Your career is not just about making a living; it’s about making a life. And after twenty years, look at the beautiful life you’ve built… that is how i see my 2 decades of professional life.
I remember my first job was a contractual position as a social research surveyor for just 15 days. Later, the company was merged with another large corporation. Later, I joined an NGO involved in Joint Forest Management. I developed a keen interest in forest management and social sector development. Hence, I joined IIFM’s MRM programme to enhance my skills in forest management. After passing out, I continued to work with IIFM as a Project Research Associate for 5 years at the International Centre for Community Forestry (ICCF), which has now shut down. Even the MRM programme, after some years, was discontinued but revived later on. Even the community forestry and the joint forest management programmes have declined over the years. I wanted to pursue my career in academics and was seriously considering getting a PhD degree. However, my early career days were not very progressive for either the organisation I joined or myself.
After publishing many articles and research papers, I left academics and turned a new leaf to join the corporate world. However, I maintained my focus on the social sector as a Programme Officer with ITC Limited, working on MIS and research for its Corporate Social Investments programmes. However, I was also tasked with taking additional charge of managing CSR projects for West Bengal, Odisha, and the North Eastern regions. This stint was the highlight of my career as I developed a flair for project execution. Based on my performance, I was promoted to Programme Manager during the probation period itself, which is almost unheard of in ITC. I continued to serve at ITC for nearly 10 years at various locations.
I moved from ITC to gain exposure to the consulting world and joined EY as a Senior Consultant but I soon realised that consulting and operations are not quite the same. So, I left EY and returned to operations as the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Bandhan Bank Limited, based in Kolkata.
The only distinction in my current position is that I had one or two bosses earlier, but now I have all of the board’s bosses, making it a little challenging to navigate. My ability to walk a thin line has improved as I have learned to humble myself and let go of all my bossy traits.
As Head of CSR, I also have the additional charge of ESG and Sustainability performance and reporting.
Location: Kolkata
Linkedin: : linkedin.com/in/sarvashish-roy-44080925
Q. Tell us about your School and College before you came to IIFM. How was your experience there? And how did IIFM happen?
A. I am a product of mixed schooling. My early education was at a school managed by Tamil Brahmins, so from the primary section itself, I was exposed to Sanskrit prayers, which I still remember. Later, I went to a convent school, where I learned about the Bible and Christ. During that period, Mother Teresa was a huge influence in my life. I also happened to meet her in person when she visited our school. Later on, I finished schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya of an Air Force Base, where I was incredibly moved by seeing fighter jets. In fact, on my school campus, there was a World War II hunter jet, neatly placed, where we used to hang out during lunch break.
My graduation and post-graduation were in Anthropology, a subject that IIFMites are well aware of, but it is hardly known as a graduating subject outside the IIFM or IAS circle.
I joined the MRM programme in the Class of 2003-04, which for the first time took freshers (earlier candidates had to have 3 years of work experience to qualify for the MRM programme). This was also the first batch which filled the full strength of 20 students. Therefore, the batch consisted of senior students having more than 10 years of work experience and many freshers. But we all still gelled well, mainly thanks to Muralinathan (we called him Murli). It must be challenging for a teacher to teach someone who already knows and may be at a much higher level due to work experience, while also teaching the same material to a student hearing it for the first time!
Q. How has your experience been in your current organisation? What areas have you been working in here?
A. My current role is quite fulfilling. As head of CSR, one of my tasks is to apprise the CSR Committee and the Board on the CSR progress. According to the Rules, CSR is a Board-driven process, so there has been extensive reading in Strategic CSR to guide the Board on appropriate programmes.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your career?
A. Making a difference in someone’s life can be a source of immense personal joy, even if it’s completely unknown.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Yes, very much. My horizons were broadened at IIFM, where I learned that being a social worker involves significant management and a professional approach but it looks like the pleasure of doing good (kidding)!
I was good at researching methodology and statistics. Later, during my entire career, it helped me a lot.
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 influences have been my father and my Bosses, who have guided me to avoid taking shortcuts and always being true to myself. This weakness persists and I still succumb to it from time to time.
So, my advice is the same: be true to yourself and don’t outsource morality, believing that cheating is acceptable until someone catches you.
Q. How was your journey in IIFM?
A. Well, being an MRM student, there was always an underlying feeling of being a second-rate student compared to PFM students. But having said that, the overall journey was thrilling and life-transforming. We had joys, fun, stress from assignments, late nights, and all the things in between. I hated the assignment, not because the time was pressing, but mainly because the faculty hardly discussed the assignments and provided any feedback. Once, I remember completing a common individual assignment given to the entire class. I circulated it to my classmates, saying “Change the cover page and submit it.” Later, it was caught not because the faculty read the assignment content, but because Prof. CSR at that time used to track students’ email accounts and saw my email to all the students!!
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. I was one of the top 5 students, but I regret some of my choices. Otherwise, I could have at least been in second place. I got a nickname of “Professor”; some of my classmates still call me that. Mainly, my prior exposure to JFM, Anthropology, and other novel subjects gave me an edge in understanding the concepts, and after the classes were over, I would explain them to my friends 🙂
Q. What are your favourite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Being a Professor who never sleeps in his own assigned room! It was really a pain point for my roommate, who was always told he could discuss lessons with me anytime, because I shared the room with him, even though he was the least taught student.
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. My biggest takeaway is Anshu (my wife), who was my classmate at IIFM.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. My best buddy was Satyan; we clicked from day one. We even cried when we were leaving IIFM for good. There are no exciting or thrilling memories or mischief memories with him, but the comfort of perfectly boring companionship with all its acceptance.
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. Have fun, and a lot while taking care of academics. It will be your life-changing experience.
Q. What would be your advise for recent graduates who look for changing their sector after working for couple of years?
A. I am a little conservative when it comes to career guidance and advice, suggesting that you stick to your job and overcome your learning gaps by persevering.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. All breaks, including lunch, are at the desk while working, and there is a lot of reading, negotiating, and compliance filing.
Q. And how about weekends?
A. I like to read books a lot, I am an avid reader of fiction.
Q. Favourite books, movies, authors?
A. Favourite book – Harry Potter series. Movie – Matrix series. Author – Amish.
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 have been invited by the faculty for guest lectures on sustainability and would like to engage with students.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? When was the last time you visited IIFM?
A. A lot has changed since our time. The faculty is not the same. The infrastructure is more developed.
Last i visited was in 2015.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Bhaskar Mitra, Seyed Faiz, Meera Iyer ( I met all 3 in IBRAD when they had come for interning, I was at school ), Ramnarayan ( I met in Munsiari during my ICCF trip) & Ritu Bharadwaj.