignments and the final tests. These are analytical tests and not memory-based assessments. The students also get a one-onone feedback session over a video call at the end of the course.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry is the basic determinant of development for the students of NJL. Apart from this, NJL also focuses on commercial awareness. It goes without saying that understanding the relevant laws, legal interpretation , market practice and market-trends also form a key aspect of the learning.

All the courses streams live on a popular interactive video meeting platform. Apart from this, NJL makes use of the latest technologies and platform for reaching out to the learners and for assessments. As NJL’s focus is on imparting quality legal education, all their lead instructors and operators spend a lot of time in preparing and researching for the sessions. This coupled with their vast experience in the legal sector makes the sessions interactive and interesting.

NJL is working towards building a student community which resonates with its vision and approach in relation to imparting legal education. To this end, they have launched a ‘Campus Ambassador’ programme. NJL presently has fifteen Campus Ambassadors from law colleges across India. Apart from this, they have collaborated with Vidhit Legal, a student’s organisation working towards sensitising everyone on human rights violations. NJL also does several webinars and panel discussions.

In addition, NJL organises weekly online meetings to discuss the entire week. Also, they keep in touch and discuss on a case to case basis. The idea is to provide complete flexibility to all the employees. Focus is on getting the work done and not on

face value, office timings, in-time and out-time or posturing. All are focused towards real work. Apart from this, the team at NJL shares a similar vision and is passionate about what the organisation is trying to do. In short, the work culture at NJL is fun, solution oriented, practical and flexible.

NJL aims to grow organically. It is in the process of finalising collaborations with several law colleges, law firms and companies. NJL understands the need to be mindful that scaling up is something which depends on how mature the learning segment is to differentiate between a mere certificate provider and a platform which provides real & quality learning.

NJL has already started working hard to fulfil its vision to be the very first Indian ‘finishing law school’ for law students in India. NJL wants to create a student community which resonates with the vision of NotJustLex and reach out to a maximum number of learners and provide them with quality legal education. They are also in the process of partnering with several law firms and companies and running credit courses for colleges as a part of their regular curriculum and bringing in the construct of participatory learning in the forefront.

What Abhishek considers as a major achievement in his life, is having the courage to quit a highly rewarding and high paying role as an equity partner of a leading law firm of India to start something he is passionate about. Mr. Sinha wanted to do something that he truly believed in.NJL is a start-up in the legal education sector, which has been recognised by the Government of India, Startup India Programme. Abhishek Sinha, Founder CEO NotJustLex has been awarded 40 under 40 by LegalEra, for innovation and leadership in the legal education industry.

Though many people considered this as just the first step, to the Founder of NJL it was a huge step and now he is completely committed to work towards it. As it has been said: “The first step is always the most difficult step”, and having conquered that, NJL is sure to pave its own path to success.

FORCE AND FOCUS OF NJL

ROAD TO THE FUTURE

BEING RESOURCEFUL TO THE BUSINESS WORLD

As part of holistic development, SSBF encourages and guides students to pursue industry-recognized certifications such as CFA, FRM, NISM, CCRA, and others. Field trips and financial literacy workshops are organised for people in nearby villages as part of experiential learning.

SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL OF BANKING AND FINANCE

Building Robust Careers Through Grit

AN OVERVIEW

The well-known Symbiosis School of Banking and Finance (SSBF) is a strategic answer to the growing demand for a trained workforce in the Banking and Financial Services sector. A constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), SSBF was founded in 2010 and offers a two-year full-time residential MBA programme in Banking and Finance.

Symbiosis School of Banking and Finance, was conceptualized by foreseeing the immense opportunities in the Banking, Finance, and Insurance sector.

The goal of the MBA programme that SSBF offers is to prepare students to work as industry-ready professionals in the BFSI sector. SSBF has always kept up with the latest industry developments. To meet the demands of the dynamic financial sector, SSBF fine-tunes its curriculum with input from industry veterans.

