Sumit Saxena wanted to join the Indian Army, but doing his master’s in marketing changed his plans. Campus placement is a testing time for everyone, even more than getting a master’s degree, believes this professional who has entered the real estate corporate world
A back bencher during academics, things changed for this young lad who journeyed from a prominent professional college in Pune into the corporate world. Meet Sumit Saxena who once wanted to join the Indian Army, now turned corporate professional, who opened his innings in real estate, with the Lodha Group.
Sumit was among 1,000-odd students who lined up for campus placement in his college after topping his Master’s in Marketing from the Balaji Institute in Pune. “It was a mad world (campus placement), as we were 1,000 students and each one had just five minutes to prove our mettle in the campus interview. And to come out a winner from the interview room is tougher than getting a Master’s degree,” said Sumit.
A resident of Navi Mumbai, Sumit had always topped in sports; academics was secondary for him then. But stepping into a professional college for his master’s, he learnt it the hard way, and this helped him to balance both sports and academics evenly. Although he passed out of college with flying colours, getting into the corporate world opened new avenues, as he felt that it is not just books and notes which make a man complete, but it is the organisation he walks into, which is the real test of life. “Learning and process execution in an organisation is what is needed for any fresher, and I am no different,” he said. And went on to add, “This will help each one of us to build up our careers, which in turn will make us good citizens first, and other matters such as perks and designations will fall in line.”
A pugilist with a gold medal at a national-level championship, Sumit is an ardent cyclist too. He pedals Mumbai-Lonavala-Mumbai these days. He was a cager too during his schooldays. Born and brought up in a humble family, his father Ravi Kumar Saxena is a businessman and his mother, Ranjana Saxena, a social worker. It was his elder brother’s (Adarsh Saxena) motivation which drove Sumit to where he is now. Adarsh and his wife Diksha Singh work in Chennai with Royal Enfield.
L-R: Sumit with his family“It was like a circus, as there were over 1,000 students, and just 10 would be the chosen ones. The best part of the placement was the fact that no one had an idea as to where they would fit in, or which profile of the company they would be best suited for. But as days passed, some of them understood their worth and things started falling in place,” recalls Sumit. “The package is a by-product where your efforts are incentivised,” observes Sumit, summarising the placement process which finally hinged on only five minutes. “Yes, fears were there, but thanks to my mentors and sources who gave me adequate information and guidance to get placed, it worked out well” said Sumit.
“I had an early joining in January this year, and I had to pull up my socks during the first week itself. Though my friends back in college were still in a relaxed state after placement, I had to move ahead to gear up myself to be a professional,” said Sumit.
Sumit believes that patience, self-belief, hard work and discipline are most important to earn a place in the society. “One has to prove that he/she is worth more than the package, and this will prop him/her on to a platform to build his/her career in the corporate world. And one thing is very clear: harwork never goes waste. Work hard and the end result will be very fruitful,” says the former student of Fr. Agnel’s School and College, and a passout with an engineering degree under his belt. Coming out triumphant at the first attempt in a campus interview is something which changes any individual, and Sumit was one among those who made it.
"One has to prove that he/she is worth more than the package, and this will prop him/her on to a platform to build his/her career in the corporate world
Sumit winning an awardLife is about being thankful for what you have. ‘What you visualise, you materialise’ is his motto. “The credit for my success goes to the teamwork I shared with my colleagues, to my mentors and my family.” He begins his daily schedule with a workout, and then meets various high-profile customers who seek villas and duplexes in Pune.
By Joe Williams
