Was interviewing an INSEAD MBA admission candidate the other day. Impressed by the clarity on future plans this person had for their career.
Took me 20 years back.
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In Aug 2001, I had just started my Economics masters at the Delhi School of Economics (DSE). It was a proud moment.
After school, to my parents' great dismay, I had chosen to pursue Economics over engineering. Bagging a coveted place at DSE masters was a small validation that I was at least doing ok in my chosen field.
My career goal at that point seemed to be crystal clear - to work as an economist, preferably at a bank or a policy institution. I believed I was well on my track. Nothing else mattered.
At that time, had you offered me an admission to a top #business school or a job at a reputed #consuting or #technology firm, I would probably have scoffed at you. To be fair, I didn't know much about consulting.
And MBA seemed like too shallow a masters degree to study.
When #mckinsey came to the campus to recruit, I applied reluctantly, finding some comfort in the fact that this was a role focused on economic research. Perhaps a year or two there and I would be back to 'core' Economics - so I thought.
Life had other plans.
My Economics role at McKinsey required me to spend some time on consulting engagements. I instantly fell in love with strategy consulting.
A few years down the line, at Deloitte, I was facing my seven-year itch with consulting. A mentor suggested an #MBA might be a productive distraction for me. Liked the idea. Went to INSEAD. That turned out to be the best year of my life.
I am now working with a technology services organization. And loving it. I had once fought hard not to study engineering.
It took me 20 years to figure out.
Our best laid #career plans may not work out. Yet, we may not be any worse off when we look back. Am perfectly ok not knowing what my next 20 years have in store for me.
And old love, #economics? Well, we still keep touch. She offers useful insights every now and then for my work and investment related decisions.
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To the #insead candidate, I just chuckled, wished the best of luck and said: 'Let's hope our paths cross again in a few years!'