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  • Impacting the SDGs: Building the Global Economy on Collaboration

    Impacting the SDGs: Building the Global Economy on Collaboration

    “Collaboration is a mindset, and to be successful during this time of disruption, we must recognize that, as global citizens, through the mandate of technology during this time when we must come together whilst staying apart, the entire world must now be seen and embraced as a ‘community marketplace’”

    As we prepare to bid adieu to another year defined by the challenges of COVID-19, we continue to be – and will be forevermore – hyper-dependent on technology to innovate the operations and processes of our global future; from our supply chains to logistics, commerce to currencies. Technology is the epicenter of businesses in all industries and sectors, however, to achieve a competitive advantage, we must place collaboration at the center of our business models.

    Where once a successful business model mandated that you put your nose to the proverbial grindstone, focusing inward, securing your intellectual property, building your team, and putting profitability above all else, this is a broken model when looking toward the future. Companies who position themselves as islands of isolation will almost assuredly find themselves struggling for relevancy, or worse, going the way of Kodak, Blockbuster, and other companies who failed to understand the evolving marketplace and innovate. The one element that all these redundant companies missed… the secret to a strong and dominant business future is COLLABORATION.

    The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), a 17-goal, 169 target framework for the future viability of our planet – environmentally, socially, and economically, has the most critical goal sitting in the anchor position. Goal 17 – Partnerships and Collaborations for the Goals, is the magic formula to ensure large-scale impact to each of the other goals, and economic viability and durability of business. Collaboration is a mindset, and to be successful during this time of disruption, we must recognize that, as global citizens, through the mandate of technology during this time when we must come together whilst staying apart, the entire world must now be seen and embraced as a ‘community marketplace’.

    Historically, collaboration – especially within the same sector, was seen as detrimental, somehow threatening a business’s success. If you shared ideas, knowledge, or approaches, you were setting yourself up for compromised intellectual property and positioning yourself to have the competition run away with your strategies and/or customers. This is fundamentally not true, and in fact, is dangerous to business growth and acceleration. Those who can’t play nicely with their competitors in the sandbox of strategy and innovation, will struggle to realize their full growth potential. While other companies are working together, passing the symbolic baton between one another, remaining fresh, accelerating growth and building strength in numbers, the lone runner, carrying the unaided baton for the entire race, will run out of steam. Ideas will become stale, innovation will be marginal, and you won’t be able to keep up with the other runners, let alone, pass them. Collaboration allows us to find new pathways, charting unexpected ways-forward. The business of tomorrow must find these unexpected pathways, or else they will be stuck in the middle of the pack, in the middle of the road. This is not a place you want to find your business, because in the middle of the road is where you get killed.

    “Technology is the epicenter of businesses in all industries and sectors, however, to achieve a competitive advantage, we must place collaboration at the center of our business models”

    “An economy built on collaboration, is essentially global teamwork for financial gain through impact, sustainability, economic viability, and shared knowledge”

    So, what is competitive collaboration and how can you benefit from the formation of strategic alliances? An economy built on collaboration, while it can and has been defined in a myriad of ways, is essentially global teamwork for financial gain through impact, sustainability, economic viability, and shared knowledge. Several studies have shown that there is a definitive link between the efficiency, optimization, and profitability if a company incorporates collaboration as key pillar of their business strategy. Businesses who integrate collaboration were four times more likely to see strong growth to their bottom line, while seeing increased organizational agility, innovation, decision-making and resiliency. It is not only possible, but essential for companies to come together to share mutual challenges and brainstorm common solutions, without giving up a competitive advantage. A study conducted by the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute finds the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, with companies who have a competitive collaboration for a period of 3-5 years, having more than 50% chance of mutually reducing company costs.

    Amazon cooperates with third-party sellers to give customers options, opening the third-party sellers up to a mega pool of consumers, while giving Amazon a slice of the pie for providing customers and sellers with this opportunity to expand the marketplace.

    YouTube realized a measurable value-add by collaborating with competitor Vimeo, allowing Vimeo customers to post videos to YouTube. This allowed YouTube to unlock an entirely new strategy, adding one of the most significant value-adds to their platform.

