A Trip for the Tastebuds

I was flipping through a travel magazine last weekend, gazing dreamily at the exotic locales of the South American continent. My eyes quickly fell on the potatoes - blue, pink, red, black... Was I really staring at a vegetable or some school kid's art project? I read later that South American countries (especially Peru) are abundant in tubers. I dreamt of planning my next trip to that continent, but my face fell when I saw the exorbitant airfares. How was I ever going to taste those delectable veggies without paying a bomb? I didn't know of any store in India that imported tubers of so many colours and types.

The next evening, when I was at a supermarket on my grocery round, I came across TERRA Chips. I first gazed at the unmistakably blue potato crisps on its cover. My heart raced, but I was still skeptical on its contents. I finally got my own packets of several Terra Chips bags to see if I was dreaming. I read through its ingredients and knew that these chips were indeed made of the real tubers that I always dreamed of eating. The chips were not coloured. They were real vegetable chips!

This is taking gourmet snacking to an interesting level! We have been gorging on the same old boring yellow/brown potato chips, with that odd dash of tomatoes or onions thrown in the mix. But Terra Chips brings exotic flavours to the table, at the same time, being a healthy snacking option. These crisps are gluten free and not made of genetically modified vegetables. That's a huge relief! I know of many friends who are gluten intolerant. I can now safely invite those friends over without worrying about what to serve them or seeing their faces break out. My friends in the West tell me they've developed several allergies due to the GMO-produce they live on.

My entire family has munched on these interesting chips now, and they all absolutely love it! It's not just the bright, rich colours, but also the distinct flavours that appeal to the foodie in me. I have now eaten taro, sweet potato, batata, parsnip, yuca and blue potatoes in the form of chips! The travel-hungry soul in me loves the fact that the veggies come all the way from the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, and other countries far away. Do take a bite off these delectable new chips if you are bored of your old flavours! It's an adventure that your tongue will love!

What Would It Be Like To Date redi-GO?

I have been single for a few months now, and my heart is getting impatient to date again. I am not planning to waste my time with anyone ordinary. I need to be charmed. I have started fantasizing about a unique car - 

Fun. Freedom. Confidence. The ultimate Urban Cross - Datsun redi-GO - the capability of a crossover with the convenience of a hatchback.

I will tell you today why I would like to take it out for a spin. Among the multitude of features that this cute car has, three appeal to me the most:-

1. Fuel Economy

I like to live large, but I also am mindful of reality. I like cars that don't guzzle too much of their favourite drink. redi-GO has a fuel mileage of 25.17km/L, all thanks to its 799cc engine. This means, our dates will not be too expensive. ;-)

2. Smart Air-conditioning

I like my companions cool and calm. It's hard to handle heat in the relationship in this hot and stuffy Mumbai weather! redi-GO has an integrated centre AC vent which evenly distributes air to all passengers - 50% to those in the rear seats.. It has an 89 cc aluminium compressor which has a high cooling capacity.

3. Smart Looks

No matter what everyone says, love is not always blind. Sometimes, the very thing that attracts you towards a prospective partner is physical appearance. Datsun redi-GO looks dashing, both inside and outside! Its modern dashboard has a digital tachometer among other things. Its upholstery is sporty and comfy to the touch, so you would want to spend more time romancing it. Also, its cool headlamps, tail lamps and daytime running lamps make it strikingly charming.

Now that I know I'd like to date redi-GO, I need to decide where to take this beast to. I would want to drive it as long as possible. So, an interstate trip through the North East of India would be ideal. It'll be nice to drive through narrow but clean roads surrounded by welcoming smiles of the locals and the beautifully clean environment.

This is also where I would test it. Testing is important to know long term compatibility and happiness. I would check its mileage and safety features - especially the airbags. A long term partner will stand by me through the tough times too, and not just the happy, successful times.

I have a feeling this new Datsun redi-GO can help me beat my urban driving blues. No more getting agitated on seeing a traffic jam in the middle of a slope. No more sulking about the pinching heat from the backseat! The smart AC can cool me down, no matter where I sit. Also, no more getting scared of the incessant honking when you try to take a turn on a busy road. The car is so compact that it is very easy to maneuver. It has a turning radius of 4.7 metres.

I think I'm all set to ask redi-GO out for a date drive. Who is your date for the weekend?

Ritesh Handa joins Wooqer as President - Operations, Finance & Corporate Development

Note: This is a press release.

Wooqer recently announced that Ritesh Handa has joined their company as President - Operations, Finance & Corporate Development, reporting to Wooqer Founder and CEO, Vishal Purohit. Ritesh comes to Wooqer from a leading Indian publisher Pearson Education India. With a proven track record of over 15 years, he has worked with Microsoft, GE and Rockwell Automation.

He is a passionate finance and operations senior executive with diversified business and management experience. He will be responsible for thought leadership by executing business strategies and operating plans.

