IIM Ahmedabad convocation: Falguni Nayar and Kumarmangalam Birla share messages of wisdom

After a hiatus of two years, the 57^th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) saw 584 students from the departments of management, food and agri-business management, management for executives and the programmes being awarded degrees and medals at an on-campus event.

The chief guest on the occasion was Falguni Nayar, IIM Ahmedabad alumni and founder-CEO of Nykaa. Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairperson, board of governors, IIM Ahmedabad; and Errol D’Souza, director, IIM Ahmedabad; were also present.

Falguni Nayar

I'm sure there are certain expectation about how well you need to do in life. This pressure will put you on a treadmill, which is just not worth it. I would urge each of you to pause and think about why you are doing what you're doing. It’s very critical for you to understand what your dream truly is and then pursue it. First, commit to your dream. Nothing in life comes easy, you will have to give it your all, and then some more, to succeed. The journey will never be smooth. Take the roller coaster ride in your stride, the highs should not make you arrogant and the lows should not get to you. Don’t be afraid to take risks along the way. Spend the early years of your career taking the right risks and make some bold bets on yourself. Take on roles that will put you outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Discover new interests and hone your skills. Taking decisions will not be easy always, and often there will be no straightforward answer. So, trust your gut to an extent, it will guide you well.

Kumar Mangalam Birla

This is a moment to seize. We are at an exceptional juncture. Youngsters are now able to transform their creative ideas into reality. The fundamentals of business building are perhaps now truer than ever. Identify the problems and the type of people who excite you and then invest your time in them both. All of you aspire to be your best selves and that is what this institution has made you. You will be called upon not just to generate new ideas, or run operations, but to be true leaders of people. For you to be a source of energy through ups and downs, you will need to find reserves of equanimity. Equanimity is neither being enamoured by what is new nor be slave to the old, neither getting carried away by success nor being bogged down by failure, either being indecisive nor being closed-minded. I would encourage you to find ways to give back. The skills, tools, and talent that you are blessed with are a collective investment of the universe has in you. Share your prosperity, it doesn't subtract. It multiplies.

Errol D’Souza

It is no longer about short-term financial targets and efficient execution. Ever since the financial crisis, soft skills such as compassion and collaboration are going to be a top requirement. Your views on corporate strategy will be important but so will those on climate change, discrimination, human rights, culture wars and a host of other issues. You will face challenges from outside the organisation as well as from within. You are going to be wrong sometimes and you should embrace your vulnerability. Encourage dissent and constructive criticism. I spent some of my formative years in the city of Kolkata and I would recommend that everyone visit the city at least once.