‘Times Change And We With Time’

There are a series of things that have happened in his education and work life that has shaped him into the person he is today. Be it changing his educational stream, the decision to giving up cricket or taking up the MBA course even after having a good corporate experience, Akshit Maini changed his passion as per the need of the hour. He made the choices and stuck to his decision. And now when he is serving as the Area Sales Manager at the Signature International Foods India Private Limited, he hopes to be the change that he wants to see in the corporate world

It was one of those usual days for Akshit. An early morning marketing lecture had always kept him on his toes. And just a night before, Akshit had received a message that one of his favourite companies would be screening the students for a summer internship. “I pulled an all-nighter and did my search for the company. As I belong to the hotel management industry, this company soon became my dream company. Their work is pretty phenomenal and I was hoping to bag this company,” reminisced Akshit, who completed his MBA in Telecom and Marketing from Pune’s well-known college.

It was during that lecture, Akshit was handed one the best advice that changed his life. “During that lecture, one of the professors came to announce the arrival of the company that I envisioned to work with. I was the first one to raise the hand when the professor informed about it. He spent some time with me and gave me a crucial tip. He motivated me to give my best and asked me to make sure to crack the interview at every cost,” said Akshit, while stating the advice that his professor gave him, “Be aware and understand every concept that the marketing arena offers.” Further explaining the rule, Akshit added, “There are a few things a fresher needs to grasp before entering the corporate world. Learning the marketing terms and understanding its concept will surely them a long way. As I spent the night revising the terms and concepts, it made me confident and I was sure that I would make my college proud.”

Things went his way, and Akshit cracked the internship interview. The interview was sure tough, but Akshit was there to prove himself. “They kept showering questions and I made sure to answer each one them. As I spent a good amount of time in understanding the concepts and marketing terms, cracking the interview seemed a tad bit easy,” he explained.

"I always come with a plan. Once I gain enough technical know-how, I test my knowledge by taking up a job. That’s what I did when I completed my graduation"

Making waves

Akshit not only aced his summer internship but he also went on to become one of their best interns. Talking about the experience, he said, “I had a taste of the corporate world before I took up this MBA course. But this internship broadened my horizons and made me realise that there’s so much to marketing and sales than what met my eyes,”

That summer internship indeed changed his life. He added, “I got to learn a lot which simply spiked my confidence to do better. Within no time I got the hang of the work and sold several products. The company acknowledged my work. Happy with my performance, I was offered a pre-placement offer. That was one of the most memorable days of life,” he said.

Back to the beginning

Unlike the star performer he is today, growing up, Akshit was an average student with very little or no liking for Math. Born and raised in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, Akshit completed his education from his hometown itself before moving to Pune for his MBA. As he knew what the need of the hour was back then, he took up a hotel management course. “I believe in changing as per time. Back then, or since a long time, hotel management happened to attract a lot of people. And it was one of the courses that had always in been demand, which is why I chose it,” he said. Soon after his graduation in hotel management, he started working with one the best hospitality company that groomed him quite well. That was where he saw the practical implication of the saying – change as per the time.

He had and still has a great affection towards cricket. So much so, that even went on to play district level. “Cricket as a sport has taught me a lot. That’s where I learnt to deal with leadership roles, as I was the captain of the team. Then came a time when I had to take a tough decision. I had to pick education over the sport. It was the need of the hour and don’t regret making that decision. Times change and we with time,” he explained.

"The MBA degree gave me an overview of how the marketing functions. The college life and the professors groomed to my fullest, giving me an upper hand before I entered the corporate world again"

A man with a plan

Although he had enough experience in the hospitality sector, he chose to take up MBA which came as a surprise move for all his friends. He explained, “I always come with a plan. Once I gain enough technical know-how, I test my knowledge by taking up a job. That’s what I did when I completed my graduation.”

After spending a good two and a half years with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Bengaluru, Akshit was promoted to the Food and Beverage Outlet Incharge before he decided to take up the MBA course. Now, the time had come to gain more knowledge, as for him, learning never stops – it’s a continuous process, he believes. “The MBA degree gave me an overview of how the marketing functions. The college life and the professors groomed to my fullest, giving me an upper hand before I entered the corporate world again,” added Akshit

Being the change

It’s been almost two years since Akshit is working with Signature International Foods India Private Limited. “Over the years after managing several different groups in school and colleges, and after leading a team at my previous job, I am beginning to realise how to handle leadership roles. Now that I am handling a team again, I am learning a lot from them. I handle my team quite well by understanding everyone’s capability and that’s where I am being the change that I wish to see in them,” he smiled.

As Akshit 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…

Know thy terms : To climb the ladder of success, one needs to understand the foundation on which the corporate vertical functions on. Marketing beat has a huge jargon, and one needs on all the terms that this industry relies on.

Change according to the time : It’s a known fact that change is the only constant thing. These days, times are changing at an even faster pace. To live up the corporate standards one needs to change as per the times.

Keep yourself updated : Thanks to the latest technology, we have the world at our feet. The market is constantly changing, and we need to keep ourselves updated with the same.

Stand your ground : Be it the ground discussion, personal interview or any situation in life, it is imperative to hold your ground regardless of the situation. Make a decision and be firm on it.

Groom yourself well : A well-groomed person always makes a great first impression. It is important especially when you are working in the corporate industry. A finely groomed person feels good from within and they radiate confidence which pushes them to deliver their best.