Candid Talk with Dr. Margie Parikh

Our beloved professor of Organisational Behaviour and HR, Dr. Margie Parikh opens up about student life, skills and entrepreneurship in this candid talk.

Compared to the past, large pool of students are turning to pursue their post graduate in management field. So, what — according to you — may have influenced this trend?

I may be wrong but lot of graduates start by looking for a place in PG programmes where placement are good and that is why they chose management.

Then, is getting core education on management field important or not?

decision making and if somebody wants to develop skills and capabilities required for more effective decision making, then he/she should go for MBA program that is designed for that purpose. But, then it’s rather a lifelong process.

In your lectures, you always ask about the agenda of the next session. So as a mentor, what do you expect from the student?

When I say what is the agenda for today or the next class, or what is the take away from this session, I ask so because that is how one will begin to structure and focus their thinking. I believe it is important, for anybody who wants to learn, to begin by learning how to question, given a proposition. Let us start with a question, otherwise teaching is redundant because all the usual stuff is available elsewhere also. Who am I to teach anybody who doesn’t care about learning? If somebody wants to learn, I would love to be with that person and facilitate that process of inquiry and learning. That is the reason I come to B.K every day. Hoping that the moment might arise in some class. That is what is beautiful according to me, to be present when a young mind is blossoming.

What skill sets should the students possess to be the best fit for the corporate world?

I have some prejudice here. I think we have paid too much of attention on skills. According to me, it is high time to focus our attention on values and attitudes. If those are in their place, then the skills will come by. Because when everything around you has become skill-based, then how will you choose which skill set is appropriate for you? It is your values. For example, humility starts by asking why anyone would employ me in the first place. It is rather a realistic self-assessment which one should ask oneself before telling somebody in the interview about the expected salary. It also involves asking what value can I add to this company, why would this company pay to me, what am I paid for? Any of these questions place attitudes and values in the center and help choose the right profile in the right kind of an organization. So, what we are talking is not about reaching some final station or destination, but only to establish a foothold, because until the last moment of life you are not a finished product, one keeps on evolving, right? And then if you are learning continuously, if you are genuine, if you create value, why would there be no more space for you? There would be. Add value, benefit others, I mean — solve problems. There are many possibilities!

BK hosts a number of events round the year — for example iNYS, Renaissance and this year we are also hosting TEDx and all other cultural activities. How do you think these activities help students to grow as an individual or as a management graduate?

I think they give an excellent opportunity to host, take responsibility, and take risk at a small scale. Nobody is going to lose their job and on top of that if you do a good show, you will take back something that you can use at work. So, from the point of view of organizing skills, these are excellent opportunities. You get all the room for creative expression in different way and from concept definition to delivery, it is all your imagination. Nandan Nilekani was at IIT Bombay and at one reunion he said that the most important learning at IIT Bombay was organizing the mood indigo event because that prepared him for his job later. So, well, he was Nandan Nilekani — he could say that, but I think good organizers should do both, organize without compromising the studies or cutting lectures.

What do you think about entrepreneurship and risk-taking abilities of today’s generation compared to the past? Are we job seekers or job creators?

See, DNA-wise some 10 or 20 thousand years will not really make much change in the people of India. Evolution is very slow process and Indians have been entrepreneurial from olden times. And if I talk about the Gujaratis in particular, our history says that even as back as period from Lothal, we have had connections with rest of the world through trading links. Then why would our people not be enterprising?

Where are opportunities and gaps in current situation of market for entrepreneurs?

I don’t really know where the gaps exist, so my answer will have limited scope, but for example; world over people are talking about Artificial Intelligence and there is already notable rise in the fear that AI will take away the jobs on a large scale. So, If AI replaces the humans, then how do we remain at par with the global trends in technological innovations and still ensure well-being and at least employment for our people? This is one opportunity we need to think about seriously and what successful entrepreneurs are good at, is scanning the environment — they know where the gaps exist and how to convert those into opportunities.

From historical perspective, what should we learn from the mistakes of the past entrepreneurs so that we don’t fall into the same mistakes again?

See, I think whatever happened is past. If I say let me analyze mistakes other people made in the past and then rework my path — that means I might lose out the opportunities that I have at hand. So, let’s just go about reading history because it gives fresh eyes or fresh perspective on events at hand but fault-finding? We should never get into that. Also, if I am always thinking about what mistakes not to make, will I be having time for what opportunities, joys and pleasures I have in present? Because every situation is unique.

What are your views on “passion to paycheck”?

I think if you have passion, multiple paychecks will come. Whatever work you do, do it with good care and nurture, do it beautifully, and paychecks will take care of themselves. You should not go for something because money is good, many do it that way, but I think it is very under-realized proposition. Why won’t you get paid? You will, isn’t it? I mean, look around everywhere, are you satisfied with the kind of tailor you have? Are you satisfied with the kind of the shoes that you wear? Are you satisfied with the barber you have? Many people would say that they are willing to give a lot more money than what they pay now, provided that they get good salon service, good tailoring or a good cook but do we have them? No, we don’t. How nice if everyone did their job because they are passionate about it?

How can one discover their passion?

By doing different things in the childhood. Typically, I guess everybody goes through a phase where for two months one goes to music class, then he realizes that music is not enjoyable. Then he goes to drawing class and again realizes he is not enjoying drawing, and then goes to some other class. What you are doing in the middle school years is not actually discovery of which class to go to but it is discovery of the self. And I mean, is there any other way?

You are involved in many activities like teaching in full time and part time MBA, coordinating PGDM program at BK, Organizing TEDx and many other projects at hand. How do you manage time?

It is something like juggling. For example, you had one ball in your hand, now it is up in the air and some other ball is right now in your hand, you hold it for a while and then throw it up in the air and the cycle continues. Because except for teaching and some part of coordinating, all other work is continual and not continuous in nature. I like to do different things. I am not super-focused or super-specialised kind of a person. I think I would die if I had to do only one thing in life. So, when I do something, it actually enriches my understanding of another, may be semi-related or unrelated projects. So, in this situation, I have to find activities that don’t demand everyday attention. At the PGDM, I have an excellent team of resourceful people, who have agreed to teach and we have well-sorted ways of interaction, so that doesn’t demand attention every day. Jaipur rugs project is on and off, some immersion once or twice a year during the vacations — so except for coming here to B.K, nothing else happens on every day basis. I think one other job I have done which is continuous in nature is motherhood and family roles.

In the end, what is your advice to young generation?

‘Stop looking for advices. Listen to yourself’ — that would be a good idea, isn’t it? :D