The process of succession planning, on the other hand, is a continuous one. An organization should always be like a well-oiled machine independent of individuals beyond a point. Therefore leaders always keep mentoring to reduce the risk of a leadership vacuum. It is always a conscious business decision to have a healthy leadership pipeline. An organization has to continue to function smoothly even if the leader decides to move on.
Q) What message do you have for a graduate just stepping out of a b-school and setting foot into the corporate world?
A) An MBA graduate stepping out of a B-school should be cognizant of his interests and what he wants to pursue in his professional life. If he has a novel idea and the passion to bring it to life, he should not be afraid of becoming an entrepreneur and taking risks. I think people with such interests should try to find organizations which give exposure to entrepreneurs and start-ups. They should pursue a job which takes them to the ground where businesses work and where opportunities are created.
I also believe that India is at the cusp of new opportunities. Chasing the highest paid or the best ranked job is not what everyone should be running after. I will strongly urge you people to look at the bigger picture, recognise the extant opportunities, decide and choose what you like even if that means taking more risks, joining start-ups over foreign trips and a cushy office. You should not be afraid of taking risks. It opens your vistas and broadens your perspective. So take bigger risks in the first couple of jobs as opposed to conventional wisdom. Take jobs with more exposure. Today it ' s okay to have a startup and it is okay to fail. Because, it is the ' idea ' which fails, not the ' entrepreneur '.
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