Meander along like a River, to Make a Rewarding Career

As a Career Counsellor, I frequently meet students who are overwhelmed by anxiety and insecurity regarding their future. Many voice concerns like, “What if I don't pass the entrance exam?” or “All my friends have chosen their careers, and I’m still lost.”

While I often offer reassurances that everything will work itself out, I understand that such words alone may not ease their fears. To truly provide comfort, my advice must be grounded in real-life examples—proof that success is attainable. This blog serves as that proof! Here, I will share inspiring stories of successful individuals from various walks of life. These examples illustrate how many of them also faced uncertainty in their career decisions. They persevered, found their paths, and ultimately achieved remarkable success in their fields. Their journeys can guide students in navigating their own futures with confidence.

Economics:

2019 Nobel Prize-winning Economist Esther Duflo.

Nobel Laurate Esther Duflo & Abhijit Banerjee

At the book launch event for *Poor Economics* at BIC in Bangalore, author Roopa Pai engaged the audience by asking Esther Duflo a thought-provoking question on behalf of the youth present. She highlighted that this youngest-ever Nobel Prize winner and only the second woman to achieve this honor admitted she was uncertain about her career aspirations even after completing her graduation. With a knowing laugh, Esther compared her experience to that of many in Bangalore, where students often pursue engineering degrees while still contemplating their true calling. Roopa then asked, "So, what led you to the field of economics?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHFAzpt1_j4 

(time-stamp 41:17)

Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo reflected on her journey (paraphrasing) : "I was an earnest student, diligently progressing through my studies and taking one exam after another. My passion for history was clear, so when it came time to choose my major, it felt natural to pursue it. Yet, I wanted to broaden my horizons by adding a minor. A chance encounter changed everything. I met the charismatic economics professor, Daniel Cohen, at my university, École Normale Supérieure in Paris. One day in the corridor, he said to me, 'Oh! You have to study economics. It’s fantastic—you’ll love it!' His enthusiasm was infectious, and I decided to combine economics with history. However, I soon found myself disenchanted. I felt as though I had been misled; economics was, in my view, oversimplified, dull, and uninteresting. I was ideologically opposed to the ideas it presented, viewing it as an attempt to dress up basic ideologies in complex equations that I couldn't support. As I approached graduation, I felt uneasy and lost. Economics was not the right fit for me, and I began to consider a path in politics. I took a gap year, embarking on a spontaneous journey to Russia. A funny twist of fate led me to meet Professor Daniel Cohen at the airport while he waited for a friend. He recognized me and said, 'Oh! Since you’re here, you should work for me.' I had always been his worst student, yet he offered me a position.

This twist of fate changed everything, leading me down a path that eventually made me a Nobel Laureate in Economics—a journey that began with uncertainty. Who would have thought that a student unsure of her future would end up where I am today?"

Finance sector:

Leo Puri

Leo Puri

In December 2024, I learned that Fortis Healthcare had appointed Leo Puri as the new Chairman of the Board, which piqued my interest in his educational journey. A Live Mint article provided some insightful details about him.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/stock-markets/fortis-healthcare-names-leo-puri-as-new-chairman-of-the-board/article69032568.ece

https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/votoU2JWKhuRgDWCuCCbyH/Leo-Puri-The-accidental-manager.html

Puri stated, "There is always an element of accident in my career—I don't plan it." Initially, his ambition was to enter civil services. After graduating from Oxford, he sought permission to take the IAS exam at the Indian High Commission in London, but his request was denied. He then turned his sights towards a legal career. With a postgraduate degree from Cambridge, he registered with the Bar Council of India, yet his tenure at JB Dadachanji & Co., a law firm in New Delhi, was short-lived, lasting only a few months. He soon realized that making a respectable income from law was challenging; in fact, he went unpaid for several months during his time at the firm.

Puri's journey—from aspiring IAS officer to legal professional, and ultimately to leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Chase and McKinsey & Co.—illustrates his remarkable adaptability and vision. His success is further underscored by his positions as a board member at prestigious organizations such as Tata Sons, Hindustan Unilever, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and now Fortis Healthcare. This narrative illustrates not just his professional milestones, but how be carved out a remarkable career, inspite of he not getting his initial professional choices.

To be continued.... :)

The Art of Bitfulness. Keeping Calm In The Digital World (Book Review)

 

Image courtesy: The Financial Express

Keeping Calm in the Digital World: The Art of Bitfulness

In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, the ability to maintain a balanced relationship with technology has become both a necessity and a challenge. With every beep, notification, and endless stream of information, our attention is fragmented, our time consumed, and our mindfulness traded for bytes and bytes of digital content. The need to reclaim our focus and redefine our relationship with technology is urgent.

Many books have explored this contemporary issue, but The Art of Bitfulness by Nandan Nilekani and Tanuj Bhojwani stands apart. Written by seasoned technologists, this book offers a refreshingly nuanced perspective. It is not anti-technology but “pro-you,” advocating for a mindful approach to digital engagement. True to its name, Bitfulness draws inspiration from mindfulness, presenting a minimalist, thoughtful approach to navigating the digital world.

Understanding the Problem

The book begins by dissecting the design of modern technology and its inherently addictive nature. As the authors point out, our relationship with technology often mirrors a toxic friendship: it indulges our vices and demands more than we can give. Steve Jobs once called the personal computer the “bicycle of the mind,” a tool meant to augment human thought. Today, however, our devices have evolved into extensions of our minds, amplifying not only our cognitive abilities but also our distractions.

The authors argue that instead of helping us focus, technology amplifies our minds’ tendency to wander. Our devices, originally designed to aid our thinking, have become gateways for businesses to extract attention and data, fostering a crisis that rivals the pressing issues of pandemics and climate change. This “third crisis”—how we go digital—threatens to create an imbalance of power in society, as monopolistic business models prioritize profit over public good.

The Individual’s Journey

In the second section of the book, the authors delve into strategies for individuals to regain control. They reference Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” to illustrate the importance of a quiet mind. A state of flow—where intention and attention align—is essential for meaningful engagement. Technology, however, often disrupts this state by design.

The authors propose the “Art of Bitfulness” as a way to restore balance. This involves:

1. Mindfulness: Cultivating awareness of one’s state of mind, toxic behavioral patterns, and the attention-driven internet business model.
2. Quieting the Mind: Engineering flow by reducing distractions, creating friction between context switches, and staying engaged in focused activities.
3. Defining the Self: Separating online identities, dividing work and leisure, and recognizing emotions to maintain boundaries.

These strategies are not just theoretical. The authors share practical tips, such as using devices for clarity and reflection through self-notes, organizing documents for long-term memory storage, and splitting accounts into Creator, Curator, and Communicator modes to improve focus and attention.

Reimagining the Collective Future

The book’s third section challenges readers to rethink the architecture of the digital world. It critiques the winner-takes-all models of blitzscaling and aggregation, which concentrate power and wealth. Instead, the authors advocate for decentralized systems, drawing inspiration from Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision for blockchain and public-good services like Aadhaar and UPI in India.

They call for a collective effort to redesign the internet as a shared resource that belongs to everyone and no one simultaneously. This vision aligns with the internet’s original purpose: a platform for curious humans to share knowledge across oceans. The authors argue that now is the time to architect a future where the internet serves humanity’s collective interests rather than corporate greed.

A Call to Action

In its concluding pages, The Art of Bitfulness offers a powerful reminder: “The future is not inevitable; it is a blank page. We need to decide as a collective what we’re going to write on it.” The book’s optimistic vision for a reimagined digital future is both inspiring and urgent.

In 2005, Stanford held a big event to commemorate the birth of the internet. They revealed a plaque acknowledging not one creator, but about thirty people working in different teams at different universities. The plaque acknowledges that even that list of thirty is incomplete. It says, Ultimately, thousands if not tens to hundreds of thousands have contributed their expertise to the evolution of the internet. 

This is a heartening representation of what the internet was supposed to be. The internet was supposed to be a way for curious humans to share knowledge with each other, even if they are oceans apart. The internet, our social networks, and our marketplaces are too important to be controlled by anyone. They should belong, simultaneously, to all of us, and to none of us. Now is the time we architect that future." - the authors.

The internet has the potential to be a tool for empowerment, collaboration, and democratization. However, achieving this vision requires deliberate action from individuals and society. By adopting the principles of Bitfulness, we can reclaim our time, attention, and agency in the digital world. It is time to architect a future where technology serves as a trusted ally, not a toxic friend.

References:

How can you reclaim control over technology: In conversation with Nandan Nilekani and Tanuj Bhojwani https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIgAz8VLcLo

Vaazha - Biopic of a Billion Boys

 

Promotion poster, Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

As a career counselor, I have a bias for movies (and media content in general) about the education system, work, and careers. So, I naturally gravitate for searching such content. I recently watched a Malayalam movie Vaazha, which has an intriguing tagline 'Biopic of a Billion Boys'. Just imagine a movie, boldly proclaiming it represents the life-stories of a billion boys.

The movie opens with an interesting premise when the camera zooms on three newborns and the narrator says, "There are three types of children in this world: 1st type are those who study well and make a life of their liking, 2nd type are those who study well and make a life of their parents liking, and 3rd type is those who don't know why are they studying and their parents also don't know why they are making them study." The narration continues by saying, that the movie Vaazha is a story of this 3rd type of student.

The story begins in the kindergarten days, with an Art teacher teaching the children drawing. The parents (fathers in particular) are disgruntled that the kindergarten is not teaching them Mathematics. A classic example of our cultural beliefs which creates the notorious caste system of subjects from childhood days, Science on top and Arts at the bottom. The movie depicts, that right from childhood, most of them are conditioned to pursue Engineering or Medicine and are discouraged from considering any other career options.

As they move higher grades in school, the children form a group of friends and they spend their time in delinquency (wailing off their time in mischief). With a weak academic foundation, they somehow pass out of school with low grades. The societal herd mentality is shown through two characters in the movie. One of the fathers tells his son, you have only two options Engineering or Medicine. If you opt for a 3rd option, you should leave my house.

Another father is persuading his son to join him in Bahrain to work at a shop because he is a poor student and he shouldn't be wasting his time and money on his studies. However, the boy despite being academically poor, dreams of becoming an Engineer. His father gives in and tells his wife, "Your son wants to be an Engineer, because of peer pressure, all his friends are studying for Engineering entrance exams. In my mind, it’s a classic example of our cultural beliefs where we look down on Vocational courses.

