Global Indian Education Global

CALL TO MAKE INDIAN LEGAL EDUCATION GLOBAL

 

 

A CONSORTIUM OF INDIAN LAW SCHOOLS IS CONSIDERING INTRODUCING CHANGES TOWARDS A MORE INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.  

 

THE Indian legal education system may witness big changes in the coming years. On one hand, while realising the importance of globalisation, law schools have called for making Indian legal education globally relevant. On the other, they are planning to introduce changes to the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to select students who have the skills to become international lawyers.
   These plans were announced at seminars organised in Hyderabad and Delhi recently by US-based Institute of International Education (IIE), an international exchange organisation. The seminars brought together the US Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and the National Law Schools (NLS) of India. “Expansion in business across the world has generated a need for lawyers who are global in their approach. Legal education has to play a big role in creating such lawyers. We at our organisation believe in international exchange of ideas so we thought to facilitate exchange of ideas,” said Ajit Motwani, director, IIE India.

CHANGES IN CLAT


Entrance examinations are an important parameter to select the right candidate. And while CLAT is only a year old, LSAC has the experience of holding Law School Admission Test (LSAT) across US, Australia and Canada for nearly 60 years.
   Veer Singh, vice-chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, will be the convenor of CLAT 2009. Singh, while elaborating on the plans to introduce changes in the exam, said, “Approximately 1.5 lakh aspirants from three different countries take LSAT. They have proved their credibility in terms of fairness of content, testing candidate on logical and verbal reasoning and language comprehension. So, we want to learn from them the things that can make CLAT more reliable.”
   When asked about the feasibility of applying a US testing method in India, Singh said, “We will not be replicating the LSAT, since CLAT 2008 had its own peculiar problems like local, gender and caste reservations. Besides, some take it online and some don't. So, we will consider all these factors before reaching any conclusion.”

UNIVERSAL APPROACH

Elaborating on the universal approach of LSAT in selecting candidates, Daniel Bernstine, president, LSAC, said: “We have to remember that the exam is not about law. It is conducted to test a student's ability to work as a lawyer. So, we provide equal playing fields to students from different disciplines." Ellen Rutt, chair, LSAC, added: "The exam is designed in the US, but it is taken by students from various countries. It can effectively judge the critical thinking and reasoning ability of a student regardless of him/her sitting in Nairobi or New Delhi.”

FOR A GLOBAL CLASSROOM


Once the right candidates have been selected, the focus shifts towards imparting quality education. So, those present at the Delhi seminar made suggestions on improving the legal education system in the country. “We require a new breed of schools that will be able to handle global issues such as climate change, arbitration, mergers and acquisitions. Hence, it is important to initiate dialogue with other countries. And since the US is also a democracy, we can learn a lot from them,” said Moolchand Sharma, eminent law professor, and vicechairman, University Grants Commission (UGC).
Elaborating on the required changes, Dalveer Bhandari, judge, Supreme Court, said: “Considering the sheer number of global law firms that have set up shop in India in the past 10 years, there is an urgent need for truly global legal education. We also need to have a special fleet of lawyers who can represent India in the World Trade Organisation. The Bar Council of India is doing very little in this regard. The council should also consider a fiveyear law course where faculty could consist of accomplished lawyers and researchers.”
Bhandari also felt that the country needed clinical legal education so that students could get real life dealing in courts and with clients. On the other hand, Ranbir Singh, vicechancellor, NLS-Delhi, said: “We will be local in our thinking but the focus would be to create lawyers who can relate to the global situation. Hence, our vision is to increase interaction between our law school and others worldwide.”

 

Career in Food Industry

Culinary craft

 

 

THE FOOD INDUSTRY OFFERS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND COOKING. THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU, IF YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD, BUT DON’T FANCY SPENDING INNUMERABLE HOURS IN THE KITCHEN

 

   Adecade ago, careers related to food may not have been a student’s first option. However, today, due to a combination of factors like an increasingly affluent middle class, a growing, young working population with evolved tastes, the pervasive trend of fine dining as a leisure activity, and a wealth of international exposure, the food and beverage (F&B) industry in India is cooking up a storm. The F&B retail industry in India is estimated to be worth $6 billion and has been growing at a rate of 35% per-annum for the last two years.
   A career in this industry is not just confined to cooking. Offshoots like food critiquing and writing, food styling, catering, food tasting, and food photography are gaining in popularity.

A BUFFET OF OPTIONS

Due to great demand for trained professionals in India’s food production, which is likely to double in the next decade, there are many exciting avenues for those seeking peripheral, offbeat careers, especially in areas of food writing and styling. Do you think you could make a bowl of soup or a basket of fruits come alive for the camera? Or capture a perfect, tempting food picture with carefully picked props? If you are passionate about food, but don’t have the appetite to spend innumerable hours in the kitchen, a host of opportunities await you.

FOOD WRITER/CRITIC

Writing about food is a rewarding option for those with a combined passion for food, writing and learning. A food writer’s job involves more than just sharing a recipe or writing restaurant reviews. Food writing, like all other writing, aims to stimulate the senses of the reader, either evoking experiences, past or present, or more practically, motivating the reader to get out of his armchair, and into the kitchen or the nearest restaurant.

What does it take?

