Kanchan’s professional life has circled around people management. Starting his career post IIFM, he oversaw a team of 200 field staff and engaged with numerous landowners, local politicians, and government officials to cultivate a few thousand acres of pulpwood plantations for the paper industry. He later served as a Director at KPMG in the GCC, where he managed people and change consulting projects. Later he left consulting to continue working in various sectors within corporate teams. This focus on people management has been a consistent theme throughout Kanchan’s career.
Currently, he leads the development of Human Capital Strategy and Operations at the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, playing a key role in advancing the economic diversification agenda of Qatar, a State keen to move from its heavy dependence on oil & gas resources.
Kanchan firmly believes that no matter how demanding your job may be, it’s essential to dedicate time to elders, family, friends, and to personal health and wellness. These relationships and looking after oneself are vital for a fulfilling and successful life.
LinkedIn: Kanchan Ghoshal
Insta: kanchanghoshal2023
FB: kanchan.ghoshal.50
Q. How has your journey from IIFM been so far?
A. IIFM was my first professional course and built the essential foundations of my professional life. Whatever I did thereafter is anchored to this. It’s been a great journey so far of learning, successes, lifelong relationships and I am looking forward to so much more ahead. The presence and positive role played by my wife Antara (Tania) and two beautiful daughters Niharika and Nayanika all along have been the most important reason and also source of inspiration.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. So many to list. The most important is to sometimes simply rely on your instincts and continuously seek to stay out of your comfort zone. Professional milestones are common, dedicating time to physical fitness, wellness, health and diet along with friends and family time is very important. I have been taking steps in this direction, which no doubt also helps sustain professional development and success, constituting the most significant milestones so far in my life journey.
Q. How has your experience been in your current Organization? What areas have you been working here?
A. I joined this organization with a focus on developing and implementing various Human Capital strategy initiatives at my employer and a few other entities we support; over time my role has expanded to managing Human Capital Operations which has been significant and so useful for me get a bottom-up view on what kind of strategy really works. The entire effort has since been on pragmatic, practical ‘walk the talk’ efforts to leverage and enhance Human Capital to deliver on the lofty National Vision of the country we work in and in the organizations, I work with.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. Difficult to choose between my time as a fresh IIFM Grad acquiring land, engaging locals and developing large-scale pulpwood plantations and later as a Practice Head in KPMG leading a People & Change consulting team. Common to both was the excitement, dealing with extremely complex situations successfully and enjoying the work so much that achievement of professional goals and targets was just incidental.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. All along. A world class course and access to the best possible resources and infrastructure helped build the foundation I have referred to above for all that I have done & achieved so far.
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. My biggest role models were my parents, roles later taken over by my family. My advice to freshers would be to maintain strong family anchors and see how the blessings you have catapult you to success and satisfaction. The reason I mention this is that with a growing population of senior citizens, fast paced geographically dispersed and high-pressure work environments often inadvertently take our thoughts and commitments to a different direction and it may sometimes be late when we are able to stabilize that balance.
Professionally, Stephen Covey’s teachings on 7 Habits (may sound cliche) have influenced me the most and I recommend a quick refresher for all.
Not to forget, there have been several seniors, peers, and team members without whom I would have failed so many times – I recommend keeping in touch with such people all your lives no matter where they or you move on to!
Q. How did you decide to go for higher studies post IIFM? And how was the experience?
A. After IIFM, I worked for 4 years in the paper industry growing pulpwood plantations. The industry was slowing down and there was dumping by Indonesia based paper manufacturers leading to further stress. Early days of my career, and with people management being the most important of job in these 4 years, I was keen to leverage this capability that I acquired at the grassroots. Hence, I applied for and was selected by XLRI for their MBA specializing in HR management. My first job from campus in Andersen to join a large power sector reforms project in Andhra Pradesh would not have materialized if my IIFM and post IIFM experience was not part of the CV then. Interestingly the Andersen leader who selected me from campus then was the elder brother of an IIFM 91-93 senior so he knew well on who he was picking!
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Residential life on campus and the field trips within MP and elsewhere (Dehradun, Odisha etc.), the bonding, times spent with seniors, batchmates and juniors to build lifelong relationships, makes me so nostalgic as I share this.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. The close bonding with seniors, batchmates and juniors in residential life; the close interactions and familial connections with faculty – being a small batch everyone knew each other well. Last but not the least, a world class academic programme & standards and wide recognition made it a privilege for me to be a part of this Programme.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Having done my bachelors in Odisha and being the only Odia speaking person in my batch, I had a special connection with Suvendu Pati, Debashish Mishra and Ranjit Panda in my senior batch and Saroj Nanda from the junior batch. In fact, I ended up as colleagues with all of them post IIFM (except Ranjit). Sujoy Banerjee was & is my bong connection.
So many close bonds which continue even today with my own batchmates that listing their names would mean risking missing out someone. However, Anish Kumar deserves a special mention for more reasons than one.
I always had a special affection for Director Ravi Chandran who was my senior as well (93 batch). Prof PK Biswas and Director JB Lal were my favourite faculty members, and it is a pleasure to stay in touch with Prof Biswas till today!
I broke my foot while dancing (rather doing a ‘jumping high’ competition with K Ramnarayan) at the campus New Year party in Dec 1992; moving around campus & beyond with a plaster on for the next couple of months going through the motions, classes, summer placement process, movies & outings cannot be forgotten, the bone never quite healed, but I (with no regrets) just couldn’t afford to miss out on the daily IIFM action then!!
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. Focus on the learning, relationships and make the most of the opportunities on offer – these times/moments will never return!
Q. Also what would be your advise for recent graduates who look for changing their sectorm after working for couple of years?
A. Don’t rush. Growth may appear slowest when you are starting your career but remember the best constructions are a result of a lot of work under the ground building a strong and deep foundation. Focus on the learning & experience. We are now 30 + years out of campus so you can rely on this wisdom.
At the same time, stay connected (nothing compares to authentic networking) and do be on the lookout for opportunities for sure, starting with those within your own organization!
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. When I was in management consulting, I used to practically work 24 x 7 and enjoyed it for the learning and results. Have moved on now to jobs where I am focused and delivering to have a few ‘big rocks’ sorted each day and have found some work-life balance to be with family & friends plus other hobbies and pursuits including wellness (having grown older).
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. I love playing golf. Any workouts, yoga and stretching I do is inspired by how it will help me play golf better! And traveling is another thing which makes me happy.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. Most recent ones (easier to remember)
Movie: A Million Miles Away
Books: Atomic Habits, Rich Dad Poor Dad, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Who Will Cry When You Die (Robin Sharma)
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. I am happy to join Zoom/Google meet sessions with groups of IIFM alumni or current students by myself or as part of panels to share my two cents on anything they wish to know. Besides that I have stepped in once in a while to support the alumni initiatives through small contributions and will surely continue that.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. Very difficult since I haven’t been to campus since convocation in 1995.
However we were Gen X and the current batch would be Gen Z folks, technology has advanced big time and hence would anticipate that everything at IIFM would be more hi-tech.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Not sure who else is left from our batch as almost everyone has an interesting journey. Look out for Prashant Reddy Vanga, Suryanarayana (Ambani International school), Aman Gupta (CHRO Tata Comm), Rajesh Gupta (topper in my batch),Manish Verma and Manika Govil.