Monica Shrivastava - I Am a Strong Believer in Formal Education as It Sets You up for Discipline and Professionalism (Director Product - Byju’s)

I strongly believe that everyone's first job is the most impressionable and one must gather as much experience and learn as possible from it. You are allowed to make mistakes and fail, but one should always fail and learn fast. 

Tell us about your background, journey, and upbringing.

I was born and raised in Ranchi, Jharkhand. My father is a doctor and my mother is a homemaker. We are three sisters and have grown up in an academically focused set-up. My work ethics and professional attitude is strongly influenced by the values of my father - his dedication and professionalism still amaze me. 

He always had a strong work ethic and service mindset in the noble profession of medicine - this continues even today. I believe children tend to emulate their parents in their life and this is what I too am trying to do.

How did you rise to the highest echelons and what are your future plans?

I still feel I have a long way to go! After spending a few years of working in software development post my engineering, I chose to pursue MBA from SPJIMR, Mumbai to get a more broad perspective of business. My first job was at consulting (PwC/PRTM) which set me up for my career in the best possible way. 

I met my mentors - Rajesh Patnaik and Ramaswami Laxmanan - who were very instrumental in instilling a sense of confidence in me while helping me develop core skills to handle any problem statement. I believe it's very important to meet such people early in your career journey who set you up for success.

In 2020, inspired by the dynamic leadership of Byju Raveendran and what the company was doing in the education sector, I joined BYJU’S. It's a fabulous place that benefits from everyone working towards a common collective goal and our workplace has infectious energies that never let you get demotivated. I am so proud that I am a part of the Global growth story that BYJU’S is!!

I don't plan my future, as I always believe in making the most of my present! My aim is to continue to keep learning, growing, and enjoying my work.

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What does your typical workday look like?

Each day I start with spending some quality time with my family - like chatting over a cup of tea with my spouse and having some fun with my 5-year old daughter. This keeps me grounded and gives me the positive energy to kick-start my day.

I then get started with checking work emails and preparing my workday. Being in the product space, I attend meetings with the tech team and other stakeholders in the first half and the 2nd half generally runs into long-term feature planning and catching up with the team on ongoing projects. 

My day typically runs long, as we work in a Global setup. But I do take short breaks in between meetings to spend time with my daughter. I end my workday by going through the keynotes I took during my day and the next day’s calendar - All this to ensure I am ready with what’s coming up on the next day.

Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?

• I am a strong believer in formal education as it sets you up for discipline and professionalism. 
• One of the biggest advantages of undergoing formal education I see is learning from my peers. This is very important as in the real world, nobody works in isolation.
• It also gives you the instant credibility important for growth in your career.
• Having said that, I do believe that the right attitude to work is very personal and can be developed outside of any formal education. Skilling can be also done even in a non-formal setup.

How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?

I don’t handle them! Most of them start struggling when we start deep diving into their experience. I think they ultimately realize that it isn't worth it.

How has covid changed things at your workplace & which of these changes do you intend to make permanently?

The Covid-19 pandemic has truly transformed our workplace, especially when it comes to seamless communication and collaboration in a remote setup. Today everybody is just a ‘slack message’ away and I think this ease of connection will go a long way, even after the pandemic is over (hopefully!). 

We have realized that our productivity has greatly improved as it is easy and fast to get people across different functions together on Hangout or Zoom calls. It has also helped us begin our workday early as there are no more traffic woes (especially in Bangalore!)

                                

What advice do you have for those starting their career and those who are eyeing the top job?

I strongly believe that everyone's first job is the most impressionable and one must gather as much experience and learn as possible from it. You are allowed to make mistakes and fail, but one should always fail and learn fast. 

Be open to constructive criticism, as this will shape you for your brighter future. I have received the harshest of feedback in my early consulting days - but today when I look back, learning from them has become my biggest strength.

Here are some mantras that I think has helped me:

• Maintain strong work ethics and a positive attitude- This is key as it will take you a long way.
• Your work and your deliverable are your identities. Own it completely!
• Never refrain from reaching out to your seniors for guidance. They have loads of experience from which you can benefit
• A top job is a consequence. Aim for the right job that pushes you to deliver your best. Once you do so, you will naturally grow.

Which is your favorite book/show and why?

A book I cherished reading was ‘Lean in’ as it resonated with me on so many levels. It was very motivating to read that book early in my career - and would recommend all women (and men) to read the same.

My favorite show is ‘Friends’ - It has been my go-to show whenever I want to spend a lighter moment. It also teaches us not to take life so seriously - a mantra that we all need to follow at some point!

Bio -

Monica Shrivastava is a Director - Product at BYJU’S. She has industry experience of over 12 years that includes Edtech Product Development, Management Consulting, and e-commerce. She is currently working on Disney BYJU’S Early Learn Product for the India and Global markets.