“We are fortunate to have incredible depth and breadth of talent across Wooqer’s executive team. Ritesh is hands-down the best operations executive I’ve ever worked with.” said Vishal Purohit, Wooqer Founder and CEO.

Prior to joining Pearson Education, Ritesh was associated with Core Objects in the capacity of VP & Director, Finance. He was responsible for preparing monthly forecasts, annual and long-range financial plans at a country level resulting in financial plans that align with business/corporate objectives.

He holds a Master's in Business Administration from Faculty of Management Studies - Delhi and is also a Chartered Accountant from Deloitte.

About Wooqer

Wooqer is pioneering “end user computing” with an easy-to-use, do-it-yourself cloud based toolset that enables faster, cheaper and smarter execution. Wooqer makes non-technologically-sophisticated common man a programmer! That helps balance enterprise governance needs with team needs to simplify day-to-day work. Wooqer leads the space between the core systems for a business (dominated by software, hardware and services vendors) and consumer platforms (like Google, Facebook & others).

Founded by Vishal Purohit and backed by Indian business veterans like Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman-Marico & BS Nagesh, Founder-TRRAIN as well as Silicon Valley legends like Michael Marks and Jim Davidson. Wooqer is among the most valuable B2B software companies in India as per iSpirit Index for two consecutive years. Harvard Business Review has developed a business case on Wooqer which is now taught in over 10 universities globally.

With Aditya Birla Group, Tata Group, Mahindra Group, HDFC, Adidas, Levis, Marks & Spencers and 150 more customers, Wooqer has global presence in India, UK, US, China and UAE. Today, “retail runs on Wooqer and soon will every business in India!” For more information, visit www.wooqer.com

For more information, please write to simplify@wooqer.com.

No Blind Faith in Education

It has been almost four years since I graduated from my college. My parents played a big role in deciding what I would study. They had my best in mind. But from where I am right now, I know that was perhaps not the best decision.

Despite a degree in Computer Engineering, I work at an investment bank, and my role does not require me to know programming. I would have done better to study Commerce. 

Of the umpteen reasons I have, I will give you five reasons not to blindly follow your parents' way when it comes to education:-

1. Times have changed

The economy does not thrive on the sectors that it thrived on 20 years back. Your parents' field may not be doing so well today.

2. You cannot keep living your parents' dreams

It is time to think on your own feet and do what your heart desires. Do not sacrifice forty years of career for four years of education.

3. We should aspire to be global citizens

More often than not, our parents' college-decision is based on myopic factors like job-placements and time-to-commute. They tend to overlook the benefits of going to a college that provides exposure and helps one #thinkBIG.

4. Parents tend to compare

How often have we been compared to our siblings, neighbours, and just about every other person of our age? Every individual is unique with her innate talents. Success does not mean the same thing to everyone.

5. You don't want to live with regrets

Take chances while you can. How will you achieve something your parents haven't if you keep doing only what they have?

This video drives home the message that your college-decision should be fashioned by its implications on your future, not just your present. Good luck!

Quality in Education

Many humans are literate, but very few are educated.

We have been told since time immemorial that our education determines the quality of life we lead. But very few tell us about the importance of quality in education itself. In an ever-increasingly connected world, it is imperative that our education is reflective of the awareness of the wider environment. It is no longer sufficient to know about one's own city or country. Unlike the traditional methods to teaching, the contemporary techniques that help one understand concepts better, are more interdisciplinary and involve active discussions over real world scenarios and hands-on experiences on live projects. You can no longer succeed in a silo. You must learn to interact, learn from other perspectives and share your own thoughts on matters that affect others.

S P Jain School of Global Management makes education a holistic quest with its blended learning approach which includes simulations and immersion courses. One of the defining features of the Global MBA program at this business school is the tri-city model. Every student has the opportunity to do one semester each in Dubai, Sydney and Singapore. Studying amidst a different cultural environment very strongly reinforces our minds to accept a wider array of opinions. Ideas, after all, are best when refined through multiple brains.

For those who have significant work experience, it is not the end of learning. There is still scope to upskill and gain corporate success. The Executive MBA offered at S P Jain refines your critical thinking and analytical reasoning capabilities, helping you take effective business decisions. The course spans 15 months to a year and can also be done part time. The school proves its mettle in its rankings. Forbes has ranked the Global MBA Program in the top 1% in the world for both 2011 and 2012. The Economist and Financial Times have also recognised the value of the 12 month MBA from S P Jain by ranking it in the world's top 100 for multiple years.

The MBA curriculum covers interesting and essential topics such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, financial accounting, marketing management, corporate finance and statistics. The success that comes after quality education is evident in the placement report. As per the most recent records, the average domestic salary is more than 14 lacs per annum, with the highest crossing 23 lacs. The highest international salary is over 38 lacs.

In these times of economic uncertainty, it is prudent to enhance your knowledge and employability through a world class MBA.