Learning peer management

We had our first formal interaction with the current placement committee, today. Great interaction and a good indicator of the challenges to come. More than the placement process itself, the challenges were more people related and expectations related. Each one of us carries the confidence of success in our careers and of making it to IIMB. Added to that is the realization of having only a year to build your profile and find that dream job in an investment bank or a Big 4 consulting firm. The resulting competition and demand for top notch placement options is intense and the place com is the one in the firing line all the time.

This will be a great leadership experience in peer management. None of your batchmates 'report' to you and are compelled to value your opinion - which may sometimes be contrary to their self-image. You will have to act in the greater good, which may hurt individual aspirations. Balancing individual good with collective benefits is a tight-rope and at the end, you cannot expect to get medals from everyone. However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime leadership test and, while it is a little intimidating, I am looking forward to the challenge.