A food writer needs to constantly refine his skills and reeducate himself. Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, a Mumbaibased, gastronomy writer and food content consultant, says, “I study nearly everyday to keep up with trends and update myself on food facts. I absorb every bit of food writing I can get my hands on, and have about 500 books on food.”
   It takes knowledge, hard work, consistent research, perseverance, an open mind, the ability to multitask, and an unwavering passion, in order to grow as a food writer. There is no formal training course to be a certified food writer. The career is ideal for those, who learn from observations and thrive on their ability to turn their passion for food into incisive commentary.

Money talk

Smita Iyengar, a food writer, who has travelled extensively, offers, “Food writing is a gratifying experience, but there is limited scope in terms of money unless you have a full-time job with a publication.” Ghildiyal offers a different view, insisting, “It might mean lean pickings at the outset, but it will certainly pay-off in the long run, provided you have good research abilities, creativity and a positive attitude.”
   If you are an employee of a publication, as a full-time journalist, you stand to earn as much money as your peers. As a freelancer, your income is entirely dependent on how much work you can do, which may mean anything between Rs 1,000 for an assignment, to a five-figure salary per-month. Ghildiyal reveals, “Reputed publications will rarely have qualms about paying fairly. If you think your work is worth more, do not hesitate to demand your price.”

Scope

Food writing in India has a long way to go to achieve the cult status it enjoys in the West. At the same time, it also means that there are many opportunities for aspiring food writers. One could either join a publication as a full-time journalist and specialise in food features, or freelance for publications.
   An aspirant can expect fantastic prospects in this field due to burgeoning food and drink production, consumption, meagre competition, and the different media open to them. As Ghildiyal reveals, “I, for one, discovered food writing while on a sabbatical from my job, when surfing the internet and experimenting with blogging.”

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

Have you ever looked at a picture of the most delectable, tempting dish, and found it so appealing, that you found yourself wishing you could eat it right there and then? Food photography involves bringing the magic of food alive, and is considered to be one of the most difficult specialities in the realm of professional photography. The reason? It isn’t easy to make wholesome food look appealing in a two-dimensional photograph, and photographers have very little time to shoot, because the food essentially looks good for just a few moments.

What does it take?

Still photographer, Sanjiv Valsan explains, “Food is a bit like a micro landscape; you need a strong sense of colour and composition and good photography skills.”
   If you want be a food photographer, knowledge about food, a good aesthetic sense, and patience and perseverance are must haves. “You certainly cannot be dispassionate about it,” observes Bharat Bhirangi, a food photographer, adding, “You need to have excellent aesthetic sense, as food has to be shot with props like crockery, table linen and cutlery, among other things.”
   Unfortunately, there are no courses that offer a specialisation in food photography in India. A course in general photography applies to food photography. After picking up the basics of photography and studio lighting, one can gain a better understanding of the subject by assisting established photographers in the genre. Also, personal initiative and practice will help in the long run.

Money talk

Food photographers are rarely hired as employees. The profession may demand a little investment on your part, as you need to own a professional camera and the right equipment. The field mostly has self-employed professionals with all the rewards and risks such an arrangement entails. Payment for a day’s shoot is usually Rs 5,000 upwards. Bhirangi explains, “It is hard to outline monetary parameters. One can expect around Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 a day, when you start, to about Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 a day, if you are a much sought-after name. But, it really depends on the way you position yourself in the market.”

Scope

A photographer’s clients could comprise hotels, restaurants, magazines and advertising agencies. “Magazines are the least competitive entry point, while ad agencies can seem a little intimidating to newcomers. Competition isn’t very fierce, since most photographers may make a beeline for more glamorous fields. In fact, there is a shortage of good food photographers in Indian cities,” says Valsan. You can approach lifestyle magazines, hotels and ad agencies to showcase your work and earn assignments.
   “The requirement for good quality visuals is definitely on the rise,” avers Bhirangi. As Valsan states, “There is a growing interest in exotic food. The future can only open up more possibilities.”

FOOD STYLING

Though the word ‘food’ is very enticing in itself, eatables can cease to be at their photographic best within minutes. That’s where a food stylist scores. A food stylist works hand in glove with the food photographer, preparing, placing, arranging and garnishing the food. “Food styling is like make up for food, to make it look more appealing. There is a big difference between cooking food to eat and preparing food for a photo shoot,” asserts Arati Kamat, a food stylist with over 10 years of experience working as a chef and a food researcher/writer.

What does it take?

Without sound knowledge of international cuisines, the stylist would be at a loss. Stylists check for thumbprints, lint and stray elements. It is the job of the stylist to cook, pick or select just the right thing for a photograph and ensure the strawberry is turned the right way, the leafy vegetables look fresh and green, and that there is sufficient steam to create an image of piping hot food on film.
   Saba Gajiyani, a food stylist and photographer, whose portfolio boasts of leading national and international clients, advises, “The ideal way to pursue a career in this field is to study hotel management, and use your knowledge about food and your aesthetic sense to make a mark in this niche area.” Though tweezers, hair dryers, spray bottles and cotton balls are common objects in a stylist’s kit, there is no specific method for food styling. A stylist is as good as his creative best.

Money talk

“The job may demand little investment in terms of having a collection of classy crockery, cutlery and background material,” claims Kamat. One can master the art by assisting an established food stylist and usually get paid a handsome amount per-day. Food stylists can expect a couple of thousand rupees for a day’s work. Once you establish your name in the industry, you can put your own price tag to your talent.

