From September onwards we'll be announcing the Student of the Month to be featured in my Blog. The academic as well as overall performance of the student are the main things that will be considered while selecting the candidate. So here's our first Student of the month for September 2007 - Dr. Sanjiv Kumar.
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Name: Dr. Sanjiv Kumar
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Age: 54An interview with Dr. Sanjiv Kumar
Tell us something more about yourself, your career and your aspirations?
I am a medical doctor and have been working for UNICEF for the last 18 years. Before joining UNICEF, I was a teacher in a medical college and in the Indian Army before that. I am presently in Geneva as Regional Adviser Health & Nutrition for Central Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States. My job involves providing technical support to UNICEF offices and the governments in child health and nutrition in 22 countries in the region.
You probably heard this question already: Why an MBA?
Though my job is technical most of my time goes in proving managerial support. I have been learning on-the-job, but felt a formal training will help me in improving my managerial skills and make me more effective in my work. Having started my MBA, I feel I should have done it much earlier.
Did the College meet your expectations? How was it different than your initial idea?
Yes, I am getting more than what I expected. It is not only helping in my professional life but also in my family and personal life. It has not only changed the way I look at my professional work and colleagues at work, but also the way I look at and deal with my family members, friends and social contacts. It has changed my perspective to life. Two more of my colleagues from UNICEF have joined RKC MBA.
How satisfied are you with your MBA studies?
Top class and supportive faculty, teaching material from the best business schools in the world makes the course interesting and high quality. The college provides a wide range of electives to choose from. And I am already applying what I am learning!
How was the online learning/residency experience at RKC?
There is very good online interaction with faculty and experienced class mates which adds to my learning. I can learn at my own pace, from anywhere in the world, even with my hectic travel and busy office life. The residential course, which I did early during my MBA, helped me in personally knowing some of the faculty, administrative staff and students in addition to excellent interaction on the topics covered during the course.
Anything you would like to share about personal life, family or other experiences?
I get a lot of support and encouragement from them for my studies. They were engaged in my decision to start MBA. My wife is a Visiting Professor in University of Geneva Hospital. I have two daughters, who help me in rediscovering the world. The elder one (21) is doing medicine in India and the younger one (17), has finished class XIII and is moving to Sussex university. My other interests are yoga and meditation.
How much time do you devote a day / a week for your studies?
Due to timeconstraints, I take only one course at a time. This also helps me get the most out of each course. On an average, I spend about one to one and a half hour on weekdays and about 4 to 6 hours reading and working on the assignments due in the coming week. I also start working for the mid term and final assignments as soon as these are posted. Whenever possible, I take assignments related to my work and share these with my supervisors. This helps me in my work.
How do you balance your work, home and studies?
I prepare my schedule (one pager) for each course and it reflects my office and family commitments. I space my work on assignments and do most of the reading during the lean period at the office. RKC puts all assignments and readings for each unit as soon as the course starts. At work, I keep my supervisor and supervisees informed about my studies. We have cut down on family outings on the weekends but still go out on vacations during summer and winter holidays. I share the feedback on assignments with my wife and daughter and engage them in the discussions on what is new for me and can be applied in personal, family and social life.
Would you recommend RKC-UoW?
Yes, strongly, for the following five reasons: it is academically among the best (FT listed RKC among the 32 best on-line MBAs in the world), you can space your studies as per your office and family commitments, faculty and college administration is very supportive to accommodate unforeseen events a student may come across, top class faculty and teaching material from world's the best business schools, and, the faculty actively engages the students, who bring in a very rich and varied experience, in the class discussions. This contributes to your learning and makes the discussions very practical and you can apply it as you learn.
What's the message that you would like to give to other MBA aspirants?
I must confess that coming back to school after 25 years was a difficult decision for me. But having completed six courses, I feel I took the right decision by joining RKC. My advice to fellow students is that you should plan and manage your time well to enjoy learning. During peak professional commitment period, take the course you are familiar with and during the lean period, the courses that are new to you. Discipline yourself to actively engage in class discussions, which is most important for learning. Best wishes!
Reader commentary
Zulkani SAHIN
July 14th, 2010 at 10:34pm
Dear DR Sanjiv,
your experience and comments about your career are very impressive and pulling up people to participate actively to the human projects inside this globalisation to enhance.
I have apreciate also your engagement closely with your family who support you as it is important to balance your time.
Thank you for your comments.
Sefou Hadi
June 19th, 2010 at 08:02pm
Dear Dr. Sanjiv Kumar,
Kindly contact fred comlan(comlan@gmx.us) he wants to pass information to you asap.
S.Hadi
mo aminu
February 15th, 2010 at 12:30pm
Dr Kumars experience is motivating and impressive.
Am looking forward to an MBA programm that can take my business to higher level.
Jeanne Marie
December 17th, 2009 at 09:01am
I am impressed and at the same time positively challenged by Dr. Kumar experience sharing. I am planning to join RKC's MBA programme in May 2010. Like him i am a UNICEF staff (based in Kigali), and his analysis helps me put a lot of things into perspective and confirms the quality of RKC's teaching and support. Thank you, Dr. Kumar for sharing, i will certainly get in touch with you and the other UNICEF colleagues for experience sharing and coaching.
Luqman Shittu
December 16th, 2009 at 09:25am
Dear Dean,
I feel so much elated having read the words of Dr S.Kumar.I believe they are enough to help me solve the problem of fear & procastinations that had overwelmed me for som time now.I would sure start to prepare for my enrolment as soonest as possible.
best of regards,Dr S.Kumar,
more regards to you,R.K.C.world.
