Give back as much as you have received: PepsiCo Chairman tells IIM-C graduates

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“To make an impact in a complex and fast-changing world, you must learn, earn, and return simultaneously at every stage of your career,” she said. In an emotional gesture, Nooyi asked the students to approach their family members, who had come to attend the convocation and who were seated at the back, and give them a round of applause.

“Today, you have accomplished something wonderful. But it’s important to remember that this is not your accomplishment alone. It also belongs to your parents and loved ones…who have supported you, guided you, and sacrificed for you. Your presence here today is proof enough that they have done their job right. So express your gratitude to them, and do it often. Call and visit them regularly. Don’t tell them you are too busy. You are not too busy,” an emotionally charged Nooyi said.

She then cited her own example. “I run a Fortune 500 company and I still call my mother two or three times every day. So all of you can make the time. Your parents and loved ones are your biggest advocates and best advisors. Don’t ever take them for granted. The most important lessons don’t always come from the person standing in front of you; it’s the people sitting behind you. So turn around for a moment please, and let’s give them a round of applause.”

In her speech, she emphasized on community development, while simultaneously contributing towards the nation’s development. “To make a lasting impact, you must give as much as you have received,” she said, adding that the batch was graduating with the skills and insights that was required for India to “unleash its massive economic potential”.

The IIM-C saw 435 students graduating from the Post Graduate Diploma programme.

Ajit Balakrishnan, Chairman of the Board of Governors, said, “This past year, IIM Calcutta faculty and doctoral students produced 207 working papers, book chapters and peer-reviewed journal papers, a total of 3000-odd pages, which bound into books of an average 200 pages would total up to 15 books.”