Setting Up a New University

 I am now in the position a brand manager for a new brand finds himself in. It's an exciting process, with a lot of things to be done. With a usual product-based brand, it's about the Go-to-market plan/strategy. But with an educational brand like ours, it's a lot more than that. It's a vision, that has to translate into action on multiple fronts. I am involved as the VC, in setting up Prestige University, a new venture at Indore.

The most difficult part in any educational endeavour is getting the right people. In a university like ours, it's three kinds of people- the students, who would become our Brand Ambassadors, the faculty, who will be the torch-bearers, and the non-teaching staff who will support these without questions.The physical infrastructure is the easy part, and is a hygiene factor.

So we are now on a quest to recruit the best faculty we can find. We have a range of niche MBA programs, so it's not an easy ask. Sustainability, Supply Chain, Analytics, E-business, and Agri-business/Food are the areas we will cover. We also plan to offer a 5-year integrated MBA program, made popular by IIM Indore and others.

Students would come through CAT and similar competitive exams conducted on a national scale. We also have plans to offer programs for experienced people in an online mode, because that enables executives to enroll without leaving their jobs. A lot more is on offer, and will be rolled out at an appropriate time. 

Leadership Fundamentals

I think I'll give it a shot. I know there are a lot of leadership theories in vogue and out of it. I studied quite a few while doing my MBA and Ph.D. But these insights are mostly my own, though they may bear a resemblance to theories living or dead.

The first thing a good leader needs is not an MBA, but clarity of vision for his/her organisation. Many flounder on this count, I think. As some great man said, "If you don't know where you are headed, the rest of it is a waste of effort." Just like when you are shaving, it's a good mirror (and lighting) that is most useful, rather than a great razor (I beg your pardon, Gillette).

The ability to appoint the right people for the right job (skill needed- being a good judge of capabilities), and lay out a vision for the key people. So they can achieve it (if they are the right people, that is).

Motivation- the greatest motivation for each type of job may vary, but for some, it is autonomy. For others, it could be tight monitoring (sales type of jobs where targets are what make or break a company).

Courage to sack people is another important one, if you discover that you chose the wrong person or that she is not performing in tune with organisational needs. Merit should count.

I think I will stop here, or else I may be tempted into doing another Ph.D. 

Modi- A Marketing Genius

This is not about politics, but about academics. In particular, the discipline called Marketing. Whatever may be your political inclinations, one must acknowledge a marketing guru when you see one. I consider Anna Hazare as one, and Modi as another.

The hysteria among commoners and Kings to welcome him anywhere he chooses to go (China, Japan, Bhutan, Nepal are some recent places), is something seen rarely in these days of extreme cynicism. What contributes to this series of grand welcomes is not clear yet. But it is true that a lot of people believe he can deliver. The simple things he talks about in a simple (simplistic at times) manner is a great lesson in communication. We often get carried away by big words and bombast without asking any of the 'marketers' in politics to spell out what they intend to do. A brand that does that in any other category will certainly fail.

The image of a no-nonsense, grounded hard worker has remained, right from his campaigning days. His shrewd marginalising of potential 'competitors' within the party has not been missed by many. His use of the media when it suits him (and staying away at other times) has left people begging for more (scarcity creating 'demand'?). His vision of a great, self-sufficient India has a lot of buy-in among youth tired of old, corrupt and moribund politicians who did little (or could have done a lot more) for the common man.

Finally, if you can market yourself to Americans in the U.S., the quintessential land of marketers, you got it made!

Theory of Relativity 2012

It's been a while since Einstein posited his theory. So I thought about taking a crack at it. May not get a chance again  if the world ends in 2012. So here it is.

The mass of a human being is directly proportional to the amount of happiness he/she experiences. Or, in simpler English, the rolier or polier you are, the happier you are. Or rather, its reverse.

Want proof?  Look around you. All the sad sacks would be wafer thin, not having had wafers- or anything at   all-  for a while. And then look at the roly-poly types. Chances are, they would be tucking into something yummy. And feeling chirpy, laughing a lot.

You may now argue that diet experts advise you to cut the calories, ...blah, blah..but the point is, what do they know of happiness, who are always living in a narrow world with small visions. If they were to expand (their vision, and maybe girth) they would gladly abandon their own advise.

Vision 2050

Now I am no visionary, nor am I a soothsayer. I am only a human being around 50 years of age. But there are no laws against making predictions, are there? Taking advantage of this loophole in my circumstances, I am making a few predictions.

There will be no tigers, elephants, and dinosaurs in 2050. At least I will get this 33% right!

There will be no poetry. Anyway, only critics and English Lit. students read it even today.

There will be around 1000 people who can get their grammar right.

There will be 100 who can write ten complete sentences in any language.

The Hindi film industry will run out of new titles for films-they seem to be close.

100% of Indians will have an MBA degree, AND an engineering degree.

Hugh Hefner will find a bride- in heaven.

Every American will possess 20 automatic weapons but no health insurance.

All packaged foods sold would contain no salt, no sugar, no chilly, no masala, no nothing. The world will be free from diabetes and heart problems, and will be incredibly boring!

The hippies will stage a comeback, but with short hair and the immaculate yuppie look.

Every new baby will carry an iCome as it enters the world, and every guy will exit the world carrying an iGo, made by Apple.

McDonald's would have served every living being on the planet, after diversifying into babyfood and the aforementioned foods without salt, sugar or anything at all.

Jai Ho!