    “Those who can’t play nicely with their competitors in the sandbox of strategy and innovation, will struggle to realize their full growth potential”

    “…while collaboration can be a somewhat unsettling proposition, if a company has an appetite for market growth, the old adage of “nothing ventured, nothing gained” applies”

    A collaboration between Microsoft and Intel allowed them both to become the unified and dominant name in the hardware and software platforms, present in almost every home and business in the world, owning one of the largest segments of the marketspace.

    An alliance between Merck and Pfizer allowed these two pharmaceutical giants to unite to bring new cancer treatments to the market in an expedited fashion.

    So how can collaboration positively impact your brand? Through collaboration, you can mutually introduce your brand to new markets, with the increased potential for sales, customers and monetization offsetting the competitive disadvantages. Collaboration allows you to create fresh branding and new content, reaching clients in new geographical locales or demographics. It takes so much money for a company to penetrate new markets, that many companies with brilliant global prospects often stay moored to their familiar communities. Through mutual cooperation, two competitive collaborators can work together to step into these new territories, accelerating rather than diminishing their prospects.

    While we must recognize that collaboration is essential to our success and longevity, allowing our businesses to scale to new levels, we must proceed responsibly with eyes fully open. With clear objectives, understanding what each party will contribute and how each party will benefit, competitive collaboration can be a strong catalyst for business growth and expansion. Both parties must contribute equal value, either in the form of R&D, distribution network, manufacturing capacity, product development or education; and both should be comparable in size, capacity and profitability. And while collaboration can be a somewhat unsettling proposition, if a company has an appetite for market growth, the old adage of “nothing ventured, nothing gained” applies. The world is now our global marketplace, and with sustainability being the business mandate of the future, if we embrace the Sustainable Development Goals, recognizing the importance of Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, we will position our businesses to be the leaders driving the future. Together, we are stronger.

  • Beyond Neet – 5 Career Options PCB Students Must Explore

    Beyond Neet – 5 Career Options PCB Students Must Explore

    The NEET 2021 results were announced by NTA on 1st November 2021. The NEET-UG 2021 recorded the highest attendance in five years with 16.14 lakh candidates. There are nearly 550 medical colleges in India and their total annual intake is about 80,000. This means less than 10% of students who appear for the exam have a chance to get admission to a medical college. A huge number of medical aspirants are left disappointed, considering it’s one of the toughest exams to crack. Losing hope after securing a low NEET SCORE is not the solution, as aspirants have done their best in the exam and this one result cannot decide their future. Candidates should focus on the other available options after NEET because Biology is an interdisciplinary, vast, and diverse field with applications in many areas. Instead of limiting their options to MBBS, students can go for a variety of courses like life sciences, research, and inter-disciplinary fields in Biology, such as Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biostatistics, etc. Here are the top 5 alternatives to pursuing an MBBS that you can try if you love this field.

    1. Optometry

    Optometrists are independent primary health care specialists trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality, and problems with eye care and visual health. An Optometrist is a medical professional, but not a physician. They focus on regular vision care and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Optometrists examine the internal and external structure of the eyes. To become an Optometrist, you have to take a 4-year bachelor’s degree program, preferably in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or physiology. You require a bachelor’s degree to apply for optometry programs. Optometry programs typically take an additional four years to complete.

    Optometrists can work with optician showrooms, with eye doctors, contact lens and ophthalmic lens industry, or become consultants in the eye care industry, or research optometry colleges. They can take work as post-secondary teachers. They can also seek employment with any multinational organization dealing with eye care products as professional service executives. Optometrists can also set up their private clinics and work independently or take up the work of occupational health specialists in vision care of industrial workers. They can also choose a career in sports vision, public health, and government service, or community health centers.

    2. Food Engineering

    Food engineers, also known as agricultural and food scientists, combine engineering concepts with microbiology, chemistry, and other sciences to create the best ways to make processed foods tasty, healthy, and safe. They are responsible for every step of food production, from production to distribution. Food engineers utilize the latest innovative technology to process, package, preserve and improve food products. This type of engineer works in combination with the agricultural and food processing industry to ensure food safety, supply, nutrition, and value.

    A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, life sciences, or food sciences is typically required to acquire an entry-level position in this field. Higher-level degrees offer greater job opportunities and higher compensation. Applications include food safety and quality, biorefining, pharmaceuticals, and environment-friendly packaging.

