Learning to Listen: The Top 2 Takeaways from NLL - Genesis

As a to-be first-year business school student, I had the privilege of being a Nestlé Leadership League - Genesis finalist . With over 5,000 students from top business schools across India, I was thrilled (and a bit lucky) to be one of the 48 finalists selected through a rigorous online assessment and video pitch submission process (sometimes these shortlists have a touch of randomness).

You can check out my video pitch submission here.

The case study round presented a real-world brand problem, Purina, and tasked us with developing innovative solutions within 45 minutes. I worked with a group, brainstorming ideas and leveraging each other’s strengths to generate a comprehensive pitch (or whatever we could come up with in 45 minutes xD). The experience tested our problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work under pressure.

The experience was invaluable, and I walked away with two significant learnings that I’d like to share with you.

One of the most important takeaways was the importance of letting others speak and share their ideas. In the heat of the competition, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to present your own points and opinions (as did I). However, I learned that by allowing others to share their perspectives, you can gain valuable insights and build stronger relationships with your team members.

The second lesson I learned is the significance of refraining from dismissing someone else’s perspective. As a naturally competitive person, I initially felt the urge to counter opposing views with my own arguments. However, I’ve come to understand that this approach can be detrimental and may lead to miscommunication. Instead, I’ve discovered the importance of actively listening and acknowledging the viewpoints of others, even if they differ from my own.

I’m grateful that I was able to learn these lessons at the beginning of my b-school journey. By not letting others speak and share their ideas, I might have missed out on potential solutions and perspectives that could have benefited my team. And by dismissing someone else’s point, I might have created unnecessary miscommunication.

But now, I’ve learned the importance of active listening and acknowledging others’ perspectives. If you’re looking to avoid similar mistakes, take my experience as a cautionary tale.

Trust me, I learned it the hard way, but you don’t have to.

And of course, the Nestlé team did a wonderful job with the photos. Here are some shots ft. me: