Focus India proudly presents the first part of the Alumni Stories. Due to a problem with the host of our website, we were not able to upload the story yesterday, as promissed. Therefore, we decided to share two stories with you rather than one.
For this first part, you have the opportunity to meet Corinne Räz and Livia Kistler who were both in the project team of Focus India 2008. Enjoy!
From left to right: Corrine Räz, Livia Kistler
Corinne Raez, Project Manager 2008
Responsible for Business Development at INTEGRA
Thinking back, what are your memories of 2008’s project?
It was quite intense; it was a lot of work and during the onsite trip, I hardly ever slept. But everybody was so supportive at the places we could visit. I remember how at first everything smelled like curry but after a while we didn’t even notice it anymore… Who knows, maybe we suddenly smelled like curry ourselves!
Which valuable job-skills did you acquire from being a project manager?
I learned a lot about project management and certainly improved my organizational and networking skills. I gained experience in approaching people, since I went to several business events and tried to make contacts there.
Any tips for our delegation?
You have to be flexible and make the best out of whatever happens.
How did Focus India influence your career?
Focus India helped me finding a topic for my bachelor thesis. Through the thesis, I then got in contact with INTEGRA and started working for the company only a few days after graduation! I wouldn’t be where I am now without the project.
Livia Kistler, Project Manager 2008
Junior Consultant at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
Thinking back, what are your memories of 2008’s project?
All our friends told us, we were working 24/7. But it was worth it: we met interesting people from the business world and I was impressed how open we were always welcomed at the companies we visited. Also, the gap between rich and poor was astonishing – I wasn’t quite prepared for that.
Which valuable job-skills did you acquire from being a project manager?
I learned how it is to lead people. It was difficult to find the role of a project manager and suddenly leading a delegation, when before we were all students on the same level. We had people from different programmes and therefore different interests on board, so I learned how to somehow handle all the different needs the delegates had.
Any tips for our delegation?
Don’t take everything so serious. Of course, everything has to be planned and scheduled in detail, but usually these things don’t go as planned.
How did Focus India influence your career?
I got in contact with the Swiss Indian Chamber of Commerce through the project, and ended up writing my bachelor thesis for them. The contacts I made during that phase then helped me for my career!