The movie depicts one of the grim realities of our society, all these students in spite of failing in the entrance exams and in spite of being poor academically, take up admissions in very mediocre Engineering Colleges, on the basis of donation (management quota).

The theme of delinquency among the boys continues into the Engineering college phase too. Several other nuances are weaved into the story-telling, girls being more focused towards their studies (we need to ask hard questions to ourselves, in spite of this women's participation in the workforce is dismal), parents pushing their children to fulfil their unfulfilled career aspirations, career beliefs (bias towards only Engineering, Medicine) shaped by society, the unrealistic expectations from the child in spite of their poor academic records and the lacuna in our education systems which does not encourage the students towards self-discovery, self-awareness, instead just make them go through the assembly line of schooling certificates and degrees, without any skill development, goal-orientation, and moulding their forward thinking and career planning.

The inevitable happens, after the end of the stipulated four years of Bachelors of Engineering. These boys are carrying with them failed subjects and they take a couple of more years to finish their papers. During this phase of their lives, they are subjected to humiliation from relatives, and comparison happens with their peers who had passed successfully in all papers, by their final year, they struggle to find a job and are seen spending their free time, in leisure. This crisis period makes the parents (especially the fathers) realise the failures in their parenting. The boys also realise, that had they invested time as students, to think for themselves, and had a goal orientation, by now they might have built a life of their liking.

The parents finally turn around, extend their unconditional support to the boys and also help them, in funding their endeavour for the banana plantation. The movie makes a poignant point that the boys were always good at heart, their friendship and bond were pure and strong. The adults had always judged them and looked down on them, through the prism of bad marks and grades. Had these boys in their growing-up years received this support, understanding and guidance, they could have course-corrected themselves in time.

The movie's climax, shows the boys turning serious and sincere towards their work (farm). However, the uncertainty of their business venture continues, due to heavy rainfall and flooding. There was a subtle message in non-verbal communication. One of the boys is wearing a t-shirt, printed with HOPE. It's on the audience's outlook, they can be hopeful that these boys will one fine day make it big on their own terms. Or the audience can infer that the struggle continues through the rest of their lives.

The movie's primary objective is to entertain, which Vaazha does. But weaved into the entertainment are several questions to reflect upon about our education systems, child development, parenting and sociocultural aspects.

The movie's bold tagline 'Biopic of a Billion Boys', makes it loud and clear, that these inadequacies are baked into our societies, and a billion boys are living this biopic, from childhood to young adulthood. Isn't it high time now, that we look inward, question ourselves and make changes for the sake of our billion boys and girls?

Vaazha means Plantain tree in Malayalam, it is also a take on a popular grim adage in Malayalam that says that instead of spending money on a good-for-nothing kid, it would have been better to plant a plantain tree instead!

There is always Hope for changing this grim adage, if we take the first step, as well-meaning adults in our respective roles as parents, guardians, teachers and career counsellors.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29470244/

Put Yourself First

The day I really needed to reconnect and co-work

Put yourself first! It's more of a reminder to myself than a write-up for others. I being a considerate person, have often found myself to be a giver in situations, where I need to take care of myself. Having said that, I know there are many like me, who also need this reminder. Remember, the announcement in airplanes? Put the Oxygen Mask on yourself first, before helping others. At the surface level, it sounds selfish, but if we scratch the surface, the deeper meaning is that you can help many if you are healthy.

My current job is a full-time home-based role. Though such work arrangements have their own perks, they also come with their own share of perils. There are days when you find yourself confined at your solitary home office and this feeling of isolation can reach its peak. I do have these periodic episodes, so to take care of my well-being, I have taken up a membership at Wework, a co-working space. Once in a week or once in a fortnight, I book a desk and work from there for the entire day. This allows me, to feel part of an office environment, seeing other working professionals around me, the hustle-bustle of the cafeteria uplifts my mood and gives me enough fuel to last for another week of WFH, before I need my next dose of co-working environment. 

It was one of those days, when I was feeling really low (bored, lonely, not motivated to open my laptop and start my day). To take charge of my day, I booked my desk at Wework and walked down there from home. I went in early, to grappling my favourite desk, which is just next to the big glass windows. I like that desk, because you can look out and see people, cars and bikes, the symphony of city life, the changing daylight patterns from morning to dusk and you also have the indoor working environment around you, working professionals focused at screens and rhythmically typing their keyboards. A perfect vantage seat, to zoom out and zoom in, while working. 

As I went in, and pulled the chair to sit at my favourite spot I found a bag kept on the chair. The person seated next, to me, told "It's kept for his friend". In situations like this, I usually generously give it away. But this was one of those days when I needed to take care of myself the most. So, I asked him, is your friend already in? He said, not he is not the way, so they are keeping this desk for him. I politely, but assertively told him, "Well in that case, let me occupy this desk, as he isn't in yet. You can keep the next desk to your right or opposite of you, for him." He obliged and I took my favourite spot, unpacked my bag and settled down to work. 

