Career Decisions During Difficult Times

Dr.Fenn B Mathai,
Head of TALK SHOP
09-Jan-2009

Given the present economic recession, job prospects are dull. But that should not deter a student from nurturing a dream and working to make it real. This was the underlying theme of the talk given by Dr. Fenn B Mathai to the students at ASB.

Citing instances from his personal life and experience - as a father, teacher and human being, he wanted students to appreciate each big and small, good or bad experience in their lives, as all these help in shaping their character and destiny. Once when he was working as a CEO of a company, his Executive Manager, in the presence of the client said, “Whatever you said was bullshit, sir”. To anybody, such a comment on the face, in the presence of the clients can be a rude shock. At this point, Dr. Fenn brought in an alternate perspective. Each individual has his or her own opinion and one of the essentials in mentoring a subordinate is to encourage them to value their opinion and develop the courage to question the existing norms/ systems / practices. Then only they can innovate and be creative. But the courage to ask question does not come naturally to most. Like the cockroach, illustrated in Kafka’s Metamorphosis, we all are comfortable living in shadows and cracks and have to be constantly pushed and challenged to make us come out of our shells.

He encouraged the students to explore things they really enjoy doing and insisted that their career choice should be based on the same. Ambition and drive can help anybody achieve whatever one wants in life. As management students, each and everyone should understand the management is not a subject of what to do but a set of tools of how to do things. He stressed on working for what we love rather than trying to love what we work for.