FORE: expectations and deliveries - Shanta Mohanty (Batch 2010 - 12)

Shanta Mohanty, an MBA student from Assam had high expectations when he joined FORE. Only he did not know they were not high enough… His learning, while being exciting, was practical and he found himself applying all that he learnt during his internship.



Expectations before joining FORE
Before joining FORE I always wanted to go to a place where there would be a strong academic push. Also I wanted I wanted to join a place which has a legacy of producing good and innovative managers. One thing which I sought most was the quality of my peers in college. Geeks are nice, but I find them single minded and with the study blinkers on. Instead, I wanted to be in the vibrant company of young people with diverse interests. Like me.

What have I learnt from FORE:
The best thing about FORE for me is the sense of timeliness and punctuality. It is something which would stay with me forever. I value the freedom of developing ideas which the college facilitates.


What I look forward for in the next one year:
I would really like to see our batch sent great placement records. When I say great placements, it is in terms of pay packages and profiles of jobs and the companies that come on campus to recruit. This is partly due to the fact that FORE has recently been rated by CRISIL as an institute on par with many others that seem oh-so-better than ours. I expect corporate houses to take note of this fact and come here for better profiles in finance.
Another thing that I do look forward to is acquiring good knowledge of my elective subjects and I would like to participate in any live projects that FORE facilitates.


Expectations after FORE:
In the short term I would like a good job with a great profile and decent salary.
My long term plans include starting a venture of my own. I would prefer being an agricultural entrepreneur or a manufacturer in and around my native – Assam.


About Summer Internship:
I interned with Pitney Bowes. The punctuality I learnt at FORE stood me to good stead. I learnt to value other’s time as much as I value my own. Surprisingly, I found that I was more particular about meeting my targets than my mentor was about me meeting them. For this, I have to thank FORE training, where I gained subject knowledge and found the freedom to think out of the box. Both these aspects contributed in bettering my performance.

FORE Connect: Anushree Vij (Batch 2010 - 12)

Prior to joining FORE School of Management, New Delhi, I was working as a software test engineer in banking domain. My path was moving towards the role of a business analyst or a project lead.  Although my job provided me with enough opportunities to contribute to the organization in technical aspects, I realized the importance of the management aspects of working in an organization.  I decided to take up management studies.

While choosing the institutes send applications to, FORE came up a winner. It has experienced faculty, good infrastructure, appropriate location and a nice ambience. The fact that FORE has been creating managers from past 19 years reinforced my belief in this institution. I knew it would provide the right platform for me to achieve my goals.

After joining FORE, life became very different. Three trimesters gave us a comprehensive understanding of the corporate world. By studying the foundation and core courses, which involved areas such as Marketing, Finance, Operations, Information Technology, Business Communication, Economics and Human Resource etc., I got to understand the basics of every course and the management aspects attached with each one of them. Presentations, projects, role plays, group assignments and discussions gave us insights into the practical aspects of the theoretical knowledge acquired in each domain. Surprise quizzes and assignments kept us on our toes: very essential for managers today.  Another aspect at FORE was working in groups with people of different backgrounds, religions, attitudes; managing the dynamics of such an environment to accomplish the  given project/assignment built leadership qualities and team skills of the students.

Many cultural and extracurricular activities took place: the Entrepreneurship Week, Blood Donation Camp, Green Initiative, Cultural Festival etc. These activities provided us opportunities to build and showcase our talent outside the academics world, giving us a more holistic development opportunity.

India is a fast growing nation. To continue growing at the present pace, the country requires many new entrepreneurs.  Identifying this need of the nation, FORE focuses constantly on entrepreneurship development. Following events over the past year strengthens my belief that FORE will produce some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the near future. First, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Division (CED) of the college throughout the first year arranged seminars and lectures with illustrious entrepreneurs of the country. These seminars inspired students towards pursuing something of their own.

Second, a special course Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (IED) was added to help students make effective Business Plans. The whole exercise was a huge success. I now have a thought deep down in my heart. The day I identify my passion, I will muster the courage to pursue something of my own. This conviction that FORE has planted in the minds of so many students is a great thing.

