Dean Ajit Rangnekar - The 'Distinguished Speaker' of the year!
Every Presidential candidate in Hyderabad and Mohali has put 'To facilitate speaker's series by inviting distinguished speakers' as one of their core or main agenda points. So much for differentiation :)
Last night, after dinner, as he sat with us at our hotel Mountview - generally chatting with us about issues of safety in Chandigarh, the Mohali Campus and other issues - Dean Ajit made me realize how far he goes out of his way to ensure ISB's students and professors are made comfortable. Like he puts it - the students are the customers and collaborators for brand ISB.
The Dean didn't need to be there - he had flown in just to talk to us in sections, about how we should approach the year ahead. For the Dean, such talks must be quite mechanical - after all, every year he has to probably carry on the same task. But yet, any listener wouldn't be forgiven to feel that this man has spoken to his or her heart.
The Dean is one of the most effective communicators I have seen. Toastmaster's Club members would have noted that when he speaks, he speaks in a slow and articulate manner - stressing on the right words and pausing just for the right time. I have also noted that no matter how prestigious or how small the occasion, he carries a small diary mentioning the points he needs to address. After all , our dear Dean is constantly giving speeches.
Dean Ajit has an amazing sense of humour. Last night, when one of us asked him about IT companies wanting to recruit from Mohali, he looked at her and in a serious, stern face started moving his neck in the classic Indian Bob way. For the first few seconds, we all thought he was being extremely serious, just when the corner of his lips broke into a slight smile, and then a loud gaiety laugh. I can only imagine how often he must be in stressful situations - B school rankings sometime mimic the Dean's blood pressure and react inversely I guess. A leader who can cheer his team up even in the time of crisis, is a leader to follow.
But most importantly, what I really need to learn to learn from him is humility. He has warned us, and warned us enough - about being courteous and polite to the staff. He is a family man, and stresses on the fact that we respect our upbringing when we follow the honour code. But the biggest lesson I learnt (thanks to Vatsala's observation skills) was when after his 'Pep Talk' with section I, when he had finished a presentation and drawn some figures on the white board, he went up to the board and erased it. When thought of philosophically, this man does his own work himself - he does not need a posse of followers. He is a finisher, he has the complete initiative-finitiative attribute ( takes something up, and completes it to to its logical end). And boy, we all know, he finishes it well!
My suggestion for all Professional and Social Clubs. Take advantage of the Dean's wisdom. Dean Ajit has been head of PwC and PwC Consulting. He has had a work experience of more than 30 years.
If the Dean ever happened to read this blog, all I want to say is - Thank you Dean, for being the way you are. Keep Inspiring, and be omnipresent across campuses and in our hearts!
Abhay
Abhay
Every Presidential candidate in Hyderabad and Mohali has put 'To facilitate speaker's series by inviting distinguished speakers' as one of their core or main agenda points. So much for differentiation :)
Last night, after dinner, as he sat with us at our hotel Mountview - generally chatting with us about issues of safety in Chandigarh, the Mohali Campus and other issues - Dean Ajit made me realize how far he goes out of his way to ensure ISB's students and professors are made comfortable. Like he puts it - the students are the customers and collaborators for brand ISB.
The Dean didn't need to be there - he had flown in just to talk to us in sections, about how we should approach the year ahead. For the Dean, such talks must be quite mechanical - after all, every year he has to probably carry on the same task. But yet, any listener wouldn't be forgiven to feel that this man has spoken to his or her heart.
The Dean is one of the most effective communicators I have seen. Toastmaster's Club members would have noted that when he speaks, he speaks in a slow and articulate manner - stressing on the right words and pausing just for the right time. I have also noted that no matter how prestigious or how small the occasion, he carries a small diary mentioning the points he needs to address. After all , our dear Dean is constantly giving speeches.
Dean Ajit has an amazing sense of humour. Last night, when one of us asked him about IT companies wanting to recruit from Mohali, he looked at her and in a serious, stern face started moving his neck in the classic Indian Bob way. For the first few seconds, we all thought he was being extremely serious, just when the corner of his lips broke into a slight smile, and then a loud gaiety laugh. I can only imagine how often he must be in stressful situations - B school rankings sometime mimic the Dean's blood pressure and react inversely I guess. A leader who can cheer his team up even in the time of crisis, is a leader to follow.
But most importantly, what I really need to learn to learn from him is humility. He has warned us, and warned us enough - about being courteous and polite to the staff. He is a family man, and stresses on the fact that we respect our upbringing when we follow the honour code. But the biggest lesson I learnt (thanks to Vatsala's observation skills) was when after his 'Pep Talk' with section I, when he had finished a presentation and drawn some figures on the white board, he went up to the board and erased it. When thought of philosophically, this man does his own work himself - he does not need a posse of followers. He is a finisher, he has the complete initiative-finitiative attribute ( takes something up, and completes it to to its logical end). And boy, we all know, he finishes it well!
My suggestion for all Professional and Social Clubs. Take advantage of the Dean's wisdom. Dean Ajit has been head of PwC and PwC Consulting. He has had a work experience of more than 30 years.
If the Dean ever happened to read this blog, all I want to say is - Thank you Dean, for being the way you are. Keep Inspiring, and be omnipresent across campuses and in our hearts!
Abhay
Abhay
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