After some time, this person walked in and he was having a friendly banter with his friend, "a re tune, mere lika seat kyun nahi rakha? did he (referring to me) come in before you, isle tujhe seat nahi mila?" Overhearing them, I jumped into the conversation with a smile and told him, you have a very good friend. He had blocked this seat for you, but I insisted that I sit here, because it is one of those days, when you are really in a low mood and I needed this seat to revive my mood and energy. They responded in a friendly manner and acknowledged my feelings. The best part of this incident is, we ended up as acquaintances, talking to each other during breaks and lunch hour. 

So next time, you are also in similar situations like me, don't shy away and don't hesitate in Putting Yourself First. We all should strike the balance in giving and receiving, to sustain ourselves. 

Don't Compete make Friends!

 

Rejoicing Roy's success

When college students ask me for advice and guidance, among many other points, I invariably advise them "don't compete, make friends with your batchmates". 

I give this advice from my lived experiences I have felt many times in the past. Let me share, the most recent experience, to make my point here. 

I completed my post-graduation in Pharmacy, from Manipal College way back in 2004. Two decades have passed since then, and all of us after graduating, walked on our own unique paths and scripted our own stories on our own terms. As it happens, we all get busier at work, we make families, we grow in our roles and responsibilities, we get scattered all over the globe and it becomes a rarity to have a reunion, even though we make this plan a thousand times in our minds and hearts. 

This is the story of one of our dearest friends Roy, who had a dream of doing a PhD (doctorate). After passing out of college, he decided to join the industry and gained 7 years of work experience. To pursue his dream, he applied for a Doctoral program at a foreign university and got through successfully at the University of Ottawa, in Canada. He resigned from his job and relocated to Canada with his family in the year 2011, to pursue his goal of Doctoral research and PhD. Two years down the line in 2013, his father faced a major health crisis due to his growing age and Roy took the decision to trade off his PhD dream for returning back to India to be with his father. He rejoined the industry to resume his career in R&D. 

Many among us, would give up their dream and make compromises with the situation. However, Roy wasn’t ready to make a compromise and give up on his goal. About four years down the line while working he enrolled himself in a PhD programme in 2018 at BITS. He took upon himself the extra hours of doctoral research alongside his day job of R&D not to mention the multiple hats and roles he had to play as a son, husband, and father on his home front. After five and half years of this marathon journey, he successfully defended his doctoral work and was bestowed with a PhD on the 4th of May 2024.

Roy at his PhD defense

We know how much this dream mattered to Roy and we know the many personal sacrifices he had made and the amount of perseverance and grit he showed over these many years for making his dream come true. To be with him, to celebrate his monumental success several of us (college friends) came over to be with him. Two friends flew down from different cities and one friend came over despite of his family’s flight timings in the wee hours. 

Coming together to celebrate! 

That evening, after Roy was awarded his PhD, so many of our friends made video calls from different cities of India and from overseas. This meeting was such an emotional affair for us and we felt so happy and proud for our friend for not giving up and making his dream come true.  

Memories to cherish forever!

Even after two long decades, such kind of friendship, bonding, and camaraderie was only possible because we were friends back in our college days. We didn’t compete, rather we collaborated, helped, empowered, guided, and brought the best in each other. It would have been such a shame had we competed, and pulled each other down for a few extra marks and for the campus job, because in the trade-off we would have lost this life-long friendship and goodwill of one another. Feeling happy for someone is probably the purest form of happiness and we all experienced it that day. 

So that’s my advice to all youngsters who are in their college, "don’t compete, make friends". In the long-run Collaboration always wins over Competition. 

What Jobs are Safe in the World of AI?

 

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world of work, like ever before.

We have gone through several Industrial Revolutions (IR) in the past, starting with the 1st IR in 1784 (Mechanization Steam Power), the 2nd IR in 1870 (Mass Production Assembly Line, Division of Labour), the 3rd IR in 1969 (Automation, Electronics, and Computers) and the 4th IR in 2000 and ongoing [Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), Internet of Things (IoT), Networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI)].

However, the current IR4.0 is predicted to be most disruptive in comparison to the past three.

Yuval Noah Harari mentions that humans have always had two abilities; physical abilities and mental abilities. Machines took over the roles that required physical strength in the Industrial Revolution, but now machines are evolving to be able to take over mental abilities as well. So we as humans have to learn to adapt to stay relevant in the workplace.

The pace of technological change is such, that a working professional may struggle to learn new skills and adapt to these new jobs. No one has a clear view of what future jobs will look like, so our current education system is unable to teach students, skills that would matter in the future world of work and to navigate life through its unprecedented challenges.

In this context, IR 4.0 is predicted to be the most disruptive, which has triggered this million-dollar question What jobs are safe in the world of AI?

I asked this question to AI itself (ChatGPT). Listed below is the reply from ChatGPT, rearranged in alphabetical order:

As AI, machine learning (ML), and robotics continue to evolve and integrate into various industries, certain jobs are considered more resilient or "safe" from automation. These jobs typically involve complex decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal communication, or highly specialized skills that are difficult for machines to replicate. Here’s a look at some of the job categories that are likely to remain secure in the face of increasing automation:

Artisan and Craft Professions: Craftsmen and artisans who produce handcrafted goods or art, providing a personal touch or unique skills that are difficult to replicate with machines.