As a result, it is not surprising that SSBF has eminent and experienced industry professionals on its advisory board and alumni who provide input to keep our curriculum relevant and up to date with industry demands.

For this whole inside story, we sat down for a virtual meeting with the Director of the company, Dr. Neha Parashar. She happened to walk us through various aspects of the institutions. Let’s dive in-

INCLUSIVE VISION

In the dynamic and complex world of banking and finance SSBF is envisioned to provide the most relevant and to the point practical knowledge with a smooth skill set that can take on the challenges arising with every sun rise. It is focused on promoting international understanding of the sector through quality education.

ROBUST MISSION

The poised management of SSBF is ready to take on the banking and finance sector keeping the following mission statements of SIU in mind:

• To inculcate the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family)

• To contribute towards knowledge generation and dissemination

• To promote ethical and value-based learning

• To foster the spirit of national development

• To inculcate cross cultural sensitization

• To develop global competencies amongst students

• To nurture creativity and encourage entrepreneurship

• To enhance employability and contribute to human resource development

• To promote health and wellness amongst students, staff & community

• To instill sensitivity amongst the youth towards the community and environment

• To produce thought provoking leaders for the society

HOW DOES SSBF IMPART KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS?

Banking and finance being a specialised domain, faculty members’ roles become critical for students’ academic and professional advancement. In a classroom, the role of faculty is more of a facilitator, imparting and building the theoretical foundation of the field and encouraging learners to think critically in practice.

The SSBF faculty are UGC-qualified and experienced academics. The majority of the faculty members have also worked in industry and are dedicated to excellence in teaching and research. The theoretical knowledge provided by academicians and the practical aspects disseminated by bankers/industry professionals provide the ideal combination of both.

The classroom environment is interactive, with participatory learning allowing for the free exchange of ideas between faculty and students.

Platforms such as Bloomberg and Gieom expose students to current trends and accurate data for research.

Adding on Future BFSI Leaders

As the banking, financial services, and insurance industries expand at a rapid pace, there is a high demand for skilled and employable human resources. SSBF meets this demand by supplying industry-ready professionals.

The SSBF MBA in Banking and Finance programme is designed to disseminate relevant knowledge and skills to students so that they can function effectively in the challenging environment of the BFSI sector. The curriculum was created by comparing it to similar courses offered by national and international universities/institutions.

One of the core features of the SSBF curriculum and teaching pedagogy is the integration of technology in teaching and learning. Bloomberg enables in real-time data sourcing and analysis, Python and R programming language enables statistical analysis and inferences. Data analysis tools like SPSS and Tableau facilitate data analysis, extract insights, and to draw relevant financial information. All these resources eventually unearth the latest trends in the BFSI purview expediting the decision-making skills.

THE PROMINENCE OF R&D FOR DEVELOPMENT

SSBF’s core competency is research and development. Faculty members at SSBF direct student committees such as the Equity Research Cell, the Bloomberg Cell, and the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell). Various concepts are developed and implemented. Students benefit from primary and secondary research because it provides them with a practical perspective. Students write and publish research papers in prestigious journals under the mentorship of faculty members.

DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP AT SYMBIOSIS

Dr. Neha Prashar- the Director of SSBF says, “Leaders inspire others to take the steps necessary for success. To be a great leader, you must first learn and cultivate the necessary skills. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and considers the entire world to be our family”.

Further she adds, “Leadership is the art of persuading people to willingly achieve group goals. Every human being desires to lead, inspire, and contribute to the greater good. It can be in your dayto-day roles as a housewife, student, or manager delegating and managing tasks in an organisation. Within each of us is a leader who strives to break down barriers and set examples.”

WORK CULTURE AT SYMBIOSIS

SSBF maintains a safe and healthy work environment and culture. The strongest pillar of Symbiosis is a high level of job satisfaction and skill advancement. Employees receive a competitive salary as well as other benefits. Employees in Symbiosis enjoy work-life balance and look forward to remaining with the organisation for decades.

