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CRY CEO Ingrid Srinath Visits IIM Calcutta Campus It is not very often that you find a CEO of one of the most recognizable brands in India on campus. In this age, when newspapers and magazines are filled with stories of astronomical salaries for IIM graduates, it is also amazing to find a CEO who has a salary as much as that of fresh IIM graduates. So, there was a buzz of excitement among the students of IIM Calcutta, when two of its alumni, who had taken the less traveled path, came down to the Joka campus for a talk with the students. Ingrid Srinath, CEO, Child Relief and You (CRY) and Ila Dikshit Hukku, Director, Development Support, CRY, were on campus as part of a program organized by the Colloquia Cell. Ingrid kicked off the talk with the story of CRY. The story of how CRY began as the dream of a 25 year-old airline purser, Rippan Kapur with Rs. 50 around his mother's dining table. Filled with passion and enthusiasm, she took everyone through how CRY evolved through the years from an informal group of 6 friends, who sold greeting cards in offices at Nariman Point, to a professional NGO recognized as one of the biggest brands in India. CRY is primarily involved in raising funds for promoting welfare programs for children. Ingrid, Class of 1986 and Ila, Class of 1987, talked about how IIM Calcutta and their careers in the corporate world prepared them for the challenges they had to face at CRY. Challenges like managing a brand like no other, planning strategies, managing finances, etc. CRY is a pioneer in many respects. CRY was one of the first NGOs to hire professionals who changed the face of CRY. CRY was one of the first organizations to go into outsourcing in 2000, far before any of the other Indian corporates. All these were the result of the tremendous role that professionals from diverse areas played in CRY. Ila explained how CRY's programs have been successful in empowering children. She related how Kusuma Devi, a girl in Ghoraval village in east UP, studied up to Class 8th and started a local saving's group for women. This success story points out how CRY has been able to change the lives of children. CRY works by supporting NGOs at the grass-roots level as well as influencing policy-making at the highest levels with the Government. CRY is a grant-making foundation rather than a direct-action NGO. Ila told the students that CRY works for Indian children with the money donated by Indians in India and abroad. Contributed by - |
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