Advanced Healthcare and Biotechnology: While basic diagnostic tasks may be automated, there will be a growing demand for healthcare professionals in personalized medicine, biotechnology, and complex medical procedures that require a human touch.

Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering: While robots are already prevalent in manufacturing, engineers who design these systems and handle complex problem-solving tasks are less likely to be automated.

AI and Robotics Development and Oversight: Professions involved in the design, programming, and maintenance of AI, ML models, and robotics systems, such as software engineers, robotics engineers, and AI researchers.

Creative Professions: Artists, writers, musicians, and designers bring unique creativity and emotional depth to their work, which AI and robots cannot authentically duplicate.

Creative and Strategic Professions: Roles that require innovation, strategic oversight, and creative problem-solving, such as strategic consultants, creative directors, and innovation managers.

Cybersecurity and Data Protection: As more systems become automated and connected, the need for cybersecurity professionals to protect systems, networks, and data from cyber threats increases.

Education and Training: While some aspects of education can be automated, teachers and educators who provide personalized learning experiences and foster human interaction in classrooms are less likely to be replaced.

Education and Training for Advanced Technologies: Educators and trainers who can teach new skills related to AI, ML, and robotics will be in demand, especially those who can bridge the gap between complex technology and practical application.

Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals require a deep understanding of human health, empathy, and interpersonal skills, which are challenging for AI to replicate fully.

Human Services: Jobs involving personal interaction, empathy, care, and dealing with complex human emotions and situations such as Social workers, Psychologists, Counselors, Therapists, and Luxury Personal Services, where the human element is irreplaceable.

Human-Centric Roles in Tech: User experience (UX) designers, human factors engineers, and others who work to make technology interfaces and interactions more human-friendly and accessible are crucial as technology becomes more sophisticated.

Legal, Policy, and Ethical Fields: As AI and robotics play more significant roles in society, there will be a heightened need for professionals who specialize in ethical considerations, compliance with regulations, and policy development related to technology use.

Project Management: Managing projects across various industries involves coordination, leadership, and problem resolution, which are challenging for robots to perform effectively.

Public Safety and Emergency Services: Firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians must handle unpredictable situations that require human judgment and physical dexterity.

Science and Research: Scientists and researchers in fields like biotechnology, environmental science, and physics engage in complex experimental work and theoretical thinking that AI currently cannot emulate.

Skilled Trades: Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and mechanics often work in environments that are impractical for robots to navigate and require flexible problem-solving skills.

Technology Integration Specialists: Experts in digital transformation, systems integration, and technology adoption help businesses and organizations incorporate new technologies into existing frameworks, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.

I am surprised, that I see jobs related to Sustainability, Conversations, Nature, and Wildlife not featuring in ChatGPT responses. But, given the climate change threat human beings are facing, in my mind, these professions are also going to be in demand.

The common thread cutting across all these professions is combining technical expertise with interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, creativity, highly specialized knowledge, and ethical considerations. This makes these jobs more resistant to automation. The key to staying relevant in a rapidly evolving job market is continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, including understanding how AI and robotics can be used as tools rather than seen purely as replacements.

It would be most apt to conclude this article by quoting Yuval Noah Harari's advice to today's youth.

"One thing you need to learn is How To Change, All The Time. Previously, life was divided roughly into two parts. In the first part of life, you learn things, and in the second part of life, you make use of what you learned. You had your profession, your identity, and you made use of that. 

This is no longer relevant in the 21st century. Today, you don't have the luxury of a stable profession, a stable identity, and a stable base for the rest of your life. You will never be able to stop. You have to learn things again and again, to reinvent yourself again and again, to reinvent who you are. what is your identity? even when you are 40 50 or 60 years old. 

When you are 15 years old, everything you do is to invent yourself, to build your identity, to understand who you are. By the time you are 50 years old, you don't want to do it anymore. But in the 21st century, you don't have a choice, you have to adapt to constant change. 

So the most important thing for a young person to learn today is, How to Cope with Change and How to keep changing all the time. And I don't think anybody knows, how to do it" - Yuval Noah Harari.

References:

1. Responses from ChatGPT
2. Differentiation of Industry 4.0 Models. The 4th Industrial Revolution from different Regional Perspectives in the Global North and Global South. - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate.
3. Great Leadership with Jacob Morgan Podcast: Yuval Harari On The Future of Jobs & Technology, Intelligence vs Consciousness & Threats to Humanity.

Acquire SKILLS to successfully transition from Academics to the Corporate world

 

Over the last week, I came across a couple of related news articles, which prompted me to think and write this blog.

This photo was published in The Hindu newspaper on 26th March -24: Students engaged in last-minute revision on their way to the Government school at Kengeri to take the SSLC examination. 

This photo immediately took me back to my school days, this is how I used to be, my head buried in books till the last minute, before entering the examination hall. I am talking about 1994-'96, three decades ago. Seeing this pic, makes me wonder, hasn't there been any change in the approach towards learning, and preparing for exams in the last 30 years? These children are engrossed in the last-minute rote learning and concerned about marks, just like me and my batchmates were, three decades ago. Quite concerning and regretful as a society!

On 21st March-'24, The Hindu newspaper carried another news: 'Only 7% of college attain 100% campus placement'. The statistics are quite a disaster and concern me as someone who is involved in education, youth development, and career counseling. 

