Friday, August 31, 2012

Interview with Prahadeesh

Welcome to the this Interview. We are with Prahadeesh, who has just started his own venture. A online Store for Coimbatore. Lets here it from him about his story.

Prahadeesh: I am Prahadeesh. Did my schooling in San Jose and graduation in Kumaraguru in IT.
Later joined CTS through campus placement,stayed for 6 months and then moved to Hawkins Cookers limited as a Sales Executive. Worked with Hawkins for a year. After which quit Hawkins and started an Online store for Coimbatore . Its Varthagan.com

Ramaguru: :) Nice and how is your new venture Varthagan going. First of all, it need lots of guts to take a step like this.Good thought :) 

Prahadeesh: Thanks :) We are facing a bit tough time right now in case of gaining visibility. Gaining customers is the first and foremost thing. It takes time to build customer confidence. Once we gain that things will be easy for us.

Ramaguru : May I know what made you to think about starting your own venture, when people of your age prefer to work in MNC?  You have been with CTS  and with Hawkins too. What was driving you to into entrepreneurship?

Prahadeesh: Well... the idea of starting something of my own started to creep in right from my school days. But when to start ? what kind of  business to start? remained a big question. During my final year at college I cleared CTS interview. And I very well know i wont stay in an MNC for long. Then at Hawkins I got a wide exposure in the retail market. I also saw people started moving to virtual stores to buy their products .

That was the moment I decided to start an online store which mainly focused on Home and Kitchen Appliances. I discussed it my mentor Mr.Somashekharan Nair , he gave a nod . Then after a finite research and with technical assistance from my friend Gokul Krishnaa for Varthagan was born.

Ramaguru : Great! Hope the experience you have gained through Hawkins would have helped you?

Some learning in Hawkins and some learning in Varthagan till now!

Prahadeesh: Of course. I really enjoyed the training period.The training period in Hawkins was awesome. I learn right from scratch how an organization operates . I learnt about finance, procurement , what are the process involved right from buying a raw material to a finished product , marketing , logistics , payment collections and more about how to deal with people . And in case of Varthagan we have just started to learn. It showed how difficult to implement things that we put on paper.

Ramaguru : Very true !Being your junior for almost 18 years, I know you quite well. Some words about your college life?

Prahadeesh : :) College life!! Like many, now i fell i should have done something better in college life. It gave me good relations which i can cherish for a lifetime. And when it comes to educational part like i have already said i should have done better. When i mean better its not on academics. Its mainly the other skills which will help you to survive when you are out in the world after college.Like communicative skills, knowing whats happening in thw world around you, what are the domains associated with your curriculum.
Ramaguru : Most of us feel the same, only when we move out of college.You have been secretary for your department association, also you were the Asst. School Pupil Leader and School Pupil Leader? So, with those leadership qualities,what kind of learning or what do you feel have helped you because of those?

Prahadeesh : Two Things. Two main things that i learnt with the help of those positions .
1. How to organize things
2. How to get along and deal with people

Ramaguru: only with second alone you can win :)
How did you feel when you were called to represent alumni during your annual day, sitting on the stage with Principal, Chief guest?? How did you feel?

Prahadeesh : That was a great day. Really a memorable one. Sitting along with our principal , i really felt blessed. I didn't feel that i was addressing the school as an alumni , I felt that i was still the student of San Jose and still i am and also we are :)
Ramaguru : I really felt really really happy and proud. Before one year I was a student and now I am sitting in a stage for annual day function.This was how I felt. Ya, Ofcourse, we are always a proud "San Joseians".

Prahadeesh : Absolutely:) 

Ramaguru : What you felt that you missed in college be it in curriculum or extra which would have helped you?

Prahadeesh :Like our Nair sir used to say arts subjects like Economics, Psychology, Politics. They will make us understand the world better and to live in a better way.
Ramaguru :I totally agree! Some of the people you admire or you follow (I know it, but still)?

:)Prahadeesh :One is My Dad and the other person you know very well,  our Nair sir :) 
Ramaguru : Dad is the first hero for every son and Nair Sir, as I knew it obvious one for us. Some of the qualities you liked or you want to copy from our mentor? 


Prahadeesh: 
In Simple, Determination,this is the main thing :)  and if u have this rest will flow in automatically.

Ramaguru : 
Anything you would like to tel to your juniors both KCT and San jose ??

Prahadeesh: 
Lovable, sadly i am in touch with only few of them . Hope all are fine.
And both the farewells in school and in college was awesome.

Ramaguru: 
I gave you three farewell more by any junior in the world!

Prahadeesh:
 :) In 10th, 12th and college

Ramaguru : On a Personal Note, I always have admired you, be it in school or college. I have always be in a position where you were before. The way you do things, the way you move up with friends, teacher, school and college is awesome. I still I remember your speech during your farewell in +2. You are such a wonderful orator, the commitment you show in what you do, is what we should learn from you. Also I feel you always kept your passion high and taken a road not taken. On behalf of myself, your juniors(San jose and KCT) wish you all success in your new venture and for future.
Last one, would you like to thank any special person other than your parents and Nair sir for what you are today?

Prahadeesh : Thanks :) Yes,Ofcourse My friends :)


See you all with Interview of an another interesting person!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Counseling needs Counseling!

Engineering!! :) Dream for many but still every year thousands of students get into engineering and
thousands of engineers pass out!

Anna univ Counseling being the only way to get into the colleges( though there are private universities and colleges,for many Anna is the only hope). Some cases all the ANNA's have failed.

It was shocking for me when i saw the Anna univ website content. For the welfare and to help students Anna univ website display the status of the Vacancy Positions on timely basis during
counseling.

I had one of my cousins counseling on Aug 1st and we planned to take Computer Science in Jansons under MBC quota, so I used to check the availability of the seats on regular basis prior to
counseling. The no of seats under MBC was 25. But when my cousin went inside the counseling hall on Aug 1st 10.30 batch, less than 20 seats were only available. I checked the same on Aug 1st evening, I found same 25 seats.

And this is the status now:




It was very shocking to see the seat availability is not updated. Since I know for this particular course in this college, now I doubt whether the seat availability for other courses in other colleges will be true or some data!

I am not sure where we are heading to!!