‘How many girl friends do you have? ‘, asked one of the panelists, as I concluded the ‘Why Me[/i]’ pitch in the interaction round for summer internship with XYZ India Ltd. I smiled, and said “one”, and he nodded in jest and said, ‘couldn’t have more’. No more questions asked, not even the 4P’s of Philip Kotler. I got selected. XYZ conducted a very unique selection process, wherein interested candidates had to pitch for a particular project and justify their fit with the project.
Day 1: Student
As I entered in the Gurgaon Call Center of XYZ to report on the first day of my internship, I recalled the infectious smile and charming personality of my project mentor, Mr. David Aaron, President- XYZ Services. David is IIT- Madras, IIM C alumni with rich and diverse industry experience of more than 20 years. I was welcomed by the Call Center Manager and the HR head, while the guy with no formal designation, Rafique made me comfortable with a glass of cold water and coffee.
Unfortunately, neither cold water nor the coffee could soothe my nerves or calm my pounding heart. After almost an hour, emerged Mr. Aaron. He exchanged a few customary pleasantries, and then started off with an elaborate session on project scope and goals. I immediately realized the importance of that cup of coffee I was served. But, wasn’t my ‘honeymoon period’ in XYZ supposed to last for a day, or at least a few hours? I woke up to the corporate reality, as my mentor went on with the session. He concluded almost an hour long session by setting a ‘tangible’ project objectives; ‘a platter full of potential clients for XYZ’. I was in charge of developing a ‘Go- To-Market strategy’ for the Call Center Business Unit of XYZ India Ltd. and expand its client portfolio from one to at least ten clients. Now then, it’s all very fancy to lay guidelines, set expectation, and project outcomes, but how do I navigate? What would be my eyes and ears to gather information about the entire market and identify opportunities? Would I get any relevant data or even a few nuggets of information from XYZ to start with?
Saddled with all such queries I asked my mentor, “what should be my approach to study the opportunity areas in the market?” To which he immediately replied, ‘you tell me’. I was taken aback by the abruptness of his reply. It was a bolt from the blue. I hurriedly gathered myself and tried to justify my question by a statement, which to my misfortune sounded like a surrender to him. I said that I being a “student” would require some advice in approaching this project. It turned out to be a complete ‘hara kiri’. My first day at XYZ couldn’t have been worse. My mentor seemed to almost tear me apart through his cold gaze, at the mention of the word “student”. He retorted, “No, you are not a student anymore. You are a ‘professional’ now. As this was not enough for the first day, Mr. Aaron then narrated an instance when his doctor son, who is a student of Surgery, asked him not to call or treat him as a ‘student’ anymore. As he concluded the session, I sat dejected, embarrassed, and almost defeated in the conference room amidst all the senior personnel who ran the show in the Call Center.
Till this day, I regret that fact that I labeled myself as a “student” on first day. But, wasn’t I a student, after all? Were not we told to exude the curiosity and enthusiasm of a ‘student’, by our faculties? I tried to reconcile with my “horrible” first day with such mental justifications and prepared for the second day at XYZ. Next day, I showed up early and started to interact with various teams. Meanwhile, Mr. Aaron had arrived by the time I had concluded my short “awareness” session with a few important functional departments of the Call Center. So, after the not so impressive encounter with me on the first day, Mr. Aaron wanted to have another round of discussion with me.
Day 2: Vegetable
Very well, I was mentally prepared this time. Before I entered, I only swore not to make any such ‘student’ statements that could spoil my impression for good. He looked a bit sulky, and started off straight away by asking my action plan towards the project. I had come prepared for this. I told that I would leverage the collective experience of the entire team consisting of the Call Center Manager and Technical Lead, who had years of industry experience with them. I also told Mr. Aaron that they had already assured me about their total cooperation and whole hearted participation in this project. Besides, I was very positive about the good rapport which I had already developed with most of these persons running the show here.
But, with that statement, I had finally managed to stir the hornet’s nest. Upon hearing my plan of action, suddenly the complexion of Mr. Aaron’s face changed, and he noticeably looked livid, and very disappointed. Good Lord! What did I say this time which could upset him so much? He interrupted me as I was sharing my action plan, and then he began to correct my ‘understanding’ and set proper ‘expectations’ in me regarding my stint in XYZ. He said that I am the only person who would head the project, and it was entirely my responsibility to get the outcomes, single handedly. All others had their own roles and responsibilities and they were not expected to work on this project, except giving inputs. I stood almost frozen in front of Mr. Aaron as he continued.
