Suraj Basnet in India
1. Please describe what the organization/company you work with does, how it is set up and where it is located?
Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Center (MMHRC/MMH) was started almost two decades ago by its charismatic founder, Dr. N. Sethuraman, who is the current Chairman. The hospital has transformed to become a major multicare facility in the state of Tamil Nadu and is by far the largest in Madurai. Today, it ranks among the best and largest hospitals in South India, has over 1500 full-time employees, and through university partnerships and runs many academic programs in nursing and health sciences and is engaged in many areas, such as of public health care and microfinance.
2. What is the organization/company doing well?
MMHRC is able to provide a highly skilled clinical workforce for health care delivery at a large scale. Because of its skilled base, it enjoys a respectable position in Tamil Nadu. It has been able to provide free and subsidized medicine for many of the poor constituents through cross subsidization and fundraising. Through foreign donations it has been able to work in the eradication of cleft lip/palate, emergency disaster planning, and many other public health and disease eradication programs.
The hospital has a sister organization in microfinance with over 250,000 members and has met with a high level of success in the area.
It is one of the biggest sources of employment in the region.
3. Where could the organization/company improve?
The senior most managers should consider making long-term strategic plans. Things are done on an ad hoc basis and this can be risky for a hospital which is experiencing competitive pressures to not have a long term version.
4. What are some aspects of the local cultural that should be understood when foreigners consider doing business in this country?
India is diverse in its offerings and Madurai is a classical example. The country has progressed immensely in the areas of technology, business and education. However, a city like Madurai is caught up in time, and the people are quite conservative in their views of marriage, caste, and male-female relationship.
On the other hand, most people were quite open to new ideas and were willing to accept the changes occurring in the city, India, and the world. People are changing their attitudes about the world.
5. What are some aspects of the local business environment (e.g. registration of company, government’s role in business, business items unique to this country) that should be understood when foreigners and locals consider doing business in this country?
India is open for foreign investment. However, for small businesses and personal entrepreneurs, the challenges are plentiful in every aspect, from language, rules, and the mentality that westerners have more wealth, and it is okay to extract anything from them, by fair or foul means. It is likely that anybody from the west gets charged a lot more for almost everything, such as taxis, shopping or for that matter, almost anything. Furthermore, because English is not the local language in Tamil Nadu, navigating around for business is difficult.
The country is open to the idea of large companies making large investments.
6. What were the direct and indirect results/deliverables as a result of your placement? Please be as specific as possible. Please provide both soft and hard examples. Hard examples include number of clients/people trained, dollars raised, people impacted, etc)
It is quite hard for me to put my work into numbers because I was working on a brand strategy project. However, apart from this very demanding project where I spent most of my time and resulted in deep insights for marketing strategy, I was able to work in many assignments: Among them:
Major Project (65-75 % of time)
o Branding study (60-70% of project)
Side Projects
a. Surveys
- Madurai Survey design for assessing consumer perception of hospital brand
- Hospital inpatient quality of service exit survey –
- Why patients don’t get their treatment here survey
b. Websites
- Developed prototype of the hospital’s website for fast content updates
- Design of the Smile Train website (www.smilemmhrc.org)
- Comprehensive website FAQ for all the hospital’s stakeholders
c. Fundraising
- Acquired permission to put charity boxes in many area retail establishments
- Assisted in public relations by attending many of the events and meeting current and prospective donors
7. Are there opportunities in this field (e.g… health, agriculture or finance) for local and international entrepreneurs?
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There are many opportunities in all these areas for international entrepreneurs. More Indians have more disposal income than ever before and the huge population mass opens business opportunities.
Questions about Personal Experience:
1. Why are you interested in international development and private sector development?
I was born and brought up in a very rural setting and feel fortunate to have access to higher education and opportunity, both in the east and west. But this privilege also comes with personal responsibility. I had been indirectly engaged in development projects. This time, I was able to take some time off from work and be actively engaged.
2. Originally, why did you want to participate in this program?
One of my friends (an exchange student at RSM from Ivey) had joined MWB and had been sharing stories and pictures of his work in Africa. I liked the work MWB was doing around the world and I wanted to be a part of that circle of MBAs who are trying to make a difference in the world.
3. What were your main challenges, both personally and professionally?
Because some of my projects were dependent on the input of my colleagues, there were times my own projects got delayed. I wanted to accomplish a lot more because I felt that I was there only for a few months.
I really enjoyed my stay in Madurai and had an excellent time at work and community. There were times I wished that I lived in a larger city where everybody I could have the personal space and freedom. Madurai has a lot of inhabitants, but still, its mentality is that of a big village. Because of my physical appearance compared to the local populace it was hard not to be conspicuous.
4. Was the monthly stipend of $1,000US/month sufficient and how, if needed, would you change the way and what MBAs Without Borders financially covers?
The money was more than sufficient for me as food and housing was already provided. At times, I wished I had just taken a new laptop that MWB had offered me.
5. What would have made this experience even better for you?
My analysis was complete on schedule and it took the executive team several weeks before they could see the presentation. Had they reviewed the project in time, more could have been achieved.
6. What advice would you like to offer future MBAs who work abroad for MBAs Without Borders?
You have your whole life ahead to work for a corporation, and postponing your desired career path for a few months won’t make such a big difference when you look at things in hindsight. If you are unable to take time out to work in international development, it is unlikely you ever will. Just make the time now and pursue your passions!!!!!!
7. Why would you recommend others to participate on MWB programs?
This experience will give you a chance to get an insider’s view of the developing world, develop goodwill between your country and your host country, between you and the people that work with you, and give you a chance to use your business and personal skills which needs the most help. You will surely make a positive impact when you roll your sleeves and get down to work.
8. What are some of your goals and aspirations (i.e. job, personal, etc), that you are planning for once this placement has concluded
I intend to complete an entrepreneurial project in Kathmandu and then pursue full-time employment in the United States.