Cox Bloggers : Building towards a Future

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Being an International MBA- The Conferences

While reading this article, the first and foremost thing that I would like you to do is: Do not expect a job out of any of these conferences. On the leeway side, what I would like you to do is: attend these conferences (at least one of them) because these are the pathways to a huge reservoir of network that you potentially can exploit for your career goals later on.

NBMBA: Most of the internationals prefer the National Black MBA Conference which is huge. It is grand, it is magnanimous. You will walk a lot and tire a lot but you can potentially make good contacts during this conference. Most of our batch mates, especially internationals did make their presence felt and one will also find students from all different colleges across the United States. So, it is not just an opportunity to connect with corporate but also an opportunity to get to know your counterparts from other colleges. Speaking about the companies, one can find them all- from Coca Cola to Mercedez Benz to Microsoft- they are all out there. What I loved was the energy in the environment. We were totally soaked in that and really did not want to come back to college. In each of these company booths, there will certainly be people from each department. So, you like marketing, go and talk to the marketing guy in the booth. You strike a chord with them and they keep your resume which usually goes to a dustbin later, you may ask for their email id or a business card (which half of them will deny not carrying one) , go back home and send a small thank you note to all of these people with whom you have ideally spend 5 minutes or so, same as thousands of other candidates must have and they too must have sent their thank you notes. God save the poor guy whose inbox will be bombarded with all the thank you notes and tons of requests to help them get them the job !

Apart from the NBMBA, there are the National Hispanic MBA, the Asian MBA and the National Women MBA. While one can find similar gamut of companies in the National Hispanic MBA and quite a lot in the Asian MBA, the National Women MBA was a tad disappointing as there weren't many firms in the conference this year. Besides, the energy levels were not awe inspiring. However, for just a $25 registration, one can't ask for more.

The paradox: Think putting yourself in that seat. Are you even going to look to those thousands of emails? Some of them may reply to you and if you have a different kind of spark, the connection might just work out. One valuable contact is worth of an effort. It is not about just making the contact, it is about maintaining the contact. Concepts similar to acquisition rate and repeat rate in business. What drives you then ?

One of the two things:

1. Rehearse your elevator pitch again and again so that you look confident to present yourself properly to those executives because your first impression does matter.

2. The passion that you have for a particular job or an industry so that you can talk over it for hours together if required. Read a lot because knowledge helps here.

And the last thing. Now, do not get disappointed when I say this but it is very practical. If you are an international, you will get to hear this 9/10 times, "Sorry we do not sponsor internationals" and you will walk away.

The good part is that- you will have tried hard and learnt a lot. It is a different kind of an experience from the recruiting process in Asia.

The difference: The thing that we find here different as compared to Asia is that back in our home country, when you are graduating from good colleges, companies will line up for you.

It does not matter if you know finance or operations, a candidate will apply to all job openings and companies will then filter you out based on numbers. If you hold a 8.5+ GPA and a GMAT score of 740+ and are you from IIT ? you make it to the interview room and get pounded with "are you IIT top 100 or top 1000" or an "IIT Kanpur or IIT Roorkee" and bumps into you a question with all puzzles and numbers. Ethical questions and Pressure cooker scenario. It is all out there. In the end, it does not count if your background in a power major operations, you can still make it to the Finance world or a marketing paraphernalia.

Here, you will have to make the moves to understand the company, understand the job that you are interested in. Talking to people in that company and that role thus helps. Yes, most of us (like me) are shy. But then, this is MBA and shyness is not an excuse. Do understand one thing- relationships are not made in a day. One needs to be in touch through days and months. You may have to talk with no reason (personally I have never done that and still feel awkward) but when time comes, be ready to deliver value and material in what you speak. Knowledge is important but more important is your intent to learn about the job and purpose of your application. Again, what guides you is your passion and quality and what gets you the final offer is your connection with the panel.

