Rajiv Manocha’s (PFM 2005-07) current role revolves around credit decisions for Sovereign/FI/NBFI counter-parties working at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in Abu Dhabi. This typically involves looking at credit needs and structuring credit facilities addressing client requirements while optimizing returns for the bank. Given credit limits are proposed across global counter-parties, he needs to track a lot of geopolitics and global macroeconomics on a regular basis in his role.
Email – [email protected]
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. The journey so far has been largely balanced evenly with ups and downs. Being an engineer with little functional expertise across finance, p/l and b/s was largely an academic experience to me. ICICI Bank was like the first temple of learning where the academic understanding evolved to take the shape of practical/functional expertise. Thankfully, I have always been blessed with great team members/friends who make the journey smooth across the rough edges. Though ICICI was great in terms of learning, it was a highly demanding institution resulting in some unmet expectations vs. your inputs.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Frankly, key Milestones are yet to come. Otherwise, moving from being a full-time student at IIFM to ICICI Bank was a key milestone and also the decision to leave ICICI Bank. Though leaving ICICI was difficult, leaving my 2nd employer wasn’t and so was the case with 3rd and so-on. Key Learnings for me across my limited experience is that one needs to be a very fast learner – not just for advancement but also for survival. The difficulty these days is largely to filter and navigate through the massive information overload that one is subjected to. Also, stay humble, open to change, and do your best to help your friends/team members even if it is not reciprocated.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. Though financial rewards are great and loved by all, appreciation by key stakeholders (not line-manager) is something that’s more satisfying to me personally.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. IIFM definitely has a large role to play in making me what I am today. Some of the most wonderful people I know today are from the institute and a great inspiration in multiple ways. Like the saying that “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”, your professional-life/thought process is also some complex average/permutation of the institutions you attend.
Q. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. IIFM Graduates should not restrict themselves to any specific roles. Be proactive, passionate about your domain, open to learn, and be open to talk to people at all levels.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Many actually. Right from unending rants/speeches in the GBMs to awesome adventure activities from the nature club to the one-night crash course before the D-Day to the volleyball matches and the Field Trip/OT1 etc.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, alumni.. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. Friends and faculty.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Birthday celebrations were something to remember at IIFM. I had a reputation for my high-kicks for the birthday boys and was amply rewarded on my turn. Remember Satya from our batch was carried to the pool and had a nice dip in the mineral water.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Understand your strengths and work towards developing the right attitude. Develop strong lifelong connect with faculty, alumni, and batchmates.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. My day starts early around 6’ish with office reporting at 7:45 AM. Always try to close by 5’ish though 6 is the usual timeline. The work requires going through reports, financials, legal docs, discussions with business units to arrive at some consensus, etc.
Q. You would like share about your typical weekends.. Hobbies.. Family..
A. Relax and outdoors with family. Finish any pending housework etc.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors, ..
A. I have to read a lot given the nature of my work. Outside of work, I am reading mostly about capital markets and organic farming these days so favorites are all from that world including books by Jesse Livermore, Jack Schwager, Ray Dalio, Subhash Palekar. Otherwise love to read Premchand, Paulo Coelho, Khalid Hosseini, Robert Ludlum.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A. Happy to be involved in initiatives where I can help current students on the basis of my experience.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. Frankly, I am not very much in touch with the current batch/activities/event being organized. Though the initiatives to develop strong alumni and have a continual dialogue with stakeholders at various levels is a very positive change.
Q. Any suggestions on who from our alumni you want to get profiled/interviewed here?