Scope

The media industry is booming, and lifestyle-related domains like food will obviously grow in proportion. With new restaurants opening their doors every day, and businesses pumping more money into advertising efforts, there is no dearth of work for skilled photographers and stylists. The demand continues to rise. As far as competition is concerned, it is rising, albeit at a slower pace.
   A career in the food industry is not only gastronomically pleasing, but can also be an economically rewarding and personally satisfying option, whether you opt to pursue writing, teaching, styling or catering. No facet of food is dull for gourmands, with their voracious appetite for the best that food has to offer.

tecH's hiGhest paid young CEO's

Topping the list of highest paid CEOs is 43-year-old Nabeel Gareeb of Pakistani origin, CEO of chipmaker MEMC Electronic Materials since April 2002 with a total compensation package of $79.6 million.

Gareeb joined MEMC as CEO in April 2002. Gareeb's appointment came after Texas Pacific Group purchased the company from its German owners in 2001 and recapitalised the business.

Prior to joining MEMC, Gareeb was the Chief Operating Officer of International Rectifier Corporation, a leading supplier of power semiconductors, where he was responsible for worldwide operations, research and development and marketing.

He joined International Rectifier in 1992 as Vice President of Manufacturing and subsequently held other senior management positions. Gareeb immigrated to US from Pakistan more than 25 years ago. He holds an MSc in engineering management, and a Bachelors in electrical and electronic engineering.

Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia

Second on the list is Nvidia Corporation co founder Jen-Hsun Huang. Huang founded graphic chip maker in April 1993 today commands a pay packet of $45.9 million. He has being President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member on Nvidia's Board since its inception.

Under his leadership, Nvidia emerged as a leading name in programmable graphics processing technologies and one of the semiconductor industry's largest fabless companies.

Huang also serves on the Rand Corporation's Board of Trustees and is a member of the Committee of 100, an organisation that addresses issues concerning the Chinese-American community and US-China relations.

Prior to founding Nvidia, Huang held engineering, marketing and general management positions at LSI Logic, and was a microprocessor designer at Advanced Micro Devices.

Huang holds a BSEE degree from Oregon State University and an MSEE degree from Stanford University.

Jonathan Schwartz, Sun Microsystems

Jonathan Schwartz, chief executive officer and president of Sun Microsystems is the third highest-paid young tech CEO with an annual package of $13.5 million. A member of Sun's board of directors, Schwartz became company's CEO in 2006, succeeding the Sun's co-founder and current chairman of the board, Scott McNealy.

Schwartz was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2004, and managed all operational functions at Sun -- from product development and marketing, to global sales and service.

A leader behind many of Sun's open source and standard setting initiatives, Jonathan's been an outspoken advocate for the network as a utility with more than just value for the computing industry -- but as a tool for driving economic, social and political progress.

Prior to his position as COO, Schwartz served as Sun's executive vice president for software, its Chief Strategy Officer, and held a variety of leadership positions across product and corporate development.

He joined Sun in 1996 after the company acquired Lighthouse Design, where he was CEO and co-founder. Prior to that, Schwartz was with McKinsey & Co. Schwartz received degrees in economics and mathematics from Wesleyan University.

Shantanu Narayen, Adobe Systems

Forty-four-year old electronics engineer from Hyderabad, Shantanu Narayen, became Adobe's CEO last year. His annual compensation is at $12 million.

Narayen joined Adobe in January 1998 as Vice President and General Manager of Adobe's engineering technology group. In January 1999, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Worldwide Products and in March 2001 he was promoted to Executive Vice President, Worldwide Product Marketing and Development.

In January 2005, Narayen was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Adobe. Prior to joining Adobe, Narayen co-founded Pictra Inc in 1996.

Together with the ex-CEO Bruce Chizen, Narayen spearheaded the $3.4 billion acquisition of Macromedia Inc in 2005, expanding Adobe's software platform and solutions and strengthening the company's presence in key markets ranging from enterprise and vertical industries to mobile devices and multimedia publishing.

Narayen is a frequent speaker at industry and academic events. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.

Narayen holds a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering from Osmania University in India, a master's degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University, and a master's degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business.

Dara Khosrowshahi, Expedia

At no. five is CEO of Expedia Dara Khosrowshahi with a total compensation package of is $4.9 million.

Founded as a division of Microsoft in October 1996, Expedia was spun off in 1999. The company was later purchased by USA Networks in 2001.

The 39-year-old Khosrowshahi became CEO of Expedia when it spun off from IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC) in August 2005. He joined IAC in 1998 as vice president of strategic planning. Prior to this he worked at Allen & Company LLC from 1991 to 1998, where he served as vice president from 1995 to 1998.

Khosrowshahi received a BA in engineering from Brown University in 1991

Francisco D'Souza, Cognizant

At no. six is thiry-nine-year old Francisco D'Souza, president and chief executive officer of Cognizant. D'Souza who has been the company's President and CEO since January 2007 has an annual compensation package of $3.7 million.

Prior to this he was the Chief Operating Officer for Cognizant's global delivery, marketing and sales, business development and client services operations. He has also led the company's North American and European operations.

Earlier, Francisco held key positions at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in marketing, strategic planning and new business development in Germany, US and India.

Born in Kenya, he has Bachelors degree from the University of East Asia. He has also done MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University.

101 Ways To Motivate, Energize And Inspire Your Team

Here is a long list of effective and simple incentives for your team.

