Awani Sarogi is the graduate of PFM 2002-2004. She is currently leading growth & transformation for US Pharma in TCS. In her current role, she helps Pharma clients in finding the right technology solutions towards driving various goals such as process optimization and efficiency, greater business value, better customer connections, etc.
Earlier, she handled different roles in TCS, geographically spread, and across different business units. She has been in TCS for a decade now.
She has also worked in various esteemed firms in the industry such as Genpact, Capgemini, Datamonitor, and Deloitte & Touche. During these stints, she has been in Research & Analytics roles supporting Life Sciences and other industries.
She started her career at ATREE based in New Delhi and managed the PlanetWork program under which ATREE ran environment education modules for school children in collaboration with different GoI and Delhi Government Ministries/Institutions.
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. I have thoroughly enjoyed the professional journey and my career progression so far. When I started my career I had a vision of the type of role I wanted to handle. With some strategic changes, time, and effort I have been able to get closer to the role. Though it has been like a moving target because, the technologies, industry landscape and so much more evolved over the close to two decades that I have been working.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. I consider my career trajectory as having 3 key milestones:
– First was when I joined ATREE post-IIFM. This was a thoroughly enriching role as I got exposed to the professional rigor and my professional strengths.
– Second was when I joined Deloitte as it marked my entry into the corporate world. It was a very different experience from ATREE and a much wider landscape I learned a lot in this role and it helped me with a steady entry into the industry.
-Third one would be when I won one of my biggest ever client logos as part of my Consulting role in TCS. This win came less than a year after I joined TCS and helped me win the trust of the leadership.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. I get to do some of the things that I enjoy, like solutions for a new business case with specific client challenges and then taking it back to the client. I also enjoy the opportunity of working with multiple industry players including start-ups in myriad, fascinating technology areas.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. IIFM provided me with a good foundation of professional skills that have helped me throughout my journey. The rigor and discipline that I have to bring to work today are what I learned in IIFM.
It’s also interesting to note that after all these years of working, now, I see more value in so many courses that I undertook in IIFM. Statistics, Marketing, and the tenets of sustainability that I picked in IIFM have had a lot more bearing on my job over the last decade than before. Incidentally, I also handled a project for a Japanese Pharma client where I could draw upon my learnings in Anthropology at IIFM.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers? What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles?
A. I have always had a vision of an ideal role for myself and that is what I have always chased. In my first job at ATREE, Manoj Dabas, an IIFM senior, had once said to me, “don’t chase money, chase work, money will automatically follow” and that is what I have tried to follow always.
For others who are aspiring for similar roles, I would say that there are 3 imp things to follow –
(1) Be well-researched and well-prepared for the role you aspire to have in terms of knowing the industry, sector, and technology.
(2) Network as well as you can because, after a certain stage, we can grow and move across the industry only with our network.
(3) Be confident of our skills, IIFM has equipped us well!
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. The midnight maggi and chai breaks, Amarkantak trip, trip to IFRI Dehradun.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, and alumni? Anything else!!) or takeaway from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. In hindsight, I wish I had taken more effort in statistics because that would have immensely helped me today!
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitment toward its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, and students?
A. I will be happy to support you with anything needed by the current batches and Faculty.
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. I have been out of touch with the Institute for a while so will not be able to comment but I think initiatives like this and the emphasis that is put now on networking is new and also immensely helpful in Institute branding.