    3. Nutritionist

    With a boom in the health and nutrition industry, a student can also consider a career as a Nutritionist. A Nutrition Professional offers guidance to people, families, and organizations on how to change food, lifestyle, and mindsets for optimum health promotion. They can work with a licensed healthcare provider to help individuals with previously diagnosed diseases recognize biochemical imbalances and toxicity which lead to poor health.

    Some nutritionists work in educational settings, others in a hospital or small clinic. Where you work has to do with the credentials you earn before entering the field. While most nutritionists earn a bachelor’s degree, others join the profession through a certificate program or non-traditional setting, like a for-profit wellness center.

    4. Pharmacology

    One of the main study domains under Biomedical Science and the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacology is studying how medicines affect a living organism and how the body responds to the medicine. The domain comprises the sources, chemical features, biological impacts, and therapeutic uses of medicines. These impacts can be therapeutic or lethal, based on various determinants. The domain of pharmacology explores drugs and medicines, which are later dispersed by pharmacists. Additionally, pharmacologists determine the medicine doses and how they can be safely administered.

    A major in Biology and Chemistry and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology are required. You can then pursue a master’s degree in pharmacology, where you can choose a specialization of your choice. Most pharmacologists pursue Pharm.D., from a pharmacy school (4 years of undergraduate, pre-professional college coursework, including 4 years of professional study).

    5. Veterinarian

    If you love animals as much as science, this might be the most rewarding career for you. You must have compassion and love for animals. Veterinarians tend to the health of pets, livestock, lab animals, and all kinds of animals. They examine animals to find health problems and fulfill their healthcare requirements. Most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms or work in settings such as laboratories, classrooms, or zoos.

    Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Most applicants to veterinary school have a bachelor’s degree. Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, zoology, microbiology, and animal science. Most programs also require math, humanities, and social science courses.

  • TOP 10 SCHOOLS IN DELHI – 2021

    TOP 10 SCHOOLS IN DELHI – 2021

    People flock to the city of Delhi carrying their own weighty bundle of inspirations, ambitions, and other big dreams. No matter where you come from, Delhi welcomes you with open arms full of opportunities and better standards of life, great atmosphere, and exposure. It’s a city that lets you showcase your talents as you climb up the ladder and hone your skills. When it comes to primary and secondary education, Delhi can offer schools that provide the best foundation along with a colorful mixture of experiences. Delhi is home to many prestigious schools, each with their own special features and array of facilities. Here’s a list of the top 10 schools in Delhi, if you’re set on sending your child to the best schools for a great learning experience.

    1. Modern School (1920)

    Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum, this is a day school with boarding facilities that consistently ranks at the top of the list. The vision of its founders perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the school, which combines ‘best of ancient Indian tradition with the needs of the time.’

    The school has computer labs, canteens, medical facilities, science laboratories, a special education room, Lala Pratap Singh library along with a junior library, computer resource room, mathematics, a language laboratory, as well as dance and music rooms. The school also provides cricket, basketball, table tennis, and squash courts, an Olympic sized swimming pool, gymnasium, horse-riding arena, and facilities to learn golf.

    Fun fact: Modern School was the first private school in India and was established before independence.

    Notable alumni: Indira Gandhi, Gautam Gambhir, Barkha Dutt.

    2. The British School New Delhi (1963)

    The British school is a co-educational, not-for-profit school that follows the National Curriculum of England (adapted to an international context) to the end of Year 9, IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, and the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. With students of 66 nationalities, the school aims to provide well-rounded development, student friendly multi-cultural environment and exposure. The school also maintains a smaller teacher to student ratio of 1:8 to ensure all students get individual attention in a safe protected environment.

    The school provides organic food, ensures clean air with an air purification system, and interactive ICT-enabled air-conditioned classrooms. The school is equipped with outdoor play areas, a reception hall, a multimedia computer lab, art studio, green house library, and various labs for different disciplines such as geography, language, math, and history.

    Fun fact: The British School was awarded the Top British International School Award by BISA (British International School Awards) in London in January 2018.

    Notable alumni: Malini Aggarwal, Prof John Windsor

    3. Springdales School (1955)

    Springdales is a co-educational day school, affiliated to the CBSE board. It offers classes from pre-primary to grade 12. It also offers a foreign languages department and a cultural exchange program.

    The infrastructure of the school includes various educational and art and science clubs, library, science and computer labs, biotechnology lab, teachers’ research center, and a holiday home in Mussoorie. The sports facilities include athletics, basketball, cricket, football, gymnasium, and skating facilities, among others.

