KIAMS Students Launch E-Cell And Let Their Wings Soar High

Online, September 3, 2012 (Newswire.com) - As a step towards honing their entrepreneurial skills, students of the Kirsloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS) on August 4 launched UDAAN (the E-Cell or the Entrepreneurship-Cell). The objective of the E-Cell is to nurture unique student ideas in the market and create in them a willingness to take risks. Further, this initiative seeks to equip them to take on new challenges once they enter the workforce and to enable them to create job opportunities for thousands of others. Eight eminent entrepreneurs from diverse industries were also called on this day to share the lessons they have learnt and their trials and tribulations with students during their entrepreneurial journey.

Kalyan Devikumar, who holds a bachelors degree in microbiology spoke about the challenges of setting up an exclusive designer store for women called Shristi. He then set up a kindergarten Podar Jumbo Kids, a franchisee. "I also work as a freelancer with MetLife and MaxBupa which I thoroughly enjoy and am actively involved in composting and waste management," said Kalyan. Rajesh Ayyappasur, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering, spoke about how he set up a drinking water plant at an NHPC site in Sikkim with two groups of friends. "There were many lessons learnt in this project, the foremost being dedication and commitment," said Rajesh. He also recounted to students at KIAMS about his working with two firms as a sales partner and as a consultant in the water treatment space.

Wills Warunny, who graduated with a degree in architecture and went on to do a masters programme in furniture design from Milan said that after travelling all over Europe and America, he came back to Bangalore to start W&W INDIA, a venture in bespoke furniture. "I have always advocated that you must pursue your passion and success will follow," said Wills. Suresh Kumar, who holds a bachelors degree in commerce and an MBA said that he has been closely associated with top notch IT and non-IT clients, both domestic and international, and has placed almost 150-odd candidates so far in jobs. "The key in HR is to empathise with the candidate and see things from his perspective," he said.

Tarun Agarwal, said that after working with Saint-Gobain and Decathlon, he started Vantedge, which assists organisations in achieving strategic growth and operational efficiencies. "A little over a year into operation, Vantedge has a few Fortune 500 companies using its products and services, thanks to our system of teamwork and meritocracy," said Tarun. Since April 2011, Krishna Prakash is actively involved in Shrimath Yoga Retreat and Green Lotus. "My success lies in the fact that I have never treated work as a drudgery but I enjoy every moment of it," said Krishna.

Srividya Hangal spoke about her journey as the Founder & CEO of ChocoBake Galaxy, a home grown enterprise which manufactures chocolates. "I love chocolates and my mission is to spread the joy of chocolates to others," she said. Anita Menon who holds an MBA started a HR consulting organization called 'itsmyhr' with the sole aim of supporting small and medium business entrepreneurs and start-up organizations in setting up their strategic and operational human resources aspects. "Freelancing gives me space and the freedom to prioritise my work," she said.

Students were truly thrilled at hearing these eminent speakers. On the importance of UDAAN, KIAMS Director Dr Gopal Iyengar said, "E-Cell is just the beginning and we will initiate more innovative business models for students. Let's preach not to be job seekers but to be job generators."