At the conclusion of an incentive program, it is important to assess how successful it was. Did you get the results you wanted? One of the best ways to judge the program’s effectiveness, besides considering your own observations, is to get feedback from the reps and administrators involved. You want to be sure that your directions were communicated clearly and at the right intervals, that the rewards were appealing and sparked interest and drive, that your team members felt supported and prepared to take on the challenges being presented, that the program boosted morale, team effort, energy and creativity,etc.

What were the weaknesses, if any? Did the program meet or fall short of participants’ expectations? And of course, you must consider the bottom line impact on sales. Another important thing that cannot be overlooked is whether there may have been any outside influence that you did not have any control over. For example, has the industry experienced an increase in pricing? Was the product or service new, or has there been longstanding consumer awareness and recognition of it? Have there been any fluctuations in the company’s marketing campaigns? All of these questions can basically be broken down into different areas, such as goals, budget or administration. In each area, identify what worked and what didn’t so you have concrete information to help you develop your next incentive program.

I have outlined a list of different activities and they have been categorized for your convenience.

Group Building

1. Movie day—bring popcorn
2. Water-skiing/Lake trip
3. Join the city softball team
4. Go watch a professional team sport
5. Miniature golf
6. Volunteer opportunities
7. Cold-calling contest
8. Work-at-home week
9. Have the CEO address the sales staff
10. Racecar contest
11. Bring in a comedian for sales training
12. Fun, harmless practical jokes
13. Joke of the day to start a meeting
14. Bring in take-out for reps staying late
15. Laser tag
16. Ropes course
17. Bowling
18. Free lunch for the first sale of the day
19. VM broadcast about someone’s personal success
20. Company Olympics

Company Socials

21. Luau
22. Fiesta
23. Ice cream social
24. Barbeque
25. Pizza party
26. Customer appreciation day
27. Four-day weekend
28. Bring in donuts
29. Company newsletter about the success of the week
30. Dress up like Santa and hand out gifts
31. Thanksgiving or other holiday party

Esteem Building/Awards

32. Best phone demeanor
33. Best dresser
34. Most creative close
35. Best sales week
36. Most improved
37. Best team player
38. Most cold calls
39. Most new clients
40. Best customer service
41. Top attitude
42. Special note or email
43. Telegram
44. FedEx special note
45. Thank-you card
46. Personal pat on back
47. Lead part of a training meeting
48. Personal goal-setting meeting
49. Suggestion box
50. Personal call from CEO

Simple compliments like…

51. You’re incredible.
52. You’re a good…
53. I believe in you.
54. Great job!
55. You made my day.
56. Hug.
57. Thank you for …
58. I’m proud of you.
59. Perfect.
60. You’re awesome!
61. Well Done.
62. Great!
63. Excellent!
64. I knew you could do it.
65. I trust you.
66. Spectacular!
67. Outstanding!
68. I’m your biggest fan.

Friendly gestures like…

69. Smile
70. Warm handshake
71. Pat on the back

Individual Building

72. Daily contact with praise
73. Let them off to take their children to school on the first day
74. Free calls on company cell phones
75. Motivational plaque
76. Health club membership
77. Lotto wheel
78. Drive CEO’s car for the week
79. Shirt/Hat with logo
80. Special parking spot
81. Photo with CEO
82. Remodel office
83. Disneyland trip
84. Porsche for weekend

Personal Development

85. Books
- As a Man Thinketh
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- Swim With the Sharks
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
- Maximum Influence
- The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
- Think and Grow Rich
- Psycho-Cybernetics
- The Magic of Thinking Big
- Learned Optimism

86. Videos
Remember the Titans
Miracle
Rocky
Chariots of Fire
Apollo 13
Field of Dreams
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Seabiscuit
The Right Stuff
The Rookie

87. Audios
- The Secrets to Manifesting Your Destiny
- Lead the Field
- Unleash the Power Within
- The Psychology of Selling
- Magnetic Persuasion
- Present with Power
- The Strangest Secret
- Exponential Success
- The Science of Personal Achievement
- The Psychology of Winning

88. Travel Incentives
- Hawaii
- Upgrade to first class
- Local hotel with dinner
- Limo to airport
- Las Vegas
- Bermuda
- Cancun
- Caribbean cruise
- Free miles to fly
- Tahiti
- Hotel suite upgrade
- Australia

Monetary Rewards

89. Large-screen TV
90. Computer
91. DVD player
92. $100 bill
93. Lottery tickets
94. Restaurant gift certificates
95. Cashews
96. Take the rep’s family to dinner
97. Department store gift certificate
98. Movie rental gift certificate
99. Costco certificate
100. Bookstore gift certificate
101. New suit

'Innovation drives excellence in action'

‘Innovation drives excellence in action’

 

 

A  DISCUSSESION IN INNOVATION AND PUBLICITY WITH ACE INNOVATOR ALYQUE PADAMSEE

 

