9 May 2008

Ujjivan Holds First Ever Management Development Program

Throughout April Ujjivan held its inaugural Management Development Program – a comprehensive training with the aim of introducing the participants to the business and providing a foundation for the group to become future leaders of the organization. In total, 27 individuals coming from management schools, engineering colleges and agricultural universities throughout India participated in the program. They gained in depth exposure to the microfinance industry, leadership role models, and Ujjivan’s functional areas through a variety of in-house and field based trainings.

The program was guided by the philosophy of “believing by seeing and learning by doing.” Each session included comprehensive presentations, as well as thought provoking exercises. Ujjivan’s primary business units presented on their team’s role in bringing the company closer to its ultimate goal of alleviating poverty, their achievements to date, and their future plans.

The field training helped to dissolve the preconceived notions of urban poverty and microfinance, and provided a first hand experience in understanding Ujjivan’s methodology. Coming to terms with the realities of poverty was an inner awakening for many of the trainees who believe strongly in microfinance and wish to contribute towards the noble cause of poverty alleviation.

To complement the classroom and field training, Ujjivan organized a Leadership Talk Series, in which eminent leaders from the social and business sectors shared their experiences with the Management Trainees. Featured speakers included; Shukla Bose, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, K.R. Ramamoorty, and Subroto Bagchi. The talks lasted between one and two hours and focused on the individual’s path to leadership, their personal and business influences, and how to build successful organizations. These conversations provided a broader perspective to the training program, and left the Management Trainees motivated, refreshed, and enthusiastic to embark on their new positions.

Beginning in May, the trainees will begin their new careers working across Ujjivan’s functional departments in Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata. There are high hopes across the organization that they will serve as the foundation of Ujjivan’s next generation of leaders and help the company to push forward and achieve its goals.

Manali Thacker, Training Program Manager, works with a group of trainees on analyzing a branch case study.

A group of trainees works together to complete an assignment.

The management trainees listen to Shukla Bose speak during the Leadership Speaker Series.

Founder and CEO of Mindtree, Subroto Bagchi, interacts with the Management Trainees.

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