Be more open: There are ways in which one can have a positive energy around themselves and connect well with people. In my batch, I probably am the most silent fellow but there are others who do a lot of different and interesting stuffs. Student life is good in here and I am sure you will love it. Come and explore, exploit opportunities in sports, club activities etc. and be open to learn and discuss. I believe one will be great. We have happy hours every week. If you are a soccer fan, you can try out the indoor soccer stadium here. Night life is cool in Dallas and there are a number of places to go to. Just be open and I believe, you will have the best time of your life.

To end with: Finding a job is the most difficult part and especially coming from a different culture altogether, it gets a bit more tougher. It is important to make the right connections with the right people in the right role in the right firm. Backed by an inherent passion and an approved interest, thoughtful insights and a deep knowledge will help you get a long way in your job search and your life as a whole.

I will be back next time with a small article by someone who can speak well about "inside the financial world" at SMU COX. Till then, Thanks !

Friday, February 5, 2016

Being an International MBA - Part 1

Hi there. I am writing this post after a really long gap but I thought this might help aspiring MBA candidates to get a better insight into the life of an International MBA, not confined to SMU COX but in general. In my experience through interaction and exposure, I have realized a few aspects which I have put in here. Hope this might help.

1. The cultural differences: I guess this is majorly the first challenge that all internationals have had to face while making a choice of stepping out of their own soil. Just like in cricket, you go to Australia and face the bounce and skid, in England you face the swing and in India, its majorly about exploiting the cracks, it is similar for an MBA student tuning himself up with the culture of the new place. About USA, its very framework is built on people drawn from various parts of the world and Asia today contributing to 40% of its growth. USA accepts you as you are. Well ! It might take some time but just be there, you will be fine. As one of the instructors very well put it down, it follows a curve where there is a crest and then a trough but the wave stabilizes in some time.

2. Communication barrier: One of the things that will help you overcome this is your allotted study group. A few of my friends in my study group have helped me understand their style of communication better. The words that you write in your thank you notes to professionals, the words that you speak while talking to people around you and how you design your cover letter and resume, it is a very different ball game. The faster you learn that, the better you will be. I am still learning and my friends are helping me in that. Having said that, you can always reach out to your colleagues from the US and be open to learn and rectify the mistakes that you might be making.

3. Put weight on your work experience: Hunting for a job is a tough ask for an international MBA student here, especially with the policies of H1B and STEM degrees. It is a serious factor while considering where to put in your application. Secondly, the companies do put in a lot of importance to the skills that you carry forward. Some of the skills that all of you will carry forward in case you are from an engineering background are- technology, analysis, manpower management, data. It is important to identify what sets you apart. For internationals, numbers and statistics in your resume play a major part in showing the visibility of your work experience. In simple words, a guage to measure performance. Concentrating and putting your efforts early in your job search is important.

4. Networking: One of the jargons you will hear a lot about is "Networking". I am still trying to figure out the fundamentals of this word as many others are. Communication engineers can relate some of it. Just replace the machines with people and probably it will sound much better. Personally, I have seen the ones who are driven by passion for an industry and spending hours behind expressing his passion through effective communication to have not even get to an interview room. On the other hand, there are the ones who have done nothing and failed. I put my thrust behind finding the right people to talk to and an effective communication. Besides, if you are driven by passion, you can't hold your tongue back. So, I guess I am not the right candidate to answer this.

5. Finding the right companies: One, not all companies sponsor for internationals. This will come as a setback to all those who are interested in automobile industry but hardly a few companies do hire internationals. Some of them are Tesla motors and Harley Davidson. But if you are open to explore the financial side of the automobile industry, Toyota Financial Services and Mercedez Benz might be the choices. Speaking to the Techies out there, it might not be the best choice for you to be at Dallas and think of a dream job in the Silicon Valley. First, Silicon Valley doesn't see if you are an MBA or not. They put more weight on your skills to build. Second, Silicon valley puts weight on your relative work experience for international MBAs. Facebook might have been the place where I would have gone to but come the final round and I was facing the chin music against experiences of 7-8 years. For people from Asia, Tech consulting should be interesting but you might prefer to try other fields as well. Honestly, I have not seen many consulting firms hiring for technology consulting roles from Cox.

