Fortune Cookies_Volume 7_Edition 3

Volume 7, Edition 2, April 16-30,2011 2011 April 1-15,

Editor’s Note

Centrestage Academicians are not serious or grumpy but are full of life!

Did you notice someone up there on the third floor of the FIIB campus, absolutely engrossed in his work, absorbed in his research and almost always caught thinking intensely about something? Catch him when he’s not tackling numbers or studying technology – you would be thrilled to discover in him, a passionate Nature lover, a cricket fan and an avid reader – which he thinks is by default, an academician’s means for his bread and butter. Meet Prof Swanand Deodhar, IT , FIIB. He busts the myth associated with academicians and discusses teaching, FIIB and much more in his chat with Sindhu Kaushik.

Face it, it’s all about Facebook The previous edition of Fortune Cookies gave us a serious high, leaving most of us asking for more. To satiate this appetite of avid readers, we have decided to slip in more special notes into your bi-monthly dose of fun and fortune. Enjoy this extra dose with plenty of student tid-bits, campus news and a special spot for compulsive shutterbugs even!

Dr. Sunita Chugh

G

We usually always have a reason to celebrate. This time too, we are extremely excited about FIIB’s Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/fiibindia being fanned by over 2000 fans from everywhere, in less than a month!

Incredulously exhilarating, don’t you agree? Whoever said hanging out on Facebook was a wasteful indulgence?! It’s our new Google, Firebox and Internet Explorer. Let’s not miss out on this exciting global social network magnet.

Prof Swanand Deodhar

Sindhu Kaushik: What's your second love? The first, we know, is your books.

Kamal Singh Negi: Not really! Most people stereotype academicians with serious nature, bordering on grumpiness.

The reality, I feel is that one has to be full of life to be a good academician. The rationale is quite obvious. We are in the business of academics. Some are here as faculty members, some are here as students but we all are essentially learners.

Once this fact is appreciated, then we have to develop inquisitiveness similar to that of the best learners in the world: the kids. Being serious and being grumpy takes one away from the joy of learning. So my mantra is keep living, keep smiling, keep learning!

SK: Did you always want to teach?

SD: Candidly speaking, I am primarily interested in academics, due to the freedom this profession offers.

Teaching is only a small part of it. As an academician, I can teach, research, consult and do trainings in the domain of my choice. In a way, it has allowed me to do what I love working with. This is what attracted me to this profession.

SK: What is the best and the worst part of your profession?

SD: The best part of being an academician is professional freedom that one gets. It is truly unrivalled. However, nothing is perfect and academics is no exception.

I am sure that there are cons to being an faculty but I am yet to discover any. When I will find one, I am sure this answer

-Sindhu Kaushik will be much longer.

SK: What do you indulge in, when you aren't analyzing numbers or technology?

SD: I love nature photography. I have been to some exotic places in India and abroad and I have lived every moment of it. Nature has so much to offer to us: birds, flowers, trees and mountains Alas, my camera lens can capture only so little. I also love collecting autographs of cricketers. Once again, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the legends in the game like Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, and many more. I would not include the sacrosanct hobby of reading, as I feel reading is bread and butter of an academician.

SK: How has your experience at FIIB been so far?

SD: It has been riveting. FIIB is growing and I am really cherishing my minuscule contribution towards this. I love the sense of belonging that FIIB as a family has and I look forward to continuous association with it.

SK: What would you say is the most exciting part of FIIB? SD: The speed of change at FIIB is its most exciting feature. I believe that one has to move faster to remain in the same place and FIIB is speeding up in all departments such as technical infrastructure, academics, and faculty strength. I am sure that as the changes become more ingrained in the system, FIIB will soar higher.

1

Volume 7, Edition 2, April 16-30,2011 2011 March

FIIB Faculty Outside FIIB

Campus Buzz Sankalp, The Employability Fest, 2011 – ’12 Sankalp, the FIIB Employability Management Fest, pitched on Global Management Skills scheduled from April 4 to April 7, 2011, was an intense program, entirely ideated by the FIIB faculty to train students to take the world head on ,after their two year MBA experience. Management contests Harshie were Wahieaimed at lending exposure to the competitive corporate world, where FIIB-ians need to deal with a dynamic group set up.

