The most experienced faculty coming from varied industry backgrounds was the best part, says Ashish (Alumni, 1997-99)

In an exclusive conversation with Shiksha.com, one of the JIMS Rohini, Jagan Institute of Management Studies alumni Ashish Kumar (Batch 1997-99) talks at length about his career path so far. He elaborates on how he has been able to put all his learnings gained during his two years of PGDBM curriculum at JIMS into practice.

Ashish is currently working as Vice President and Head of the Operational Risk department at DBS Bank. As a part of the campus placement, his first job was with Indusind Bank.

Read the complete interview below:

Q: Tell us about your domain and your work profile. At the professional level, did you pursue the same field you were interested or you switched?

A: Post passing out from JIMS, I have been working with Banking Industry. In my current role, I am heading the Operational Risk department at DBS Bank.

Q: Can you briefly tell us about your career path so far?

A: I started with IndusInd Bank at their Corporate Office in Mumbai responsible for the Budgeting and monitoring of Branches. After four years with the Bank working at different locations, I moved to HDFC Bank as Assistant Branch Manager and worked over there for more than two years. Till this time it was mainly Retail Banking. Next was ICICI Bank where I worked for two years as Head of Kanpur City responsible for Sales of Export and Import companies. Moved to Standard Chartered Bank as Assistant Relationship Manager in the Corporate Banking department. After working for six years at Standard Chartered, I moved as Team Lead for North. Moved to Corporate Office in Governance Role as Head of Operational Risk for Corporate Banking. And, finally, I have landed at DBS in 2019 in a similar role.

Q: Is the Industry work different from what you learned at JIMS?

A: With the ever-evolving nature of the Industry, where changes happen every couple of years. My time in JIMS helped me to adapt to the fast-changing dynamics

Q: How do you think your time in college has added value to your life, both professional and personal?

A: The dynamic and industry-ready curriculum at JIMS Rohini along with all the events and industry interactions that the institute facilitated helped me not only develop as an Individual but personally and professionally too.

Q: What was your initial thought process when you joined JIMS?

A: Before joining the institute, I spoke to a couple of alumni who shared very positive feedback of the Institute. They told me about the experienced faculty members, placements, infrastructure and other opportunities offered at the campus which actually prompted me not to consider other options and join JIMS

Q: How did you keep updated with the industrial requirements and what was the role of the institute in it?

A: To be honest, it was the most difficult years as far as industry is concerned. The economy was at its lowest. The institute provided the right atmosphere to remain positive and move in the right direction.

Q: You are a proud alumnus of this Institute. What is the best part of JIMS from a student's perspective?

A: For me, the most experienced faculty coming from varied industry backgrounds was the best part. To know about their journey, challenges faced and how did they manage to overcome were some of the interesting moments that I remember.  Hope the institute continues to retain the best of the faculty

Q: What is your suggestion/guidance for the PGDM aspirants?

A: Learn as much as you can. The institute will bring every possible opportunity to the doorstep, what matters the most is to let no opportunity lost. These years helps you develop professionally as well as personally

Q: What do you cherish more, the days at JIMS or the days of your corporate job?

A: Obviously your college days are the best days of your life. Corporate life has its own advantages and disadvantages

Q: How did JIMS transform you as a person and a professional?

A: In one-word, building Confidence.