Make the most of opportunities, never say die

'Think bigger, there are great riches within us. Aim to achieve your aspirations and professional goals. Without risking there are no gains, Learning occurs in different forms, being unsuccessful sometimes gives a great edge to prove yourself in your existing platform rather getting demoralised. Either you work hard and be strategic in your approach between 20 to 30 and enjoy rest of the life or rest in that age and struggle entire life'.

Coming from a 30-something achiever, the above opinion is rather profound and inspiring. Prof Krishna Chaitanya Pallempati is one such young professional who has risen exponentially in the fields he chose to achieve and make a mark. It is not a fairy tale, one that of a dreamer achieving all that he set out to do. On the other hand, it is one that of a person who made the best of the situations that emerged before him, even when his dreams were derailed as he had to work out alternatives to keep the flag of success flying high in his life.

Today, the young Professor is the Founder Director for IBMR Hyderabad branch expansion and its principal investor. 'Apart from this I practice management education and teach at National Police Academy (IPS/ IAS) and have evolved myself as a motivational speaker and trainer at MNCs like Amazon, Google, Deloitte etc' he adds .

This is after he having been a former Dean Academics, IIPM Business School, Hyderabad and the youngest in India at 24 years. He was former Associate Professor and Director at Alliance University Bangalore and former Kingston University London Ambassador. Prof Chaitanya has also been a Research Scholar at GlaxoSmithKline, U.K.

He has taught various Pharma & Management modules over 10 years across International and Premier B Schools. During his leadership tenure with IIPM, more than 4000 Management students passed out of the institution. He hired & handled over 100 Management Professors, actively involved in Corporate Relations as a Dean, IIPM B school. Worked as Adj. faculty at IPE B school Shamerpet in the year 2018, Hyd.

Prof. Krish is an active corporate trainer at Hetero Drugs , Police Academy , etc & Guest Faculty at State institute of Correctional dept. wherein he conducts various Management Training Program's for Sr. Police officers, Group 1 Cadre officers, Pharma Professionals & others. He is a Motivational speaker and Consultant at Various forums and organizations.

Krish is a guest speaker addressing Doctors, Surgeons & medical staff at Hospitals and for senior Indian Army officers, Bangalore too and worked with MNCs like Aurobindo, Lupin, Japanese organisation Essai Pharma as "Strategic Recruitment Partner". Public relations & Networking is his USP for his notable positions & honour. Awarded & felicitated at eminent platforms & by higher officials, for being the youngest across the country to held leadership positions at B Schools & Universities and at 30 years to be only youngest management faculty for SP cadre of Police, Conferred IAS officers, etc.

He is active as "Alumni Secretary" for Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy & as "Director "for IBMR Group of Institutions (Delhi, Ahmedabad , Hubli & Bangalore ). Also associated with Regnant Pharma, Kapston Facility Management Limited. Apart from this, out of top 10 B School USA, he is the holder of four B school Advanced Management Program Certifications in New York Stern, Chicago Booth School, Hass Business School, National University Singapore and few global outreach programmes with Harvard , Wharton and Darden Business School.

The growth phase

Having been exposed to various parts of the country, especially north India, Chaitanya had been educated in AFS, Delhi, Chandigarh and Begumpet as his father was in the Services. At the X Standard level, he was declared the 'Best Student'. Subsequently, he passed the Bi P C course with 90 per cent marks and aspired to be a doctor.

'I was in a safe zone in a way as I had the CAP quota of 2 per cent in which I could have got a seat. My EAMCET rank was around 6000' he reminisces. Yet, he ended up doing a course in Pharmacy at G Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy and passed out in 2008.

Here Krishna Chaitanya had to encounter the second disappointment as he could not get through into National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) to pursue a Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. But this was a turning point too. As he recounts: On September 26, 2008, I was welcomed to United Kingdom. I was there with an intention to pursue my master's degree in Pharmacy. I was not sure how am I going to spend in UK by myself, but I knew that an education would only motivate me.

I began my course "Pharmaceutical sciences with management". First success was the clinical trials "Problem solving presentation" where I was awarded top marks by Dr. Reem Kayyali, Professor in Clinical trials among 160 students of my course which has given me a good start. In the same semester, my course director Dr. James Barker gave me an opportunity becoming representative of my course. This was unexpected and shocking to me. This is where I began to see the way to rise and becoming something more.

During my MSc studies I adopted double loop learning where I had to refer various journals, books, e-resources and interact with friends, work in teams and understand various approaches to leadership in the team context to do well in course work along with learning successfully in my exams. Another way of completing my course successfully was my cognitive approach of learning things by myself i.e. the information I gathered was not relevant and doesn't fit the current perception of problem. Initially it created an immense tension but later on motivated to overcome the situation made my learning through books, journals and e-resources.

As he continues: 'By this moment of time, I have identified my team leadership in the team context. I was exposed to different Pharma modules all of which contributed to the gradual changes in my thinking. During my second semester, I was made to enter into student ambassador scheme.

Eleanor Luker, the international officer gave me the opportunity titled as "Indian Kingston University student ambassador" for the department of science. My prime role was to answer e-mails from potential students who are thinking of applying to the University. The role also includes assisting the international office with visits from Indian institutions.

Adding to these duties, I have involved myself in promoting University at India using power point presentations. Being a University ambassador and a course representative gave me an opportunity to represent my fellow students, communicate with faculty members, attend student rep meetings and particularly staff agenda meeting where I was the only course rep invited to attend with University Dean and other course directors. It was a fantastic way to meet people, make new friends and to develop my own interpersonal skills and public relations.

During my project time. I was selected for research project at GlaxoSmithKline R & D among 160 students after screening and being interviewed by GSK. I would like to express gratitude and sincere appreciation to Senior Scientist "Dr. Charles Parkinson" and my academic supervisor "Dr.Neil Williams" for their kind assistance, supervision and feedback throughout my project.

I have successfully done my research work, proper documentation was done and submitted a research thesis on the investigation carried out. I was marked "A" grade for my project work done.

In retrospect, he concludes: I was exposed to a different fields of pharmaceutical and management education. Group discussion, verbal presentation, private conversations with professors and other professionals, some of the readings and personal reflection all contributed to these gradual changes in my thinking.

It is interesting to note that I have represented the University. These activities were revolutionary and motivating to me. Considering all these I have reached the undeniable conclusion that I do possess good verbal presentation skills, good capability of doing team work and lead the team as well and this is for me a gateway to enter into a good professional carrier.

It has helped me to become more effective, independent and confident, understand how I learn and relate to wider context, develop a positive attitude, articulate personal goals and evaluate progress towards my achievement. I am now certain when comes to team work or leading a team as well as my confident and independence.Today, he is a sought-after professional and a genuine young achiever beyond doubt.