Experience in India will be key to rise up the ladder in MNCs

Time was when the susidiaries of global companies operating in India would pick their best managers and send them for 2-3 year stints to the parent company in the US or Europe.  The wheel has now turned full circle, with India postings now becoming highly desirable for foreign executives. Expatriate salaries are still very attractive and include an element of “hardship allowances”, but I doubt that too many MNC managers who are serious about their careers will now look at India as a “hardship posting”.

At a session on strategy and leadership that I attended earlier today, one of the speakers was a professor from INSEAD. She made a very interesting statement- that, to me, represents another “chak de India” situation.  She said that 10 years ago, her students (especially those from India) sought her assistance in finding them suitable jobs in Europe and the US. These days, because many of them finish at the top of their class, many get good breaks in the west. So what? She went on to say that most of her students of Indian origin (and a small but steadily increasing handful of others) are now keen to work in India, often at the start of their careers.

Some Indian companies have developed structured internship programs to attract fresh graduates to India and give them an opportunity to immerse themeselves in the culture of our country and company- with the expectation that they can be excited to join as full-time employees when they complete their 2-3 month projects.

We as a nation have a terrific opportunity to get ahead. And the generations currently in the productive workforce have an unparalleled opportunity to contribute directly to this process of development.

To all of them I say- carpe diem (“seize the day!”). Chak de India!