One of the problems afflicting the corporate sector in India is that many bright, young minds after a period slip into a mood of complacency and settle for mediocrity and underperformance. Management students should guard against the peril and strive for constant career improvement, according to Bellamkonda Madhav, Chief Operating Officer of Varun Motors group.
He was addressing the students of Gayatri Vidya Parishad's PG College at Rushikonda here on Wednesday at a guest lecture organised by the Business Line Club and sponsored by the State Bank of Hyderabad.
He said the triple E - effort, enthusiasm and excellence - should never be allowed to wane and “for that constant self-motivation and career planning are required. A purpose-driven career is the ultimate anyone can hope for and it is in fact the nirvana of any corporate career.”
Citing the example of his own career, he said that he had failed the intermediate (plus two) exam five times and then did some introspection and planned his academic career and corporate career methodically “to become now the COO of the Rs 1,800-crore Varun Motors Group. It was a very long, hard road, but one which I traversed and one which I am sure all of you can. You now have many more advantages and make full use of them to achieve excellence in your chosen fields.”
He told students to observe small vendors on the beach and learn from them marketing skills and co-relate the experience with the textbook knowledge. “It will be of great help to you when you have to make your way through the corporate jungle. Set a clear goal and go for it,” he added.
Prof. G.S.N. Raju, Vice-chancellor of Andhra University, who lighted the lamp to mark the inauguration of BL Club lecture series 2013, told students not to bunk classes and pay close attention to what is taught in the class room. “You may think you can study the syllabus on your own as the exams approach, but that will not work out. Listening is learning. The assimilation of the subject will be greater,” he said.
D.V. Subba Rao, former mayor of Visakhapatnam and the president of Gayatri Vidya Parishad, said students should shed insularity and cultivate catholicity of approach. They should ignite the spark within themselves and do the country proud.
Ramesh Babu, Deputy General Manager of SBH, said the bank would liberally give education loans to students and also finance their ventures after they finish the education. It would always support them, he added. He also spoke about new career opportunities opening up in the banking sector.
T.V Suresh, regional general manager of the Hindu, welcomed the gathering and explained about the activities of the Business Line Club.