Students of higher education management program like MBA / PGDM can get most out of it, if they are aware about change in their thinking, action, focus, dedication & approach required. This note is excerpt of my speech during the induction program of leading university in India.

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“KgGuruji Consulting & Services, Training session for higher education participants”
Each year approximately 200,000 students complete their Masters in
Business Management program or Post Graduate Diploma in Management
program from approximately 4000 b-schools in India. Number of newspaper
articles & research papers highlighted low employ-ability skills and there by
low percentage of pass outs getting the job which they were supposed to
get. At the same time, industry managers continue to point out non-
availability of skilled manpower, hence, there are many vacancies. This
contradiction clearly highlights the gap. During my addresses to MBA
students in leading b-schools many students asked, what they should do
different than their graduation studies to enter in to corporate world and
prepare them for successful professional career.
I feel that during their two year stay in b-school for MBA/PGDM study,
students can change the way they think, behave, act, involve & believe on
number of points to get maximum benefits, higher return of their
investment of time & money. They should be ready for at least following
changes;
1. Understand self, be yourself and find what you love: It is very
important for student to perform self-evaluation to understand
oneself. Sooner a student is herself, better her experience will be
during stay at college. MBA program will have students from different
streams like arts, commerce, science, engineering, humanity etc., from

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different geographies, & different experience. Since, MBA student
jumps in new environment, meet new people, the new educational
program offers many exciting opportunities; one may find oneself
doing things that don’t interest her. One should grab this opportunity,
try & do different things to find out interest areas. There is no need to
live someone else's life (It’s already taken by someone).
2. Establish long term career goals: During application process most of
MBA aspirants prepare statement of purpose or statement of
objective to join MBA program. However, after admission is
confirmed, very few students actually revisit & track it during two
years. Student's own career aptitude and long term goals with
timelines are often not identified. Due to this, students take decision
of internship or first job based on short term goals like salary, job
profile, place of work etc. These wrong choices ultimately work against
students in future. To avoid this situation, statement of purpose or
objectives needs to be extended to prepare long term goals &
timelines. One should be clear of who one wants to be? Instead of
what one wants to be? And why one wants to achieve? At any point of
time student come to know about steps taken in the past didn’t yield
desired results or would not fit career & personal ambitions, one
shouldn't be afraid to blaze own trail. One should follow someone’s
trail only, if, one is really lost in a dense forest and has completely lost
her way and need to come out of it without any navigation aid.
3. Career experimentation: B-schools offer opportunities to learn new
roles, new industry sectors, and new geographies. This is a right
chance to use and experiment with skills required in variety of job
profiles in different industry sectors. B-school also offers various
internal learning clubs, students’ chapters of national organizations,
various committees and many other extracurricular activities. Student
can volunteer in these activities to engage in similar to real life
assignments to find out liking and fit in these roles, if one selects as
real life engagements. Take classes outside of comfort zone, attend
meetings, meet strangers and push boundaries. Students can also
take-up live projects, help local company, organization of relatives &

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friends or college to solve business management challenges. It will
expose to new ideas and ways of thinking. This also gives opportunity
to apply knowledge and enhance skills. Based on various such activity
participation, one can make decision about future career path.
4. Learn from mistakes: If a student steps out, take risks during
experimentation, it might not always work as planned. This may be
perceived as failure. There is no such thing as failure. A mistake is also
an experience in which one has moved in different direction or
outcome is not in his favor. It's fine to feel bad for a while, count
losses but should quickly come out from that mode and find out
what's next right move. Every experience teaches students something.
5. Take holistic approach to academics & don't be complacent: Do
corporate companies expect students to become expert in everything?
What do recruiters is really interested to evaluate in applicant of job? I
think no one expects management graduates to be expert in every
topic of their curriculum. However, expectation of student's deep
understanding of key tools, concepts, components and reasonable
employ-ability skills is a fair expectation. Hence, students should take
holistic approach to academic activities, attend all classes, complete
pre-reading and post class assignments without copy from someone
else or outsourcing them, postpone judgments about subjects, topics,
faculty members and give equal weight-age to all academic activities &
evaluations. No need to be complacent, even if student gets a job
during study or has secure place in family business. Don't stop learning
at any point of time during two years.
6. Focus: Be committed & keep your focus all the time. Do you remember
why did you come to b-school? Why did you select a particular
specialization? Why did you join MBA program? Update your
statement of purpose, print it and paste it on your study room wall.
Revisit it, it's your mission statement the way corporate companies
have their mission statement. Align all your activities with statement
of purpose. If you have any conflicts about tasks, time, resource
allocation, check this mission statement and decide accordingly.

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7. Be with smart people, surround yourself with critics: Someone who can
give you different perspectives, inputs, data which will help you to
analyze objectively and take appropriate decisions. Don't afraid to be
with critics or challengers. These are the people who will push you
beyond your perceived limit.
8. Focus on health, do activities regularly that can give you energy &
happiness: MBA program is very demanding. You would be very busy
at b-school. It will be stressful time and can drain you. At times it's
easy to neglect your personal wellbeing, health and happiness among-
st priorities competing for your time. Set aside a set period for
yourself every day. Perform yoga, do workouts, involve yourself in
hobbies like cooking, dancing, singing, photography etc. Do what you
love & enjoy doing. It will rejuvenate you and boost your energy level.
9. Make most of your student ID card: If you think that student ID card
only helps you at campus in administrative formalities, you have
underestimated its power. As a MBA student you can actually make
most of your status. It gives you opportunity to ask for help from
industry experts, business owners, you can get information, obtain
data, attend conferences and training programs for free or at
concessional rate etc. It opens more doors than when you are in the
professional world after your study. Use this freedom to explore new
opportunities, meet leaders, faculty members, statutory & regulatory
authorities. This will help you to understand broader perspectives,
vision and goals.
10. Benchmark you against yourself & maintain motivation
level: Most of students start comparing evaluation results and campus
placement outcomes with peers. It is unfair to benchmark your
success with fellow students. You should benchmark your outcome
with where you were when you entered in to MBA program. MBA
program attracts diverse educational background, financial
background & cultural background students. Learning curve and
baselines are unique for each student. Hence, comparison with fellow
students will not help at all. You should prepare for your future career,
keep setting your goals & benchmarks and keep pushing them. Since,

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external factors and environment is not in control, you must keep your
focus on your self-motivation. You joined MBA program because you
were motivated to bring transformation in your own personality & to
achieve holistic all-round development. There is no reason to become
demotivated during or after MBA program.
These points will help management students to achieve higher return on
investment, time, and resources. Remember, people from your family,
friends, teachers, peers feel proud about what you have done so far and will
support you in whatever you do in future. Don't give any opportunity to
breach their trust and let them down. They will help you to maintain
perspectives & optimism through challenging time. Congratulations for
joining MBA program. Your hard work of many months/years has helped
you to reach to this level. It's a great opportunity for you to achieve your
professional career goals and transform yourself to become a true leader in
future.
Ketan Gandhi (23Jun2018)
Ketan Gandhi is innovator, consultant, mentor/coach and trainer with 25+ years of industry
experience serving clients in 16 countries and teaching higher education programs/ training in
six countries. His contact details are as follows;