‘Talking to strangers used to scare me, but the course changed me’

From learning the art of designing compelling presentations to overcoming her long-held fear of public speaking, Sonakshi’s journey at Apeejay School of Management (ASM) is a story of confidence, growth and transformation. A Marketing and HRM student from the Batch of 2025, she is now placed as Management Trainee – Sales at Hero Realty, a career path she once believed she would never have the confidence to pursue. In this insightful conversation, she reflects on how ASM shaped her personality, sharpened her skills, and prepared her for the professional world.

Read edited excerpts:

What were the most impactful skills you gained during your ASM journey?

When I joined ASM, I was honestly terrible at making presentations. I would get confused with layouts and designs, and my PPTs never looked impressive. But over time—largely through club activities and event responsibilities—I picked up strong technical skills.

I learnt Canva, started creating posters and creatives for college events, and gradually mastered how to build clean, professional presentations. I also developed soft skills like event management, coordinating Freshers, Synergy, and even managing vendor interactions. These experiences really built my organisational and communication skills.

Was there a memorable classroom or project moment that changed you?

Absolutely—my summer internship presentation. I used to fear presentations despite knowing my content thoroughly. But on that day, my panel, the teachers, gave me such confidence. Even though I made mistakes, something shifted. After that presentation, I stopped fearing the stage altogether. It was genuinely a turning point.

How did group work, competitions and peer support shape your personality?

I’ve been very active in everything—clubs, annual events, group presentations. Taking leadership roles in both small and large teams helped me understand responsibility. But the biggest factor was my batchmates. They supported me, encouraged me, and helped me overcome my stage fear. Their belief in me made a huge difference.

How will these experiences help you professionally, especially in sales?

Earlier, I overthought everything and struggled to communicate. I believed sales wasn’t for someone introverted like me. But ASM helped me build communication skills, confidence, and a sense of professional character. Today, I feel ready to interact with new people daily and take up this role at Hero Realty with enthusiasm.