Career Choices

Many of us have little clue on what we want to be when we grow up. Understandably so as we have little knowledge of what people actually do in different jobs. This is an effort to increase our understanding of the various career options available out there. I have interviewed people from various careers to understand what their jobs involve and what it takes to aspire and achieve these jobs. Hope you will find these useful.

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So good to see Project Purple Badge covered in “Times of India”, India’s leading English daily.  Although the article has pictures of just two volunteers, Project Purple Badge would not have been possible without the encouragement from the school head masters and the volunteers who took time out of their busy lives to participate.

I would be thrilled if more government schools  try out non-conservative or non- traditional approaches to keeping students inspired and motivated.  I think every child has a right to education, where you are born should not be a deciding factor to receive that opportunity or exercise that right.

Working on the project has opened my world to so much more and being involved with the project will always be a part of my fondest memories.

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Came across this article in the papers couple of days back.  The high court has come down heavily on the Karnataka government  for the huge drop outs in government schools. Karnataka stands at # 6 in the country for the highest number of out of school children.  The high court has asked the government for a monthly progress report, stating education for all children is more important than progress or development.  Now the government will have to work at getting all those students back to school and give them what they deserve - education.

l think students need inspiration, motivation as well as guidance at various stages. Some of the head masters I met were hugely passionate about their roles as educators. Those are the kind of people who will improve the situation of the government schools.

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Karthik Vaidyanathan, Founder and Principal Director, Varnam

Karthik is an incredibly busy man.  You would be too if you were involved in as many pursuits.  An Engineer-MBA, he answered his creative calling through Varnam.  Varnam products are colorful and present traditional Indian craft with a modern twist, which is so clever. 

Varnam was started in 2011 and has grown super fast, while adding several products to its line from home accessories to fashion accessories and has picked up several awards too. Karthik is a huge believer in the Indian craft and wants to keep it alive and thriving. He would like products born out of the Indian craft receive as much attention as other branded products.

As I speak to him I realize that Karthik is creative, a workaholic (he manages with five hours of sleep most nights) and a perfectionist. His advice is relevant to anyone aspiring to be a designer or to anyone who wants to follow his/her dreams and passion and make a success out of it.

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Look what I found.  When I was in 10th grade, and had worked with  a few the government schools in the suburb, the secretary of the Government Schools Association, South Bangalore , wanted me to talk about the program to all the heads of schools from South Bangalore. The secretary thought that as a program it had an interesting format worth duplicating in other schools by volunteers. Remember it being a nice, interactive afternoon.

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Since my dad is an internet entrepreneur, I have heard references to venture capitalists on and off.  Some of my parents' friends also happen to be venture capitalists.  Still I did not know exactly what venture capitalists(VC) do or how VC  firms function.  I had a number of questions, especially, because I am an economics student and this subject interests me.

I could not have found a better person that Mr. Mathias. His crystal clear explanation of the way a VC firm functions and other aspects of the industry was a great learning for me and I am sure it will be useful for a number of people who are aspiring to be either bankers, entrepreneurs or VCs.  Easily one of the best interviews for me.

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Abhijeet Saha is the Founding Director and Chef of Avant Garde Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. that currently owns and operates two critically acclaimed premium restaurants in Bangalore, Caperberry and Fava.

He is the recipient of the prestigious IFCA Entrepreneur Chef of the Year' award 2008-2009, the SICA Golden Hat award 2010 for outstanding contribution towards the profession of Chefs and the UpperCrust Celebrity Chefs Cooking Challenge' 2010. Abhijit has been a part of The Park, New Delhi and The Taj Group of Hotels, both top five stars in India.

Rated amongst the top 10 chefs in the country by Outlook magazine, a leading national magazine in India, he is an expert in Classical and Modern European & Indian cuisines.

I have enjoyed the tapas and desserts at Caperberry many times and admired both their food presentation skills and great service. I was curious to understand how Abhijeet knew the Indian palette so well because both Caperberry and Fava are very popular.

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I have great respect for multitaskers. How do they do it ? No better person to answer this than Meena Raj, the administrative head of Bangalore based start up. As Meena mentions, once the board of an organisation settles down the search for the super person a.k.a the Admin head begins.  The admin person is the one who takes care of everything - the mundane and the chaotic. Everything from flight bookings, hotel bookings, security and house keeping and so much more without which a company cannot function. Meena I notice, has a great temperament to weather any crisis.  As for skills, other than a cool head one needs to do even the mundane with perfection and be really-really organised.  Also, one needs to have great negotiation skills to get best deals on everything from stationary, company lunch to travel and save money for the company.

Watching this interview will prove that it takes a very efficient person to keep the wheels turning smoothly.

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When I met with Kamesh, finance head of a local search company, I learnt that finance is the core of any organisation.  A person with a good understanding of finance makes for a great business person too. Kamesh says he always had a head for numbers; combine that with a meticulous working style and you are an asset to any organisation. This interview is for those who enjoy the challenge of the working in the finance department.  The career options are many, starting off as an accounts person, one can work their way up to being a Chief Financial Officer depending on their educational background and work experience.

