150+ registrations, 30+ wins, and 81 stars! Story of Rashmi, the D2C Most Competitive Leader 2021

"Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Being recognized as the D2C Most Competitive Leader 2021 across India will always be one of my most cherished moments as it was a culmination of the year-long hard work put in. It was also a moment of pride for my team and TAPMI. But more importantly, it is a testimony to the power of perseverance, efficient teamwork, camaraderie, and trust. 

The inception of embracing the competitive spirit

Participating in competitions consistently is a daunting decision in itself, especially amidst several other activities in a B-School such as academic engagements, projects, committee work, etc. However, I always tried to participate in competitions with the sole aim of applying whatever I had learned in the classroom to solve real-life problems and to compete with some of the best brains across B-Schools in the country.

The first year of MBA was rife with hit-and-trial, shuffling teams, brainstorming for hours over plausible solutions, etc. Unsurprisingly, there were no wins to take credit for! With relatively more time to spare during the lockdown last year, I (along with my team) registered for the Dare2Compete Online Quizzing Festival 2020. Little did I know that it was the beginning of a roller coaster ride! After a month-long series of mind-boggling quizzes, finishing with an All India Rank of 87 among 21000+ teams was the perfect catalyst to my competitive spirit.

Challenges that made the journey even more exciting!

Initially, I did not make it to the final round of multiple competitions. Myriad-heated discussions, sleepless nights, and early morning presentations became an everyday affair. But after every 'failure' or dejection, my reaction used to be - once more! Things became much more difficult when all this was coupled with other conventions of a B-School, such as placement preparation, course work, and events among others. 

Another major challenge this year was to operate in a virtual setup, yet be able to collaborate seamlessly and reach a consensus. However, earnest participation in such competitions can increase the MBA learning multifold.

The meteoric rise to D2C Most Competitive Leader 2021

From primary research and data analysis to aesthetic presentation and delivery, competitions provide an opportunity for holistic development beyond the classroom. I always ensured that our solutions were innovative, yet realistic and implementable. After getting a hang of the approach to curate winning submissions, and a string of 'failures', I picked up pace somewhere around October. 

And then there was no looking back. I, along with my team, managed to crack 30+ competitions, including the ones organized by prestigious B-Schools, consisting of domain-specific case studies, B-Plans, CSR, quizzes, etc. Since I enjoyed writing, I participated in many article writing competitions too. All the hustle led to becoming the D2C Most Competitive Leader 2021.

Blessed with a dream team

Needless to mention, having a strong team is unequivocally the key to success in competitions, since they are also a platform to learn from each other and grow as individuals. I was fortunate to have equally driven teammates, Shravan Parsam (D2C 2nd Competitive Leader 2021) and Vishakha Singh (D2C 6th Competitive Leader 2021) who brought to the table an eclectic mix of research, ideation, and design skills. 

Throughout our journey, there were innumerable instances of conflict and differences of opinion. But we always managed to find a middle ground to achieve the larger goal. I am indebted to my teammates for their constant hard work, support, and motivation. 

Key takeaways

One of the most important prerequisites to winning competitions is perennial learning and perseverance. As a word of advice to all the aspirants out there, do not give up even if you lose a few competitions in the beginning! It may appear to be mere case-solving, but it definitely has the potential to transform your approach in the most unimaginable ways possible.

It is also essential to spend time mulling over the shortcomings and flaws in your submissions. Incorporating feedback, refining solutions, and internalizing the learnings go a long way in securing wins. More than the grit to win, it was my thirst for learning that kept me going. In the end, it was all worth it!

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