ACCELERATING SSBF’S GROWTH

Banking, finance, and insurance are all-embracing technology to better and faster serve their customers. Data privacy is a major concern for businesses when providing services through technology. To meet the technological needs of the BFSI sector, SSBF intends to launch certification and executive diploma programs in FinTech, Cyber Security, MSME Finance, and Personal Finance. Companies are looking for tech-savvy candidates, so SSBF is planning a FinTech specialization for MBA students.

MILESTONES & ACHIEVEMENTS

• Collaborated with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and BFSI sector skill council of India to develop content for National University Student’s Skill development, a project initiated by TISS to increase the employability of the university students by imparting knowledge and skills.

• Scholarship of Rs. 1 lac for a needy student based on the academic performance and family’s financial background.

• Conducted training programs for esteemed organizations such as Union Bank of India, YES Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of India, Canara Bank.

• Tie up with industry for different kinds of certification and workshops for students like AIWMI, D&B, Bloomberg etc

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

SSBF excels in corporate training in addition to grooming and developing leaders for the BFSI industry. For both public and private sector banks, SSBF has successfully delivered domainspecific and soft skills training programmes.

SSBF intends to provide more industry-relevant certifications to students, upgrade program structure in response to technological changes and industry needs, and continue to organise sessions with industry experts.

Along with that, the school will develop online resources for aspirants who seek to pursue a career in banking and finance. SSBF is in the process of signing an MOU with the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) and other businesses to train professionals.

THE PEARLS OF WISDOM BY THE LEADERSHIP PANEL

“A good entrepreneur is daring. There is no shame in starting slowly. Just start. Don’t link your success as an entrepreneur to the success of your idea. Your job as an entrepreneur is to iterate through ideas to get to the right one. Part of that process is successfully proving your ideas are no good. Failure is part of making progress. grow your network and Seize Opportunities.”

Dr. Neha Parashar Director

Good Quality

In a country like India, with a few primers’ colleges which get filled very quickly because of the limited seats, most students cannot get quality education. On the other hand, many surveys have happened, it shows many schools have fewer teachers than the required ones. For example, according to a recent report of the Gujarat education department, they found that in Gujarat, 12,000 schools out of 32,772 government schools are run by just one or two teachers. This isn’t just one state situation there are many out there. Due to teacher numbers declinations, one or two teachers cannot focus on the students in the classrooms, nor are they (students) able to utilize their time spent in the classrooms.

Why e-learning is the FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Before places of worship, cafés, and factories, shops, gyms began to close in response to the Covid-19, in such a situation, colleges and schools got also closed (still we don’t know when they are going to open). However, the gap was rapidly filled by e-learning as schools, colleges, and educational institutions got shifted to teaching and learning online.

In just one year, e-learning has seen massive growth. Now India has witnessed an online learning boom since the lockdown. In 2020, ed-tech search gained 60% on the Indian internet, as per Google trend. Search for individual EdTech startups such as BYJU’s, Toppr, and more, that cater to 265 million students in India – the highest in the world.

Since all students are at home more than ever in history, digital learning has become an essential option. The pandemic has completely changed the old chalk-talk teaching model into one drive by technology. The number of those enrolling for online classes has witnessed exponential growth. The trend of online learning is likely to remain.

HERE ARE THE 4 REASONS WHY E-LEARNING IS THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Easily Accessible

Attending colleges and schools may be easy for those who live in urban areas. Those who live in rural areas have no option except to relocate. In such a case, choosing the E-learning option could be an appropriate option for them. E-learning has brought universities and schools to your homes. Today, you can easily access all college lectures and learn multiple different skills through mobile and computer. The government of India has promoted digitalization in the education sector. In 2020, many Universities are allowed to offer fully online degrees so that students can access and learn from anywhere and anytime.