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Andrew Piers - Fashion Entrepreneur - Pudu Lifestyle

Andrew Piers, has an interesting resume, he was a model, an online media consultant in Australia and now the creative head for the men’s apparel brand Pudu Lifestyle.  Pudu Lifestyle is focused on designing clothes for men and kids.

So Andrew, was becoming a fashion designer a natural progression from being a model.

Actually not at all, this just happened by chance. I am passionate about good apparel and so decided to make a few things that I liked. From there my brother and I have now turned this into a business.

What inspired you to becoming a fashion designer, more so for a male line?

I am just passionate about apparel so I design the kinds of clothes I like to wear.

You now have a line for children, how different is it designing for kids, are the requirements different like you may need to focus on comfort or durability as against just style?

My twin boys inspired me to create a line for boys. The thinking is  the same but one just has to incorporate a fun element into clothes for boys.

What do you need to keep in mind while introducing a line, in the Indian market? I mean is the Indian market any different from other markets.

It all depends on who your target customer is and what they would like to wear. The Indian market is very dynamic. The good thing is that there is a huge population so there is a market for everyone.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

Well, I am inspired a lot by my travels hence the names of most of my styles are named after places.

With the disposable income increasing and a huge youth population, the future looks bright for fashion in India isn’t it?

Absolutely. India is a tough market but also a hugely growing market so its very exciting.

India is also a price sensitive market, how do premium brands such as yours manage that challenge

As I said, every brand needs to know their market; there are customers for every brand. You just need to know where to sell and to whom to sell J

What are the qualities one needs to be a successful Fashion designer in India or any where in the world

You just need an imagination and vision J

Any specific Educational qualifications?

Well, maybe they help…that being said I don’t have any J

If one were to graduate from a Fashion School such as NIFT, what are the various career options one can look at? Other than pure fashion designing.

There are various categories under Fashion. One does not need to be only a designer.

What does your day look like? Or what do you do on a typical day at work?

My days, weeks, months revolve around my three year old twin boys J They are my boss J

I normally spend a few hrs with my brother to plan production and new style development, I also spend time every day with my cutting mater to get him to interpret my vision,  I spend time with my marketing team planning what we are doing and going to do . I try and stop by our new store in Indiranagar to see how things are going. I also make it a point to surf the web to get new ideas and see what works in different markets.

What do you enjoy about your job and what do you wish wasn’t there to deal with?

I love every aspect of what I do. The creative process is just amazing as you translate an idea into a finished product. That’s the part I love most. Being a start up there are many hats I wear and I hope in time that I can concentrate only on design and leave the boring business part to my partners J

What would you like to advice some of my peers who would like to take up fashion designing as a career?

The only thing I can say is that no matter what you choose….You have to love what you do everyday or you will begin hating your job. I feel blessed to wake up every day and do something I love.

Thanks, Andrew, This is interesting and real useful information for any one looking at a career in the fashion industry.

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Seema Seth - Entrepreneur and Graphic Designer

Seema Seth, runs two interesting companies, Studio Sky (www.studiosky.in) - a design consultancy and Footsy (www.footsy.in) - India's only e-commerce brand specializing in socks and related accessories.

Here in the email interview, she shares some information about what her work day looks like and prospects in the design industry.

 What does an average day in your life look like?

Well, each day looks different when you’re an entrepreneur. Since I run two separate companies, my time gets divided into two.

I don’t follow a set routine. I’m not too much of a morning person, and although I’d like to be up really early and get a headstart into the day, I usually start work at about 9:30am. I start with creating a to-do list for the day, which I follow religiously. There are days when I’m glued to my table, just focusing on getting stuff done. And there are days when I’m out at meetings, or just doing some research. I’m a very hands-on person and get involved in every aspect of my work – most people would call me a workaholic. I love to discover and find new things, so I spend a lot of my daily time browsing or reading.

But, although it’s great to focus on work, it’s equally important to unwind. You’ll find that if you spend a weekend away from work, your Monday mornings are usually a lot more productive. I enjoy my artistic yoga classes, or just hanging out with friends, or playing with my little nephew and niece.

Why did you pick this field?

I’m a very visual person, and have always wanted to be a designer for as long as I can remember. At first, I thought I wanted to be a Textile Designer. After my first year of Foundation Studies at Srishti, I figured what I really wanted to be was a Graphic Designer. And I’ve loved every minute of it. It allows me to create, visualize, dream and enjoy myself, all at the same time. I love the variety of things you get to learn as a designer. Every project is different. One day you’re working on creating a hotel identity, the next day you could be working on designing a conference for a bio-pharma company, and the next you could be designing packaging for a seafood brand. The variety keeps me interested and alive. Besides, I get to meet people from different walks of life.

What are the other opportunities in your field?

Design is an interesting industry, with a really big heart. You could choose to train with some really well-respected design firms, or work in a smaller boutique firm where you can get a lot more personal and hand-on training. The Indian design industry is still evolving, but there’s a lot of scope now. You can choose to specialize in anything ranging from typography, digital media, brand creation, illustration, or even create your own line of products.

What training would one need to undergo to enter this line of work? Any special skills required?