    Fun fact: Springdales school has a work experience farm at Chhatarpur to teach children about the dignity of labor, working with nature, and community living.

    Notable alumni: Vikas Jain, Sahil Sangha

    4. The Mother’s International School (1956)

    The Mother’s International School is a co-educational school affiliated to the CBSE board. It is managed by the Sri Aurobindo Education Society. The school provides a clean, eco-friendly environment for students. It has three wings, Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary.

    The school teaches four languages – English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and French. It offers a lavish infrastructure with all modern amenities and technology. The school has a great library as well as Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Labs. It also has clubs/societies that organize various activities to develop the students’ skills and extract the best out of every child in fields such as art and craft, dance, debate, publication, nature, and music.

    Fun facts: The campus also hosts a bakery, iron-work unit, wood-work unit, candle-making and handmade paper unit, vocational training center, and book store.

    5. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (1958)

    Popularly known as SPV Lodhi Estate, this is a co-educational school affiliated to the CBSE board, managed by Gujarat Education Society. The school provides a lush green campus, library, medical and transport bus facilities.

    There are two computer labs, an Audio/Visual Room that meets the audio and video requirements for presentations, training workshops, etc. The school has football, basketball, volleyball, and cricket teams, and has produced many top-class cricketers and athletes who have played for the nation or in Ranji teams, including Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi, Gagan Khoda, Deep Dasgupta, Vivek Razdan, and National Record holder high jumper Tejaswin Shankar. SPV has produced several Rhodes Scholars.

    Fun fact: It is the only private school in India that employs Hindi as a medium of instruction in the primary school.

    Notable alumni: Swara Bhaskar, Nandita Das.

    6. The Shri Ram School (1988)

    The Shri Ram School is affiliated to Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The school is a co-educational day school. The school also offers the IB Diploma Program, administered by the International Baccalaureate (IB), and the National Indian Open Schooling (NIOS) Certificate. Facilities include a science laboratory, computer and ICT labs, music and dance rooms, lunchroom, assembly hall, sports facilities, a yoga room, and an all-weather performance area – Shri Manch.

    The campus infrastructure includes the library, the computer and science laboratories, AV room, workshop room, the liberal arts studio, the auditorium, the gymnasium, the medical room, the SEN/NIOS rooms, the kitchens, the lunch area, and staff rooms. Extra-curricular activities such as sport, dance, music, art, clay, drama, and hobby classes are run along with the academic curriculum for further enrichment of students.

    7. Vasant Valley School, Delhi (1990)

    Vasant Valley School, is a co-educational, private day school, affiliated to the CBSE board, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) curriculum, with classes from Nursery to grade 12, located in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. The school is divided into two wings, with an open amphitheater connecting them. The school has well-equipped science laboratories, two libraries, a state-of-the-art Occupational Therapy facility, an auditorium and gymnasium, extensive sports facilities, and a specialized center for the Visual and Performing Arts.

    Fun fact: In 2012, Vasant Valley found a mention in Forbes India’s list of ‘5 Tough Schools to Get Your Kid Into’.

    Notable alumni: Jayati Modi

    8. Delhi Public School, RK Puram (1972)

    Delhi Public School (DPS), RK Puram, is affiliated to the CBSE board and is a co-educational day and boarding private school in South Delhi. In addition, two separate campuses in Vasant Vihar and East of Kailash comprise the Junior or Elementary School Branch, for students from Nursery through grade 5.

    The school offers a world class education in a highly competitive, tech-savvy environment with updated teaching methods. It includes 20 labs with latest facilities, libraries, music center, sports complex, assembly area and well-equipped presentation venues. The school also has one of the first robotics labs at school level. There is a fitness center, basketball court, billiards, swimming pools, yoga center, squash, chess, football, and other sport facilities.

    Fun fact: In May 2017, a team of two students from the school was awarded the Grand Prize at the 2017 NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest.

    Notable alumni: Kunal Bahl, Rohit Bansal, Raghuram Rajan

    9. Sanskriti School, Delhi (1998)

    Sanskriti school is affiliated to the CBSE board and offers education from Nursery to grade 12. The school is run by Civil Services Society, an NGO formed by senior civil servants and their wives, with the spouse of the serving Cabinet Secretary of India as its chairperson.

