Sham Marol MS in Management Information Systems

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE One cannot perform better in any other field than the field of his interest, it is this maxim that urged me to adhere to my interests and think higher right from my young age. Penchant for Science and Computers was there in me since childhood. An opportunity to showcase a working rocket model based on Newton`s third law in a district level science exhibition during my schooling made my mind-boggling miracles gain life. This changed my conventional way of learning and brought in a pragmatic approach to my studies, by which I started trying out the experiments in text books on my own. Usage of MS-Excel by my father for his business and exposure to C programming in 9th grade further kindled my puerile passions for computers. At the adolescent age, I had no much knowledge about softwares and programming, but still had realized the power of computer, which would bring about a drastic change in our society, business and economy. Cracking the Common Entrance Test (CET), which is taken by over a hundred thousand students, helped me in my admission to Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology (SMVIT), Bangalore, ranked 3rd in state and 25th in India (www.sirmvit.edu). To help my dreams of learning software design, development and management come true , I chose Information Science and Engineering in my under graduation. Introduction to Management Information System and Engineering & Technology Management emphasized my learning on concepts like strategic uses of IT, customer-focused business, reengineering business processes, electronic business systems, enterprise business systems, decision support systems, enterprise and global management of IT. The subject though initially only a subject among others, my interest in this domain grew over time. In each of these concepts I learnt the principles of effective and efficient ways of doing things and visualizing IT domain from a business perspective, which captivated me. This provided a firm foundation and took me a step closer towards the field of MIS. Slowly, learning started turning into realities, as I had the habit of trying out things in the lab. I still vividly remember experimenting network implementation in student dorm by connecting computers and developing those small utility softwares and web portals. My desire to do things uniquely made me research into latest technologies to pick a project topic. Booming mobile phone technology in Indian market evoked me to use this device in larger applications. I was able to deliver the project Wireless LAN Monitoring and paper work on 3g networks and Blue ray discs. I tried my level best to use the knack for coding and adhere to the principles of MIS of developing in an effective and efficient way, which earned me a score of 192/200 and 49/50 respectively. In my early days of BE, I had got an opportunity to interview a scientist from Visweswaraya museum, Bangalore for our college magazine. National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), a community to develop and support new and future entrepreneurs, helped me to explore my knowledge in business and enterprise, which I tried out in college events like fests and theater shows to leverage marketing, budgeting and planning. This also made me eager to experience the corporate world and achieved it by clearing the interview for 12 weeks internship at Cerner Healthcare Solutions, Bangalore. Analysis and study of Cerner Document Imaging solution to implement automation framework, gave the first insight into real world projects and an award of US $ 1000. By now thoughts were going on mind to move ahead for post graduation. But, then I decided to work for a couple of years and implement the knowledge gained during BE. By this I can test where I stand and make necessary improvements during my higher studies. Moreover, the work experience would teach one to do things in a practical way and would help to understand from business perspective, which is very much required for professional specialization like MIS. I am still remembered by my placement officer for having had five job offers during my 6 th semester itself. And for the same reason, I was nominated as the placement coordinator with the responsibilities from inviting companies for recruitment to grooming the juniors for interviews, which helped me to develop an intensive network. Even though Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) offered me less monetary benefits and was far away from my home town, I decided to work for it because of its quality service across various domains, cutting edge

Sham Marol MS in Management Information Systems

technology, work culture and reputed clients including NASA and federal Government, which made me believe that CSC would be the platform to launch my career. My performance during CSC`s training made the panel of 8 people from PayPal, a reputed client of CSC to select me over 200 other trainees to work for challenging web infrastructure projects to develop development tools. Started with an analysis project and drafted a report on mm tool`s (build tool) performance by comparing with its older version for the business and architect unit. The valuable feedback helped them to redesign the tool to fine tune the performance. A design and development work on DXPT (web page rendering engine) gave a full breadth opportunity to apply my technical skills. Eventually I moved from a rank of trainee to Associate Application Developer to Software Engineer. Title was never a requisite for me, but the accretion of skill. I expressed my desire to be part of a team that had to design and implement a framework with the aim to change traditional xml coding to java coding. I was thrilled to experience this phase. During this journey, I realized that to be successful, it`s not only the skill set that matters but overall attitude as well . I soon got certified in many technologies by PayPal training center and received the privilege to become a professional trainer at PayPal`s Learning Center. I loved to accept the responsibility to nourish my juniors and new joiners, by sharing my tech and PayPal skills with them. I believe that learning from others is more effective and quickest way, which can`t be taught by any book. While conceiving that knowledge can be gained by sharing, I went an extra mile by to write the tech documents, training materials and study videos on my projects and technologies to help others understand them. I was very much inspired by PayPal`s CEO, Mr. John Donahoe`s intention to bridge the gap between technologists and customers. I started thinking How my work impacts customers and business? Even a single mistake would affect huge money transactions on paypal.com. With this realization my working style changed drastically, which put me into customer`s shoes and transformed me from an inchoate employee to an erudite professional. My awareness of technology, products, verticals and business made the upper management to see me as a potential candidate to work with a team which had to advice business unit in buying an expensive 3rd party product. I readily accepted without a second thought, as it had to deal with vendors, business managers and fiscal matters. Proper analysis (POC Proof OF Concept) of 4 web content management products and their proclivity for our requirement, technical feasibility, user friendliness and capital expense sanity check was done. It gave me a chance to utilize my decision making skills by which I rated for DAY product, it`s license costing up to $730K / 3 years. By considering overall rating, paypal bought the DAY product and development work on that same product started, which employed agile methodology (a software product development method targeted to deliver the efficient product in short time) and introduced me to project management arena and sharpened my time management skills as well. Along with my office work, I managed to take the GRE test as well. My work with American peers, their work culture and ethics influenced me a lot, especially working and learning methodology of Mr. Jason Baker, my supervisor at Austin office. This is also a strong factor for my decision to study in USA. With my communication and presentation skills, I had got a chance to present our team and products to PayPal CTO, Scott Guilfoyle. All these experiences and inclinations had made my career path clear. I was looking for a career, where technology and management are considered to be in equilibrium. After thorough research and interaction with my colleagues, I realized that I want to pursue my career in MIS. Giving back to society has been a second nature to me, be it working for Green and GIVE teams at PayPal, being part of my college alumni to help juniors, answering questions on web forum or running our own institutes. My father was deprived of quality education in his school time in his birth place Savanur, a remote town. Gradually, my desires to start a school there turned into reality. With the help of my parents, relatives and friends, I was able to start a small school there called as ISM School, a nonprofit government recognized organization. On the same line, to enhance employment opportunities, we started the Industrial Training Institute, basically an institute which helps students to learn technologies and work in small scale industries. I hold the rank of a Director for staff recruitment, teaching

Sham Marol MS in Management Information Systems

methodology and planning. I have tried my level best to implement the corporate learning like setting up yearly priorities, HR process, workflow management, staff recruitment , event & resource management etc that have yielded fruitful results. I have made a thorough research of the courseware of MS in MIS provided by <<UnIversity name>> in consultation with my seniors from an analyst to Project Manager. I am fully aware that this is the specialization and university, which would help me to boost my career and give back to the society.