Some After thoughts after MBA from IIM, Lucknow (Noida)

We all may agree that the Working Manager Program - MBA - classroom based course was an immense learning. Though it cannot be captured in words but it definitely would stay imbibed in all of us for the life to come. Some may utilize the learning now, some later, but it is certainly going to be a great asset for us. 

Some thoughts on the learning:

• Networking is the key
•   - Make friends
•   - Meet often
•   - Share Problems
•   - Play/Eat/Celebrate together
• Doing Project work is the real learning, it gives immense confidence. It teaches us the practical aspect of learning and builds those concepts for ready later use.
• Attend as many classes as possible, it builds our concepts - Conceptual Learning is the key. (For me the choice of subjects preferably was decided based on Professor feedback.)
• Become an entrepreneur while doing the course - that would utilize your MBA skills the most!

When we finally master a tough job, we make it look easy!! But this time I would have to mince words and say that completing WMP wasn't easy at all. The toil for two and half years 'continuously' has made us strong and 'stretchable'. We have become better time managers and know our priorities better. The whole experience has made us more confident.!

Lastly, if I were the CEO of a company and were to hire - I would certainly consider the WMP-ites from IIM Lucknow, Noida for sure!

Second Summer Break

It was an intense summer this time (2012), I personally have never seen it so hot! Office demanded a lot of time, and the entire holidays we devoted for the same :)

The only adventures I could manage were:

• A foodie trip to old Delhi

1.  Lotan kulche
2.  Tarachand kachodi
3.  Poori Sabzi / Nagori Halwa / Lassi at Shyam Sweets

• Few movies (MIB, Prometheus)
• Essex farms

And ya, I could manage to upload the paid version of the android application (Block Spam SMS +) that I had made in the last summer break (Block Spam SMS) and earned a few $ from it. :)

Looking forward to coming back from the break for the final semester, yippie!

VIII Semester

The I week I could manage Shirdi and Nashik trip just at the start of the semester without any loss of classes because of the week off given by WMP Chair (thanks very much!). It was indeed a great break but we in turn had to compensate with many-many sundays. The frustration grew till the end when we had no weekends for almost half the semester. As a friend said: "WMPians are having a 9 day week  :)" (thu/fri evening included)

Sem 8 was a seemingly pleasant as the 1-month holidays were nearby and our completion of the course was just not-too-far. I had chosen 3 credits for this sem:

• IM (Investment Management)
• PBM (product and brand management)
• QMSS (Quality Management and Six Sigma)

IM was a wonderful subject that taught us the basics of the investment and portfolio management. Prof. Alok Dixit was a wonderful, down-to-earth teacher who had put in amazing effort to teach us stuff  maximum possible. This was a subject that required real hard work right from the start and one felt like putting in effort in it.

Prof. Anita Goyal took the PBM with great dedication - she even took the pains of bringing various packaging to the class to teach us various levels of packaging. For some the course was a repeat of various concepts of marketing but it was a light and interesting one for me.

Qmss looked to be a fiasco at the start when Prof Tapan Bagchi (reputed name in Quality management) couldn't come to deliver the course as promised. Instead the course was delivered half an half by Prof. Sushil Kumar and Prof. Omi Prakash Vaidya and guest lecture by Prof K Maduletty. The course was done justice by them especially the six sigma processes.

Main Building - IIML Noida Campus

View from the Main Building

Friends "waving"

Highlights:
The main canteen started offering multiple new products in competition to the Cup-Shup cafe
Parking disrupted badly due to the construction work in campus
WMP brochure finalized after multiple rounds of work by the committee/volunteers.