Looking back now.. (Part 8)

This is the 8th part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series has been written by Akriti Rohiwal.

CCBD, Our side of the story

“From being kicked out of Eros towers to raising a donut, From getting the all the BTs for not achieving the targetsto earning my first Aiesec T-shirt,  From laughing together and random stuff to crying together in sad times. "    

My cc journey holds such a special place in my heart that nothing can ever replace it.

I feel blessed to be a part of a team with so adorable people and the best ones from the LC whom I truly love. Everyone in my team holds a special place in heart, they are not just my friends but a small family which Aiesec has given to me. A bunch of crazy people who love and care so much for each other.

Shubhu and rishu I have had most memorable moments with u two ,from all serious chats with rishu in metro to Shubhu trying to steal Natasha’s identity and giving massages at metro station(good ones :P).Meher and mayuri are two lovely, amazing and hardworking girls. And Sawwwwwwwww you are such great person with amazing sense of humor.

Geeta and Nutty you guys have been the support always I needed,I love you both so much and natasha we won't  forget the ganesh kachouri wala ever.

Naina is someone with whom I share my English honours love. And in the end I would like to thank you Naina, because you have been someone I always admired, from the start till now. You have been our strength, you gave me a chance to work in the CC and learn so much. More than anything else you gave me a chance to work with  such great people that I would cherish forever.

People said cc hasn't achieved anything, but honestly we have struggled every minute to make things happen. We together have been the strength for each other, I am proud of us and we did not fail because we never gave up.”

Looking back now.. (Part 7)

This is the 7th part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series has been written by Natasha Singh.

CCBD, Our side of the story

On the night of 3rd May, 2013, the OC announcements were to come. One by one, they erupted, causing a rippling thunder. It was around 3.30 in the night that the last, the BAAP of all announcements arrived. A team of 8 people was formed to work with Naina to raise for all events. Geetanjali - my co CCVP, Akriti, Shubhankar, Rishika, Mayuri, Meher and Saurabh, the best were handpicked to work in this team.

I look back at the team then, I look at it now. So much has changed, so much has evolved. From training to extensive cold calling to actual meetings with both big and small companies, we went through various phases of high and low and a million emotions.

Enthusiasm, rejection, passion, rejection, faith, rejection, hope, rejection, demotivation, anger. REJECTION became constant. Our resources dried up, databases squenched.

Just when we were about to die, a wave of motivation hit us.We decided to do anything in our power to attack back. And we did in the form of walk ins! That is where the actual experience came. Dealing with over-friendly marketing managers to very stern, even rude ones, we marched in from small companies to big ones.

We stood there four months back, we stand here now. For others, we are still at the same place. For us, CCBD has been a new adventure everyday, a new learning everyday and we stand today with an enriching experience that others tend to overlook.

Since the first day, CC has been like a war, its members like soldiers. We had marched forward like an army, we were shot at, we got wounded, yet that did not stop us and we got back to our position, guarding our post.

The entire CC team has been a big inspiration and motivation and each member has contributed extensively. These 8 people have driven me to keep working with a smile. No one else could have handled this post as well as this amazing bunch of people. So proud of each one of these soldiers!

All that I am left to say is, "The fight is still not over."

Looking back now.. (Part 6)

This is the 6th part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series has been written by Meher Dang.

Core Committee Business Development 2013

Sometime in the middle of may the first CC meeting took place. I was thoroughly excited to be a part of something that was being called the "baap" of all OCs, little did I know about the responsibilities and the importance of it until I met Naina our EBC.The strong bond between all nine of us started right then at the first meeting at Dunkin which was all about making us feel special as well as to prepare us mentally for shit loads of work that we will have to do in order to get even small number of tangibles.

All geared up, our next meeting was six hours long where we were properly trained as to how to deal with difficult clients, MC clients, clients with whom we messed up things in the previous years on the phone and in meeting, something apparently done for the first time. This whole concept of training us was brilliant and even though initially we might have not seen the impact of it on our work, soon enough when we were reasonably into our work facing all those high profile, reasonably busy and  many a times rude people I could see how every little thing that was taught to me was being put to use! While the response overall was rarely bad as our product was undoubtedly good we were just not able to bring in tangibles. Naina was getting more restless day by day since she herself was under pressure, we worked harder understanding the need of the hour, there were positive responses and a couple of meetings fixed, loads of rejections too but we kept on working.

