Interviewing A Vibrant Student
Ms. Shweta Vamsee | III BBA, MCC
Just a couple of days ago, Ms. Shweta from III BBA, MCC, had approached me for an LoR for her Higher Studies Abroad. I was perusing her portfolio, and I was highly impressed with her array of skills, that I asked her if I can do an interview with her on Wednesday, 23rd September 2026. And she gladly agreed.
So today, at 11.45 am, I was so happy to interview Ms. Shweta at the Office of International Programmes.
[Well, Shweta Vamsee CH is doing her third year BBA in MCC. Known for her effective communication and leadership skills, and a polyglot herself, she has already made a professional impact by doing a lot of internships, successfully training fellow interns, managing department events, and authoring a published academic chapter on workplace equity]
Here goes vignettes from the interview today -
Sweta, I am so happy to interview you this afternoon - or rather, this morning, right?
Sweta: Almost 12:00, Sir!
Looking back at your journey so far at Madras Christian College (MCC), what is one truly memorable moment for you?
Sweta: I have had a wide range of experiences as a student at MCC. When I first joined, I wasn’t very familiar with all the activities happening on campus. It was only in my second year that I realised I had to take the initiative and actively participate. That’s when I learned about the student exchange programme in France, which turned out to be a fantastic experience.
Initially, I never thought I would have the opportunity to go abroad, assuming my family wasn’t financially stable enough. But when I learned about the programme, I decided to try. For the next 15 days, I was completely absorbed in researching and applying for scholarships. That was my most memorable experience because I held onto the dream that, with time and effort, financial status doesn’t have to be a barrier. Through our college, we really can reach great heights. That realisation will always stick with me.
Looking at your area of study, your trajectory is both surprising and interesting. You transitioned from being a Bio-Maths student in higher secondary school with good grades to pursuing a BBA. Because I was also a Maths-Bio student, I know full well that it’s a completely different ball game. What prompted that sudden shift?
Sweta: My childhood passion was actually medicine. Biology was my favorite subject, and I loved science. However, as I grew older and understood my family’s financial situation - and being the eldest daughter—I realised I had to take on financial responsibilities quickly. But I didn’t give up easily. I didn’t want to just abandon my dreams due to finances. I took a gap year after 12th grade and secured a free government seat in dentistry, but I wasn’t very interested in pursuing a BDS. I also tried JEE and got a seat at an NIT, but it was in a far corner of India, so I chose not to go.
So you made the choice not to go there?
Sweta: Yes, sir. It was a chemistry-oriented track, and my main interest was biology. I had to choose between strictly following that specific passion or becoming a breadwinner for my family. I decided that passion can be pursued anywhere, at any time. Apart from science, I’ve always had a strong interest in teaching. So, I haven’t abandoned my passion at all. I still tutor students in grades 9 through 12 in science - especially biology, chemistry, and physics.
It’s good to hear that. So you also do part-time teaching?
Sweta: Yes, I’m a part-time tutor. Through that, my passion stays alive; I haven’t lost touch with the sciences. At the same time, studying BBA allowed me to tutor students in arts, accounts, and business studies as well. I realised I could teach a wide variety of subjects for 11th and 12th-grade students.
As for why I chose BBA instead of a B.Sc. in Zoology or Biology - I felt those fields were very subject-oriented and might limit my career scope primarily to full-time teaching. I was certain I wanted to keep teaching as a fulfilling hobby rather than a full-time career. Right now, I have a strong interest in IT, so I might pursue an M.Sc. in IT and eventually transition into the information technology sector. BBA gave me the flexibility to explore these diverse interests.
That’s great, Sweta. If I were to ask you about one academic endeavor or extracurricular activity you’ve done at MCC that you are most proud of, what would it be?
Sweta: I would personally say public speaking. It’s something I’ve been doing since my school days.
Wonderful. When did you first discover this skill?
Sweta: During high school. Like any other student, I was nervous to speak in front of people. But one thing I found unique about myself was that while others might freeze and stop, I wouldn’t. Even with fear, I still went up there and started speaking. What turned public speaking into a real skill for me was simply choosing to step forward and pick up the mic. I started anchoring events in school, which eventually helped me conquer my stage fright.
