‘Good communication and empathy are important skills in a manager’

Amrita Alawadhi pursued her post-graduate diploma in management (PGDM) from Apeejay School of Management (ASM). After graduating in 2019, she joined Amazon and is working as a team manager in the company at present. In an interview, she talks about her professional journey, her learnings as a manager, and more.

Edited excerpts:

How did you decide to join ASM? Tell us about your experience.

I was always keen to study Business. After completing my graduation from IP University, I decided to enroll in ASM owing to its reputation as a top PGDM college, which inspires trust in an institute. I also got good feedback from my cousins, who are alumni of ASM. I went for the interview and was very impressed. ASM focuses on personalised attention and provides a lot of exposure which motivated me to join it. And I never regretted my decision. I had a great experience at Apeejay.

Also Read: ‘Learning has no age limit,’ says Apeejay alumna

Your current job at Amazon was secured through ASM campus placements. Tell us how your faculty prepared you.

It was a pool campus recruitment drive that Amazon undertook and I was lucky to have been chosen. And the credit goes to ASM for providing me the required exposure and practice before the interview. As part of the preparation process, we had rigorous group discussions (GDs) every day, practised thorough reading of the job description (JD) of the company, and so on. ASM supported us every step of the way.

Are you enjoying your professional journey?

It has been four years since I started my professional career at Amazon. And it has been very fulfilling. Every day is about learning something new. The culture and flexibility offered by the company is something I enjoy. I have been fortunate to get a lot of international exposure—in the past four years I have supported India, Japan, North America, and Australia.

How important is it to keep learning?

Learning can never stop. Yes, college sets the foundation for you, but it is only after you join an industry that you get hands-on experience. I am still in touch with the college faculty and the students. I have been an active part of the alumni connect sessions held by ASM because I believe it to be my way of giving back to the institute that shaped me so well.

What does it take to be a good manager?

People management is required in every domain. At present, I am handling operations of customer service and I am managing a team of about 30-35 people. As a manager, you have to give your team due respect, understand their challenges and shortcomings, and make them recognise their strengths. It is equally important to have one-on-one interactions to build a better connection. Laying out a career path for people who report to you is extremely important. Communication and empathy are most important for a manager.

Message for students.

Don’t shy away from asking for help. If you don’t know something, acknowledge it but always be open to learning. In the professional world, everything is about perception. So, while you work hard, you must also learn to work smart because at the end of the day the way you present your work matters the most.