Steamrolled....!!

It's been a good day. A very good day indeed. We had this presentation on Investment Banking strategies. Aseem and I both were quite nervous about the whole thing since finance is not really our forte. Well, there were different roles in the group and we both had been nominated to be the relationship managers - people wo lead the teams when they pitch for deals.

Now, aseem's presentation was right before mine. Thinking that he was nervous (which he never is) I was like he's gonna be ok. Ok? Wrong thought. The guy rocked! The problem between me and aseem is that we have seen each other speak so much that there has to be something very very special to really talk about it. And this was exactly the thing that I had been thinking about a few days back, that either of us cannot be impressed with the other any longer as we have seen each other speaking so so many times that it is hard to see anything different (no matter how much the others rave about it). The most we can do is point out a few areas of improvement in that particular presentation or speech. But how wrong can one be! Well, I learnt today.....

As soon as he stood at the podium, one could see a leader was standing in our midst. I know this sounds quite poetic but it was true, there was an aura around this guy that had to be noticed. He started speaking and I was completely in awe. It was like I was seeing him speak for the first time. The more he spoke, the more I was admiring him(....and also shitting in my pants....! )I was right after the guy and he's my benchmark but rather unfortunately, the bar had been raised just too high today. Man....I was actually scared for the first time! If I was so impressed and hypnotized, I was wondering what the others would be experiencing including the professor....

If I were to describe him in one word - authority! He oozed authority.

I tend to not look at my presentations a lot since my strength lies in my spontaneity but because of the 'carnage' taking place at the podium, I was forced to look at the presentation just to ensure that I knew what I was going to say....those were a few horrid moments of my life! I was actually nervous!!

.....and then there were people saying "if they have aseem, we have ibrahim" and I'm like....no way, man! Not me! I don't even exist! I am going to get rogered....!

After the presentation is over, the professor (who is also the COO of a Nalanda Capital - a $400mn private equity based out of Singapore and previously a director at Merrill Lynch) was totally in awe of aseem. He went to the extent of telling aseem he was "beautiful"....I think that was basically a lack of vocabulary but it basically showed how impressed he was with aseem. Infact, he caught hold of aseem outside separately to tell him the guy was marvelous and any investment bank would be willing to hire him for what he had. That was a wonderful comment from a veteran from the industry. Damned good!

Then it was my turn. Well, it didn't go bad, I definitely saw a challenge and upped my presentation by a few notches too to match his. I am not sure if I did match him or not but most importantly felt good to see that there is some gas left in this tank. I can still raise my output if need be. I spoke better than what I have since I have come over for my MBA.

The professor's comments were heartening.....he said that if I could move around (currently I have a cast on my leg due to a fracture), I may have been as good as aseem....and this was the best compliment he could have given me today. Today, it was aseem all the way......! Coming anywhere close to him or even being associated in the same class made me feel good!

Today, I am sure all those sitting out there knew who the big daddies were ( if I may dare to include moi) ! It is a pity that this could not be witnessed by the other streams.....their loss!

I remember aseem once telling me that he hopes a day will come when he will be able to match my oratory skills....well, Aseem you not only matched it today, you surpassed it by a mile! This is not being modest or humble.....you were just too good to be matched. You beat me at my own game, dude.

Congratulations!