    The amphitheater built at the very center of the school hosts all assemblies, special ceremonies. The school has a swimming pool that is built to international standards, and a centrally air-conditioned circular building over three floors houses the junior, middle, and senior school libraries. The school also has its own museum and canteen. The lush campus houses various science labs and a playground, and there are many art clubs that provide opportunities for extracurricular activities.

    Fun fact: Sanskriti School annuals hosts the Sanskriti Model United Nations conference witnessing a footfall of 100-500 delegates from across India and its neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

    10. Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan (1953)

    Army Public School is affiliated to the CBSE board and offers classes up to grade 12. There are no formal tests at the primary level. The school follows the CBSE system of Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) and a grading system is used instead of marks. Students are evaluated in scholastic as well as co-scholastic areas. The school provides a world-class education with a progressive, tech-savvy attitude, ICT curriculum integrated into educational practices, while also giving considerable emphasis to sports and arts.

    The 31.5-acre school campus hosts four wings – primary wing, secondary wing, senior secondary wing, and activity wing. The activity wing houses a computer lab, activity rooms for music and dance, bank, MI room, and book and uniform shops. There are separate libraries for senior and junior students, an auditorium, three cafeterias, a science park, a boys’ hostel, a mini golf course, six basketball courts, two tennis courts and one football field. Students are encouraged to engage in debate, drama, music, art, dance and clay modeling, besides educational programs such as seminars and workshops. There is a greater emphasis on sports and students participate in state and national level tournaments. The school promotes sports such as swimming, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, golf, hockey, squash, horse-riding, and shooting.

    Notable alumni: Ritu Beri, Chetan Bhagat.

    Disclaimer: The list is in no particular order and includes only co-ed schools of Delhi. The article solely reflects the personal opinion of the author.

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  • Akshay Ruparelia: Britain’s youngest millionaire at 17

    Akshay Ruparelia: Britain’s youngest millionaire at 17

    Akshay Ruparelia is the founder of doorstep.uk, an online estate agency business that has recently been valued at 12 million pounds, in just over a year. Ruparelia had to balance school work and his business that sells properties for a fraction of the cost that other bigger firms charge.

  • Q&A with Chef Manjunath Mural

    Q&A with Chef Manjunath Mural

    Chef Manjunath Mural’s lifelong dream is to be able to present Indian cuisine in a manner that is relevant to diners from across the globe – to make ‘haute Indian cuisine’ as accepted as haute French dining. He resents the “niche”, “family restaurant” image of Indian cuisine that is so common in big cities around the world, and wishes to showcase the depths of history, tradition, ingredients and techniques that are profoundly ingrained in Indian cuisine.

    As the Executive Chef of Song of India in Singapore, Chef Mural was the first Indian Executive Chef to earn a Michelin star for an Indian restaurant in Southeast Asia. Song of India went on to earn a Michelin star four times in a row with him at the helm. For Chef Mural, earning the Michelin star was just one way of working towards his dream of presenting Indian cuisine at its pinnacle on an international stage. Those who have worked with him are impressed by his passion and his everlasting desire to learn. His dedication to his craft, eye for detail and strong work ethic are qualities that lend to his success in the international arena.

    Born into a family of doctors, Chef Manjunath carved his own path and followed his dreams to reach great heights of success. He recently opened ADDA, a neo-Indian restaurant that presents Indian cuisine in an innovative and approachable manner. We have much to learn from such inspiring individuals, and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to ask him a few questions!

    Q1. When did you first realize that being a chef was your calling? What or who inspired you the most?

    A1. It was during my training at the Taj President where, while training in the Thai restaurant, I met two Thai lady chefs who really inspired me with the feeling that being a chef is a respectful career which requires a great deal of passion. Apart from this, my mother and father both supported my dreams of becoming a chef, even though they were both doctors.

    Q2. What are the character traits that you think are essential in this line of work?

    A2. Humility, passion, hard work, dedication are some traits that are important for a chef. You should try to show your personality through your cuisine. At the same time, there should be a constant desire to learn more, these are some of the things that make a successful chef.

     Q3. How important is it for an aspiring chef to undertake a professional program in culinary arts?

    A3. A professional program helps to learn the basics, the technique of cooking. It proves one’s interest in being a good chef and provides the advantage of adding skills, which are needed to survive in the tough hospitality industry.

