After a range of successful blogs, BCFAI is excited to start the New series in 2024!
Welcome to our Member Spotlight Series! This series will be in the form of interviews with BCFAI members.
BCFAI's driving force lies in its member community. In this vibrant community, where voices harmonize and stories intertwine, lies the member spotlight series—a stage where individuals take center stage.
Every month, we’ll shine a spotlight on one exceptional member, unravelling their story, accomplishments, and contributions. These spotlights aren’t just about accolades; they’re about connection, inspiration, and celebrating the diversity of our assorted membership.
It’s a chance to peek behind the curtain, to discover the quirks, dreams, and victories that define our community. Whether you’re a leader or a quiet observer, your story matters. We’ll explore your journey, your impact, and what makes you uniquely you. Do share your interest if you wish to be a part of this spotlight series.
Do visit our earlier blog series …https://www.bcfai.com/blog
-Jayasree Menon, BCFAI Blog Coordinator
Meet Our Inaugural Spotlight!
Rohit Das from Bangalore, A Talent Development practitioner in the garden of learning. An educator, much like a diligent gardener, nurtures and tends to the minds of those under this care.
What inspired your transition from an Arts graduate to a global talent development professional in corporate organisations?
A bit by accident! I was asked to facilitate the new hire training for our organisation. What started as a one-time affair soon snowballed into me having to co-facilitate learning on a variety of topics in partnership with our learning department. I fell in love and was hooked! I had once hoped to be an HR professional, but after life threw some curveballs, I ended up in the IT/BPM industry. L&D gave me the chance to explore the part of me that always wanted to help people learn and grow.
A clearly defined path or a road less travelled-which one describes your life trajectory better and why.
I would say it would be the latter. Hailing from a family of educators, one that boasted of Chartered Accountants and making it big, I was the first to break the mold. For me, it was the love affair with the English language (owe that to Hardy Boys, from Satyajit Ray’s “Feluda” to Stephen King) or that journey that led me to pursue a career in English. The choice of one’s career can take time. One should be agile enough to make changes to one’s career. Have a plan B and a plan C to fall back on, should plan A backfire. And be kind to yourself when it gets tough!
What metaphor or image best describes you and why?
Just as a gardener waters plants to ensure their growth in one’s garden, so is an Educator in terms of transforming the lives of those entrusted to him, by providing them with essential resources, to help them flourish in their roles.
A gardener understands different plants require different amounts of water and care. Similarly, in the workplace, individuals have unique learning styles and needs. Customized learning plans and approaches, and differentiated instruction, are essential to cater to these needs.
As a facilitator for new hires to CXOs, what critical gaps do you observe between education and the corporate world and how do you address them effectively?
The corporate world requires a high level of adaptability and continuous learning, which may not be sufficiently fostered in an academic setting that often has a more structured and static curriculum. In such cases one must practice learning agility - from experience and applying it in new ways, adapting to new circumstances and opportunities. In an age where skills have a short shelf-life, reskilling and upskilling have become imperative.
Secondly, but equally important is the role that human skills aka soft skills have to play from a fresher to a business leader (seeds of ideas). Owing to the focus on academics, educational institutions may not focus on soft skills such as communication, collaboration, teamwork, and leadership, which are highly valued in the corporate environment.
Lastly, educational institutions should serve as incubation hubs to foster entrepreneurship and innovation by putting students’ ideas or solutions into practice to help solve real-world problems.
As a business communication professional in the age of AI, what does your role entail?
With Industry 4.0 upon us perhaps it is time for us to move from VUCA to BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear, Incomprehensible) and communication has a greater role to play than ever. One mustn’t forget the “Human” in Human Resources. Hence it is imperative, as a business communication professional, how to utilize AI and personalize communication for different audiences.
Another exciting area is how one makes use of the AI Tech that is available when it comes to crafting communication strategies.
With a lot being said about the efficiency of AI, it only makes sense to advocate and implement AI tools to automate routine tasks, allowing more focus on strategic initiatives surrounding communication.
What valuable teachings do you wish to share from your personal and professional experiences in India’s diverse society?
“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too” – Paulo Coelho. This has been a common thread cutting across my professional tenure. One should be a perennial learner with a growth mindset. Take risks, embrace failures, but most importantly, learn from those failures. Remember, you are not starting from scratch but starting from experience in this phase.
“I made a mistake” are three simple words that I’ve had to use more than I’d like to admit. But each time it has only led to growth and learning. While it may seem like admitting a mistake might diminish other’s respect for you, the reality is quite the opposite. We all make mistakes and imperfection is common. It is how to tend to the errors that earn us respect.
To lead well is to pay attention to the clues people give us about what is going on in their lives. Listening well is the cornerstone of any good relationship.
Rohit Das holds the APTD credential from ATD, a level 5 Diploma in L&D (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), besides holding advanced degrees in English and Business Administration. He has been in the learning and development field for the past 10+ years, having worked with the likes of Accenture, TCS, Cognizant and Infosys. He has impacted over 3000 professionals on General English, Business English, IELTS, and Soft Skills/ Behavioural/Leadership Training.
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