In this article, I have touched over a few points and I will continue this thread with highlights on Marketing and Finance which is a major concentration in SMU COX and you have a lot many companies in the campus recruiting for these roles. Talking about Happy Hours and social life, I may not be the right person to write anything on that but I will try finding the write person to talk to you over it. Cya then until the next article !

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Texas named best place to make a living in 2015 - Michelle Pitcher (courtesy Dallas News)

Great news for everyone out there trying to make a living — which is, you know, everyone. Texas is the best place in the country to do just that.

Forbes reported the “The 10 Best and Worst Places to Make a Living in 2015” and Texas topped the list (on the good side). Last year, Texas ranked second, behind Washington.

Taking into account average wages, taxes, cost of living, unemployment, and workplace safety, MoneyRates.com ranked the 50 states by livability. For Texas, the very low cost of living amplified the effects of slightly higher wages, and the fact that we have no income tax didn’t hurt.

Workers in Texas can also take heart in knowing that — except for the occasional stubbed toe — they’re pretty unlikely to get injured on the job. Only Louisiana had fewer instances of workplace injury.

Washington took the No. 2 spot this year, followed by Wyoming, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Delaware, Ohio, and Utah.

They say no additional points were added for scenery, but I’m betting they caught a peek of the skyline over the Trinity at sunset.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

FIRST LOOK : the Book

Testimonials from the publisher and contributors :-
(releasing June end,2015)

Anu Sharma
It was a great honour to be working with talented and motivated group of people; for a noble cause. It was an enjoyable experience sharing my unseen work with all. Special thanks to the COX MBA team for their efforts in compiling the project and getting the book published too.

Arun Sharma
An excellent idea to bring creativity closer to social service is Melange. The motive behind is selfless service to the most needy kids supported by an ashram!.May the efforts fructify!

Vikas Kanukollu
Its always a proud feeling to be associated that brings me to close to the society even in the most subtle ways. I would like to congratulate the project, SMU Melange for coming up with such a noble thought and I'm happy to be associated with them.

Flexcia D'Souza
It was a pleasure contributing to a book being published for social cause. As a writer it is a great feeling to pen down your experiences and reach out to people. My experience at Kanthari thoroughly changed my perspective about life. So it sounded like a great idea when Arnab approached me regarding this book and I was happy to be sharing my experience with you guys. All the best to the team and hoping you guys achieve success in your initiative.

Dr.Shaista Irshad
It's really a great feeling having been published in the melange project 2015 specially the creative drawing of my 6 years old kiddo... The talent had been identified n picked when I was least expecting. I truly appreciate his aesthetic sense....he indeed is a connoisseur of talent... God bless.

Shivangi Jain
It feels great being connected to a project that strives to do so much for a social cause. It is important that we, as social beings, don't forget our responsibilities towards others. Writing is a powerful tool and I hope this project brings out best fruits of it's intentions.

A Note from the Publisher and Editor - Nikhil Katkar and Sayan Dey
It is universally accepted that childhood is the best stage of human life. The greatest philosophers and socio-political leaders have earned endless applause for the sake of advocating this. But, a perennial question continues to inflict our society that whatever is preached, Is it practiced? I don’t think it is so. Thus it gives me immense pleasure to be given the wonderful privilege of associating myself with this social project meant for recover the erased smile for/from the millions of children across the world. This project undertaken by Cox School in collaboration with Airavat Publishing House, Mumbai sows the seeds of a dormant vision that will one sprout and branch globally. Best Wishes.

Dr. Savita Datt,Fonder & Managing Trustee,Prakash Deep Trust

What you are doing is indeed impressive. I wish you the best and success all through. Working for the underprivileged selflessly is an enriching experience. The fact that you thought about Prakash Deep is moving! The volunteers conducted the project with dedication and a lot of enthusiasm. They inspired our children to work harder and aspire for greater heights. The gifts were well thought of and were gratefully received. Thanks once again.