I worked in the IT sector for approximately 3 years. FORE gave me a new perspective of looking at a job. When I again entered the corporate world through the two month long summer internship, my outlook had totally changed. The way I approached my work was remarkably different. Now my approach was to understand the impact of my work on the organization as a whole. I was inclined to understand and analyze the industry, the sector, the company and what difference my work would make to all of these. Now in spite of just working, my objective became, ‘what else can be done? How will it impact the business environment, various stakeholders? How can I improve any aspect of it?’ Even while going through newspapers, magazines and TV ads I analyze the article or any advertisement in terms of what is the idea behind it, what a business organization is up to and how audience is responding to it. All this is because of the teaching methodology and interest created by the faculty in all the courses.

In terms of placement, here in FORE, we are motivated to follow our dreams and find an appropriate job according to our interests and experience. All the students have an attitude to look for the desired profile and not only the remuneration offered.  Last year many good companies came with diverse roles and offered competitive package. This time the expectation is higher. I think with the reputation and brand image of FORE, many good companies will be coming and offering varied profiles. I expect I will get the profile I desire.

Back to academics: I am really excited about the electives I have taken. We had a wide range of electives catering to different needs. These electives widen the knowledge base making each one comfortable to work in the specific area or field chosen. This time, there was an option of choosing a foreign language. I think it is a wonderful opportunity to get an edge in the global business world.  FORE facilitates the students by giving various international certifications such as CFA, Six Sigma, SAS and ERP etc. during relevant course lectures. 

FORE has been a good learning platform in the past one year. It has completely changed my outlook towards a job, environment, the business world… in fact, towards life as a whole. Another year is ahead and I expect to gather domain expertise in the areas I have chosen. I think this whole two year course will equip me with all the pre-requisites required for being an efficient and effective manager in the corporate world. I strongly believe after this course, I will be capable of stepping back in the industry with all the desired skills and will contribute significantly to this dynamic business world.

“FORE, a Good Option for High ROI” – By Hitashi Gupta (Batch 2010 - 12)

Prior to joining FORE, I was working with Tata Consultancy Services. When I decided to pursue MBA, my mind had a tussle between leaving a decently paying job and joining a good B-school. Return of investment was important as the opportunity cost was high, and FORE seemed like a good option that guaranteed high ROI. But that wasn’t the only reason why I choose FORE over other B-schools. Placements in any B-school play one of the most crucial part in deciding its ranking and FORE scored extremely well on that. Some of the biggest national and international companies visit FORE to recruit students. Also with its best quality of faculty and students, FORE has garnered a good brand name and a respected B-school ranking in the market.

In the past one year of my journey with FORE, I have seen myself grow as a person. With continuous interactions with the corporate world, classroom presentations, and team building exercises, both my attitude and aptitude towards management have grown. While committee exercises made me more confident and proactive, the classroom group exercises helped me become a good communicator and a better team player. Before joining the institute, I was confused about the specialization I should opt for, but the first one year which is an amalgamation of leanings from all the streams of management viz. Marketing, Finance, HR, IT and operations gave me a clear direction.

Currently, I am doing my internship from O-Zone Networks Pvt. Ltd. My profile is Area Sales Manager and my job is to manage a team of 20 people. I directly report to the National Head -Sales and Marketing. The experience that I am getting through this internship is phenomenal. It is like a rehearsal to the real play where I will be acting as a marketing manager. Getting such a profile in an internship is entirely because of the reputation of FORE in the market. I am glad that I joined FORE.

“A Blend of Fun-filled Student Life Coupled with a Corporate Like Culture at FORE” – By Aseem Goyal (Batch 2010 - 12)

Having joining letters from McKinsey and Deloitte in one hand and final admission call letter from FORE on the other, it was a tough call for me to choose the next step when I had completed my graduation last year. On one side, there was an urge to enter the corporate world and start earning while on the other hand, there was an opportunity to go through a 2-year rigorously organized transition in order to prepare myself to enter the business world in a better way. I chose the latter one, but with certain inhibitions.

After spending one year here, FORE has lived up to my expectations. Now, I know that the most calculated decision of my life was rightly taken. A blend of fun-filled student life coupled with a corporate like culture, FORE has made me understand how the two can go hand in hand. A wholesome package of courses imparting the basic orientation in every business domain with lectures, corporate sessions, seminars, workshops, industry visits, projects, presentations and many more things, keeping one busy all the time. Yet the fun never takes a back seat in the close-knit student community at FORE.

