Small steps to big dream
One slot, many potential candidates. How the winners of Tycoons event proved
themselves worthy of the title
Nishith Rastogi, pursuing a dual degree programme at BITS Goa campus, has already set his aim for life. Nishith is fascinated with startups, reads up all well-researched books on this subject, and plans to set up his business in technological development. Unlike most engineering grads who follow it up with management education, Nishith is clear that it’s an MS that will help him achieve his goal. “Technical part is exceptionally important to my goal. I want to start my own company and I would like to hire MBAs, rather than be an MBA. Technology is what will get me there.”
Like Nishith, another BITS student is clear about his calling in life. Abhishek Humbad, an electrical and electrical electronics engineering student from BITS Pilani, has founded NextGen PMS Pvt Ltd, an environment and energy consultancy firm with specialisation in the domain of carbon credits in rural India. He has already bagged three projects, one of them from World Bank, and the others from Kairo Agro Solution, and from Conserve India. His aim is to be a social entrepreneur and work in the domain of rural solutions and an MBA fits in only to help him achieve that.
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The final eight contestants |
Nishith being awarded |
Abhishek, the first runner-up |
Zoya, the second runner-up |
The two demonstrate vision, ideation and clarity of thought akin to a leader. If any stamp was needed, the recently-concluded Tycoons provided it. Nishith Rastogi emerged as the winner of the all-India Tycoons event organised by Career Launcher India Ltd, while Abhishek emerged the first runner- up. It was a three-month, multi-stage contest that tested a candidate on a number of parameters, including basic awareness, team work, ability to perform under stress, and ideation. Zoya Mehani, a IIIrd year computer science student of Dehradun Institute of Technology, and an active member of the Rotary Club, finished third. The three win a sponsorship from Career Launcher to pursue an MBA/MS course of their choice.
The event was conducted in three stages. The preliminary round had students across India appear for a general awareness test. The successful candidates were called for the regional round, where they were subjected to extempore, debate and role plays. The final 48 students were taken for the Himalayan Round, held, you guessed it right, in the foothills of Himalayas, near Rishikesh. As Abhishek puts it, “I got all psyched up. I thought my chances are all over.” Zoya too got skeptical. But the round was not only about physical endurance. It was about the ability to work together and show leadership qualities.
Back from the hectic Himalayan Round, it was time to attend a day-long, 12-hour Leadership Summit, in which listening to the leaders of various fields and actively participating in discussions meant stretching yourself again, but the contestants showed no sign of fatigue. Zoya says it for all the participants, “Each one of us found a purpose there. I found a purpose in the education segment, when I listened to Shaheen’s talk.” Shaheen, who works with underprivileged children in Mumbai, had mesmerised the audience with her moving speech and an equally inspiring poem, which she had created on her flight to Delhi.
Even before the participants could let the learnings of the day sink in, they had another task awaiting them. After the summit, the final 24 candidates were announced, and they were given the task of making a 30 second TV commercial for a theme they were assigned — different one for each candidate. The work had to be showed early next day. So after a three-day trek and a day-long summit, when sleep was uppermost on everyone’s mind, here was a task that could land them in the final eight, but which demanded another night without sleep. “It really brought out the tycoon material in us. It opened my eyes to my true potential,” says Abhishek, who was asked to create a commercial for an entertainment outlet. Nishith, who got an ad for a premium kitchen brand which is foraying now into furniture segment, perhaps had it easy. For collecting ads is his hobby. He keeps searching the net space for lists like the top hundred ads. To top it all, his sister is in brand management. So he knew all about special effects.
The final eight were given a case study each of a company which is facing a mess. The contestants were required to analyse the reasons, offer a solution and make a presentation to the panel of judges, all within an hour. Here again, Nishith’s extensive reading of books in this genre stood him in good stead.
As Nishith received the winner’s award from Career Launcher chairperson Satya Narayanan R and choked with emotion, there was the realisation that life had changed for him completely. There was the realisation of greater responsibility. And there was the happiness at the “reconfirmation of belief that I have it in me”. To Abhishek too, the announcement of second position came with the feeling of “immense responsibility, and also realisation of capabilities”. Zoya shares similar sentiments. Yet, Abhishek says, besides the tangible rewards that he got, including a seven-day ‘pilgrimage’ to Harvard Business School and a sponsored MBA, a big takeaway was the chance to network with ‘tycoons’. To Nishith too that is important. “The Intel CEO was
present when I was receiving
the award. Tomorrow, when
I approach him with a business plan, I will at least get a hearing.” It’s clear. The Tycoons of tomorrow are not resting for a moment on
their laurels. They are readying themselves for the challenges of tomorrow.