Amol Redij, celebrated writer and poet

Frankly, I got to know about this project accidentally. Initially I had a very casual approach to it thinking it might just be any other thing of sorts. However, gradually, as I got engaged with the association I began to get deeply interested in their on goings. I feel elated and immensely proud to be associated with project Melange and the humble activities it is carrying out. I wish them all the luck and also promise to stand by them at all times and in whatever means I can.

FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE SMU MELANGE PROJECT 2015 CAN BE FOUND IN THE EARLIER POSTS IN THE BLOG.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

An interview : Oswald Periera

1. Journalist, Author, Editor and now a mentor to budding writers. Sir, how do you define your journey? (in terms of the experiences, learning and carving a career)

It has been a great, exciting journey. But it has never been a bed of roses, for there were thorns that hurt me as a journalist and writer as well. The life of a journalist can be quite stressful and you are only as good as your last story. So, there is always pressure to surpass yourself and come out with a better scoop or newsbreak each day. There’s a great adrenalin rush when you see your name on the front-page of your newspaper or your story appears as a cover story in a magazine. But there is a real rat race out there and in journalism we find the classic example of survival of the fittest. But while a journalist can call the shots, and with experience, your story rarely gets rejected, as an author rejections come like a deluge. You have to really be patient, because editors of publishing houses can be quite subjective in their evaluation and you never get a reason why your manuscript has been rejected. It’s a standard, ‘doesn’t fit our list.’ And unlike journalism, where your name flashes the very next day, in publishing the wait is rather long ― from acceptance of your manuscript to actual publishing ... it can take a couple of years. But once you are in print, you stay on the shelf for a long time, unlike newspapers where stories are forgotten soon after they are read. I have evaluated manuscripts and mentored a few authors ... that can be very satisfying. All said and done, I have no regrets or real complaints and I’m happy being a journalist and author ... I wouldn’t want to wear any other shoes.

2.It must have been tough. You talk of planted news, the money in the offering and similar things in your first Novel “The Newsroom Mafia”. Honestly, are we left with any trustable news element today? There are a dozen news channels and I know each fight for its TRP but somewhere, is the essence of journalism lost somewhere?

Yes, as I said earlier, it was tough in my time. But there was more honesty and professionalism, though there were black sheep then too. But today it’s a sad state of affairs in journalism. You have put it succinctly; the essence of journalism is lost these days. Professionalism has, indeed, taken a beating, with the hunger for instant scoops and TRPS.

3.I see your contributions in the Speaking Tree as well. Are you spiritual or philosophical?

My contributions to The Speaking Tree I would term as articles of analytical or logical spiritualism. I think it is logical to be spiritual. Take a subject like, loving your enemy or loving your neighbour. Hate is illogical because it kills you and you become a victim of your own hate. So, doesn’t it make better sense to love, rather than hate? It would be presumptuous for me to say I am spiritual. I’d rather believe that I am philosophical and take life as it comes and play it by ear, looking at ups and downs, highs and lows, as part of life’s cycles.

4.The young generation of the 21^st century is completely moving to a different space where they do not really hold the teachings of our holy books. Somewhere, I feel that the essence of our cultural teachings is lost. However, we can’t really blame this shift owing to the pressure and challenges of life one has to face in order to make a career. And somewhere they get delineated by the illusions of the modern world! Your take on that sir? And especially is there one piece of advice you would like to give to the youth of today?

There were illusions even in earlier times. Life itself is an illusion. Each individual has to take responsibility, and, we living in society and one world community, need to take collective responsibility. The youth of today should take responsibility for themselves and shouldn’t expect things on a silver platter or expect others to the dirty work.

5.So moving to the space of creativity, tell me- How difficult is it to make a career in writing? Because somewhere I feel it requires a lot of patience to script one book. You have done two.

As I have said, earlier, writing a book is no child’s play. It requires a lot of patience, grit and determination. A full time career in writing or making a living out of it is not such a good idea. One always needs a day job, till you hit the jackpot.

6.One straight question- how do you successfully market your work? It requires a lot of personal investments right?

Yes, marketing a book, I often think, is as, if not more difficult than writing your book. The best way to market your book is promote yourself, without feeling shy about it.