"IMAGINATION is more important than knowledge," said Albert Einstein - the physicist who gave the world the theory of relativity.
   Call them innovation, intellectual capital or intangible assets as financers call them, ideas are of such paramount importance that we live and die by them. Some smart ones have helped countries tread the trail of success, while some other flop ones have even lead to the fall of civilisations.
   Every human endeavor starts with an idea and our ability or potential to realize our ideas makes us what we are. 'Innovation Drives Excellence in Action' is how ad-guru Alyque Padamsee defines an ‘Idea.’ He in fact goes on to say that wealth is measured by ideas, not money.
   India has become the brainbox of the world as the country has now taken to exporting intellectual property - its most bounteous and highly-valued asset. In the global circuit, India is reigning supreme, for it has realised that good ideas, marketed well can be a major driving force of a developing economy like ours.
   Ideation is so big and prime these days that like marketers and financiers, we are consciously creating space for ideators too at our workplace.
   No idea can be foolproof. It is the implementation that distinguishes a bad idea from a good one. Sometimes, apparently small ideas click big because of their wellthought-of execution. Padamsee fondly reminisces the time when the idea of using Charlie Chaplin as a mascot of Cherry Blossom shoe polish was slammed by all. The argument was that how could a comedy character be associated to a shoe polish. Later, the ad became a phenomenal success and proved that it is all a game of implementation, presentation and consumer connect.
   Also, there are evolutionary ideas that simply take a concept from the past and improve upon it. Take for instance Fair and Handsome - a fairness cream for men by Emami, developed on the lines of an already existing Fair and Lovely. The strategically positioned product with Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador went on to become the fastest growing FMCG product of all time. If presented fresh and better, an old idea can also sometimes become a success story.
   "In times when advertisement and brand building have become the biggest corporate expenditure, unique ideas are the sole way to stand and survive the competitive times. With brands scrambling for shelf life, innovative advertisement is the key to survival," says Padamsee.
   When asked to comment on comparative advertising that has almost become a norm these days, Padamsee vehemently criticised it saying that an ad should be conceptualised to bring to surface the highlights of a product. Prime time should not be wasted in criticising competitors.
   With ads being compared on the scales of creativity, agencies are vying to create innovative commercials to strike a chord with the consumer. However, with ads becoming fancier than ever Padamsee feels that the basic objective of advertising is not being met. He feels that the whole concept of advertisement has morphed into 'advertainment' and consequently even the consumers successfully register ads, but fail to relate and recollect the brand advertised.
   Despite being an advertisement veteran, he condemns too much of advertisement. Padamsee feels that excess advertisement becomes a distraction and steals the charm of the show. The adman who says that remote is a 'kiss of death,' feels that unreasonably long ad breaks encourage viewers to flip channels, and nothing can be more disastrous than that.
   When asked about his favourite ad, the genius behind Cherry Charlie, Hamara Bajaj and the Kamasutra couple very nostalgically smiles and confesses that it is the recent Hutch series that he best relate to.
   For young professionals, Padamsee's word of wisdom is to hone creativity and to have a never say die attitude.

 

Creative burnout

Creative burnout

 

 

 

THE BUSINESS OF ADVERTISING IS DRIVEN BY ONE KEY RESOURCE - PEOPLE.BUT,TODAY,THE INDUSTRY WITNESSES ONE OF THE HIGHEST ATTRITION RATES.

 

AMONG the primary reasons for people moving out of the advertising industry is the condescending attitude that prevails between the client and the advertising agency. "There is no real sense of ownership that the agency experiences or rather is allowed to experience in terms of the brand," says Gautam Shiknis, founder and managing director of Palador Cinema.
   He elaborates: "I used to work for Saatchi & Saatchi and was fortunate to be working on a brand like Procter & Gamble (P&G). My team was instrumental in achieving the brand positioning for a number of P&G's personal care products, including Head & Shoulders. So, we all felt an emotional connection with the product and identified it as our brand. However, neither did the market acknowledge this nor did the client. Once, at a meeting with the P&G brand manager and a few others, someone from our agency alluded to Head & Shoulders as our brand. This had everyone, particularly the P&G brand manager, looking rather surprised."

FACELESS ENTITIES

According to Shiknis, the dynamics of ownership in terms of brands is largely determined by money. He says: "It is not the people who are involved in the creative process of brand building but the people who pay for getting the creative work done who ultimately own the brand." But, then, doesn't getting promotions at an early age compensate? "Not really," says Kaustav Sen, who was a creative director with a leading advertising firm for seven years. He reasons: "It is a rather faceless industry. The credit for outstanding creative work is accorded to the agency as a whole and never to the individuals who are involved in creative conceptualisation. And though various awards recognise creative contribution at an individual level and compensate to an extent, the fact remains that by and large creative professionals are faceless entities."
   Sen also cites creativity in advertising being sublimated by the client's brief as another reason for people leaving the advertising world. He adds: "Sooner or later, most creative people experience frustration and move out to other domains that offer more creative license."

DONE THING

On the other hand, a senior copy supervisor for an advertising agency in Gurgaon says that it isn't always a feeling of saturation that causes people to exit the industry. She feels that, in a way, the change is a done thing considering "almost everyone who enters the industry has a long-term plan to eventually progress into an allied sector." She elaborates: "By the age of 30-35, one is already a creative director and then the only job left is that of a managing creative director (MCD). However, considering there are only some 10-odd positions for MCDs in the country, it isn't a viable option for the hundreds that are employed by advertising agencies. As a result, one remains a creative director for a considerable amount of time and the only option left, then, is to change careers."
   Another trend that she points out is that people from creative divisions are most likely to change careers. " But, this change isn't as much about the job as it is about the person. Creatives are restless by nature, which is probably why they are most likely to change careers," she explains.

