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| Alumnus Mr. Hari Krishnan |
With
his background in hospitality industry, Mr. Hari Krishnan joined SCMS Cochin School
of Business in a bid to boost his career prospects. The move paid off as he was
recruited on campus by Spencer in the year 2007. He started off with the
company as a Retail Management Trainee and worked his way up to be the
Assistant Manager, Marketing, in just a few years’ time. But above all, he had
gathered rich experience in the dynamic and extremely competitive retail
industry, which has led him to bag the position of the Assistant Manager,
Marketing with Landmark Group.
Mr.
Krishnan has worked with the company for the past one year. Looking back on his
journey filled with years of hard work and dedication he says, “Before joining
SCMS Cochin I worked as a Banquet Manager in Kochi besides Dominos Pizza. I am
happy I went to the institute because it got me placed with Spencer when the
food and beverage industry was booming. Since then, there was no looking back.”
Today,
Mr. Krishnan is a seasoned professional in the retail industry and has seen it
evolve over the past few years. Sharing his insights on the industry he says,
“Since I have worked in Food sector I can tell you that if you don’t show
output, you won’t succeed. Retail has its pros and cons; the most important
thing is investing in the right location because that’s something the customer
pays attention too. Reaching people through public media remains the key to
success as well.”
Mr.
Krishnan believes that it is an industry where you can invest and grow. However
today, many in the industry are not investing; trying to maintain what they
have put in. That’s what makes him think that it could be the right time for
Retail Banking. He also has useful advice for those who want to enter the
industry. “Retail is not a white collar job because you have to get your hands
dirty. But there are unlimited opportunities as you can take up any function
from marketing to finance and operations,” he adds.
Ask
Mr. Krishnan about the major benchmarks in his career so far, the avid learner
is quick to mention, “Managing the 22,000 sq ft Spencer store in Chennai, which
was doing Rs. 26 lakhs average selling per day was a big high. But more than
that I appreciate the biggest learning I had there; I was taught to say NO. It
is a learning you will need in every industry because at one point or another,
you will have to say NO to clients or customers. If you keep saying yes and
don’t deliver, then it’s a big sign of failure.”
He
has definitely taken his learning on board, which he uses in his current job
profile in merchandising, for the Dubai based MNC. Mr. Krishnan handles Kerala
marketing operations from the office in Kochi. He remains as passionate about
the retail industry as he was during his time at SCMS Cochin where he first
realized his calling. He believes it was the time when he learned to be
assertive and control his emotions. But he gets emotional talking about the
institute where he has been a couple of times since and stays in touch with his
batch mates.
So
if Mr. Krishnan were to hire from his institute, what are the attributes he’d
look for? Without batting an eyelid he says, “I will not look for the mark
sheet but pay attention to their communication skills and body language.”
That’s something present students at the institute could do well knowing. Mr. Krishnan
concludes with further sound advice for students, “Be focussed on what’s good
for your career. Take the good from wherever you might be. If you want to join
the Retail Industry, make sure you are ready to start from the scratch and see
yourself rise.”
