Bridging the Gap: From Campus Comfort to Corporate Reality

The School of Business and Management (BBA) at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus organised an Alumni Interaction Session titled “From Campus to Corporate: Navigating Early Career Challenges” on 3 November 2025 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Auditorium of the Management Block. Conducted as part of the academic year 2025–2026 activities, the session aimed to connect first-year BBA BA and BBA Honours students with the alumni community, thereby supporting the University’s objective of enhancing student preparedness, industry exposure, and holistic grooming. The event aligned with the institution’s continued efforts to integrate real-world insights into the academic experience and was organised under the leadership of faculty coordinators Dr. Akshaya AVR, Dr. Monica L, and Dr. Biplab Roy, with the support of six student volunteers.

The invited speaker for the session was Mr. Raghuram Puvvada, an alumnus of the BBA Business Analytics programme from the 2022 batch. A three-time Academic Merit Scholarship recipient and former Digital Designer for CSA and several campus events, he now serves as a Junior Associate (Executive Grade) at Deloitte. His professional role in Master Data Management and Procure-to-Pay operations provided students with a relevant and timely perspective on early career expectations within the corporate sector. Drawing from his personal journey—from his academic interests in Finance and HR to his transition into a corporate professional—Mr. Raghuram narrated the milestones that shaped his development while studying at CHRIST. He reflected on the importance of discipline, participation in campus initiatives, and the practical exposure gained during college, which collectively strengthened his readiness for the workplace.

A significant portion of the interaction centred around the role of LinkedIn in today’s professional ecosystem. Mr. Raghuram emphasised the importance of building a strong digital presence, optimising one’s profile, networking strategically, and leveraging the platform to explore opportunities. He also highlighted the growing significance of personal branding, the need for continuous learning, and the value of soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and professional etiquette during the initial years of one’s career. His guidance offered students an understanding of the expectations they are likely to encounter as they prepare to step into the corporate world.

Despite the relevance of the content shared, the session became largely one-sided over time, with the alumnus speaking extensively and students remaining passive listeners. The lack of interactive components or structured Q&A limited active engagement, resulting in reduced dialogue and fewer opportunities for students to participate. While the session succeeded in delivering valuable insights, the absence of interactive elements created a gap between the intended objective of a two-way exchange and the actual level of student involvement.

Nevertheless, the event proved beneficial in helping students gain a clearer understanding of early career challenges and strategies to address them. They were exposed to the lived experiences of a recent graduate, the realities of corporate culture, and the significance of professional networking. With 160 students in attendance, the event served as an important bridge between academic learning and industry expectations. It also highlighted the need for future alumni sessions to incorporate more participatory formats to enrich student engagement and enhance the overall learning experience.