Successful professionals engage youngsters with 'Prerna' talk

Journalist Sonia Shenoy on Saturday advised youngsters to cleave the path of success from failures.

She was addressing the gathering mostly consisting students and a motley group of successful professionals from diverse fields during ‘Prerna – A vision TVM initiative’ organised jointly by Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund (VKSSF) alumni association and World Konkani Centre.

Looking up

Sonia, in a bid to boost confidence among youngsters, disclosed how she failed to land jobs, before bagging one and cementing her position now at the cusp of her middle age. She said, despite repeated failures, she did not give up, as it was only in the case of failure that one always stands a good chance to look upwards. While in the case of success, there is danger of superiority complex seeping deep in one’s mind.

Sonia went on to describe failure as the biggest inspiration in life and gave the examples of Microsoft giant Bill Gates and best-selling author of ‘Harry Potter’ fame J K Rowling, who reached the pinnacle of success after initial setbacks. Most importantly, one should develop a passion towards pursuing their area of interest, she added.

From disinterest to passion

Brigadier (Retd) C M F Prabhu, the legatee of servicemen and being a third generation serviceman in the armed forces said both physical and mental fitness play equal role in making a successful career.

Recalling his three-decade long stint in the Army, Prabhu spoke on how he found a teacher in himself, after honing his skills in mathematics, a must to study and teach ballistics in the Army.

Interestingly, Prabhu was an average student, the one thing that forced him to join Army at least to get rid of the monotony of academics. However, it was only after joining the military did he learn that studying is a never-ending process.

Kshama Fernandes, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of IFMR Capital, without any hedges, recalled her humble background with plebeian childhood in Goa. For her, ‘roasted onions’ was the staple food, especially after returning home from school.

World Konkani Centre president Basti Vaman Shenoy, Coca Cola India and South West Asia president Venkatesh Kini, VKSSF Alumni Association president Dinesh K Pai, corporate mentor T V Mohandas Pai and others were present.