With 2019, a new chapter began for me. 2018 was a milestone year. Equally, an important event occurred in 2019. Suseela and I completed 25 years in our marriage. Thus, this one event is the most cherished amongst all the memories of 2019.
This post reflects upon two other memories of 2019.
Leaders of Learning
To satisfy my curiosity, I yearn to gain knowledge from different sources. In 2019, I formally enrolled in three courses.
- I successfully completed two courses of study offered by HarvardX.
- I successfully qualified Masterclass for Directors conducted by the Institute of Directors. Therefore, I am a Certified Corporate Director.
My beliefs about learning are rooted in access, exposure, and initiative. My leadership style religiously pursued the same path sprinkled with mentoring & guidance.
The Leaders of Learning course by Prof. Richard Elmore shared insights into many dimensions. The course exposes you to ‘how one learns’ structured in a framework for modes of learning. And, the corresponding modes of leadership and organization. And, finally, the modes of design where learning can thrive.
Each of these dimensions opened new windows of insights into my theories of learning and leadership. In specific, they explained many of my past endeavors to develop managers/leaders. I have refined my approach, since taking this course.
This course is for anyone interested in the learning industry. However, I believe that it is an equally useful course for any (corporate) leader.
I passed the course. But, I continue to make attempts to succeed in the course.
1st anniversary. | Recollecting the journey.
Dr. Kasichainula Kameswara Rao’s (my father) book got published in January 2019. The book is titled Atreyapuram to Mumbai Megapolis. The Exciting Journey of a Village boy.
“Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.“
An English Proverb (often quoted by my father)
With the opportunities presented by the digital world, I decided that the book should also be made available on all possible platforms. Also, Svadhit, a charitable trust distributed a few copies of the book free-of-cost.
My father’s desire was to record our family history & his experiences of life for the benefit of the next generations. Overall, the book received a very good reception. There were many comments, written & verbal, about the book that made my father contended. But, the acknowledgment from the Indian PMO‘s office was a high point. I felt it was only appropriate that the acknowledgment be the cover of this post.
I carried a few copies of the book on me during most of 2019. One of my supporting staff colleagues asked me for a copy. A few days later, he informed me that he completed reading the book. He said that he got motivated reading the story of my father’s grit, determination, & hard work leading to his eventual success. Further, he said that he was most humbled by my father’s diligence in pursuing the family values & imbibe them in his next generations. He concluded by saying that he took the liberty of sending the book back home for his family to read.
My colleague had just passed the 7th grade in formal education & could not pursue further education. Personally, that day was a high point for me.
Have a wonderful 2020!