The LC had lost faith in us but the faith Naina had in us kept pushing us forward.

It clearly was a roller coaster ride, one day of depression,another of mania but we all worked as a team helping each other out, trying to cheer each other up in crisis situations (oh there were many), well, to put it simply we had each other's backs, regardless of the opinions the LC had formed about us depending only on hear-say and nothing more. The amount of learning and exposure i have got here, the brilliant people i have met and just the entire journey has been so interesting and by far one of the most amazing things that have happened to me in AIESEC.

Looking back now.. (Part 5)

This is the 5th part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series has been written by Saurabh Verma.

Core Committee Business Development 2013

*tring tring* Hello, im saurabh, manager business development AIESEC. This is regarding a propo...*beeeeeeeeeepp*

                            *Haanji..kya...AIESAA? Hum ese kaam nhi karte ji* 

                            *We can only Help you in Kind!*

                            *Don't dial this number ever again*

                            *Lets have a meeting tom morning sharp 10 am*

Damn, I've got this.! :D But no! 

Started off in may, A team with a huge responsibility ! Raising money for all 5 events!!! :O targets of 25Lakhs, (coming down to 10 Lakhs :p), Making proposals with deliverables, making a database of all the biggies (and some not so reputed ones :P). It all seemed soo exciting, but, wait for it! 

At first it seemed easy, do-able.We had our induction, mock calls, still seemed easy and rather fun.! Just call them up, set meetings, negotiate and get the MOU signed. But as the actual work started, when the contacts started getting exhausted, when i had to post "no tangibles" in my updates almost every other day, reality came crashing down, and "CC kuch kyu nhi kar rhi?" was what every other OC member asked.! I felt broken, started losing faith, started falling down, but we had our amazing ccvps to bring us back! and that's where i learnt an important lesson, it's about the choices we make, its about getting up than giving up! And we still haven't given up.! We've just been learning, getting better, stronger after every call, every pitch, every meeting now, becoming a better seller!.

And even after soo much of disappointment, appointment breaks (along with match breaks :P) ,we're still here, working each day, giving in our best to make sure the events go flawlessly, because each one of us feels the ownership towards the events, and towards the responsibility we have taken. And our main strength lies in this team, A team of highly self motivated people, who have got each other's back! and we compliment each other's weaknesses! 

Mayuri with all the contacts sneaked in :p!, Aakriti, the after BT meeting setter !, Rishika, never seen a more passionate pup!, Shubhu: never saying no to anything (even if it means a chill-out before his major, or going for 2 meetings at the same time schdeuled at gurgaon and noida, taking up all opportunities :p) , Meher: always being soo cheerful and inviting us at her home for meetings! :p ,and our ccvps, Geeta-ma: who makes sure none of us falls down, always keeping us motivated, always having faith in us, and Naughtyyy(bt): Being a strong support and binding us all close, who knows how to get work done! and to complete this team, The Godfather, Naina, who literary leaves the client dumbstruck when she holds an appointment and starts negotiating. We couldn't have a better Godfather, and a better team!

Every member completes this team.!

From being nobodys in BD, we've come a long long way! and there cant be a better BD learning experience than this CC BD, where you face all the possible challenges.!From making that first proposal, to waiting outside a company's office for hours for the meet. From cold calling to walk-ins. From Noida to Gurgaon. From Philips to Durex! we've covered it all, and I feel honoured and lucky to be a part of this best learning experience ever.

And with all the enthusiasm we have, everyday we wake up, worried about the events, scheduling our appointments, calling more contacts, doing our best to get in the tangibles, hoping to deliver the promise we made in our interviews, to live up to the "manager, business development" in our signatures.! And thats how BD works. You just got to wait for it!

Looking back now.. (Part 4)

This is the 4th part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series has been written by Mayuri Aggarwal.