    Q4. How was your journey towards achieving your first Michelin star? Were there any hurdles?

    A4. I have always been extremely oriented towards quality and consistency as a chef, without compromise. I also consider myself a good team leader, and I try to keep my team motivated to achieve greater heights. In the end, they are the actual winners. I believe these traits helped me on my journey towards the Michelin star, and I never experienced any hurdles or pressure.

    Q5. How do you cope with the day-to-day pressures of work, especially in the kitchen?

    A5. So much experience, spanning over many years has made me a very patient chef. I hardly ever take on any pressure, rather I enjoy teaching my chefs to make consistency and quality a habit, as I believe these two things make cooking an enjoyable and happy experience.

    Q6. Over the past year, how have things changed in the kitchen on account of Covid?  

    A6. Things have certainly changed over the past year; chefs have given greater importance to delivery platform food, created affordable menus, worked on cost control in terms of kitchen operations. The focus has shifted more to easy, casual dining. The target clients’ budgets have reduced, which has also made chefs turn to sustainable ingredients to help keep costs lower.

    Q7. Apart from culinary training, what skills would you consider important for a budding chef?

    A7. A positive attitude, humility, desire to learn and utmost respect for other chefs, whether they are young trainees or experienced chefs – these are all important in my opinion. Stay away from the trap of overconfidence.

    Q8. What advice would you give to students of the culinary arts who dream of becoming Michelin-star chefs some day?

    A8. Believe in yourself and in what you want to do. You must have the confidence to think differently, without caring about the opinion of others – this will always help to differentiate you from the crowd. Make sure that your basics are strong. 

  • Rules for Professional E-Mail Etiquette

    Rules for Professional E-Mail Etiquette

    “The bottom line is, good communication skills equate to good relationships, a better career path, better mental health, and a better chance for overall success in your career and personal life”

    Employers often list communication skills as their highest priority, above even the qualifications for the job in question. Communication is essential in business to convey ideas, to have good relationships with colleagues and staff, to handle interviews, to create an impact with your presence, to network, the list is endless.

    The bottom line is, good communication skills equate to good relationships, a better career path, better mental health, and a better chance for overall success in your career and personal life.

    Forms of professional communication include written, verbal and non-verbal formal and informal communication. Not surprisingly, e-mail the most frequently used form of written formal communication today.

    Here are a few simple points we need to keep in mind while writing a professional e-mail:

    1. Pay attention to the subject line – Try to keep it concise and clear, and make sure it reflects the actual content of the e-mail. Avoid using ‘Hello’ or ‘FYI’, or other general greetings as subjects.

    2. Always use a proper salutation or greeting – ‘Good morning’, ‘Good day’, ‘Greetings’ or ‘Hello’ are acceptable ways to begin your e-mail; while ‘Hey’ and ‘Hi’ are not appropriate for formal e-mails.

    3. Write a proper introduction – Especially when writing to someone for the first time, it is best to include your full name along with some background information in the first few lines. For example, “Dear Ms. Mathews: My name is Anjala Singh, Editor of Literature Today magazine; I am writing to you regarding…”

    However, in certain cultures (such as Japanese), it is not considered appropriate to introduce yourself directly to a potential contact, such introductions are customarily made by mutually respected third parties. So, it is always best to research the customs of a country you are unfamiliar with, before writing an e-mail or starting any kind of communication.

    “Millions of e-mails are sent across the globe on a daily basis. Yet, a single poorly written e-mail can damage your professional image”

    4. Avoid humour and sarcasm – It is easy to misinterpret e-mail messages if the context is not clear. Humour is culture-specific and can oftentimes confuse or worse, offend the recipient.

    5. Do not use the ‘Reply All’ option unless it is actually needed – Avoid using ‘Reply-to-All’ unless everyone needs to know. For example, when a C-level executive (Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Office, and so forth) or their assistant sends an e-mail to ten staff members requesting volunteers for a project, reply to the sender of the e-mail, not to all the other recipients of the mail. Reply-to-All is a function for ongoing deliberations on a particular subject.

    6. Break up your e-mail into concise points – Use bullet points when possible and stick to the basic information. Do not write an essay when three sentences can do the job.

    7. Before hitting the ‘send’ button, ask yourself, “Does the receiver need all this information,” or, “Could this be better as a conversation over the phone instead?”

