"Make the Best of What You Have"

For an educator, it is always a great occasion to share experiences with aspiring students. I feel that if they inspire even a few to keep trying and never give up, the exercise will have been worthwhile! I began my journey in a small town in Assam called Tezpur and never imagined, given my modest means, that I would ever go beyond its boundaries. But Indians have something going for them that cannot be matched elsewhere in the world: their parents’ commitment to their children’s education. Indian parents are willing to give up anything within their means for a great college education. I come from a family of teachers, so no one had to sit my parents down to explain to them the importance of schooling. Still, we grew up under some tough conditions since we weren’t economically that well placed.
My first trip outside Tezpur was by bus to Guwahati, where I went for university education since there was no university in my town at that time. It is said that when you have a lack of resources, the best thing you can study is mathematics. All it requires is a pen and a notebook. Excellent teachers compensated for my lack of means, not only offering their knowledge, but also generously their materials and time.
Upon completion of my master’s, my university offered me a job under the condition that I complete my PhD within five years. I was 22 years old. My first class was teaching business statistics to an MCom class! Clearly I was nervous, so I went to the Chair of the department to ask for his advice. He said, “Remember one thing – when your shadow becomes longer than your height, the sun is about to set. After that, you will be on your own. So, be yourself.” This is one lesson that I have never forgotten. Wherever I go, whoever I meet, whatever I do, I am always myself. I  speak the way I have always spoken. People respect you for who you are, not for what you want to be.
When I was teaching at the university way back in 1982, I wrote to a professor at the University of California, Berkeley about some research he had conducted and published. I am really appreciative of the efficiency of the United States Postal Service, since the letter was forwarded to him after so many years even though he had left UC Berkeley in 1976! He wrote back saying that he had switched his research area but had forwarded my letter and query to another professor at his new university. The new professor wrote to me offering me a doctoral candidacy at the University of Texas at Dallas. In those days of snail mail, by the time I received the offer, the fall intake was over and I had no idea about the exams – GRE or TOEFL. I informed the professor that I had no facilities in Assam to take these tests, so he returned the offer with full financial aid. That’s how I pursued my PhD. I must tell students here at this point that it’s great if you get into one of the best-known colleges, but do not be hung-up on one. It does not matter which college you get, since there are many good colleges in the US. All you should bother about is working towards your goal, the rest will follow. Never give up!
My education led to a variety of opportunities for me, the most recent being the Dean of J L Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. I took over at Kellogg on September 11, 2001. Hardly a few sentences into my inaugural speech, I got the disturbing news. I stopped the ceremony short, and thought to myself, what a time to be Dean! That year, I spent more time up in the air flying across the country than at the university to meet with prospective recruiters. I had to ensure great placements for my students despite the after effects of the incident, and I am glad to say I was successful. After my engagement with Kellogg, I was all set to take some time off to visit Harvard, something that I had wanted to do for years. I then received a call from INSEAD, informing me that I was among the short-listed candidates for becoming Dean. So here I am. Work hard and trust that life will bring you opportunities in return.
I conclude with the thought that the best decisions are always made by those who have their feet firmly on the ground. To the parents, I say, if you can afford it, expose your children to different cultures and environments. Students, do try and get an assignment in another country – it broadens your horizons. And above all, make the best of wherever you go.

Volume 1 Issue 12