IUT gears up for Battle of Minds 2014

Many things run through the minds of fresh graduates when they have to make that leap from being a student to being a professional; confusion and uncertainty is something everyone faces when they make that transition, and it is not always easy. It is only natural to feel lost and undecided, because the path chosen leads how someone's career starts. And to look out for the best graduate minds from sixteen top universities, the premier business competition of the country, Battle of Minds returned for its eleventh edition this September.

Battle of Minds 2014 is not just a student competition but a primary tool for recruiting the people best fit for different roles in entry levels. Through the past ten years, the competition has encouraged many fresh graduates to bring out their dynamic selves and face the real business challenges at BAT. Success of student competitions like Battle of Minds have encouraged inception of similar competitions in different countries as well. In the three rounds, it tests personal competency, teamwork and ability to handle challenging situations to bring out the best in individuals.

Along with successful alumni from the prestigious engineering school, S.M. Khaled, the Head of Supply Chain, and Adrita Datta, Talent Manager at British American Tobacco (BAT), went to the IUT campus on September 25 to inspire the young leaders to participate in the competition.
The road show started with Professor Zahidul Islam, Faculty of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, welcoming back the alumni and introducing the visitors to the students, encouraging them to participate and prove themselves on such a massive platform. S.M Khaled, Head of Supply Chain, then took over and shared his early experience as a fresh engineering graduate, transitioning into a successful professional, and how he grabbed his chances and took risks that defined his career. Discussing about the choices that graduates have to make, he said “Insecurity and uncertainty is only natural when you are faced with such a massive change in your life. But it's a chance to define your stance in life and do something which truly satisfies you.” He encouraged the engineering students to experience more, be open to new ideas and challenge set rules, because that's not just how things are done, that's how true leaders are made. He ended his inspiring note by saying, “Fasten your seatbelts guys, be prepared for the surprises ahead and if you work with passion, nothing is impossible.”
Adrita Datta, Talent Manager at BAT, took the stage next and elaborated, “Whether you pick BAT as your employer or not, the competition is a transition vessel during the trying period, and tests your attitude and perseverance as an individual, and this is vital because, because while skills may be learnt, attitude shapes the way for the future.”

Battle of Minds and IUT alumni from past years, Shihab Nayeem Ahmed, Nabil Rahaman and Mabroor Wassey, were also present in the session, sharing their experiences about the challenging corporate world and the transitions they had to make from university to the professional world.  The session ended with an open floor for question answer and the students got the opportunity to ask questions about the challenges ahead, Battle of Minds and beyond.