Real Resume

Ashish Gokarnkar

IM | 2023 | MMM

"If who am I is what I have, and what I have is lost. Then who am I?" - I remember this text wringing and echoing in my ears since childhood, and every conscious decision I've made is to be able to live up to it. All those with whom I've had the opportunity to interact know that, for me - Work is Worship. 100 years down the line, all the awards will wither away, the entire money will evaporate, and every position that people associate themselves with will be replaced: what will remain is a legacy, and to that, I strive. I strive and hope that whenever you're sparked with a memory of me, you cherish me as someone who was able to bring a positive impact to your life. And to that, I toast to you, for the times to come.

L’s Taken

3 "thank You for Applying But..." Jobs/programs/clubs

Undergraduate Representative to the Institute Senate, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Business Analyst at McKinsey
Investment Analyst at Elevation Capital - me and my interviewer mutually concluded that with my current mindset, I'm more suited towards Private Equity rather than Venture Capital

1 Regrets I Have

There's only 1 in KGP: Not contesting for the post of Vice-President, Technology Students' Gymkhana, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

On the Bright Side

3 Things I'm Proud Of That You Won't See on a Resume

Family - to my mother who taught me English when I was 3 years old, to my grandfather who disciplined his Air Force teachings in me, to my father who taught me what is most important in life - internal values and not power/money
Hometown: Mumbai - for making me realize that I can learn more from the gully streets than any posh classroom of IIT
ex-Wing in Hall - their personalities laid the foundation over which I could build myself personally and professionally

4 Things I Have Learnt That Will Still Matter in 10 Years

There's only 1 cure for Depression: Gratefulness
A Lannister always pays his debts
A life that lives without doing anything is the same as a slow death
You have the right to work, but only for the work's sake. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive for working.

4 The Stressful Times I Overcame Valiantly

2nd year E-Cell Tenure: I was about to drop out but thankfully didn't because of 2 dear friends: Alok Kumar and Shivam Jethliya
Nomura's internship (not because of the work, but because I had a lot of emotional baggage at that time): thanks a ton to Rahul Humayun, Parth Lohomi, and Kritarth Lohomi for everything! Forever indebted and grateful <3
Placements: couldn't have done it without the emotional support from Harshvardhan Dubey, Tanveer Pund, and Shounak Mehendale
InterIIT Tech Meet 11.0: thanks to Kshitiz Khandelwal for always being there to kick my ass when I was about to sleep xD. And to 2 lovely juniors - Sankalp and Jassi whom I could rely upon whenever I had commitments

5 Small Joys and Memories I Cherish

Conversations with my roommate (Tanveer Pund) on Power, Politics, History, and Ethics
ITC chocolate rolls with my E-Cell family
When a junior greets me on the way walking
When the sun shines on my eyes in summers: sometimes it reminds me of the times I was about to end everything but instead made the final choice to live just 1 another day
Staring at my ring before making any major decision: My childhood bestfriend had given it to me saying, "bantai jab tum bada aadmi ban jaega, apun ko bhul mat jana thik!?"

5 Things I Am Looking Forward to in the Future

Going to Harvard/ Stanford/ Wharton to study Law and Management
Starting our own Investment Bank along with my dearest Finance/ Consult buddies
Taking care of atleast 10 orphan kids post-graduation along with my family. If I fail in my life, atleast I'll have made someone else's better.
Having a collection of Suits, Ties, Cufflinks, and Formal Shoes
Attending the Jackson Hole Symposium

4 Advices That Have Made a Significant Impact

Never do anything that raises 2 emotions: Revenge and Regret (Prof. Pankaj Kumar)
There is no one who will stay till the very end (MFS Canteen dada)
Never fall so much in life that you have to beg someone for sustenance (MFS Canteen dada)
I don't care if you're a Banker, tell me how many schools/orphanages will you open when you earn that authority (Mom)

4 Things I've Done That Pushed Me Out Of My Comfort Zone

Studying for IIT. I didn't know what IIT's value actually meant till 12 grade. Post-realization I shifted my entire life path and slogged for 4 months to make it here...
Burning my INR 10/- note to check if I loved money or not. It gave me a realization that honestly, I didn't. It's the aspect of managing money that is more compelling for me rather than hoarding it. With this, I decided to go for Investment Banking as 1st priority and Management Consulting as 2nd priority.
Mass-loading myself with work during lockdown with a 4-hr sleep schedule for 4 months to check if I can survive like Hon. PM Narendra Modi. I can :)
Taking up the Captaincy position in InterIIT Tech Meet. Coming from E-Cell, I've experienced a hierarchical corporate structure. Before graduating, I once wished to experience a collaborative corporate structure. The change in leadership style was a primary challenge for me to maintain. Looking back at the feedback received and the time spent, it looks like I was successful.

5 Ways I Take Care Of Myself

Rewatch an episode whenever I'm mesmerized by a scene from an anime/ series
PC Gaming rocks!
Go to someone else's room randomly and discuss choices and life paths
Call my mom and cherish her voice :D
I wish to restart journaling and meditation post-graduation; hopefully, I'll get time for it...

3 Unconventional Skills

I've often been told that I'm extremely good at writing
Pro at keyboard shortcuts. So good that I can use a computer without a mouse!
Being great with pets <3

3 Things I Want to Get Better at

Conveying emotions to people. Whenever I've to rally a mass for a cause, I wish to learn to put more zeal and energy like Erwin Smith or Adolf Hitler.
Letting things go. Focusing on the moment and present is something to learn. But I wonder, if we truly let the past go, how can one make better future decisions without the sharp sting of repentance?
Not being so serious all the time :3

15 Tv Shows, Movies, and Books I've Enjoyed

[Series] Game of Thrones - to its sophistication and life lessons
[Series] House of Cards - for teaching me corporate politics and how to make your way through it (whether its people or corporate)
[Series] Ozark - for helping me to let go of things and giving me 2 cents on how a family should work
[Anime] One Piece - never give up!
[Anime] Attack on Titan - for making me realize that there's nothing called good or bad, all's a grey
[Anime] Code Geass - passion towards Positions of Responsibility and the internal guilt of whether one's doing the right thing or not in every decision
[Movies] Cast Away - be grateful for everything you have
[Movies] Godfather - "A man who never spends time with his family can never be a real man"
[Movies] Pursuit of Happyness - "Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something."
[Books] 7 Habits of highly efficient teenagers - Mr. Saun Covey
[Books] The Difficulty of Being Good - Mr. Gurcharan Das (ex-CEO, P&G India)
[Books] Traders, Guns, and Money - Mr. Satyajit Das (ex-IB, Merrill Lynch)
[Podcasts] Joe Rogen <> Naval Ravikant: What is the meaning of life?
[Podcasts] Lex Friedman <> Manolis Kellis: Origin of Life, Humans, Ideas, Suffering, and Happiness
[Podcasts] This American Life: 129 Cars

Photo Wall

Made with in IIT Kharagpur
by Samarth, Soham, Samyak and Shivin