GREENER PASTURES

According to Atish Munshi, senior copy supervisor, Quadrant C o m m u n i c at i o n s - Pune: "People move to other sectors because remunerations there are much higher. Besides, today, there are a variety of options for advertising professionals to choose from. For instance, there is digital media, which more or less requires the same set of skills but pays much better."
Adding to the same, Rahul Ghosh, creative director, TBWA-Mumbai, says: "A career in an advertising agency exposes an individual to multiple domains like films, print, art and radio. However, there is not much scope for specialisation. Hence, the people who want to specialise in one domain eventually venture out. For instance, people who are interested in artwork set up their own design studios, copywriters go onto scriptwriting for films and so on."

WAY FORWARD

Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that at present the advertising industry is prone to a high rate of attrition. So, what needs to be done to control this? "There is a clear need for visionaries in advertising," says Shiknis. He opines: "The advertising industry has to undergo an attitudinal shift within itself so that on one level, it can retain and nurture talent and on a parallel level, it can contribute much more to the nation's GDP. They have to move beyond the 15% commission theory in terms of client billings and work towards improving economies of scale."
Highlighting the scope for improvement in the HR department, Shiknis adds: "At present, the HR division is very restrictive in its scope and does not go beyond issuing appointment letters. This needs to be changed." And according to Sen, "The HR division should work closely with the management to map out growth opportunities within the agency for individual employees."

Spotting Calibre

Spotting Calibre

The gifted child in a classroom,who is often ignored,needs to be identified and nurtured to hone his/her talent.

VISUALISE this: A mathematics class in progress and the teacher explaining the concept of length and breadth. When it comes to describing a 'point,' which has neither, a student raises his hand from the last bench arguing that it has both, but just a miniscule of it. The entire class is in splits but the teacher is left with a big question, as the child made sense.
   Similarly, a question is thrown to the class to measure the rate of evaporation of a swimming pool if everyday it evaporates at a constant rate. And there comes an unexpected question — what if it rains?
   Most teachers encounter loads of such questions everyday and often ignore them, as their job is to finish the syllabi. As a result, these children are often neglected. Few teachers would also describe such students as those with 'behavioural problems.' This is the biggest myth, feels Usha Pandit, an educational consultant, Mindsprings. She explains: "These children are the gifted children, who are not easily identified in a class and hence, often get ignored."
   Pandit, who specialises in curriculum development in gifted education, shares: "Under the learning curve, the two neglected ends in a classroom include students with learning difficulties (LD) and the other - the gifted ones. Those with LD are easily identified as their behaviours are frank whereas the gifted ones are mostly the quiet lot and hence, often get neglected."
   Susan Baum, author, Multiple Intelligences in the Elementary Classroom: A Teachers Toolkit and director of International Center for Talent Development, US, suggests that it is important to nurture the needs of gifted students. She gives J S Renzulli's model for identifying giftedness in a child.
   Renzulli, in his book, The Schoolwide Enrichment Model said: "Research has consistently shown that people who have achieved recognition because of their unique accomplishments and creative contributions possess a relatively well defined set of three interlocking clusters of traits. No single cluster "makes giftedness." Rather, it is the interaction among the three clusters that research has shown to be the necessary ingredient for creative or productive accomplishment. Other factors that seem to impact gifted behaviour are personality and environment."
   According to Baum, it is not always that gifted students display their abilities. Teachers and schools need to continuously provide circumstances to get all these abilities together.

PROBLEM

In a regular classroom, the teacher teaches to the average and uses left over energy and time to deal with the remedial. Therefore, the bright end of the spectrum is generally neglected or undernourished mainly because they are not as visible or volatile as the handicapped at the other end of the learning curve.
   Most teachers and even counselors have a common perception that a gifted child is a one who is a 'genius.' So when it comes to sending students for a mathematics quiz, for instance, the names that come to a teacher's mind would be of the first three toppers in maths in a class. And the child who solves the question first and solves it right, even without following the steps that the teacher and class is following, is often ignored.
   "This kind of a child (called an intuitive learner) might not even know as to how he arrived at the solution and yet have it answered right, but the teacher would never acknowledge or appreciate, rather ask him to follow the rote methods, so such an attitude might kill a child's creativity forever and hit his confidence badly, so much so, that he never raises his hand in the class again" says Pandit.
   Veena Dhyani, counsellor, Cambridge School, Noida, says: "These children are usually labeled by teachers as the 'disturbing elements' of a class." Talking about some common traits, she says: "They are restless and want something creative every time. They would finish their work much ahead of their peers and when their work is over, they interrupt the class."
   Says Shreshtha Madhwal, teacher, CRPF Public School: "These students have very high IQ levels and hence, they won't really listen to a teacher as they know most concepts already, in fact, they might even add to what is being taught." Also, most teachers are quite 'insensitive' towards these students because of time constraints, she adds.
   Most teachers also feel that because of the high teacher student ratio in a classroom, it is difficult to pay attention to each and every child. As a result, these students get neglected. The need therefore is, as Pandit puts it, "to identify and nurture their talents."

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

Giftedness is a special need, says Pandit. "If these children are neglected, many of them will become under achievers, antisocial or even self-destructive. More importantly, it is deprivation of the child's right to a happy and fulfilled childhood and future. Just as we cater to the lower end of the spectrum by differentiated programmes, we must respond to the need of the upper end by making sure that they do not lose their way."
   She recommends: "First and foremost, identify the gifted child in your class, which is not easy. They may vary from mildly-gifted, moderately, exceptionally, profoundly to even dysfunctionally gifted.”
   Gifted children can be excellent peertutors, says Dhyani. In addition, she says: "Teachers can prepare worksheets to keep them involved." Similarly, Madhwal says: "If there are two or three such children in a class, they should be grouped together and given a task which is above average as these children are very restless and enjoy challenges."
   Pandit sums up: "Accept children as what they are. A teacher has a major role to shape up the child, so the next time you come across such a child in your classroom, nurture his abilities."