    8. Reply promptly – On working days, formal e-mails should ideally be replied to within 24 hours.

    9. Use proper language – Do not use short forms or acronyms, or slang in your e-mail.

    10. Proofread – Check your grammar and spelling before hitting ‘send’.

    Millions of e-mails are sent across the globe on a daily basis. Yet, a single poorly written e-mail can damage your professional image. It would be helpful to remember here that every successful person has superior communication skills. In fact, the most admired and best leaders are the most clear communicators. You can take the first step by improving your e-mail writing skills!

    The article was originally published in Career Ahead April 2021 issue.

  • FAQs on NFTs

    FAQs on NFTs

    “NFTs are digital collectibles, just as people collect physical objects of value such as coins, art, baseball cards. An NFT is a certificate of authenticity for digital assets – which can include art, music, video clips such as sports highlights, or even tweets – validated by blockchain”

    What is NFT?

    NFT is an acronym for Non-Fungible Token. A Non-Fungible Token or NFT is a digital item which can be created, bought, and sold in an open market. NFTs are owned and controlled by individuals and do not require the support or permission of any centralized authority or organization. The key characteristic of an NFT is that it is a distinct proprietary asset and cannot be exchanged for any other NFT, unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptocurrency. Each NFT is a token that is encrypted on the blockchain network.

    NFTs are digital collectibles, just as people collect physical objects of value such as coins, art, baseball cards. An NFT is a certificate of authenticity for digital assets – which can include art, music, video clips such as sports highlights, or even tweets – validated by blockchain.

    What is the difference between NFTs and cryptocurrency?

    Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, is ‘fungible’ or ‘exchangeable’ – meaning that one Bitcoin can be exchanged with another, without making any difference to the owner. This is not the case with NFTs, as each one is unique and irreplaceable. While blockchain was initially developed to support assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, it is has now evolved to enable users to create unique non-fungible assets.

    How do NFTs work?

    Blockchain allows users to create unique crypto assets which are non-fungible, that is, which cannot be replaced. Creators of unique digital artifacts can capture information of relevance to their digital creations and store them as tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, enabled by the ERC721 token standard. The ERC721 was built with the intention of setting the technical standard for non-fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. It tracks ownership and movements of individual tokens in the block, thereby enabling the chain to recognize the non-fungible tokens. The famous CryptoKitties project was the first to use the ERC721 technical standard.

    What is the reason behind its current popularity?

    NFTs entered the mainstream in 2017 with a project called CryptoKitties, a virtual game based on blockchain in which players could adopt, raise, and trade virtual cats. 2018 and 2019 saw huge growth in the NFT ecosystem, with NFT marketplaces flourishing and trade volumes growing. Earlier this year, the sale of digital artwork “Everydays: The First 5,000 Days”, by digital artist Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, at Christie’s Auction House for a record USD 69.3 million was the first ever sale of a digital artwork by a major auction house.

    One likely factor behind the rising popularity of NFTs may be the increase in recreational investing during the pandemic. As most such exchanges accept cryptocurrencies, this meets the demand of individual investors with stockpiles of cryptocurrency who are looking for entertaining avenues to spend it on, which also have the potential to help create money in the future.

    What are the benefits of NFT?

    The historic auction of Beeple’s digital artwork was not only a landmark moment for all digital artists, and those involved with NFTs, but also has huge implications for all kinds of artists who are creating today. Crypto art can finally resolve the problem of artists getting paid, as NFTs can be programmed to pay royalty to the creator every time the collectible is sold.

    Though it has come far from its early days, the NFT market is still growing and evolving. The next year is likely to see much innovation and further developments. NFT has immense potential to create value in the physical world as well, by setting clear and secure ownership standards. The removal of intermediaries makes the option of transacting with NFTs desirable, affordable, and fast.

    Where can someone create, buy, and sell NFTs?

    Firstly, a creator would have to decide which blockchain they would use to create their NFTs. Each blockchain has its distinct NFT token standard, compatible wallet services and marketplaces. To mint your own NFT artwork, videos or music on the Ethereum blockchain (which currently has the largest NFT ecosystem) you would need an Ethereum wallet that supports the ERC-721 token standard, and USD 50-100 in ether (ETH). Thereafter, one can choose from a number of platforms / marketplaces – such as OpenSea, Rarible, Mintable – which allow the user to connect their wallet and upload any image or file that is to be turned into to turn into an NFT. Some other popular NFT marketplaces are SuperRare, VIV3, BakerySwap, and NFT ShowRoom.