Although a lot of great designers are not academically trained, I feel it is important to get the basics right. Your fundamentals have to be in place, if you want to think big. I had a really intense five year design education at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. And looking back now, I still owe a lot to that environment.

What type of person would you recommend your job to?

Design is still considered an unconventional profession in India. It’s not a regular ‘job’ where you follow a set routine. If you’re up for something out-of-the-ordinary, and you’re ok with charting your own territory, then this would work for you. But, of course, you need to have a passion to create things, and have to be willing to work hard.

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I have deliberated about being an advertising professional for as long as I can remember. What's not to like about it?  It's got all the ingredients of a thrilling career. Generous doses of Analytics and statistics both of which I enjoy, creative enough to give you the rush, plus the thrill of witnessing how your campaign is received in the market place.

Meet Mr. Ravi Shankar, a media consultant. His clarity on the subject and his detailed answers to all my questions helped throw light on all things media.  An engineering graduate who became a media consultant, he talks about the changing media scenario and busted a few myths associated with the industry.

One of the interviews I enjoyed immensely.

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Carl Gomes is a copywriter with Fryed Advertising in Bangalore.  He is creative (read funky) from the word go.  His inspiration to get into the advertising industry - Mel Gibson, who plays an advertising professional in the movie "What women want"!!

Coming from a family of engineering professionals, he says it wasn't easy to convince his folks that taking up copywriting was the right decision.  Seeing him doing so well today must make all those at home proud.

I enjoy talking to people who are creative and passionate and this interview ranks high on both those parameters.

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Prahlad Nanjappa is a seasoned advertising professional.  He was Vice President and Senior Creative Director, JWT Bangalore and had worked with agencies like Grey, Enterprise Nexus, and Ogilvy before starting his own venture Fryed Advertising. 

Prahlad was the first advertising professional I met and I was lucky to have met someone of his caliber.  Although he has spent considerable amount of time in the industry, his enthusiasm and passion are similar to someone who is just starting off. He explains that advertising is like a roller coaster ride.  Adrenalin rush included!  Brainstorming, client deadlines and late night shoots. Seems like no two days are alike in the world of advertising.

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I had met Captain Prabhakar a few times as he was the chief security officer of our condominium.  He seemed like a nice and friendly sort but was known to be an extremely strict boss with a "don’t mess with me" reputation.

I had always wanted to introduce an army professional to the government school students I work with and I had my reasons.  Captains have great inspiring stories to tell and discipline is what they stand for.  When I approached Captain Prabhakar with my request to talk and inspire students, he was more than happy to be part of the endeavor and as luck would have it his nephew Lieutenant Ravin who was visiting Bangalore would join in as well.

To say that the afternoon was a success, is putting it mildly.  Students from grade 8 to 10 were curious and the questions came non-stop.  Captain Prabhakar spoke to the students about the requirements to be accepted in the armed forces, the hierarchy and the responsibilities that come with the roles.

Lieutenant Ravin spoke about his experience, life in the armed forces, the perks that come with the job and the opportunities that came post retirement.

The students wanted to know it all.  The dangers and adventure that came with the job, how easy or difficult was it to sustain the army life, was there opportunity to continue to pursue other interests, the exams to pass and more.

It was an eye opener for everybody present.  It isn't everyday that one gets to interact with a Captain who was at the base at Siachen glacier.  An afternoon neither the students nor I will forget in a hurry.

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Isn’t it every little boy’s dream to be a pilot when he grows up.  It just seems like the fun'est thing to do, don those smart looking uniforms and cruise in the vast blue skies, visit the best places in the world and get a fat pay check.  What’s to complain? It’s a great life.

It took me a while to pin Chetan down for an interview because he has a crazy schedule.  When I did manage to fix up the meeting with him, I had to commute for an hour and a half on a traffic filled evening but none of that could dampen my spirit.  I was looking forward to meeting with a pilot, and as expected chatting with Chetan transported me to a world full of adventure, exotic destinations and an adrenalin rush.

A pilot is not a run of the mill job, its unconventional and as Chetan says, one needs to be passionate about flying.  If your childhood dream is still alive then you will find this video useful.

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Chetan Reddy's interview part-2

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Three schools; Immadihalli School, Ramgondanahalli High School and Varthur school, government school in the Whitefield suburb in Bangalore were keen to have a BPO executive talk to their students.  Their logic was simple.  A job in a BPO/Call center paid well and offered scope for immediate employment.

No better person to talk about the BPO industry than Cheluva.  Cheluva is the Data Management Team Head at askLaila, a local search firm.  With more than seven years of Industry experience and ease with the local language Cheluva was our man.

Cheluva started the session by talking about the demand for call centre professionals in India and the outsourcing business.  He then talked about his background and how he moved to a technical BPO role and what his workday looked like. He also talked about long hours and crazy schedules but there was a brighter side to it, he said.  Since one spent so many hours together, you would make friends for life and fun on the job was a given.

The students asked Cheluva questions about the job prospects, especially in non technical BPO's.  Some also had questions about long-term job security.  Cheluva seemed to have made quite an impression on the students as there were students crowding Cheluva post the session barraging him with more questions. It was a great interactive morning.