Attitude more important than degrees, success or failure - CEO

Attitude more important than degrees, success or failure - CEO

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Nov 10, 2014:    While addressing the second day of Manipal University’s 19th convocation at KMC Greens here on November 9, Sunday,  GE South Asia President and CEO Banmali Agarwal  quipped that  experience gained at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) 30 years ago has stood  by him in thick and thin.

 

He then went on to state,  “As I look back, I take a lot of pride in the fact that I learnt from mistakes and it is this alma mater that gave me the confidence and ability.  I look ahead and  I see a very bright future for all of you. The MIT of today is a much sought after institution and the environment is brilliantly conducive for high quality learning,” Banmali said. He seized the opportunity to pay tribute to his teacher Prof K J Kamath and said  no human being could be labeled as a failure or success.


“It was not right  to have thought of myself as a failure 34 years ago. It would be equally wrong for me to think of myself as a success today. The circumstances around us keeps changing and if anyone believes they can control their destiny to guarantee success, they are mistaken. We have seen many “successful” people fall from grace and many “failures” recognised as successes, later on in their lives.” He said that attitude was more important than the degree. “Skills and knowledge can be acquired but attitude is something that is difficult to change as age catches on.”   He explained  that w hat matters in the real world is not how well you have learnt the jargon but your attitude. Are you curious to learn more? Can you get along with other people? What are you passionate about? Are you humble enough to understand that there will always be something that you don’t know?   CEO Agarwal said that no one should take their loved ones for granted.

Finally he exhorted the graduates,  “As you step into the real world and pursue your ambitions, I urge you to constantly remind yourself that there is someone out there who is giving up his or her today for your tomorrow.” On technology, he said: “Technology has not only made our daily lives easier and more affordable, but it has  altered our social behaviour.”   There was much substance in all he had said felt the students.   About 1500 students, both undergraduates and post graduates received degrees on the second day of the convocation at MIT Manipal..