‘I have not hired you to smile around and talk in slick English’, he said. And by doing so, you could only spend yet another day of the two months project. He reminded me that I was from an ‘IIM’, and then cited examples of my peers from other IIMs, who were making big impacts through entrepreneurial ventures. He then mentioned that I should probably seek inspiration from her daughter, who at the age of 21 was going to make presentation to the Boards of two MNCs for WWF (World Wild Life). He then mentioned that I was perhaps a walking testimony of India’s flawed education system, which doesn’t encourage the students to look beyond prescribed syllabus. He then pointed out that a degree from IIM couldn’t possibly propel my intellectual and business capabilities to a level, significantly higher than what it was already. Least of all, he mentioned that with the level of confidence that I showed, I was no more worth than ‘Vegetables’.
I stood there aghast, listening to his tirade and kept nodding my head, as if approving his opinion of me. At the end of almost one hour of ‘verbal atyachaar’, I only dared to assure him that I shall not disappoint him at the end of two months. I was literally devastated to hear his assessment of my capabilities and felt robbed of all self esteem and dignity. I was only two days old in the company as a summer intern. But, I was told that I wasn’t worth more than ‘vegetables’.
So, did I give in? Was it all over for me? Well, not really. Mr. Aaron only managed to wake up a person who would now work for his dignity.
Resurrection of Pride
After that, there was no looking back. I presented him a ‘Project Roadmap’ mentioning that at the end of two months, I would ideally want the Call Center to grow from 50 to at least 200 seats. The road map was very much appreciated by Mr. Aaron. During the course of next two months I went on to generate leads for multiple projects with 50 to 100 seats requirements for some major Indian and MNCs. Unfortunately, XYZ didn’t have capabilities to either bid for such high value projects or ‘go-live’ within the window period. I also set up meetings with a few consultants with direct project requirements with XYZ. Mr. Aaron had never expected such breakthrough leads from a Summer Intern. He only wanted a sincere effort towards developing a Go-To-Market study for the Call Center. He was positively surprised when I actually sent him the lead documents. He praised me to no ends.
Day Last: Hug
At the end of two months, project outcomes were highly appreciated by Mr. Aaron and others. Mr. Aaron hugged me, and said that he would love to work with me again. Those last words were the greatest reward for my efforts.
As I look back now, I feel deeply satisfied with results that I could achieve for XYZ. I also feel a little ‘funny’ about the first two days in XYZ. I am still in touch with Mr. Aaron, and occasionally I enquire about new developments in XYZ. They are planning to expand in the NCR region.
Day 1: Student
As I entered in the Gurgaon Call Center of XYZ to report on the first day of my internship, I recalled the infectious smile and charming personality of my project mentor, Mr. David Aaron, President- XYZ Services. David is IIT- Madras, IIM C alumni with rich and diverse industry experience of more than 20 years. I was welcomed by the Call Center Manager and the HR head, while the guy with no formal designation, Rafique made me comfortable with a glass of cold water and coffee.
Unfortunately, neither cold water nor the coffee could soothe my nerves or calm my pounding heart. After almost an hour, emerged Mr. Aaron. He exchanged a few customary pleasantries, and then started off with an elaborate session on project scope and goals. I immediately realized the importance of that cup of coffee I was served. But, wasn’t my ‘honeymoon period’ in XYZ supposed to last for a day, or at least a few hours? I woke up to the corporate reality, as my mentor went on with the session. He concluded almost an hour long session by setting a ‘tangible’ project objectives; ‘a platter full of potential clients for XYZ’. I was in charge of developing a ‘Go- To-Market strategy’ for the Call Center Business Unit of XYZ India Ltd. and expand its client portfolio from one to at least ten clients. Now then, it’s all very fancy to lay guidelines, set expectation, and project outcomes, but how do I navigate? What would be my eyes and ears to gather information about the entire market and identify opportunities? Would I get any relevant data or even a few nuggets of information from XYZ to start with?
Saddled with all such queries I asked my mentor, “what should be my approach to study the opportunity areas in the market?” To which he immediately replied, ‘you tell me’. I was taken aback by the abruptness of his reply. It was a bolt from the blue. I hurriedly gathered myself and tried to justify my question by a statement, which to my misfortune sounded like a surrender to him. I said that I being a “student” would require some advice in approaching this project. It turned out to be a complete ‘hara kiri’. My first day at XYZ couldn’t have been worse. My mentor seemed to almost tear me apart through his cold gaze, at the mention of the word “student”. He retorted, “No, you are not a student anymore. You are a ‘professional’ now. As this was not enough for the first day, Mr. Aaron then narrated an instance when his doctor son, who is a student of Surgery, asked him not to call or treat him as a ‘student’ anymore. As he concluded the session, I sat dejected, embarrassed, and almost defeated in the conference room amidst all the senior personnel who ran the show in the Call Center.