Core Committee Business Development 2013

So it was the night before the OC announcements and I was waiting for the results. Just before that, I get a call saying that I am now a part of the Core- Committee Business Development. Whoa! That’s how it started.
We came together as a team, full of passion and excited to work! Still, I was very scared. I had never done something like this in my life. Moreover, we had the pressure of getting loads of money for the events lined up! How were we going to do this? I was questioning myself, why am I here? How will I, who does not even know the ‘C’ of cold calling, help to get in money?
Later on I realized that I was here for a reason. It was not just about money, it was about learning. I got to know tips and techniques which I would never have known had I not been here.  From making the database to cold calling everything was a completely new experience.
We were thrown out of offices while doing walk ins :P, still we managed to get the numbers we wanted! :D  It was here that I was amazed by the synergy within the team and how each member was willing to help each other out.

To be honest, there were times when I felt irritated. Times when no cold call was a success, no meetings were being scheduled, and over all people saying that the CC is good for nothing. But I feel that more than anything, I have seen myself grow more confident over here.

CC was not the only thing we were responsible for, we also had our respective departments, college, family and what not. Still, we managed all of them without hampering anything!

Leaving work aside, this was a place I made friends for life! When I reflect back on this term, I can still see the happy faces at the first CCM and yes the chill out too :P

The CC term has been a roller coaster ride for me, sometimes I just wanted to leave everything and go away but the next moment I loved the synergy between us! We still have a long way to go and I still have to learn a lot from this team.

All I would say is, Thank you! :)

Looking back now.. (Part 3)

This is the 3rd part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series had been written by Geetanjali Jain.

The Dogfather: Core Committee- Business Development 2013


It all started in the first week of May. That night a fateful call lead me to a team made for bigger things. A team with an "EPIC" task. A team made to aid all events. A team not limited to the responsibility to deliver one but five events.

The team is a group of the most dynamic, amazing, responsible, fun and absolutely crazy bunch of people I have ever met. The team became close the very first time it met and now there is no looking back.

We began work in May itself, it started with training and making a database. With the database looking brilliant with immense potential the cold-calling started. One call after another was made resulting in only dead ends. A database of very high standard 150+ numbers lead to nothing concrete. We all were left wondering what went wrong? Whose fault was it? How can not a single company be interested?

The team felt confused, hopeless, upset; it felt lost. Despite this work never stopped number were constantly added, calling kept happening and personal contacts were sought from every nook and cranny. All leading nowhere. All leading to disappointment. Still the Dogfather stood strong.

As time passed questions were asked it started with "How is it going? to "How many leads do you have?" to "When are you bringing the money?" to "We have been hearing about your leads, do they even exist?" to "Are you even doing anything?". This was all rather discouraging and disappointing. When you try your best and all you get back is discouragement and harsh words it becomes hard to continue.

The Dogfather stood strong then, and it stands strong even now even as everyone has lost faith. We will not stop trying, we will not stop calling, we will not stop our work, we will not stop period; because the Dogfather understands the importance of each event. We have a sense of responsibility towards each of them, a very deep sense of ownership is instilled in each of us for these events rather this LC. Till we do what we were made to the Dogfather will not stay still.

This team means a lot to me, its one of the few things that can and has made me cry, I am not scared to admit this, in fact I am proud. I love this team from the bottom of my heart and I am forever indebted to it for the challenges, failures, learnings, friendships and love it has brought to me. This team can and this team will overcome and shine through it all, I always have believed in us and I always will!

Looking back now... (Part 2)

This is the 2nd part of the series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team.

This part in the series had been written by Shubhankar Mishra.

CC BD 2013
The Dogfather

Its been more than 3 months since the Baap of all announcements was released. Time flew by so quickly! I remember everything so clearly, from the first CCM where Naina was telling us how she held back the mailer till the very last (Only to be followed up by Shiva's Lead OC announcements :P) to the CCBD T Shirts and the correction at the back ("Why is there black tape across the back?") to the virtual meets which I looked forward to and was scared to attend at the same time.

We had a big target. We are way ridiculously and hilariously far away from achieving that. People do not have faith in us anymore. It began with asking us what our plan is?  to what is the CC doing? to is the CC even doing anything? to CC what?. Now the questions have stopped more or less. People think of it as a failed experiment.

What they don't know is what happened behind the scenes. 