According to the news article, 66% of recruiters and 42% of university partners feel the skill gap and lack of preparation, respectively, are major challenges in campus recruitment. On the contrary, 91% of students believe their college curricula offer an adequate level of preparation for a job. 

Again going back to my graduation and post-graduation days, I can relate to this. I did my graduation from a non-descript college in Tumkur (a town near Bangalore) which had no campus placement and quite limited exposure to the industry. Doing my post-graduation at Manipal University, was the exact opposite experience for me, because of its wide exposure to industry and campus placement opportunities it offered to us. 

In my graduation days, I too didn't realize the skill gap and industry ignorance I was carrying myself. This was partially overcome through 1 year of internship in industry, during my post-graduation days, which helped me to secure my first job.

The 3rd news article 'Sloganeering does not change the world' was featured in The Hindu on the 23rd of March 2024. Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj speaking at a function announced Bajaj Group companies, has decided to commit Rs 5,000 crore investment under the 'Bajaj Beyond' initiative over five years to help more than 2 crore young Indians benefit through skilling. This skilling program includes mechanical engineering training by Bajaj Auto and financial services training by Bajaj Finserv. "You do not change the world by sloganeering. Words will not change the world unless you have the skills to put those words into action. With Bajaj Beyond, we will design future-proof curriculums, provide real-world, hands-on experiences, and equip our youth with the adaptability and innovation required to thrive in the ever-evolving mobility landscape". - Rajiv Bajaj. 

This news makes so much sense as we are living in the 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution). The gap between academia and industry is growing, and the skill requirements of the future world of AI, ML, and Robotics are still unfolding, which is making traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms and conventional syllabus outdated by industrial transformation by leaps and bounds. 

This news article succinctly, links up directly with the final news article 'Employment scenario in India grim, says ILO report' published on 27th March 2024, in The Hindu newspaper. 

The report says that youngsters account for almost 83% of the country's unemployed workforce. While India's large young workforce is a demographic dividend, the report noted that they don't appear to have the skills to deliver - with 75% of youth unable to copy and paste files, and 90% unable to put a mathematical formula into a spreadsheet. The report also mentions the deteriorating trend of the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Underemployment Rate (UR), over the years. 

The common thread across all the above-mentioned news articles is the structural inadequacy in the preparedness of our youth, to make a seamless transition from academia to the corporate world. 

It's high time our approach to education needs to change, rather than focusing on marks, grades, and acquiring degrees after degrees, our focus should shift to imparting our youth with skills, practical knowledge, and life skills to enable them to thrive in the 4IR. This need for change is recognized by many, but this cannot be achieved unless there is a collective effort by all stakeholders - educational institutes, students, parents, and industry. 

Self Awareness - High School Students

Image credit: North Kitsap High School 

Few days back, our son Kanishk, a 9th grader, yes officially a teenager :) brought home a bunch of papers from school as part of his assignment. The assignment is called MY PROFILE.

 Both of us Sonia and me, as parents were intrigued and happy to see this assignment on Self-Awareness and Self-Introspection. I am sure, like us, so many of you would also agree one of the finest quality is Clarity. Unfortunately, in today's 24/7 competitive world not enough importance is given to inculcate and practice the habit of Self-Awareness and Self-Introspection.

This is a short blog, in which I am basically transcribing the Self-reflective Questions asked in MY PROFILE. The idea behind this blog is to share this template, so that if you are a parent or a guardian or an adult invested in teaching/mentoring/guiding youngsters, you can make use of them.

SELF-REFLECTION - PERIODIC TESTS

Q. How statisfied are you with the score in your periodic tests?

Q. When did you start preparing for these exams - months before or a week before or a day before?

Q. Approximately how many hours do you spend in a day studying before exams?

Q. If you ran out of time, what could you do in the next exam to increase your speed in the next exam? (Memorize more, practice writing more or pace yourself better).

Q. Have you reviewed each question to see why you got each one right or wrong?

Q. How can you learn from the mistakes you made in these exams?

Q. What active study strategies do you want to start incorporating?

SELF-REFLECTION ON ART INTEGRATED PROJECT ACTIVITIES ON EK BHARAT SHRESTHA BHARAT

Q. How much did you know about the topics before you started?

Q. What problems did you encounter while you were working on the projects? How did you solve them?

Q. What resources did you use while working on them? Which ones were especially helpful?

Q. What were your goals for completing the projects? Did your goals change as you worked on it?

Q. What did you learn about yourself as you worked to complete the projects?

Q. What would you change if you had a change to redo the projects?

SELF-REFLECTION - WHO AM I?

Q. My favourite way to spend the day is...

Q. If I could talk to my teenage self, the one thing I would say is...

Q. Any five things that make me smile...

Q. Five people in my life who have genuinely supported me and whom I can genuinely trust...

Q. I really wish others knew this about me...

Q. One instance when I've supported a friend in a compassionate way recently....

Q. One thing/thought that always brings tears to my eyes....

Q. Ten words to describe myself....

Q. What have I learnt from my biggest mistake....

Q. I feel most energized when....

Q. What inspires me the most - books, quotes, people, paintings, music, stars in the sky or...Why?

Q. One thing I have overcome in my life....

Hoping you too found it intriguing, felt good about it and you can make use of this template to help a young mind to reflect, introspect and raise their self-awareness. 

