During our lifetime, we meet some very special people known as teachers. While most of them influence us in a formal setup, i.e. schools and colleges, some teach us lessons in life and still others leave an indelible mark.
With growing digitalization and a shift in the educational sector, teachers have an arduous task of upgrading themselves. The current pandemic when educational institutes are shut but education is still being delivered has shown how teachers have swiftly adapted. Digital transformation is being rapidly recognized as a sustainable strategy for the long-term growth of academic institutions.
Teachers must learn updated technologies. Keeping themself ready for the technological changes alongside working in their routine and maintaining work-life balance is another challenging task for them. However, these tasks can be achieved when one is passionate about teaching. Someone passionate enough like Harshada Kshirsagar, who knew she wanted to teach ever since her school days.
After her graduation in Computer Science, Harshada started her career by teaching IT and Computer subjects whilst pursuing her post-graduation degree. She started getting good responses for her teaching skills and began getting offers from post-graduation colleges full time and as well as a visiting faculty. She then joined the Pune Institute of Business Management(PIBM) and currently serves the institute as the HOD of the Examination Department.
Growing with PIBM
The AICTE approved, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course is the flagship program at PIBM Pune. PIBM also offers a Master in Business Administration (MBA) course in affiliation to Savitribai Phule Pune University. It has been accredited by NAAC and has received many prestigious awards. For instance, the “Most Innovative Learning Practices 2018” by Asia’s Greatest Brand & Leader 2018. It has also been awarded as the “Best Emerging Institute in India” by BBC Knowledge. Recently, PIBM also received the “Certificate of Membership” from MHRD’s Innovation.
Whilst at PIBM, Harshada has conducted a Management Development Program for Essar Steel Company’s Management team which includes Head HR, VPs, AVPs, Managers of Essar Steel on IT tools. She has also conducted a Management Development Program for Indo Schottle company’s technical team for advanced IT tools.
Drawing Inspiration
As someone whose goal is to never stop learning and keep increasing her competencies, Harshada draws her energy from her students. She feels it is the students who keep her motivated and inspires her to do more each day. An aspiring PhD scholar, she is also inspired by her idol, Lt Col Dr. Jagadish P. Khadilkar (Retd), who was the Dean of PIBM when she joined the institute in 2008.
Under his guidance, Harshada started her career and he taught everything from an effective style of work, professional communication, records handling, to event management, and more. She says, “Along with professional guidance he always guided me to be a good human being and a perfect Indian Civilian. I will never forget his contribution to shaping my life. I will always try my best to be like him.”
Overcoming the High and Low Tides
Ups and downs are a part of everyone’s life. What matters is how we sail through those. Sharing such phases, Harshada says, “I have always taken all phases of my life as learning but still one lowest phase was in Jan 2011 where I had to handle a very big event of Convocation single handily. PIBM was in a growing stage and I was very young to manage such a big event for the first time. I did not sleep for 3 days and nights consecutively when the work was at its highest pick. I worked really hard and finally, the ceremony went well, though not as good as I had expected. From that phase, I learned a lot and all future Convocations I did were very successful.”
Hard work pays, always. Harshada recently got awarded by PIBM for “All-Rounder Personality” in Feb 2019 and feels that was the most remarkable and memorable moment of her life. She shares, “Alongside teaching, handling the Examination Department, I also take care of other responsibilities at PIBM which has made me worthy in achieving the award by our Chairman Mr, Raman Preet, Principal Director Mr. M. K. Tamuly, CEO of Mahindra and Mahindra Finance Mr. Ramesh Iyer and other dignitaries.”
What lies Ahead
So far in her journey, Harshada has learned that one needs to maintain the ethical system and value system of own. Carrying forward her learning and her enthusiasm to set and achieve goals, she now prepares herself for her goal to obtain Doctorate. She elaborates, “Being a double post-graduate (M.Sc. Computer Science and MBA HR) now it’s time to get one more feather in the cap. I see myself in a top leadership position not only nationally but also globally.”