Through online learning, students can get the best quality of education from top professional teachers and well-skilled professors. Online learning can offer personalized content to the students. 4th or other grades students can learn in a very fun way, animated learning and quizzes and challenges hold the interest of students, in ways, more engaging than classroom learning.

Affordable

Parents always want to send their children to the best schools or colleges, and for that, they have to sell out money right from kindergarten to college. The associate cost of a degree in a traditional brick-and-mortar college is comparatively more expensive than the one-time cost attached to e-learning. Not just the education, student’s parents have to also take care of loading and commuting. Quality education costs a fortune, but with the advent of online learning resources, the student can access it at an affordable price through e-learning.

Flexible

The best thing about E-learning, it enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. As a result, using an E-learning platform allows for a better balance of work and studies, so even working men can add their skills without leaving their jobs.

Educational Institutions

SASI Institute: A Beacon Of A Brighter Future

SASI At A Glance

What began as a small school for nine students in the West Godavari village of Velivennu has grown into an educational inspiration and sensation, winning national and state awards.

many years, the students have achieved ALL INDIA 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Ranks in IIT JEE, NEET exams, as well as state first rank and many best ranks in top 10 ranks in POLYCET, APRJC.

Achieving the State Best School Award five times is a jewel in SASI’s success crown. In the year 2000, Sasi Educational Institute set a record by receiving the state’s first rank in the EAMCET.

Sasi Institute of Technology and Engineering

Sasi Institute of Technology and Engineering (SITE) is wellknown for its high-quality education. The premier Autonomous Institute has been recognised by UGC 2(f) &12 since its start in 2002. (H) Accredited with an A grade by NBA and NAAC, affiliated with JNTUK Kakinada, and approved by AICTE, New Delhi. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has also given it a grade of A.

SITE is working hard to develop tomorrow’s professionals now. Many students are interested in the several interesting courses that promise rewarding professional jobs.

The fast-changing business, technological, and social landscape has ensured that creativity, readiness, and character are required to confront tomorrow’s challenges. SITE provides students with cutting-edge infrastructure and resources to foster a research attitude and drive creativity.

Several famous firms are involved in freshers recruiting, and they come to college to hire B. Tech, Degree, Diploma, and MBA students. It is a campus that encourages learning by providing dream opportunities. During the Academic Year 2021-22, over 60+ companies visited campus and hired 777+ students with significant salary packages.

SITE has signed MoU with following companies for setting up CoE in advanced technologies to build Industry Ready Talent with required technology.

• Huwai Technologies

• EPAM Systems

• Virtusa Corp

• CSS Corp

• Eficens Systems

• Oorwin labs

• Atelia Software

• GitHub

• Blueprism

• Eduskills

Vision & Mission

B Venu Gopala Krishna Founder & Chairman

The name SASI inspires many anxious parents and aspiring students in the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Sasi Group, with strong roots in Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts, has been at the forefront of providing quality education for over 42 years. Since its inception, Sasi has established itself as a prominent destination for its values-based environment and authentic academic experience. Every year, over 25000 students are impacted by Sasi’s trained faculty, who strive to bring out the best in every student.

Sasi has developed a cutting-edge curriculum based on NEP that is hands-on, all-encompassing, integrated, inquisitive, discovery-oriented, learner-centered, discussion-based, adaptable, fun, and a joy to participate in.

Sasi introduces novel pedagogy, capitalizing on India’s New Education Policy with a unique ‘student as incharge’ approach.

Many of the students from SASI have gone on to become experts in a variety of fields and have taken on high-profile positions that spread Sasi’s name around the world.