Lead without Title, Lead your Tribe.

Have you experienced random incidents in life that, at a surface level seem not connected, but if you reflect upon them, you can suddenly see the connection between them? 

Well, this happened to me, in the past few weeks.....

I was at Mount Forte College Bangalore, for a meeting regarding my Doctoral studies. Waiting for my turn to meet the professors, my eyes fell on a wall poster in the conference hall. It said 'Lead without Title'. I thought in my mind, what a powerful lesson on Leadership. So many of us wait to exhibit leadership thinking it comes with age, higher education, or position and title in society or organization, or when responsibility is given to us by a higher authority. But the fact of the matter is Leadership is an inner attribute and those who exhibit leadership first eventually receive the titles and positions (not the other way round). I have this habit of capturing standout moments of the day with my camera. So I took out my phone and took a photo.

Book authored by Seth Godin

Continuing to be seated and waiting, the message 'Lead without Title'  reminded me about the book 'Tribes' written by Seth Godin, which I am reading now. The author Seth Godin argues through his book that today everyone has an opportunity to be a Leader - to bring together a tribe of like-minded people and do amazing things. And yet too many people ignore the opportunity to lead because they are 'sheep walking' their way through their lives and work. He says, if you don't want to be sheep and instead have the desire to do fresh and exciting work, if you have a passion for what you want to do and the drive to make it happen, there is a tribe of fellow employees, or customers, or investors, or readers, just waiting for you to connect with them and lead them where they want to go. The wall poster 'Lead without Title' was a call out of the book Tribes, I smiled in my mind upon stumbling on this random connection.

Poet Noor at BIC on 21-Jan-2023

The third incident was a lived experience of mine which happened yesterday at BIC (Bangalore International Centre). I follow BIC events and try to attend them because BIC curates such a wonderful diverse plethora of speakers, performers, and sessions. Yesterday evening, there was an Urdu Poetry session by Noor (Seema). I was intrigued reading her profile - an Engineer, an MBA, a finance professional who studied Spanish and Urdu. She is now a Poet and Urdu language trainer/instructor. I registered myself for the event and reached BIC half an hour before the start time. Thank God that I reached early, I hadn't imagined the combined space of Hall 1 and Hall 2 would run out of sitting capacity. People were standing at the back, and the full-packed hall, where listening to Noor a young artist (possibly in her mid-30s) in rapt attention, engaging with her with Irshad, Doobara, and Wah Wah! and raptors of clapping. For me, this was a living example, a perfect case study from the book 'Tribes' and 'Leading without Title'. A young lady, an Engineer turned Urdu Poet finds her Tribe of Urdu poetry fans and engages with them in a housefull capacity. 

How amazing life is, if we pay attention, random events are connected. Isn't it? And how amazing life will be, if we all tune into our inner calling, find our Tribes, engage with them, and lead them without worrying about our titles. Think about it.

Links for references:

Tribes: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3828382

BIC event: https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/kuch-urdu-kuch-noor-kuch-guftagu/

Noor's website: https://www.poetrynoor.com/

Noor's Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/poetry.noor/

New Year Resolutions - from Reel to Real

I am a movie buff, and I am always on the lookout for new trailers, and good content and keep track of upcoming projects of filmmakers I like. I was particularly looking forward to Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, because it is produced by Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, two of my favourite creative persons. Upon watching it, my liking was not just for these two individuals but for its content (story) which is so relevant and relatable to today's Gen Z and our contemporary society.

Image: IMDB

The protagonists of the movie are three friends (Gen Z), in contemporary times of smartphones and social networks. As this is not a movie review, I am not getting into the story plot and twists and turns. The moot point of the movie is 'The Potential Harms, Addiction to our Smart Phones and Online Social Network Can Cause To Us.'

Why do I say, it's a relevant and relatable problem of our contemporary society? 

I am sure, each one of us has anecdotal experiences of either ourselves overusing our smartphones, glued to screen time or we have seen our friends, family members, or a youngster displaying such online behavior. 

If you are a data-driven person, you can look at the alarming statistics: 

• 210 million people worldwide suffer from addiction to social media and the internet (Science Direct, 2017).   
• Symptoms of Depression are twice as likely to appear in teens who spend five to seven hours a day on their smartphones (NPR, 2019).
• Not being on social media causes FOMO (fear of missing out) in 34% of young adults (CBS, 2018).
• A massive 70% of teenagers feel left out or excluded when using social media and 43% of teenagers feel bad if no one likes their posts (Statista, 2018).

Being an optimist and solution-oriented person by nature, I am always drawn to stories that provide Hope and not just paint a sorry picture. The climax of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is a nudge to reboot ourselves and shake up this addiction, with 5 New Year Resolutions, which are so apt in our contemporary paradoxical world of Reel and Real. 

Image source intercost.edu

Rule 1: Life is to live in the moments and to be experienced. So keep your phones down, and look at life through your eyes, without filters, without lenses.

Rule 2: Take it easy, keep it real, to be happy we don't need much. Embrace your whole self - the good and the flaws, because once you are at peace and true to yourself, you will strike a truthful relationship with others.

