My internship journey at TraceCost as a Project Coordinator -By Akshay Kumar from NICMAR, Pune

The path to getting an internship at TraceCost was incidental. It wasn’t a pre-planned path, instead, I got an internship in one of the big construction giants in India before this offer. But as the coronavirus pandemic spread, my offer got revoked. 

The first step

While searching for opportunities, I found this start-up called TraceCost. With a little research, I came to know that TraceCost is a company that helps in cost and time reduction of a project through real-time project management software, keeping in mind an eco-friendly approach. The work interested me, and seeing that the founders were people who were very experienced in the corporate world, I decided that I’d like to work there. 

After connecting with Mr. Prabh Paul (COO - TraceCost), he soon contacted me regarding an internship at TraceCost. I was desperate to get one, and thus, stressed on joining immediately. When asked about the stipend, I declined. The only motive that motivated me to do so was the want to learn. Mr. Prabh Paul though, helped me understand that the stipend was a way of understanding one’s own potential and worth. And this lesson, the first one on the first call with him, stayed.

A perfect induction at TraceCost 

On the first day of my internship at TraceCost, I was introduced to the company and its work through Mrs. Madvi Walia (CEO, TraceCost) herself. I was told about the role I had to play and how it would contribute to the company’s growth. As a token of beginning my small journey with the company, I also received my email id from the company, named with my designation as the Project Coordinator. These simple yet welcoming steps motivated me to give my best at whatever I did during the internship period.

From the second day itself, I engaged directly with the clients, attended meetings and gave presentations regarding my projects to my seniors. This helped me improve my soft skills and in turn, improved my way of expression.

Learning and relearning

As the Project Coordinator, I worked with construction giants of the industry. We as a company developed a complete automation module, wherein I contributed to the EHS module with the clients themselves. It reduced cost errors, unnecessary paperwork and increased productivity as a whole.

The major lesson that has stayed with me through the course of this internship at TraceCost is that as a Project Coordinator, it was my sole responsibility of keeping everyone on the same page, and it was necessary to go beyond the task allotted sometimes in order to learn. This was especially true in the challenging times that we face today when our ability to learn is challenged everyday. Along with a list of projects that I successfully contributed to, I also build a rapport with everyone. The bond between the employees and me has helped me become an effective team player. I also learnt the importance of punctuality and commitment, something that I think would benefit me all my life. With deadlines hovering over, I pushed myself to do a task within a specified time frame, and to date, it has become my strength.

A thought to think: Character or marks?

After my internship duration was over, I posed the question of choosing between better character and better academic scores in terms of their importance in life and especially, in the workplace to Mr. Prabh Paul. I still remember what he said to me, “Marks can get you shortlisted for a job, but it is your passion to excel that helps you do the job and make a difference from it.” This was a valuable insight as there always has been a similar debate going on. Thus, remembering the sloka from Srimad Bhagavad Gita “Karmanye Vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana” - focus on that task at hand, and don’t let your actions hinge on the outcomes. 

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