With their quality standards and valuable education, at least 600 students each year gain admission to prestigious national institutes such as AIIMS, JIPMER, IIT, NIT, BITS, and other Medical institutions. Their strategic coaching and training have enabled the students to acquire a large number of whitecollar jobs in a variety of government departments by passing civils and other Government services exams. Teaching and training are provided to students in the institutions based on their individual aptitude and intelligence, not on payment. As

a result, each of the students is able to achieve their objectives. Students can reach great heights in their lives if they are guided in the right direction, correcting mistakes made in their innocent childhood, and disciplining them.

At SASI, they provide coaching for entrance exams such as IIT JEE, NEET, BITSAT, Other Universities entrance exams, POLYCET, APRJC, and train them to face competitive exams from childhood, so they can excel easily in competitions. For

National projects acquired by the institution include a NewGen IEDC Innovation Center and an MSME Business Incubation Center. DAE BRNS has supported the establishment of SITE’s BARC research laboratory. It is also linked to the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), which is an MHRD initiative. SITE is a Nodal Center for IIITH, with virtual labs provided by the Ministry of Human Resource Development of India. It collaborates with ISB on a Technological Entrepreneurship programme and operates KK Consultancy, a 50-person in-house IT firm.

Under B. Tech, SITE offers professional courses that prepare students for future careers, such as CSE AI & ML, Electronics & Communication, Information Technology, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and so on, as well as many programmes under MBA. Every year, more than 30 students are placed in IT and core companies. Continuous industry preparation training programmes and exchanges boost industry connections and broaden students’ mindsets.

About The Chairman

The President of the SASI Institute of Technology and Engineering, Shri Burugupalli Venu Gopala Krishna, has been a prominent figure in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh’s educational community for more than four decades. Success, he says, is not what you create for yourself, but what you leave behind.

Mr. B. Venu Gopala Krishna has beaten everyone at their own game by taking home the trophy for best school in the state for the past four years running. It attests to his unwavering commitment to the field of education throughout his entire life.

The son of a modest farmer, Mr. B. Venu Gopala Krishna now rules over an educational empire with more than 15,000 pupils. Walking through the halls of schools and universities is a great way to get a sense of what it means to be committed and dedicated. Starting his school in Velivennu, a tiny village in southern India, he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that if

SASI was established to promote learning in rural communities by seeking out, analyzing, disseminating, and implementing information that improves the lives of individuals, groups, and communities. Sasi Educational Institutes is committed to preparing students to succeed in a more advanced and interconnected global society.

Every day, Sasians work in unusual ways to advance the common good. They educate, investigate and learn. They collaborate and take the initiative, and strive to create value by innovating, inspiring, and empowering people. They reach their full potential and create conditions that allow the students and others to do the same.

SASI was the first land-grant university in the country, and its founding was a radical experiment that expanded access to higher education and sparked widespread adoption of scientific and technological practices. The revolutionary concept became a national model. SASI is now one of India’s top schools, with one of the state’s largest and greenest campuses. They work to build a stronger, more sustainable, and hopeful future for all in both practical and profound ways.

you work hard and stay focused, you can change the world and gain the attention of millions.

His junior colleges consistently rank highly on national and state scales, and the schools he founded are repeatedly recognised as among the best in the country, but this does nothing to quench his insatiable desire to serve the field of education. It’s not an exaggeration to say that he inspires the next generation of passionate educators. Five years in a row, under his direction, SASI English Medium School has been recognised as the best school in the state. The National Institution for Quality and Reliability in Chennai honored SASI Institute of Technology & Engineering with the TVN-KIDAO - Outstanding Education Institution - 2014 award.

He gives a lot of his time and money to charitable causes, including the CMS Relief Fund, the Kargil Relief Fund, Helpage India, and others. Because of his interest in rural improvement, he set up many of the country’s first educational facilities.

LEARNING SANSKRIT AND COMING CLOSE TO OUR RICH TRADITION THROUGH VYOMA LINGUISTIC LABS FOUNDATION

De facto, there are numerous platforms or institutes to acquire linguistic proficiency in English or other foreign languages. But, to make the people of India skilled in the primordial language that is Sanskrit, there are limited institutes. Vyoma Linguistic Labs Foundation is bringing a layer of change by providing an in-depth knowledge of Sanskrit through technology. The Chief Executive Officer is Viswanathan P and COO is Venkatasubramanian P.

