“Most importantly, I became confident in myself and determined to face anything. So, when it came time to make the extremely difficult decision of switching over to corporate life, it was a leap of faith, but I was ready.” Kartik engaged in introspection to solve the higher purpose in his life. And, as the result of self-introspection, he found that the Indian Air Force had sown the seeds of management and leadership in him. As he started studying case studies, he found himself perfectly carved out for this path. He found them more engaging than he had expected. He became inclined towards these case studies and understood their deeper implications in the real world and in close connection to the business environment. Therefore, an MBA would further improve the organizational and leadership skills in him.
He wanted to imbibe these skills from one of the best business schools in the country. After getting discharged from service, he gave CAT-2019 and scored a low percentile. That result was an eye-opener for him. He was a target setter and achiever. He realized that he has to toil hard if he wants to get those desired skill sets from one of the best business schools. Therefore, he decided to reappear in CAT. For the whole long year, he worked hard and prepared to get a decent overall percentile and did just that with an increase of 53% in CAT 2020 with an impressive 122% increase in VARC and 100% increase in DILR.
It was a difficult year for Kartik as many of the members of his family were COVID positive. In November, the month of the exam, his father was in the ICU for a harrowing 18 days and his grandmother, unfortunately, passed away just a day before CAT. “I was under tremendous pressure - mentally as well as emotionally. However, I remained calm and composed which led me to excel in the examination.” As a result of his consistency, he got interview calls from 15 IIMs, and his dream was just a few more steps away.
The Indian Air Force had a major role in shaping Kartik into the person he is today. It had a profound impact on his entire life. Now he sees things through different eyes and takes a more objective attitude. He learned how to be cool and composed in the face of adversity. After leaving IAF, he faced many comments from naysayers and unbelievers which made him feel like a failure at times. For two years, the lessons from IAF made the most extreme societal and familial pressure appear like a cakewalk. He kept in mind the IAF slogan, "Touch the Sky with Glory," and he worked hard for 1.5 years. Even after losing a beloved family member just the day before his exam, he still managed to get into one of his dream colleges, IIM Rohtak.
While juggling his MBA commitments, he tutors students for examinations, fosters stray animals, enjoys performing rap songs in his society, and is a dutiful son in a large family of 13 members, helping to run an agriculture produce market committee (APMC). He emphasizes that, “The armed forces can teach us how to persevere in the face of setbacks.”
This is perhaps an understatement for Kartik Kansal; he is not only persevering but thriving, and he is only just getting started, with so much more to accomplish.
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