Prachi was only few days old in the Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow campus and she had to face one of her biggest fears- public speaking. “I was nervous. It was my first presentation and I could feel my sweaty palms and dry mouth. I started and ended it within two minutes and I stood on the stage, completely blank and frozen,” articulates Prachi while talking about the most embarrassing moment from her Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow’s journey. “But, honestly, that day taught me a lot,” adds the 23 years old who stood tall in front of the interview panel of Deloitte recently and returned home with an offer letter declaring her latest recruitment by the company. .

Prachi is about to join Deloitte from May 27, 2018. Her 2 years of PGDM taught her various life lessons but the most important of them all were- “Leadership skills, strategic thinking and presentation skills,” elaborates Prachi. In fact, it was these three qualities that held her in good stead in front of the Deloitte panel. At Jaipuria Institute of Management, students are trained to stand ready for the professional world, from the first day they set their foot on campus. .

Prachi recalls- “we were tested and vetted by our faculty individually prior to placements started in full-swing in the Lucknow campus. When my one to one interaction day arrived, I was bombarded by faculty with questions for almost 30-40 minutes and I was out-of-breath, exasperated and all over, thinking of the answers. In fact, even the easiest answers were eluding me and it was then that I realized I had to prepare more.” .

It was 8pm of a certain evening in March and few students were called in the conference room. Prachi was one of them. She had just finished her final round with Deloitte and with multiple apprehensions, she took her steps towards the room, fearing- “I might not have made it through.” However, she was wrong. All I could think when my name was read out was about my mentor. I couldn’t thank him enough or helping me whatever little I could, so far.” So what does this young girl intend to do with her first salary? .

“I want to spend it on my mother,” says Prachi with a broad grin on her face.