COMMON TRAITS OF A GIFTED CHILD


• Thinking, imagination, learning, leadership

• Potential to perform in at least the top 5% area(s) of ability

• Fluent, deep and unconventional thinker

• Better at handling abstract and complex ideas

• Often teach themselves skills

• Curiosity is boundless

• Sophisticated sense of humour

• Spirited in expressing their opinions

• Ask interesting or difficult or unexpected questions

• Skeptical, critical, evaluative and quick to spot inconsistencies

Welcome to life at IIM Calcutta

Welcome to life at IIM Calcutta

 

 

 

SECOND YEAR STUDENT,POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMME,IIM-CALCUTTA,WRITES ON CAT AND LIFE IN ONE OF THE TOP B-SCHOOLS

 

ITS 4am and I am still sitting with my group members trying to crack a case study contest by one of the premier consulting companies in the world. By the look of it, it seems it is going to be yet another of the numerous night-outs on campus. And yes, I do have a class at 8.30am, which I have to attend. Welcome to life at IIM Calcutta.
   Like most journeys to the beautiful places in the world, my journey to IIMC couldn't have been more exciting. Ever since my cousin studied for his MBA, I always dreamt of studying at one of the IIMs. A desire probably motivated by what you hear about such as high pay packages for IIM grads. But once I learnt more about an MBA, it became obvious that the degree was much more than just money.
   The company of some of the brightest minds in the country, professors who know answers to just about any question that you can think of, guest lectures by country's leading entrepreneurs and CEOs, sessions by the likes of film-maker Mani Ratnam, adguru Prahalad Kakkar, talks by commentator Harsha Bogle and more.
   Being at one of the best institutes in the country is an enriching experience. What I have gained in the two years is difficult to capture in words.

HOW TO `BELL THE CAT'

The most oft-asked question to most of us (IIM Grads) is there a sure shot formula to crack the CAT? A cursory look at the question papers for the last few years shows that the pattern of questions, number of questions, difficulty level of questions have been changing over the years. But one thing remains constant, the basics/fundamental aspects of the exam. Let us look at each of the sections:
   

Verbal Ability: VA today has more emphasis on reading comprehension, where you are expected to understand the passage to answer the questions. Mere knowledge of vocabulary would not suffice. At the same time one must remember that you are judged relative to others, so more the number of questions you can solve accurately better you are placed. Reading speed plays a vital part in this. It is always advisable to start early with VA section as it is impossible to develop competence in the section in a short span of time.
   

Quantitative Aptitude:
Number systems and allied sections have traditionally been important concepts. I am a firm believer that one needs to have a decent level of mastery over all types of questions be it speed, time, distance or geometry. You can never be sure of the level of difficulty of questions of any section.
   

Data Interpretation: Develop calculation speed. Knowledge of approximation techniques helps solving complex calculations. Understand that the CAT paper does not test your abilities to be a calculator; it tests your abilities to be a smart thinker, devising ways of simplifying calculations. I have always found the elimination of options an easier way to solve DI problems.

LAST MINUTE JITTERS

Now that CAT is just round the corner, lots of candidates go through last-minute jitters. How should one make use of the last few days before the exam? My advice to such queries is to have faith on your preparation. Lots of candidates take mock CATs from one of the many coaching institutes. Go through old question papers to analyse mistakes. Try to find out if you missed out on some easy questions.
   Do not drown yourself in a deluge of mock CATs. Some students try to solve one or more papers a day. It does not help. Understanding your weakness, brushing up on your concepts are things you should be concentrating on. Solving two to three papers a week is more than enough.
   Most importantly, remain cool before the exam, meet your friends, go for a social gathering, and watch a movie. Trust your abilities. If you have worked hard, your efforts would be rewarded.

LIFE AT IIM CALCUTTA    

Contrary to public perception, life at a B-school is not just cases, presentations, projects and quizzes. We all have our share of parties, midnight football matches, and floodlit cricket tournaments. The highlight of the annual cultural calendar is the three back-to-back events, which are organised during December-January.
   Intaglio is the annual international B-school fest, which boasts of being the 1st ISO certified Bschool fest in India. Each year it attracts participation from the likes of Harvard, Wharton, London Business School and NUS among others. Carpediem, the annual cultural festival and Census, the experiential marketing festivals are the other major events on campus.
   Apart from that, IIM Calcutta also has the annual IIMC-B meet and the famed IIMC-XL sports meet. Add to that some 15 odd clubs/interest groups on campus; there is not a single day which goes by without something or the other happening on campus.
   The two years at IIM Calcutta have been a roller-coaster ride.

Spicy Steps

Spicy Steps

 

 

,AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SALSA TRAINER, Speaks ON THE GROWING INTEREST IN SALSA AND THE FUTURE IT HOLDS FOR ASPIRANTS

 

SALSA is one of the best known and best loved partner dances in the world. It's popularity in India has surged owing to the numerous dance and reality shows which depict it on TV.

