We pored over numerous research papers, consulted domain experts and former GC Finalists to build our product idea. It is imperative that one understands the problem statement of the competition with utmost clarity and subsequently build an innovative, feasible solution that is in line with the chosen brand’s ideology. I still remember the euphoric moment vividly when my team was declared as the Campus Winner, and we felt that all our hard work and late-night brainstorming sessions finally paid off.
One particularly differentiating factor from other organizations and competitions was how Reckitt was keenly invested in preparing us for the National Finals. It organized various workshops with its senior leaders from different brands, domains and provided hands-on mentorship to improve our solution. All of them were vying to win the challenge globally, indicative of the open-minded and competitive culture at Reckitt.
I was awarded a PPI after winning the campus round, which was later converted into a PPO after multiple rounds of interviews. This felt as the pinnacle of my long MBA journey, as getting selected in Reckitt’s coveted Management Trainee Program is an opportunity of a lifetime. It offers great exposure across sales, brand management and e-commerce - learning the ropes of the FMCG business directly from the senior leadership. Moreover, one gets to take complete ownership early on in their career which enables any business professional to practice the right amalgam of creative freedom, strategic decision-making, team leadership and operational execution.
Building and sustaining an FMCG brand in India is one of the most challenging tasks that requires one to be a generalist, deploying skills across disciplines. This is exactly what the Global Challenge simulates as it puts one in the shoes of a CEO - ideating and proving the company’s right to win, with the added contemporary flavor of managing complex virtual team dynamics in today’s world.
- Raunaq Walia
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