Till this day, I regret that fact that I labeled myself as a “student” on first day. But, wasn’t I a student, after all? Were not we told to exude the curiosity and enthusiasm of a ‘student’, by our faculties? I tried to reconcile with my “horrible” first day with such mental justifications and prepared for the second day at XYZ. Next day, I showed up early and started to interact with various teams. Meanwhile, Mr. Aaron had arrived by the time I had concluded my short “awareness” session with a few important functional departments of the Call Center. So, after the not so impressive encounter with me on the first day, Mr. Aaron wanted to have another round of discussion with me.
Day 2: Vegetable
Very well, I was mentally prepared this time. Before I entered, I only swore not to make any such ‘student’ statements that could spoil my impression for good. He looked a bit sulky, and started off straight away by asking my action plan towards the project. I had come prepared for this. I told that I would leverage the collective experience of the entire team consisting of the Call Center Manager and Technical Lead, who had years of industry experience with them. I also told Mr. Aaron that they had already assured me about their total cooperation and whole hearted participation in this project. Besides, I was very positive about the good rapport which I had already developed with most of these persons running the show here.
But, with that statement, I had finally managed to stir the hornet’s nest. Upon hearing my plan of action, suddenly the complexion of Mr. Aaron’s face changed, and he noticeably looked livid, and very disappointed. Good Lord! What did I say this time which could upset him so much? He interrupted me as I was sharing my action plan, and then he began to correct my ‘understanding’ and set proper ‘expectations’ in me regarding my stint in XYZ. He said that I am the only person who would head the project, and it was entirely my responsibility to get the outcomes, single handedly. All others had their own roles and responsibilities and they were not expected to work on this project, except giving inputs. I stood almost frozen in front of Mr. Aaron as he continued.
‘I have not hired you to smile around and talk in slick English’, he said. And by doing so, you could only spend yet another day of the two months project. He reminded me that I was from an ‘IIM’, and then cited examples of my peers from other IIMs, who were making big impacts through entrepreneurial ventures. He then mentioned that I should probably seek inspiration from her daughter, who at the age of 21 was going to make presentation to the Boards of two MNCs for WWF (World Wild Life). He then mentioned that I was perhaps a walking testimony of India’s flawed education system, which doesn’t encourage the students to look beyond prescribed syllabus. He then pointed out that a degree from IIM couldn’t possibly propel my intellectual and business capabilities to a level, significantly higher than what it was already. Least of all, he mentioned that with the level of confidence that I showed, I was no more worth than ‘Vegetables’.
I stood there aghast, listening to his tirade and kept nodding my head, as if approving his opinion of me. At the end of almost one hour of ‘verbal atyachaar’, I only dared to assure him that I shall not disappoint him at the end of two months. I was literally devastated to hear his assessment of my capabilities and felt robbed of all self esteem and dignity. I was only two days old in the company as a summer intern. But, I was told that I wasn’t worth more than ‘vegetables’.
So, did I give in? Was it all over for me? Well, not really. Mr. Aaron only managed to wake up a person who would now work for his dignity.
Resurrection of Pride
After that, there was no looking back. I presented him a ‘Project Roadmap’ mentioning that at the end of two months, I would ideally want the Call Center to grow from 50 to at least 200 seats. The road map was very much appreciated by Mr. Aaron. During the course of next two months I went on to generate leads for multiple projects with 50 to 100 seats requirements for some major Indian and MNCs. Unfortunately, XYZ didn’t have capabilities to either bid for such high value projects or ‘go-live’ within the window period. I also set up meetings with a few consultants with direct project requirements with XYZ. Mr. Aaron had never expected such breakthrough leads from a Summer Intern. He only wanted a sincere effort towards developing a Go-To-Market study for the Call Center. He was positively surprised when I actually sent him the lead documents. He praised me to no ends.
Day Last: Hug
At the end of two months, project outcomes were highly appreciated by Mr. Aaron and others. Mr. Aaron hugged me, and said that he would love to work with me again. Those last words were the greatest reward for my efforts.
As I look back now, I feel deeply satisfied with results that I could achieve for XYZ. I also feel a little ‘funny’ about the first two days in XYZ. I am still in touch with Mr. Aaron, and occasionally I enquire about new developments in XYZ. They are planning to expand in the NCR region.