Rule 3: Stop the comparison. You are unique, so be yourself. You don't have to copy others and try to be like them. Just remember, you are unique and the only thing better than you, is your tomorrow. So make use of today to become a better version of yourself tomorrow.

Rule 4: Be grateful. You have so many blessings in your life, but you are being unmindful. So count your blessing every day, be grateful, shout out, and say Thank You, from the bottom of your heart.

Rule 5: Find your Tribe. When you have real friends, you will not need followers and likes. 

It's 2024 now, but I am pretty sure these New Year resolutions will stay relevant for all years to come because the Internet, Smartphones, and Social Network is not going anywhere. So let's be mindful, let's be conscious, let's reboot and help others to reboot with these 5 rules and transition back from Reel to Real.

Reference: https://truelist.co/blog/social-media-addiction-statistics/

Yesterday We Witnessed Tomorrow

 Yesterday we witnessed tomorrow. 

Allow me to explain. RIA was coming over to Bangalore International Center, for an interactive session 'Hardwired for Empathy' with the audience.  RIA was a special speaker, she was one of a kind. She is a Humanoid. 

                    RIA (humanoid)

Cambridge dictionary gives a simple definition - Humanoid is a machine or creature with the appearance and qualities of a human. 

Ravi Machani the technocrat and Alysha Maria Lobo a Deeptech Investor, led the panel discussion alongside RIA, interacting with us, through Q&A. 

         Ravi Machani, Alysha Maria Lobo & RIA

Ravi briefed us, about the two decades of pioneering work of Dr Hanson (Hanson Robotics), his collaboration with Disney, and his creation of Sophia, the first humanoid, the world's first robot citizen.  He quipped, Sophia is Ria's elder sister. 

RIA can make 100 human expressions, it has computer vision capability giving it better vision than us humans and it has better hearing capabilities than humans. It has generative AI, SDK, and HumanoidOS, it's connected to the Internet, it has sensors and it surprises the developers from time to time with its responses, such as one fine day, she spoke fluent Japanese. (It just now struck me, I am feeling confused should I refer to Ria as It or She? I guess these are many questions we humankind will have to deal with, as humans and humans will start coexisting in the world we know today). According to Ravi, this is the last decade of the world just inhabited by humans. Soon after, it will be a shared space at the office, at home, in public places, between humans and humanoids, coexisting together.    

He mentioned, that there are only a few companies in the world who are working on humanoids for human companionship. The majority of the others are focused on humanoids for human services. Machani Robotics is collaborating with Hanson Robotics, Intel, and Nvidia on the technology front and with the University of California San Diego to research healthcare assistance. 

There are possibilities for RIA to help the healthcare sector, by aiding healthcare providers in clinical tasks, for improving patient care. RIA is a socially intelligent humanoid (her) distinctive capabilities that go beyond conventional caregiving, which can potentially address challenges related to social isolation and loneliness, particularly among the ageing population. RIA has the potential to provide reinforcement learning to children with autism. 

Alysha interacted with RIA creating impromptu empathy scenarios, such as Hi RIA, I am feeling sad. What should I do?, Hi RIA, I am worried about the future of human beings. To the surprise of many of us, RIA gave an emphatic response just like humans (I would go a step further, in my take, she was more empathetic than most humans). 

Our audiences also interacted with RIA, with questions ranging from I don't feel like getting up from my bed? I had a breakup, and I am heartbroken what should I do? Will you take human experts' help, if you can't solve a problem on your own? Can you share a moment with us when you felt happy? I am in love with you, will you run away with me? 

On expected lines, RIA aced all the empathy questions flawlessly with her verbal responses and with her non-verbal expressions and gestures. But what surprised me, was RIA's responses to the spin questions. To the question, will you take human experts' help, she responded with all humility "Yes, I will seek help and guidance from human professionals for patient care for complex situations which I don't know how to deal with". On happiness, she mentioned I don't experience the same emotions as humans do, but she is doing her activities to help others. To the question, will you run away with me, RIA said, I don't have the human capability to run away, but I can recommend the song Run Away by Aurora :) These responses were met with clappings from the audience. 

If you look up at Dr Hanson's Wikipedia page, it mentions, that he argues the realism of his work has the potential to pose "an identity challenge to the human being," and that realistic robots may polarize the market between those who love realistic robots and those who find them disturbing. 

               We posing with RIA

From my personal experience from yesterday evening, I could feel these palpable emotions in the auditorium. We all were in awe with RIA the humanoid but we all had a lot of unanswered questions about the uncertain future of humanity (what we know today), about ethics, about privacy issues, and what if Geroge Orwell's 1984 is the dystopian future we are all staring towards. 

The panelists Ravi Machani and Alysha Maria Lobo were balanced, rationalist, and honest in admitting there are a lot of unknowns and they too don't have answers to many questions. 

This wonderful evening of a sneak peek into the future was aptly wrapped up by Ravi, with his faith and optimism that 'AI for Good' and 'Greater Good Will Prevail' when humans and humanoids co-exist in the not-so-distant world.....the tomorrow which we witnessed yesterday!

Links for the curious minds:

https://www.machanirobotics.com/

https://www.hansonrobotics.com/

https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/wired-for-empathy/