7.You have used Youtube, facebook and personal website to market your work. How to strategize the marketing?

You have to try a combination of all. Media reviews and reviews by book bloggers are also very important means of marketing.

8.How do management students use their skills and contribute in this arena?

Management students can help with their innovative, out-of-the-box ideas.

9.In the game of MBA as I know, most fight for a big 6 figure salaried job. Most dream of making it big in consulting. On the other hand, Dan Brown and J K Rowling- you guys have made it big in a pretty unconventional career. What are the challenges one needs to face in this unconventional career?

The challenge of taking rejections in one’s stride, in a matter-of-fact detached manner.

10.How do you see the creative market shaping up in the future? (You can talk of the size of the book market and where is it going, the different events that take place for writers, the platforms for writers and awards and the impact that it can have)

I believe eBooks will shape the creative market. Some publishers today are also talking in terms of novels that are around 50,000 to 60,000 at the most ― quick, easy but meaningful reading. The size of the book market is growing, but there is also some churning going on, as the place has become overcrowded. The problem is that there are too many books, chasing too few people, as we as a nation are not voracious readers ... we like to discuss a lot, rather than read and there seems to be more charm in eating out and watching movies and television, rather than sitting and quietly reading a book. Platforms and awards for writers are limited in India. There are much more awards in showbiz. Authors are still a growing species.

11.Just to finish it on a quick note – who is your favourite writer and why?

I don’t have any modern favourite authors. It would be unfair to pick favourites in this struggling profession. My all-time favourites, however, are the classics.

12.Anything you would like to say to the Cox MBA students? Would you like to be invited again for an interaction?

Do your Karma and leave the rest to God. Make giving rather than receiving your philosophy in life. Sure, would love to interact again with you folks.

From the writers' world :Oswald Pereira

“Childhood seems like it is full of roses. But the thorns that prick you as you grow up can hurt a lot” - Oswald Pereira

When we talk of Indian literature and Indian writers, one of the contemporary names that rake up our minds is that of Oswald Pereira. With his two novels “Revenge of the Naked Princess” (Leadstart Publishing) and “The Newsroom Mafia” (Grey Oak Westland), he has already made a mark in this creative market. In his Journalist-turned-novelist journey spanned for over 3 decades, Mr. Pereira has contributed significantly with the Times of India, Financial Express and the Outlook. In one line- Mr. Pereira has brought his journalism experience on fore with his two books and has presented the bloody side of the conspicuous nexus between the political world, the underworld and the sphere of media. We might have assumed things from outside, he has lived it all inside and that is what gave shape to his two works in the creative space.

However, he has displayed finesse when it comes to development of his story to marketing his work to striking a balance between work and personal life. In his writings, he has also displayed his philosophical touch as he replicates the words of the Bhagavad Gita through his recommendation, “Work but detach from successes or failures”. It is true and that is ideally the core secret to living a Happy Life.

One can read more about Mr. Oswald Pereira and his contributions at his website : http://oswaldpereira.com/

As a management student at the SMU Cox School of Business, in my exploits, I try to learn more of the management aspect- not just of making a career in the creative space but also the management of life. Let’s hear from this fine gentleman!

A preview into “The Revenge of the Naked Princess”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uYhAK1VNYg

Sunday, May 10, 2015

A small chat with Rehan Poncha: Arjuna Awardee and an Olympic Swimmer

_________________________________________________

1. I read in your bio that you started swimming at the age of 7. How difficult was it for you to cope with the pressure of studies on one hand and swimming on the other?

Competitive sport comes with unbelievable pressure and you have to be really committed to your dreams to be able to stay the course. I knew I could not afford to miss training because of exams and study pressure. And grades were important as well. So, I would find time to study in the car on the way to training, and through my lunch and play breaks at school! An athlete’s life requires a lot of sacrifice from fairly early on, but then, without sacrifice there is no success. I had to make these choices if I wanted to live my dreams and I made them because the joy in living my dream was mu larger than the unhappiness of sacrifices leading up to it.