If I were to name one thing that I have learned here, it would be how to apply the things you know in real world situations. To help us in learning this, each and every business management concept was taught to us by putting it into actual practice with the help of various important case studies and other applications. Being familiar with the subjects of business management doesn’t give us a license to jump into business world. We need to know how to apply that knowledge into practice. This became more evident at my first corporate assignment when I went for my summer internship at Power Grid Corporation India Ltd. The project I undertook involved incorporating variability in domestic borrowing instruments of the company to reduce its financing costs. I was also involved in raising of Rs 2000 crore debt for the company through their bond issue. It means a lot when the company entrusts you with such important assignments mainly on the basis of institute’s credentials and the precedent set by FORE alumni having worked there previously. And it feels even better when you live to their expectations. All thanks to the learning imparted during the one year by well-qualified and experienced faculty at FORE, I was able to do the things right. Also, my college professors were there to help me at every step, wherever I faced any problem.

It feels great to be back to the student life for second trance of learning. This year will involve some more focused learning as I have chosen my subject combinations in a way that I get a chance to have an in-depth understanding of my interest area. Also, I am expecting to get a good opportunity to work in my desired business domain as FORE Career Division has been providing ample opportunities in the past also with the help of its effective corporate interface.

On the basis of my experience here till now, I think FORE has been able to deliver in a very effective way all the things I had expected of a high-quality post graduate program in business management. I am sure that my 2-years here will always be cherished by me in future with a great deal of enthusiasm, and the things I have learned here will always come in handy in the real business situations of life.

“My Journey So Far at FORE” – By Sudhir Mishra (PGDM-IB Wave 4; Batch of 2010-12)

We undertake several journeys in the course of our lifetime. However, very few of them leave an indelible impression on the fertile grounds of our mind and soul. Whenever, we look back at them, we get filled with nostalgic emotions and our eyes become moist. Last one and a half year of my association with FORE has been one such sojourn.

I still clearly remember my first day at FORE when I had come here to collect my prospectus for admission in their coveted PGDM programme. Being an inquisitive person I am, I had many queries in my mind and I was not sure of where to find answers to them. But that one visit to FORE was so enlightening that I can call it as one of the most defining moments in my life. By the time I left the FORE Campus, I was absolutely convinced in my mind that in case I do manage to get a call from them, I am going to join this Institution. So, what happened during that one day visit, which left me with such a strong desire to join FORE? Let me share about it with you in few lines.

Having so many queries, I entered the campus and was greeted by a broad smile at the reception desk. That proved to be an instant medicine, soothing my nerves no end. A very small gesture, but one that made me feels desired. I became quite comfortable and then began a series of discussions on various aspects. Some of the queries were answered by them, some by the academic office and some by the faculty. I also got an opportunity to interact with few of the senior students of FORE. These interactions, with different stakeholders, left me in a sense of disbelief. How could all of them be so generous and kind to a person who, till that point of time had not even formally applied to the college? This was an eye-opener for me and also the beginning of a huge learning curve as I got a glimpse into the deeply entrenched culture and philosophy of this great Institution. They taught me biggest management mantra in the very first visit itself,” Greet every individual as a prospect for you, leaving him with a feeling to come back wanting for more.” Herein began my management journey.

I worked hard and fortunately was able to secure myself a place in their long list of illustrious students. The day I got my offer letter, I felt as if the world has come into my grasp. One of the prime reasons for this kind of overjoyed elation lay in the thought of finally getting to learn management from an Institution, which had each of its actions and activities guided by various management philosophies. And I wanted to imbibe them in my work ethics and culture.

Past one year that I have been in FORE has exceeded all my expectations. It has not only contributed immensely to the enhancement of my knowledge base but also made me to unlearn and learn to see things differently, to see things in perspective. The faculties have been a tremendous guiding light, showing the way each time I felt helpless; and so have been my peers. I feel honored to be a part of such elite people. All of them have a significant share in my evolution as a management learner in this one year.