The Dogfather to me is not just about numbers anymore. Its more about the spirit and the people in it. Some of the most brilliant minds and amazing personalities I could get the chance to work with. People might think we have not been working, but as I see it we have worked far more than anyone in this LC can even imagine.
Getting a badass induction in BD, making a dream database, cold calls with the fear of deadlines on our heads (JNC time ,anyone?) , the crazy meetings ("hello i'm natasha " xD ) ,  unconventional walk ins and our scary meets. And the learning I got out of it. I could get a degree in BD if AIESEC had one (Naina surely would be PhD :P) 

The most important part of it all would still remain the people. You guys are not just my fellow members, but people I look up to, can relate to and have a really good time with. We've been through so much together that it feels like I've known you all for ages. Everyone had their highs and lows, far more lows than highs rather. But what really inspires me is how everyone has still not given up on it, and how we are still going on.

As for the numbers, it isn't over till its over. We still have some time left to go and who knows what miracle might come by. Optimism might not get us anywhere but what the hell.

Soon, the CCBD would be discharged (or not because of lack of numbers? ) , but can anybody discharge The Dogfather? I doubt it.

Looking back now.. (Part 1)

This is going to be a 9 part series where each member of the Core Committee Business Development 2013 known as "The Dogfather" describes and writes about how the last 3 months have been for them as a part of this dynamic team. Each story talks about the what the individual felt throughout this experience as well as what was happening around them at the time.

The first in the series is written by Rishika Bhatia. 







The Dogfather, our Core Committee. 

This is just one part of the journey which just a handful of us had the luck to cherish. My journey in the CC started with that one call late that night. That was Naina. Out of the blue she put Raghav on conference & they asked, “Rishika, do you have any idea what this call is about?” I was blank. I couldn't say a word. They asked me to make a wild guess & I ended up saying, “Is this about LCong OC?” Clearly, I was wrong. That one call was all about honour  It was about being in the CC. It was all too unexpected & a little too great to be true. When the form for being in the CC was out, I cried because there was no option for a March recruit to apply for the CC. Words fail me when it comes to the feeling of getting that one call from the VP BD. 

A team of  nine came together the next day to start-off with a kick-ass journey that it was going to be. We never knew what awaited us. Personally, I was very scared but at the same time, felt a lot more responsible than I ever was.

Making a database of some 150 companies & making endless cold calls, some of which failing miserably, while some were just dead-ends in the first place, it got frustrating. Seeing the CC working their ass off day & night and at the end of the day seeing them fall, it got annoying. There was a time when all we talked about was JUST work. CC synergy was gone. We fell. We got bruised. It was hurtful. A feeling of disbelief started taking over. Every cold call I made was just another annoyed receptionist or some Marketing Head who simply put the phone down in my face. There was confusion. I questioned myself, “Am I really good enough to be in the CC?” Everyone questioned us. Everyone lost faith in us. But, somewhere in the middle we forgot that The Dogfather is not just a name, it’s a family that stood together all this while. It’s our pride & honor.
The feeling of happiness & satisfaction of a successful cold call, that feeling of joy of getting a meeting fixed- it was almost too good to be true. We had dead leads, but we knew what we had to do. 

The Dogfather- yes, we had our failures. Yes, we fell. Yes, we got bruised. YES WE LEARNT. We never wished for less challenges, we only wished to have more wisdom. It has already been 3 months, but when I look back it seems as if this all started yesterday. I am proud to have failed & get back better and stronger. I am proud to have learnt from these 3 months. I am honoured to be The Dogfather- I always have been & I always will be. 

The Dogfather

CCBD-2013 , aka The Dogfather has been formed for the purpose of getting in sponsors and partnerships for a number of Events coming up, like Udaan, Lead MUN, Global Village, Corporate Dinner, Empower and Youth Carnival.

 So while the OCs are out there organizing the events, its the CC running the show from behind.

                                        

Getting in the money for all of the events combined is no cakewalk, specially when we do not have a lot to sell right now, so the CCBD team has its work cut out for it. 

The team for this is nothing short of badass, with the hardest working people from various departments coming together, aiming to match the colossal target, under the supervision of VP BD and master skoller 

Naina Thirani 

And the team *drumrolls* :

CCVPs 

Geetanjali Jain

Natasha Singh

CCBD

Akriti Rohiwal

Mayuri Aggarwal

Meher Dang

Rishika Bhatia

Saurabh Verma

Shubhankar Mishra

Watch out for more updates!