ABOUT SALSA

The dance has been named ‘Salsa’ to conjure a
similar association like the ‘Salsa’ which is an ingredient associated with a spicy sauce, says Kaytee Namgyal, founder- director, Salsa India Productions. He elaborates: “The dance is also a mixture and fusion of various informal dance styles which have their roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico), and in Latin and North America. The dance originated through the mixture of typical Cuban dance forms in which there is also some African influence.”
   Although there are some recognised solo steps Salsa is usually a partner dance. Also some forms of salsa are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partners (Rueda de Casino). Salsa music is normally played by a 12-piece band, or Charanga Orchestra, and has a totally different rhythm. It’s the syncopated rhythm of Salsa, which enables the dancer to incorporate such a huge variety of expressions while dancing.

THE THERAPY


Salsa is itself a therapy. Elaboarates Namgyal: “You cannot dance Salsa and find that it does nothing for the mind and soul, apart from the body. Thus, I would say that Salsa and Salsa dance therapy are correlated.”
   Salsa dance therapy uses choreographed or improvised movements in conjunction with various different types of salsa music (like fun and fast, slow and romantic), as a way of treating social, emotional and physical problems. Moving as a group brings people together, creates social and emotional bonds and generates the feel good factor you get from being with others. “It is my love for dance and music in general that made me fall in love with Salsa when on a holiday in Japan,” reveals Namgyal.
   Sharing his own experiences, he says: “When I returned to India, I gave up everything to start my own Salsa classes in 2000, although at that time Salsa was completely unknown in India. It was tough, but today, Salsa India has 19 studios across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Kolkata.”

FORMAL TRAINING


Having a career in dance is one of the most frustrating yet rewarding experiences of one's life, says Namgyal. “It is not easy and you are constantly trying to better your last piece every time you choreograph something, but the high of seeing your students perfect a complicated step is simply unmatched.”
On the importance of formal training, he says: “I believe there is no substitute for training, whether you are doing a street dance, like hip hop or popping, or whether you are dancing Salsa, which is also a very informal dance. Training gives you the foundation on which you can build yourself into a stronger, finer and even more passionate dancer.”

GROWING INTEREST

Salsa and other dances in India have become the latest craze and we have people clamouring to be a part of it, says Namgyal. He adds: “We have gone from 10 students in Delhi in 2001, to over 2,000 students today. Every
   year, we hold our Annual Salsa India Festival, which is a three-day workshop held by about 25 best Salsa instructors in the world followed by performances and parties over four nights. We have a crowd of about 500 people attending the workshops and over 3,000 at the performances and parties over the festival weekend. I can only see the popularity growing and the addiction, not easily given up, only increasing."

LUCRATIVE?


You will start off small, but the scope for growth is immense, as the market is only growing, he assures, elaborating: “A fresher can look at paying for the training for the first six months , then, if he/she shows promise joining a dance troupe is a viable option. The fee charged by choreographers and performers fluctuate wildly, from something as little as Rs 5,000 per-performance to Rs 50,000 per-performance, depending on various factors.”
   As a choreographer and a performer, he says, it means a lot when the audience rave about the choreography or the performance. His advice to aspirants: “Take heart and follow your passion. A career in any performing art is not a bed of roses initially, but each step up is thrilling.”

 

Put your best foot forward

Put your best foot forward

 

The footwear industry in India is fast beckoning professionals from a variety of domains like designing, manufacturing and marketing with the entry of multinational players

 

   The footwear industry is a significant segment of the Indian leather industry. The outlook towards the footwear and leather industry in India is quite positive. As per RNCOS, a market research firm, the Indian footwear retail market is anticipated to surge at a CAGR of more than 20% during 2008-2011. As per the report, rising brand and fashion awareness among people along with the improving living standards is expected to accelerate growth in the Indian footwear industry.
   That is why a number of multinational companies are looking at India, in fact some of them have already entered India in different ways. The availability of abundant raw materials, a large domestic market and the opportunity to cater to world markets makes India an attractive destination for technology and investments.

GROWTH AREAS

The footwear industry provides lot of opportunities for different professionals, be it in footwear manufacturing, trading, retail, wholesale, import or export industry, both in India as well as abroad. There is a huge demand for professionals like management trainees, designers, stylists, product developers, quality controllers, footwear technologists, merchandisers, marketing executives, production supervisors and business development executives.

SKILL-SET REQUIRED

It is important to understand the crucial relationship between design and manufacture and the needs of the modern footwear industry. One has to know and understand every aspect of the industry. Those who are interested in pursuing a career in design or in product development, it is always better to fine-tune their skill-sets or opt for a professional course in shoe designing, footwear technologies or merchandising.
   It is equally important to develop design research and drawing and illustration skills. An ability to present and communicate ideas and concepts is considered an asset. The technical shoemaking skills are also important to give an understanding of the manufacturing techniques involved in modern shoemaking.

REMUNERATION

Fresher’s from the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI), Noida, usually start with a salary bracket of Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000. A person having an experience of five to six years can draw between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 with established or progressive set-ups. In fact, there is no limit for achievers.
   While evaluating different job options, it is very important to choose the company one intends to join and the job profile very carefully. It is also important to realise the fact that one can only excel in this field if he is ready to learn and explore newer arenas in the field.
   The Indian footwear industry has been getting institutional infrastructure support through premier institutions like Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai; FDDI, Noida; National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, among others, in the areas of technological development, design and product development and human resource development. Apart from these institutes, Birla Institute of Management Technology offers a specialised course in retailing to cater to the ever-growing demand from different corporates.