“Strength Comes Through Indomitable Will Power”
To reach somewhere one ought to hon the right skill set. Encashing on his abilities, qualities and experience, Gaurav Mohan Verma is traversing through and making the most of his corporate journey to attain his dreams. His experience so far is beginning to give him a stronghold in the marketing and sales vertical, and he cannot be in a happier space than where he is now. Currently working as an account manager (corporate) with Radio City, Mumbai, Gaurav chats up with Corporate Citizen sharing his corporate journey, perks of building strength, the dos and don’ts during campus placement and much more
"When you love any subject, you pour your heart and soul into understating its basic. And I did the same. Which is why I could score well just by studying a few subjects, simply because they had my heart"
One’s character is not built overnight. It takes years of experience, trial and sufferings which strengths their soul, in turn, guiding them to their destiny. Having lost his father at a young age, Gaurav had to quit his first corporate job well within 10 days of the joining. “My work no doubt is my priority. But for me my family always comes first,” he expressed, “I had to quit my job to attend to my grieving mother. As my elder brother was working in Pune, I decided to work part-time giving me enough time to look after my family.”
That year itself taught him a great deal about life and the part-time job that had he picked up gave him an experience of a lifetime. “Strength comes through indomitable will power,” he recited a quote by a famous leader. Further adding, “In life, you have only one option when adversity hits you slow down, survive on your stored energy and emerge back stronger than ever. In 2013, working as a freelance IT support guy taught me a lot. It also showed me how much I love the vertical of marketing and sales. And also, the life lessons that I learnt during that time has shaped me into what I am today.”
Love thy subjects
Born in Lucknow, Gaurav completed his early education from his town and later moved to Delhi and Pune to pursue his further education. As an average kid, he had immense love for physics and languages. “When you love any subject, you pour your heart and soul into understating its basic. And I did the same. Which is why I could score well just by studying a few subjects, simply because they had my heart,” Gaurav added. For those who believe practical knowledge always take a front seat, Gaurav suggested, “I would say, both, practical and theoretical knowledge is crucial. Education is a must as it makes you understand the core of any theory giving you an upper hand when you enter any corporate firm. All said and done, academics does not guarantee intelligence but its application does. Which bring us to the golden rule know the concepts and apply them well.”
Gaurav had around two years of work experience before moving to Pune for his MBA. Someone else in his place would have simply Gaurav had other plans. “It’s true that I had enough corporate exposure. But the goals that I had in mind needed me to polish the skill set that I honed. That is why I decided to pursue an MBA,” explained Gaurav.
"Studying marketing and sales in depth put several things in perspective. When your theory is crisp, you become corporate ready. I would say it built in a corporate jargon that defined my experience"
Polishing his proficiency
Fresh out of college, Gaurav joined Network News and Media as an executive senior manager (marketing and sales). Having spent some time there, he decided to do his executive MBA. He knew since the beginning that he had to study an MBA, why we asked. He replied, “My father defined for me what a leadership role is. Watching him work was like magic. And it was his dream for me to pursue an MBA. Which inherently became obvious for me to do so. And I happily obliged.”
Studying an MBA not only broadened his horizons but also opened new doors for him. Talking about his learning experience, he informed, “Studying marketing and sales in depth put several things in perspective. When your theory is crisp, you become corporate ready. I would say it built in a corporate jargon that defined my experience.”
Being campus placement ready
Having enough experience of the corporate world and after polishing his skill set for the same, Gaurav thought he was ready to face the business realm again. Talking about his preparations for placement he said, “My vision was pretty clear. I needed a good job to pay off my education loan. And when you a set dream with a strong will power nothing can stop you. I had this dream since the beginning of the MBA and had to get placed in a good company that offered a great package. And for that, I needed to ace all the placement rounds.”
He knew things wouldn’t come to him that easy. Gaurav took extra efforts without wasting any time. “I knew I could easily clear the aptitude round. I did not take my corporate experience for granted as I knew that being humble and having gratitude will take me far,” he said. Further adding, “I did brush up on several theories and jargons before appearing for the interview. I was confident and dapperly dressed which made quite an impression. And that’s how I got placed.”
It’s been a year since Gaurav joined Radio City as their account manager. The role is dynamic giving him more reasons to grow quickly. So far, he has a few dreams in his kitty and feels only his strength and determination made him accomplish it. He assures that this is just the beginning and there is a lot more that he has to tick off from his list. “I am getting there, one dream at a time. Currently, more so than anything, I am quite happy where I reached in life,” he signed off.
As Gaurav settles in well in the corporate world, he passes on a few tips for his juniors on how to prepare for campus placement and much more…
Dedication will pay off : Once you decide your majors, devote yourself completely to what you are studying. Understand the core and foundation of each subject. Continuous learning will prepare you for the future and thus, your dedication will pay off!
What and why? Whatever you do in life understand what is it and why you want to do it. Answering the two Ws will provide you with a guiding path.
Presentation matters : Another thing equivalent to knowledge is the way you present yourself. Dress appropriately for your PIs and GDs. And once you enter the corporate world do continue this tradition.
Never quit : Failure is a part of life. And if you feel like quitting remind yourself why you starting in the first place.
Consistency is the key : Revise every day. If you do something consistently, it becomes a habit which leads to actions. And actions lead to success.