Besides the several management contests like Business Quiz, Data interpretation, Talks and Simulations, Self-Development Programs, etc, creative games like Treasure Hunt, Dumb Charades, etc were also organised. Sankalp '11 was FIIB's mantra to imbibe everything there is, about business management.

)

FDP at FIIB, Prof Swanand Deodhar For a management academician, there are many aspects of any organizational and market phenomenon that remain obscure. Research is a scientific avenue of knowing more about such aspects. Unfortunately, conducting research is far from obvious. In this FDP, we are focusing on phases and challenges in undertaking a research exercise in the field of management. More precisely, this FDP looks at building blocks of management research such as constructs, theories, propositions, and designs.

We are fortunate enough that we have guidance of Prof. K.B.C. Saxena and Prof. Rajen Gupta who have established themselves as eminent management researchers. The hope is that at the end of the FDP, we all would have codeveloped some degree of understanding about do’s and don’ts of management research.

Dr Sunita Chugh, at IIM (A) Dr Sunita Chugh, Senior Professor, HR , FIIB, delivered a talk at IIM (A) on Friday, April 8, 2011. The panel discussion, based on impromptu speaking, comprised speakers from across the country. The essence of Dr Chugh’s talk was ‘Ardhanareeshwara: A Case of Androgynous Leadership.’ Based on the concept of ‘Ardhanareeshwara’ – Lord Shiva infused with both masculine and feminine attributes, Dr Chugh says employees at workplace and leaders in particular, need to explore and retain both their masculine and feminine aspects.

To humanise organisations, she says, we could aim to work towards drawing with equal ease from the masculine and feminine energies. Apart from the balance in our personalities, it Dr Sunita Chugh is vital for the balance of the world.

Prof Shweta Saini at NSIT Prof Shweta Saini, Finance and Economics, FIIB was at Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) on Friday, April 15, to judge a mega event titled ‘Freakonomics’ at their annual fest

titled iCube. Other prominent personalities who attended the fest were Dr. Isher Ahluwalia, Paras Chopra (application developer), Mr. Vinod Rai (CAG, India), Mr. K.K Mohammad (Superintendent, Archaeological Survey of India) and Aaliya Sultana Babi (Princess of Balanisor). Prof Saini was thrilled to be a part of this fest, judging students from Prof Shweta Saini numerous engineering colleges. .

Keeping with the vision of the FIIB Sustainability Development Centre (SDC ) and the mission of this green B-School , which is to impart green knowledge and to equip its future business managers in sustainable business practices, an exclusive course has been introduced into the FIIB PGDM curriculum . This unique course is steered by erudite faculty such as Prof Vinay Auluck, Chairperson, PGP and is supplemented with inputs by experts from the industry and academicians from around the world.

Guests on Campus

In the last fortnight, student s of FIIB had the opportunity of interacting with four experts. Dr Subhash Sharma, a new age management thinker spoke about business models for the needs of people at the bottom of the pyramid. Mr MS Nagar, Chariman and Managing Director, Indian Rare Earth Materials elaborated on the significance of a public private partnership in a socially sustainable business model. Ms Sangeeta Robinson, Deputy General Manager – Corporate Affairs, Tata Telecom Services, made valuable suggestions on uplifting the poor not by donations but by building in them, capacity for livelihood.

Mehmood Khan, Chairperson, SDC, enlightened FIIB-ians on the importance of leadership in socially sustainable businesses.

2

Volume 7, Edition 2, April 16-30, 2011

From the FIIB Blog Can you Manage your ‘Lots’?

Manisha Singh, Student 2010-’12 takes you through MBA life Lots of assignments, a lot many presentations, Lots of lectures, a lot many quizzes, Lots of guest lectures, a lot many group assignments.

Phew! An MBA student is surrounded with these 'lots'.

Often, MBA students are caught confused About whether to do this or to leave that!

Studying late nights, making presentations till late in the night, And after getting irritated with lots of work, Watching a movie or chatting on Facebook, Getting back to work and sleeping much later in the night.

And then, waking early in the morning, rushing to class, Sometimes without a bath or breakfast But reaching college on time, Else getting debarred from class.