2. You have had an iconic career for him in swimming. You represented India in the Beijing Olympics, commonwealth games, national games and won numerous medals for your country. Looking back at all these accomplishments, how satisfying has this journey been? Any fond memories that you remember of ?

There are so many memories I hold very dear to my heart ! So many races I can still think of and relive in my mind very clearly. But there are major defining moments as well, that really stand out for me and are quite special - such as qualifying and swimming for the Beijing Olympics or every single time I lifted a National Championship trophy or had a Gold Medal put around my neck. Unforgettable!

3. It is always an honor to represent India. How did you feel when you represented India for the first time? And how did it come about ?

My first international swim meet was the Asia Pacific Swim Champs in Taiwan in 1997.I was selected because I was the fastest 11 year old in the country at the time. I went to the meet and ended up winning two bronze medals, my first for my country and most special! I still have them displayed in my trophy cabinet at home.

4. Today a lot of commercialization of sports has taken place in India and to be fair only lucrative sports such as Cricket, Hockey, Football are getting all the money and attention. Do you feel that Indian government is not doing enough to promote athletic sports such as swimming, karate, sprints, taekwondo. You have experience. What are your looking to do in order to contribute ? What are the challenges that you are facing ?

I believe that swimming as a sport is fast gaining popularity .The standard of Indian swimming is also improving. When I competed, the Indian team I was part of won several medals at the Asian Open level and today we’re also seeing some really fast swimmers doing well at these meets. I would hope that swimmers and swimming will one day also have a league of races, just like the IPL does and a lot of corporate backing and support.

I contribute to Indian sport by offering learning from my own experience of representing and swimming for India at the highest levels through workshops for India’s competitive swimmers. As for getting involved at the governance level – I recently wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister expressing the need for change, that got a lot of attention in the media and online. I’ve recently received an invitation to be on a panel of elite sportsmen to form an Athletes Commission. I am always open to offering my support to help the cause of sport and Indian swimming.

5. Indian contingent for Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth games is big but we are not able to have a good medal tally. Where are we lagging? Do you feel a robust infrastructure would help the athletes a great deal? What changes/upgrades would you suggest?

I feel that if we are to compete and win against the best in the world, we need to have access to everything these athletes have access to. For instance in swimming, our athletes are likely to better their performances is they had access to world class training facilities like temperature controlled pools or nutrition and strength training support on the team. Indian swimming today has Asian Games medalists and finalists at the CWG as well.Things are looking good for the sport and I can say this with confidence that when I work with swimmers at my workshops, and share with them lessons I have learnt from swimming that I feel that a lot of these swimmers have a bright future, because of their hard work and also because of the way we work.

6. Swimming is something that people have started to associate with leisure and don’t take up the sport seriously. How do you plan to broaden the scope of swimming?

I think its popularity as a competitive sport is growing everyday. If any one were to visit even a local swim gala in Mumbai they would see how many swimmers are present and how much potential the sport has.The problem is that these swimmers stop swimming and choose a stable financial future or higher education over competitive swimming at a later age. At this point,there needs to be a brighter future promised to a swimmer who chooses the pool over studies or a job and this can only be possible if there was some sort of financial incentive given to the athletes for winning medals for the country or even sponsorship for training abroad.That way,parents wont feel the pinch to invest in their kids’ careers and swimmers will be able to take the risk of pursuing a sport they chose to do competitively when they were kids !

7. After a string of successful outings in swimming you are trying your hand at Golf. How did golf come to exist in your life?

I swam professionally for over 20 years and was very satisfied with what I had achieved in the pool. After my last race in 2011, I decided to take an extended break. It was during this time that I happened to learn Golf and I fell in love with it from day one! Today I train six hours a day and dream of one day being as good a golfer as a swimmer! If that happens I will represent India in my new sport, and that’s what keeps me motivated to train all over again just like I did in the pool. Golf came to me at a very personally challenging time, and I look at it as a blessing! I respect and love the sport and I know that if I had the staying power to make it in one sport, I will do it in the other as well !