I participated in every competition that came my way - elocution, block and tackle, you name it. Whether I won or lost didn’t matter; I just participated. All that experience on stage gave me the confidence I use today as a part-time content creator. Now, I speak on camera!
Wow! So you are creating content now?
Sweta: Yes, I post content on YouTube and Instagram. Alongside speaking on camera, I still take on anchoring gigs. Here at MCC, I recently anchored a farewell event. I also volunteer for paper and business presentations. Whenever there’s an opportunity to present, I’m usually the first to step forward. Public speaking is definitely my core strength.
Wonderful. I’m so happy you discovered this early on and continue to pursue it. Speaking of presentations and publications, I saw that you recently authored a chapter on "Women, Work, and Workplace Equity." What were some of your key discoveries while writing that paper?
Sweta: Honestly, I had been in a bit of a shell regarding the corporate world. I assumed women had achieved equal rights and were universally thriving. But as I researched this paper, I discovered a starkly different reality. Even in prominent, forward-thinking tech companies, cases of workplace harassment still occur every year.
It also made me reflect on societal attitudes. People often speak very progressively in public discussions, but private realities differ. A friend of mine is getting married, and when I asked her about the traditional ‘bride-seeking visit’ (ponnu paaka varum pothu), she told me, “They gave me permission to work, so I’m going ahead with the marriage.” I was shocked. We are living in 2026, and women are still being “granted permission” to work by their future in-laws.
Even after entering the workplace, women face immense challenges, from male dominance to harassment. Another major issue I highlighted was the lack of menstrual leave. Women are expected to work exactly like men, often pushing through severe pain and abnormal cramps because leaves aren’t granted. If I ever have the opportunity to be part of a policymaking committee, I would strongly advocate for at least two days of mandatory menstrual leave. Health should always come first. The persistence of these issues - especially harassment in modern environments where perpetrators think they can get away with it - truly surprised me. That realisation formed the essence of my paper.
That is incredibly insightful. Now, moving to your internship experience in HR - what were your biggest takeaways? What did you learn?
Sweta: I’d say HR is meant for people who genuinely love communicating. During my internship, my first task was making calls. Even though I’m a good communicator, I was initially nervous because I was interviewing professionals with much more experience than I had.
However, I quickly learned that in the corporate field, HR naturally commands respect, regardless of your age or qualifications. More importantly, I realised that HR can change lives. Your hiring decisions can transform both a company’s trajectory and an individual’s livelihood.
I also learned a valuable lesson about evaluating talent. Communication skills alone shouldn’t be the sole metric for judging a candidate. I saw individuals who struggled to communicate flawlessly but were absolutely brilliant at their core work. A skilled HR professional needs to look beyond the resume and basic interview polish to identify a person’s true, innermost capabilities. Communication can always be developed over time, but raw ability and teamwork are what truly drive a career forward. Developing that discerning eye is the skill I admire most in HR.
Absolutely. The skill of the HR professional is critical in drawing out good talent. You’ve coordinated a lot of events in your department and completed several internships. How do you think your college environment helped you develop these multitasking abilities?
Sweta: The environment and ambience at MCC have helped me immensely. Through coordinating various events, I learned that in teamwork, your own perspective alone isn’t enough. You have to absorb countless ideas and consider situations from multiple angles.
You have to be open to new perspectives, right?
Sweta: Exactly! You have to weigh everyone’s opinions and reach a consensus that satisfies the group. That is probably the hardest part of event management - aligning conflicting ideas so everyone feels heard. Taking leadership in that environment is crucial because often, people hesitate to step up. I learned to take that step forward, synthesise everyone’s ideas, reach a conclusion, and effectively communicate it to the higher authorities. I essentially became a bridge between the students and the department.