Attending classes with full concentration While thinking how this would help them in future.

Then, getting 15 minutes to have lunch And again rushing back to class With a cup of tea To fight drowsiness.

Attending lectures and annoying lecturers With lots of questions.

Participating in group activities and competing With other groups to fetch more marks.

When classes are over, getting ready For guest lectures.

And once they are over, sitting in groups And preparing presentations for next day.

Coming well-prepared for the next day And speaking confidently In front of everybody, Answering lots of questions thrown at us.

Evaluating one’s own performance each day And thinking how it can be made better for tomorrow.

When we don't realize the importance of MBA, We bunk soft skills classes And later on realize its importance And so attend these classes regularly Because we start worrying about placements.

This, is the life of an MBA student.

Best MBA candidate is one who can Manage lots of things together.

So, try to manage your lots and become a good MBA Because Success usually comes to those Who are too busy to be looking for it.

Literature printed in this column is extracted from the FIIB Blog. YES! FIIB’s very own blog is rolling now. It’s the one stop shop to learn everything about everyone associated with FIIB, in the most non-offensive way  You too can render your thoughts on issues closest to your heart. Please mail outreachcell@fiib.edu.in or call 011 4729 5036 for details.

What the Whack!

The perils of being honest An investment counselor decided to go out on her own. She was shrewd and diligent, so business kept coming in, and pretty soon she realized that she needed an in-house counsel. The investment banker began to interview young lawyers.

“As I'm sure you can understand," she started off with one of the first applicants, "in a business like this, our personal integrity must be beyond question." She leaned forward. "Mr. Mayberry, are you an honest lawyer?”

"Honest?" replied the job prospect. "Let me tell you something about honest. Why, I'm so honest that my father lent me $15,000 for my education, and I paid back every penny the minute I tried my very first case.“ "Impressive. And what sort of case was that?" asked the investment counselor.

The lawyer squirmed in his seat and admitted, "He sued me for the money."

Do you love your camera more than your phone?

Do you get clicking when people around you are acting funky? Well, you surely display serious symptoms of photomania. No worries. The solution lies in your hands, your own set of eyes and most importantly, your timing! Click funky, funny, whacky or groovy pictures , compose your caption and mail them to outreachcell@fiib.edu.in If they make us roll with laughter, they go into Candid Clicks on Fortune Cookies.

Take it ahead, then!

Placement News During the first two weeks of April 2011, the companies that recruited for final placements included : Orayan Logistics (2 students) HDFC Bank (3) SafeExpress (3) VFN Financial (1) and Genpact (2) FIIB's summer internship recruiters in the same period included:Hindustan Unilever, Glowmac Lighting, Muthoot Fincrop Ltd, VFN Financial, Master Sahin, and Quest Retail

3

Volume 7, Edition 2, April 16-30, 2011

The Most Beautiful Flower

From the Students Pankaj Lakhera Demystified!

2010-’12

Favorite FIIB Moment: Samavesh ’11 Best Hide out in the campus: Fourth Floor

Inspiring Fictional character : X-Men Wolverine Management Mantra: You’re always a learner Worst Marketing Strategy: Selling Apple i-phones in Japan MBA is … All about case studies and late submissions I would do anything for… Power The Best Job in the World is… Chef The problem with the country is… Mallika Sherawat When I want it the most… It should be Lamborghini!

There is so much beauty around and such less time to appreciate it. Archna Singh, student, 2010-’12, through her short story reflects on man’s self-involved reveries

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read, beneath the straggly branches of an old willow tree.

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young lad out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight with its petals all worn out - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a smile and then shifted away.

Instead of retreating, he sat by my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.

That’s why I picked it up; here, it’s for you.”

The weed before me was dying and dead, not vibrant of colors - orange, yellow or red. But, I knew that I must take it, or he might never leave. So, I reached for the flower and replied, "That’s what I need." But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it midair without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that the weed-toting lad could not see - he was blind!

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like pearls as I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You’re welcome,” he smiled and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on my day! How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind lad, at last, I could see the problem was not with the world but with me!

And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life and appreciate every second that’s mine.

4