Vivekanand PGDM Alumni Review: The Story of Mr. Atharva Kulkarni to the Career at BusinessNext.

Mr. Atharva Kulkarni (PGDM Batch 2016-2018) reflects on his experience with Vivekanand that left an imprint in his memory that defines his attitude and goals in life. Today he works as an Associate Lead Consultant at BusinessNext and much of what he practices in the workplace traces to the lessons, attitudes and experiences which he acquired during those two intensive years at Vivekanand.

Here, Mr. Atharva shares his journey that has molded him into the professional he is today.

Q. Which part of the PGDM journey at Vivekanand influenced you the most and why?

To be honest, the concept of teamwork and always adding value had the greatest impact on me. At Vivekanand we were always motivated to collaborate not only in gaining marks but also in attaining results that were important. Each group task or class discussion made us realize that we make progress when we all contribute. I often use that lesson every day at my workplace.

Q. How did Vivekanand prepare you for real-world challenges in your career?

What impressed me in particular was the practicality of it all. The program was not just a rote training of theories, we could immerse in live projects, real life case studies, and real life business problems. This type of practicality made me feel a lot more confident to make decisions. That is why, adjusting to new conditions and improvising in the given situation became significantly easier when I started my career. What I got to know at that time is something that I can use to this day to remain calm and seek realistic solutions regardless of how tough the situation gets.

Q. How did the faculty, placements, or industry exposure support your journey?

The faculty was in fact very helpful in my development. They were pleasant and were interested in our progress- not everything was regarding being able to complete the syllabus. I also found it appealing to the fact that they would always make an effort to correlate whatever we were learning in the classroom to what was happening in the industry. Guest lectures and internships helped me a lot as well; they helped me to have a better idea of how the things are in actual companies. This entire experience instilled in me confidence, as well as it taught me to take the real working situations professionally.

Q. What are your top three reasons to recommend Vivekanand to future students?

First of all, they have to be the faculty members, they are well informed, easy to talk to and willing to help you no matter what. Second, the general learning environment is actually open and interactive. You never feel hesitant to share your ideas, and you end up learning a lot from your peers. Third, the experience you acquire during internships and all those guest lectures allows you to have a glimpse of the world of corporations in reality, so your first step into the world of work will not be overwhelming.

Reflectively, not only did the two-year precondition me to do the job but they taught me the required skills and values that I apply on a daily basis not only in my profession but also in life.