Interview with Marushka Monette, IFIM Business School
Q. Tell us about yourself.[/b]
A. My name is Marushka Monette and I work in IFIM Business School in the Marketing Communications Department. Previously, I have worked in the public relations and corporate communication departments of brands like Marriott, future ON digital marketing, Greenpeace etc. I love travelling and understanding the culture and management techniques used by people around the world. I have been to over 37 countries for the same.
Q. Tell us something about your company?
A. IFIM Business School, Bangalore (Institute of Finance and International Management) was founded in the year 1995 with its first batch of students graduating in 1997. All courses at IFIM are AICTE approved. IFIM has been accredited by SAQs and is an ISO 9001:2008 certified institution.
Over the years it has grown to be amongst the top 40 business schools in India. Students from IFIM Business School have been regular recipients of such awards in National and International Events. IFIM Business School is also fast emerging as a leading destination for continuing and executive education. It is also one of the few private management institutes that have been approved to offer a Ph.D program in Management. It is well known for the quality of faculty, an up to date curriculum and a strong corporate interface.
Today, it is among the fastest growing B-Schools in India. We have completed 20 years in 2015.
Q. What attracted you to this company?
A. IFIM Business School is well known for its PGDM and PGDM Finance Courses. The Institute doesn't only just concentrate on academics, but stresses on developing well rounded individuals through its unique PEP (personality enhancement program). Additionally, they have a strong branding, public relations and direct marketing team.
This year, it is celebrating 20 years of 'transformation' and is also host to new institutes like IFIM Law, IFIM College and IFIM Institute of Social Science. I wanted to be part of this bustling and ever changing family so I was attracted to IFIM.
Q. According to you, what is management all about?
A. According to me, management is about ensuring that an organization or company is able to operate in both the immediate and near future.
Managers are charged with making decisions that will impact an organization on every level. These decisions range from hiring a new employee to taking a company public. Management is not an easy field, and good managers are highly sought after. Management is the process of ensuring that an organization or company is able to operate in both the immediate and near future. Management is not just about bringing people together and assigning responsibilities, but ensuring that the job gets done and the desired results are achieved.
Q. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
A. The work environment and brilliant team motivate me to the my best on the job. Appreciation from others works wonders. However, the best kind of motivation is intrinsic motivation. I believe if you are determined to do something right from within then you will go to any length to achieve it, always keeping a positive outlook.
Q. What is your management style to solve a problem?
A. The best style to solve a problem is to stop calling it a problem. It is better to immediately call it a minor hurdle and overcome it by concentrating on the solution, rather than spending hours discussing the problem. Direct discussions with everyone responsible and nipping growing issues in the bud are the only ways to save time and ensure success.
Q. What are the key responsibilities of your current job?
A. The key responsibilities of my current job are handling all the marketing communication and public relations work of my organization. Right from receiving press coverage in newspapers and television to online branding, disseminating newsletters and updates to everyone in the industry, organizing and managing events are the roles of my current job.
Q. What have you gained after completing your MBA / Masters?
A. After completing my MBA I realized that I was a completely different person before and after an MBA. I was just a student before but an MBA has helped me understand what it genuinely takes to be a manager, how to manage people, get work done in a desired time frame, and has turned me into a professional. An MBA moulds people into someone who can think globally on a worldwide scale, and still keep in mind the simplest logistical detail in an office. Hence I have definitely gained knowledge, people skills, and most importantly- Insight after completing my MBA.
Q. What are the expectations of Companies or organizations from professionals?
A. Companies now a day’s expect professionals to quickly adapt and integrate themselves with the system. An outgoing personality and excellent communication skills would be an added bonus. Companies also want professionals who are good at networking and can represent the Institute name across platforms. Gone are the days when companies will spoon feed you with roles and keep a daily check on you. Post 2015, employees are expected to be self motivated and look for work, rather than wait to be designated work. They want to see results and the final outcome of all the efforts. There is going to be more diversity in the workplace so companies also expect you to still be a team player.
Q. Is the Name of the Institute from where a student does his/her graduation important while entering into corporate world?
A. While entering the Corporate World, the Name of the Institute definitely matters as each student is carrying the brand name of the Institute along with themselves, no matter where they work. Members of the Corporate World know the values, ideals , education level and exposure various Institutes across the country provide. However, even if one is not from a premier Institute, but is still able to prove himself at work, those kind of efforts are more respected.
Q. How the academic program and coursework you have done benefited your career?
A. The academic program and coursework from my university (Symbiosis international University) has benefited by career because it is more application oriented rather than only text book based. Even though knowing the past, case studies etc. are important, stress is always laid out on internships, how much you can actually perform under pressure, how you work along with team mates etc. Our Director always said that participating in outside activities and projects will give you more experience than reading ten textbooks. These experiences are what contribute to being a true manager.
Q. Tell me about your proudest achievement?
A. The Proudest achievement would be winning the UNICEF's "International Voices of Youth" Photography and Writing contest. We had to feature and photograph a woman who inspired us. It felt great to be felicitated by the United Nations.
Q. What advice would you like to give to someone taking up a job similar to your current profile?
A. The advice I would like to give to someone taking up a job in Corporate Communication or Marketing Communication would be to never miss out on an opportunity to leverage your Institute or Brand as much as possible. Always stay focused and try to avoid the unimportant things in life that mentally cause a block in your work. Believing in yourself and understanding your Organization thoroughly will enable you to have the best possible results.
Q. Your feedback for ManagementParadise.com
A. ManagementParadise.com has helped thousands of students transform themselves from ordinary people to leaders. All the information, articles, blog posts combined from leading academicians and the research papers, help any students who aspired to do an MBA. The events section keeps everyone in the education industry aware of what is happening in Business Schools across India. Videos are information and Communities of students supporting each other for information, studying material etc. is exceptional. Congrats you guys are doing a wonderful job.
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