Vyoma is a non-profit organization, with a vision to develop ‘Saṁskṛta, Saṁskṛti and Saṁskāra’* (SSS) consciousness in every individual on this planet, which leads to real and ultimate happiness.

To clarify further, *Saṁskṛta is not a mere transactional language, but a universal medicine and tool for the overall holistic wellness and development of an individual. It is a repository of knowledge, which can authenticate all aspects of wellness like Yoga, nutrition, Ayurveda, Astronomy, Vaastu, Meditation, Mindfulness, music, dance, art forms, etc.

*Saṁskṛti is not only limited to art forms. It embraces the entire gamut of rich cultures, which helps to develop holistic human capabilities. It is about understanding the logic and science behind our timeless tradition, and the ethos woven around the cultural fabric.

*Saṁskāra does not cover only rituals and mythological stories. It also includes an understanding of the spirituality within each ritual. It encompasses value education and inherent lifelong virtues. The core vision is achieved through a combination of instructional designed e-learning tools, high impact courses, and thought-provoking and insightful lectures and discourses.

VYOMA OFFERS TOOLS, COURSES AND DISCOURSES FOR

• All age - Kids, school children, youth, mid-career professionals, retired persons, and others

• All type of learners – Visual, Auditory, Reading/ writing and kinesthetic

• All modes – Computers, Mobile devices, Audio players, Tabs, etc.

• All areas of interest – Language, Grammar, Scriptures, Skills, etc.

INCEPTION STORY

There are three parts to the inception story of this beautiful organization. The first part is called the ‘Value revolution’. During the post-independence era, India witnessed a revolution to fulfill the basic needs of ‘Food-ShelterClothing’. Various Government and Non-Government initiatives helped to fulfill this need to a great extent. This was followed by the agricultural, industrial and technological revolutions. The 21st century is witnessing the need for a unique revolution called – ‘Value & Cultural education’. Various organizations are working to fulfill this need. The founders of Vyoma wanted to fulfill this in a deep-rooted and wide-spread manner. Hence, Vyoma Linguistic Labs Foundation has been established to work in the areas of Samskrta (Ancient Knowledge System), Saṁskṛti (Culture & Heritage) and Saṁskāra (Values and Virtues), and to spread the valuable knowledge through the use of technology.

The second part is called ‘The master platform’. If we see the world around us, people are affected by various problems at individual, social, national and international levels. Typical problems are lack of focus and concentration, memory loss, anger, greed, lust, ego, depression, suicide, stress, lack of values, physical and mental diseases, lack

of purpose in life, atrocities against women and children, theft, corruption, terrorism, etc. People are experiencing solutions to these problems in Yoga, Meditation, Spirituality, Ayurveda, Astrology, Ancient knowledge, Value education, and other avenues. Now, if we see the common master thread amongst all these – It is an ancient knowledge system called ‘SANSKRIT’. Sanskrit is not merely a language – it is a well-structured, most developed, and time-tested knowledge system. Hence, the founders of Vyoma labs, who come with a unique combination of rare traits like hailing from a traditional family, having rich academic qualifications, with deep knowledge of the ancient systems, which they have learned from the authentic sources, possessing a teaching experience of more than 25 years, and sharing an experience of running large projects in Multinational Corporate houses, decided to establish a non-profit organization to spread the benefits of Sanskrit to every individual on this earth.