8. You have won the most prestigious Arjuna Award. Can you share with us the entire experience about it?

The Arjuna Award is the highest sporting honor conferred by the country and recognizes an athlete’s outstanding service to the nation. It is a great privilege to be honored so by your country. I also won the Best Athlete Trophy in 2002 and 2007 and had the opportunity to receive these from the then Prime Ministers of India. My parents were with me at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan when I received the award, and having them there to watch and be part of that moment meant a lot since they have sacrificed so much to see I got to realize my dreams in the pool. It was a perfect day and it just goes to show that if you dream big and work toward your goals, moments like these do come along and show you its all worth it! These awards will always remain very close to my heart and are rewards for the years of hard work I put into the pool!

Today, when I go to train every morning I walk onto the golf course knowing that there is no golfer within a 1000 mile radius or more that has achieved as much as I have in my first sport, and this helps boost my confidence through training.

I do not mean to sound arrogant,I have the utmost respect for what our golfers do because I realize how hard a sport this is to master, but a little extra confidence always helps especially since I have started this sport at 26 and I’m up against golfers who have been playing from the age of 6 !

9. Injuries is very common to any sportsperson. How do you keep yourself fit and away from injuries?

For both swimming and Golf I have to be very fit. I train 6 hours on the golf course and spend another 2 in the gym four times a week. When I swam I could eat a lot since I would do a lot of cardio in the pool, but today I have to be a little careful about the quantity of food I do eat.

I also stay fit because I have a huge ego and I like to see a fit me when I look in the mirror. I think fitness has a lot to do with your self worth and if you value who you are and how good you look, fitness and how you take care of your body will always be automatic. So I’m sure that even without a sport, if you want to feel very proud of who you are, a fitter you will always keep your self confidence high and self esteem higher!

10. I see a lot of people resorting to virtual games and don’t go out in the park to enjoy which makes them vulnerable to diseases. What is your message to the youngsters or the next gen?

I think that every child needs to really spend time finding a sport for himself that he loves doing and also loves working very hard at. I’m not saying its wrong to spend time on the gadgets but there must be a balance. Sport ,even if its not competitive,must be pursued since it builds character and teaches you so many invaluable life lessons – discipline, time management, dealing with adversity and more, preparing us for what lies ahead in our future careers.

11. Cricket is a sport that has been followed religiously and you must have also followed cricket a lot. What is your prediction on India’s chances in CWC15?

I would want India to bring back the cup,and I believe we have a team confident and strong enough to do so J

12. If you have to look back at these years, what is that one incident that has left a deep impact on you ? That shaped you as a person ?

I think that many experiences, good and bad through the years in the pool have made me the person I am today.I would not pick out a single moment,because you learn everyday,and when you come up against situations that put you out of your comfort zone,you learn more.Its important to have a good attitude and be receptive to the best your sport or anyone around you has to offer.I did all my swim life,and I do that in my golf and my work too today J

13. Any opportunities for managers in the sports industry ?

I think as sport gets increasingly professional in the country there is a great need for efficient sports managers. Today I can do what I do better because of the fantastic team I have supporting my goals. It is because they do what they do so well – my coach Justin Parsons, my manager Gitika an her team at Criesse, that I can really focus on my sport.

14. What Rehan loves doing in his personal life ? How do you spend your free time ?

Love what you do and you’ll never ork a day! I live a very balanced life where I get to spend a lot of time on my own on the golf course through the week and then I work with several swimmers on weekends when I coach them ! My life is very full and busy, but sometimes to get away from it all, I put on a nice movie or some music and I’m fine in a couple of hours. Long drives and quiet dinners with family and friends relaxes me too ! The best part is I don’t work,I pursue my dreams and both,the golf and my swim clinics that I conduct are my career,which I LOVE.

15. Thanks Rehan. Any message you would love to give to the children, to the sports lovers and to our MBA class at Cox ?

Love what you do and be passionate about it ! Never let anyone tell you youre not good enough for your dreams and goals.Surround yourself with people who love you and care for you and stay true to yourself,always.