Luqman//
Ms. Fawzia Al-Obeidi
September 29th, 2009 at 02:39pm
Dear Dean,
I am very much inspired by the words of Dr. Sanjiv Kumar. I am not yet a student, but I am in the process of searching for a college where I be sure that I will get the updated and right knowledge in business Administration. I was afraid that I am not going to manage job and studying at the same time. Yet I am now motivated to start studying and eliminate from my head all the fears of not being able to make it. I am only 28 years old so I am very much capable of achiving alot.
Congratulation for You: Dr. Kumar and many thanks for you and for the Administrative staff who make this webpage space: It is very informative and inspiring.
Best regards,
Fawzia
lawrence Adoboe
September 24th, 2009 at 10:58pm
Dear Dean,I am yet to be a student of RKC and UoW soonest but Dr Sanjiv Kumar's experience is so motivating that,one's fear of how to simultaneously run a family of five,work/job while pursuing further studies is gone.Dr has shared so much technicks about his personal way of managing the courses despite his busy schedule.I am completely motivated to start now following his examples to the letter.
Congrats Dr Sanjiv and thank you for the great inspiration to me.You sound very humble as well.
Best regards,
Lawrence.
lawrence Adoboe
September 24th, 2009 at 10:57pm
Dear Dean,I am yet to be a student of RKC and UoW soonest but Dr Sanjiv Kumar's experience is so motivating that,one's fear of how to simultaneously run a family of five,work/job while pursuing further studies is gone.Dr has shared so much technicks about his personal way of managing the courses despite his busy schedule.I am completely motivated to start now following his examples to the letter.
Congrats Dr Sanjiv.You sound very humble as well.
Best regards,
Lawrence.
lawrence Adoboe
September 24th, 2009 at 10:54pm
Dear Dean,I am yet to be a student of RKC and UoW soonest but Dr Sanjiv Kumar's experience is so motivating that,one's fear of how to simultaneously run a family of five,work/job while pursuing further studies is gone.Dr has shared so much technicks about his personal way of managing the courses despite his busy schedule.I am completely motivated to start now following his examples to the letter.
Congrats Dr Sanjiv.So sound very humble as well.
Best regards,
Lawrence.
Ahamed Sawad
September 10th, 2009 at 11:42am
Dear Dean Costa,
I am inspired by this idea.
Great
Congratulations to all who hav been listed
Olubobola Bolaji
August 13th, 2009 at 09:57am
Wonderful testimony am impressed,my worries has been how to balance your tight shedule with schooling...I think is very possible.I will get involve in my on-line studies soonest.
Eno Ikpe
August 12th, 2009 at 10:11am
It is good to know that one can do an MBA even with a tight schedule. I will explore the possibilities of my joining this programme.
NRK
August 11th, 2009 at 03:49pm
Are there other nationalities enrolled in the program such as Europe and North Amercians?
Dr. Kiran Kumar
April 30th, 2009 at 03:31pm
Hello Dr. Sanjeev,
It nice to see a practising doctor doing MBA. I was thinking about doing MBA for a while here in USA. I would not talk to this college to do online MBA. Thanks for your inputs.
Thanks,
Dr.Kiran
Nadine Mathias
April 10th, 2009 at 06:41am
It is encouraging to read Dr. Kumar's. I would like to start the MBA Program sooner.
Abbas Al-Rasheed
March 28th, 2009 at 09:26am
My heratiest wishes to you Dr. Sanjiv Kumar. As a matter of fact, I have ben planning to obtain a MBA defree, but because of time constraints, I could not achieved this aspiration yet. Your personal experience and comments have encouraged me even more to start this venture. I wish you all the best and thank you for sharing with us your personal experience and feelings about UoW.
Sanjiv Kumar
October 18th, 2007 at 11:43am
Dear Ahmad, Ram, Sulfickar, Amal and others,
Thanks a lot for your kind words. In addition to the faculty, administrative staff, it is, you, the fellow students at RKC who have helped me in becoming comfortable to opening share what I do not know and learn from your rich experience.
Ahmad, I like your idea of 'Professor of the year'. We the students should be involved in idetifying 'Professor of the year'.
Best wishes
Sanjiv
Amal Dev
September 17th, 2007 at 05:53pm
Dear Dean Costa,
It is a great news that Dr.Sanjiv Kumar has been awarded " The Student of the Month" for September2007.
Congratulation to Dr.Sanjiv Kumar .
Best Regards
Amal Dev
Sulfickar Ali Moh'd
September 15th, 2007 at 10:45pm
Dear Dean Costa,
Student of the Month idea is a great motivational tool for the student of RKC and thank you for bringing this fantastic news to us.
It's a great pleasure to know that Dr. Sanjiv Kumar has been awarded the first ever "student of the month" for September. My hearty congratulation goes to him for this honor.
Kind regards,
Sulfikar Ali Moh'd
Ahmad Salih
September 14th, 2007 at 01:05pm
Dear Dean Costa,
I would also like to suggest "Professor of The Year" award.
Regards,
Ahmad
Ramachandra Bykadi
September 13th, 2007 at 10:48pm
Dear All,
First I would like to congratulate Dr.Sanjiv Kumar who has been selected as first ever "Month of the student". He really deserves this honor. I had an opportunity to work with him in one of the RKC course, which I feel very fortunate about this. It was really impressing the way he responds. Congratulation again and wish you the best on all your future endeavors.
Congratulation to Dean and RKC team for initiating this honor to the students of RKC. Hope to see more and more students of RKC getting this honor.
Regards
-Ram
Ahmad Salih
September 13th, 2007 at 09:23am
Dear Dean Costa,
This is a great idea, and I've been thinking about it for some time. Well done.
Congratulations to Dr. Sanjiv Kumar for recognition.
All the best,
Ahmad