Now I have begun my journey into the final year of my PGDM course. We have been exposed to various practical aspects of corporate functionalities and the governance, best practices to be followed, issues that affect an organization, and lot more through an eclectic mix of case studies, brain storming and industry interactions apart from regular class room teaching. I am looking forward to build on all of this in my second year.

This will also be the year of my securing placements. I know and I am sure that I will get placed in a company and profile of my liking, because of the renowned brand FORE is.

Such has been the learning in the time I have spent at FORE that I feel supremely confident, though with all humbleness as that is how we have been taught, to take on the world with our brand of management.


Sudhir Mishra is a B.Com graduate with 168 months of work experience at National Council for Cooperative Training (Under Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India). Currently he is pursuing PGDM-IB at FORE School of Management, New Delhi. He did his summer internship at Nirmal Bang Commodities & Securities Pvt. Ltd. (Finance - Marketing)

“FORE, One of the best B-schools in Delhi/NCR region” - By Anshuman (PGDM Wave 19; Batch of 2010-12)

Prior to joining Fore, I have worked with Infosys Technologies Ltd. for 34 months as a Senior Systems Engineer where I was majorly involved in Application Maintenance of web-based applications of a leading US wealth management company. After having a good technical expertise and industry knowledge, I aim to explore the business front of the industry and that is why I have chosen management as my career path.

FORE scores over other institutes on various fronts:

• First of those being the location. It is situated in the heart of country’s capital and is flanked by various industries in NCR, making it a perfect place to study as it gives a good combination of academic and industrial exposure.

• Secondly, the faculty at FORE is vastly experienced with average experience being 22 years. Thus a student can be sure of the fact that most of the learning that he/she will get will be from some handsomely experienced people.

• Thirdly, FORE is recognized as a premier B-school in the industry having an established corporate interface, which helps students find opportunities in various organizations and profiles of their choice.

I am currently undergoing by internship with Fresenius Kabi India, a leading German Pharmaceutical company. My project involves accessing the patient population size for the current year and projecting the future growth of population in the coming years. I will also be mapping the population to various clinical setting variables like home care, primary care, and many others.

The best thing about the curriculum during first year is that you study subjects from all the specializations of management viz. HR, Marketing, Finance and then your internships in a corporate organization act like an ice-breaker to choose your further career path. Some of the subjects like Marketing Management and Marketing Research etc. have greatly helped me learn the tools of marketing which I can easily apply during my internship.

“Looking forward for a Learning Experience at FORE” – By Prateek Jain (Batch 2011 - 13)

My name is Prateek Jain. I have done my B.Tech from Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering in the stream of Instrumentation and Control. After completing my graduation I have worked in TCS for 2.5 years as a System Engineer.

Engineering degree has laid a strong foundation for my analytical skills while the work experience in TCS has given me a basic understanding of business processes along with technical knowledge. Now, I want to have a broader perspective in terms of knowledge, which is not only limited to technical level but is also extended towards business and functional level. I want to pursue the PGDM course in FORE in order to supplement my analytical skills and to understand the business aspect of technology. I am sure it will help me being in a better position to take strategic decisions for the organization I am working with. I aspire for a career that can provide me with an opportunity to learn and where I can use my skills to deliver success to my organization.

FORE Scores:-

The experience at FORE will be invaluable as my learning will be structured by world's best faculty armed with real world experience. With excellent industry interface, eminent faculty and a healthy mix of students at FORE, it would also enhance my analytical and inter-personal skills.

MBA from FORE will not only strengthen my knowledge base, but would also make me competent and confident to act and respond in challenging times. Moreover, marketing profiles offered by the companies that visit FORE are very good which is in line with my interest.

FORE also has a location advantage over other B-schools which was also one of the reason of my choosing FORE over other colleges.

After completing my Masters degree from FORE, I see myself in the middle management level where I would have learned the practical applications of the knowledge that I will acquire here and would be respected by my fellow colleagues for my leadership qualities. I would be at that stage of my career where I would be all set to make the best possible use of my knowledge that I had acquired here.

My interaction with our senior batches at FORE was a very learning experience. The seniors were very cooperative and assisted us is resolving all sort of issues and apprehensions related to FORE. They shared their experience in FORE with us which was very valuable and inspiring. I am looking forward to meet all my seniors and batch mates and begin my journey at FORE.