VISWANATHAN P, CEO VENKATASUBRAMANIAN P, COO

“Vyoma Sanskrit Brothers at MIT, Boston, USA, after a lecture on ‘Computational structure of Panini’s Ashtadhyayi’

“Lecture on ‘Leadership & Management Aspects of Sundara Kandam of Ramayanam’

Rashi Saral | Business Connect

The 10 Traits That Define

Entrepreneurial Success

The life of an entrepreneur is far from smooth sailing. As the lone wolves of the business world, the successful entrepreneur knows that whilst their company is their life, the biggest asset they will ever have is themselves; in this scenario, it’s hard not to let the success or failure of your venture define you.

Above all discussion, it takes shrewd of business sense and a keen talent for spinning plates, to transform a concept into a functional, and above all else the best profitable business. Whilst a certain natural proclivity for hard work will take you far, there are five key traits that have the potential to tighten your grip on entrepreneurial success.

However, there are some expert examples mentioned below:-

2. Clear Focus

Although there’s a lot of risks involved in starting off a business, a successful entrepreneur never loses his clear focus. They are constantly aware of all possibilities and their outcomes of actions. They take all factors into consideration and align their business goals properly. When you’re focused on clear goals, even failure makes sense. You simply understand its part of the process.

3. Flexibility

5. Writing

Bill Gates and Richard Branso… most of the well-known successful entrepreneurs have written books. Not because these books bring them more money, but because these bring them more authority. When you make a business successful, you’ll need to consider that sharing the journey of you, through a book is always worthy.

6. Reactiveness

A great entrepreneur doesn’t have time or space for missing the submission deadline. They are making proactive decisions by the minute without delaying. If you can’t make decisions quickly and recognize all the opportunities you should seize at the moment, you should start practicing that skill, with no delays.

7. Marketing Mindset

If you analyze the personality traits of all great entrepreneurs, you’ll notice they have an impressive ability to sell. It doesn’t matter whether they are introverts or extroverts; they are always full of ideas and they know how to sell them.

When you want to hire the best people in your company, you’ll be selling its organizational culture and values.

9. Challenging the Status Quo

When an entrepreneur becomes successful, they don’t stop there. For Entrepreneurs, getting on the path of least minimum resistance is never proven the right option. Entrepreneurs are progressive. They always observe the current point and think about how they can take things further. They challenge the way things have been done and they constantly get outside the comfort zone.

How can it be possible to be an Entrepreneur, without risk? Can you tell me the name of any single successful entrepreneur, who always plays it safe? Probably there is not any. Every entrepreneur follows a basic term which needs that risk-taking mindset. The sole act of starting a business is started with a risk. No one knows how things will turn out, but when you have the proper courage, then only you take the risk.

This personal trait may seem contra dictory to the previous one, but it’s not. After all, an entrepreneur is always focused on their goals, they still adapt to the given situation. They start with a clear vision of a final product or service, but the end result is rarely identical to the one they imagined. A better entrepreneur is always flexible enough to respond to changing market conditions and customer preferences.

8. Self-Confidence

Have you ever noticed Steve Jobs doubting about his company’s success? An entrepreneur has to be crazy enough for being confident in the products or services they are selling. When they come across obstacles, they will need that confidence to come up with proper solutions and examples for the future.

4. Money-Making Mindset

To be a successful entrepreneur all you have to learn is, how money works. There is a huge difference between an innovator/inventor and an entrepreneur. The innovator just wants to think of something new. If they don’t have a money-making mindset, they won’t get an innovative concept to success. The entrepreneur is focused on using innovations for making money.

10. Resilience

Look, if you’re going to build a successful company, you’ll need to stand up to countless challenges. You’re going to make mistakes, and you’ll have to learn from them. Sometimes the market conditions will change and you won’t be prepared for them. You might get knocked down by the competition, and you’ll have to stand up on your own two feet, over and over again.

As it turns, not everyone can be a successful business owner. The good news is that you can work on these character traits and develop them with time and effort. Today is the best day to start! Explore a few online courses, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and make a plan that will lead you to success.

“The role personality traits play as drivers of success in entrepreneurial endeavors is paramount for many.”

1. Risk-Taking Mindset