  • Making the Most of Online Learning

    Making the Most of Online Learning

    In a relatively short time-span, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed education in ways that we could not have imagined possible in such a time frame. From preschoolers to undergraduates, students of all ages have had to get used to seeing their teachers on a screen – attending virtual classrooms, submitting projects online and even taking tests online.

    Online classes have been a part of our reality for roughly three decades now, making learning accessible to a greater number of people than ever before. With improvements in technology and connectivity, the market for online learning has grown phenomenally in the last few years. No longer limited only to higher education, it was gradually being incorporated into curriculum universally. As advances in online learning techniques made online feedback and assessments a reality, online learning became a two-way dialogue rather than a static, didactic method of teaching; and when the pandemic struck, it became a necessity almost instantly. 

    Teachers and students have had to adapt and quickly learn to take online classes effectively and efficiently. The learning curve has been steep for everyone involved, but the upside is too great to ignore – education would be at a standstill if technology had not progressed enough to enable online classes.

    There are some challenging aspects of learning online; and here we have compiled is a list of things to help improve your experience.

    • Maintain a routine, as you would for regular classes – wake up on time, have breakfast and shower before you settle down to attend your classes. Treat your online class as any regular in-person class, as far as possible.
    • Be on time, or preferably early – Plan ahead and familiarize yourself with the software tools that will be used for your online classes beforehand. Learn how to mute your audio and control your camera, how to raise your hand or signal to indicate you wish to speak, how to send a private message; these are part of basic etiquette for online sessions of any kind.
    • Be mindful of what others can see and hear – ensure that the background is appropriate in case your camera is switched on during the class. Make sure that others in the vicinity are aware that you are attending a live class.
    • Create a dedicated study area – This can help you focus on your studies when it’s time for class and help disconnect when it’s not. Try to choose a quiet spot with minimum external distractions. Make sure it’s not too comfortable (like a bed or cushy sofa). Keep your books and stationary at hand; stay organized to avoid wasting time while the class is on.
    • Take notes – You may think that all the information is available online and you can skip this; however, the purpose of taking notes is not merely to record the class, but to put the material in your own words, thereby boosting retention and comprehension.
    • Avoid multi-tasking – distractions and switching between tasks can cause mistakes, it tires you out and hampers proper retention.    It can be tempting to get some other work done while listening to your lecture, but that’s likely to backfire. Research shows that focusing on one activity at a time increases productivity.
    • Make a note of deadlines and test dates; check your email regularly to stay aware of any possible changes in the schedule for classes, projects or tests. It’s easy to miss things when you are at home if you do not have a daily reminder to check your messages.
    • Be prepared for connectivity issues – Try to optimize your internet connection; hard wiring to your router is the best option. If you are on WiFi, sit as close to the router as possible. Do not panic if you lose your internet connection. You can also keep your smartphone as a backup.
    • Have realistic expectations – With everyone thrust into this situation with no advance notice, teachers and students alike have had to learn on the job. Remember that teaching this way is most likely a new experience for your instructors as well. Be patient, and don’t panic at minor setbacks.
    • Get to know your teachers – If possible, introduce yourself via email. It’s nice to have a personal connection with your instructors, and if there are no in-person classes, it may be difficult for them to see you as anything but a name on a screen. Making an effort to connect with them can only be an advantage. Ask questions and speak up in class when it is appropriate to do so. In case you fall behind or need help, ask for it. Asking for help shows a genuine interest in learning, rather than simply attending and passing a class.
    • Connect with your fellow classmates – Get to know the other students in your class. Exchanging notes can be helpful to let you know whether others are on the same track or facing similar issues as you. Creating an online study group with other interested classmates can be useful to resolve queries and keep track of deadlines. Being in sync with classmates can prevent you from slacking off. Connecting with others also helps break monotony and reduce stress.

    The world is waiting to go back to ‘normal’ and to see the end of this pandemic. But, in the meantime, there’s a lot to be thankful for in terms of technology and innovation that has allowed life and education to continue unabated.

    The article was originally published in Career Ahead January 2021 issue.