Through all of this, I learned immense patience, which is the bedrock of teamwork. It gave me a preview of what corporate teamwork will look like. I also learned conflict resolution. When working in groups, there will inevitably be disagreements, back-talk, or gossip. But as a professional, it’s entirely about how you handle those situations without taking things personally. At the end of the day, success is about managing dynamics professionally to ensure the work runs smoothly.
Right. Those are two very important skills: handling people patiently and handling situations professionally. Now, looking at the data-driven world we inhabit today, how do you think decision-making will evolve in the future? Do you think it will rely more on human intuition, or will it become entirely data-driven?
Sweta: I believe the world is already heavily data-driven. In the next five to ten years, with the exponential rise of AI and immediate access to information, it will only deepen. Even now, if I need to make a decision, I often consult AI tools like ChatGPT for data. Once I see the statistical breakdowns - like “80% prefer this, 20% prefer that” - my thinking is naturally influenced by those numbers. So, even when a human is ultimately making the decision, data and AI are undeniably shaping that intuition. Data is definitely going to play the leading role moving forward.
Great point. Earlier, you mentioned that during your HR internship, you had to train others. What were the major hurdles you faced in that process? Training people can be quite challenging.
Sweta: Yes, definitely. The biggest challenge was adapting to different “learning phases.” Everyone absorbs information differently. I might grasp a concept quickly, but when I tried to teach it, others might struggle. I often had to start over and explain things much more elaborately and patiently. Adapting to each individual’s unique learning style was difficult.
However, the beautiful thing about teaching is how much you learn yourself. Whenever I hit a roadblock while explaining something, clarifying that doubt deepened my own understanding. Teaching others genuinely increases your own knowledge, and that’s how I became more confident and experienced in those concepts.
Right. Now, outside of your academic and professional spheres, if I were to ask you to speak on a topic for 30 minutes, what would it be?
Sweta: For 30 minutes…? Probably cats!
Oh, okay! Why cats?
Sweta: I just personally love cats. I would talk about the scientific and psychological benefits of having them. A lot of people struggle with depression and loneliness, and getting a cat or a dog can significantly relieve that stress. Pet animals, and cats in particular, would definitely be my go-to impromptu speech topic!
How has your own cat changed your life?
Sweta: It’s been two years since I adopted my cat. Whenever I get stressed, I just spend 20 or 30 minutes playing with him, and I completely forget about whatever was bothering me. They are natural stress busters. You don’t always need an expensive therapist - sometimes you just need to play with a pet to feel happy again. Mental health is so vital in our day-to-day lives, and having a pet is such a practical way to relieve stress.
So cats are ultimate stress-busters?
Sweta: Yes, absolutely! They are a wonderful addition to anyone’s life.
That’s lovely. I have two last questions for you. You juggle so many things beautifully - your passions, professional internships, personal commitments, regular college classes, and part-time teaching. How do you manage your time so effectively, and how do you prevent burnout?
Sweta: Time management is crucial, but I do still get burnt out sometimes! When that happens, I allow myself to just sit and do nothing for a while. But the number one key to my routine is having a strict timetable.
Wow! So you map out a timetable?
Sweta: Yes, I do. I make sure my days are productive, but I also schedule enough rest time. I don’t work all seven days; I carve out time specifically for myself. I take tuitions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Saturdays are my creative days - I shoot three to four videos for the whole week so I can post them on alternate days.
When I do internships, I schedule them for the mornings to maximise that time. (Though currently, in my third year, I’m focusing more on project reports than internships.) I’ve also started hitting the gym. It’s all about allocation - I have time for everything because I make sure nothing overlaps. If unexpected work comes up, I honestly assess my schedule and rearrange things.
Most importantly, I give myself one dedicated rest day. Every Friday, I turn off my alarms and just sleep in. I need that rest to reboot my energy. On other days, I stick to the schedule. I also make sure to go out, enjoy some alone time, and take advantage of holidays to simply relax.
If you could give one piece of advice to your juniors who look up to you for inspiration, what would it be?
Sweta: I would tell them to just go out and explore every single opportunity available to them. Whether you think you will succeed or fail, you must try it to the very end.
And today you are off to explore another great opportunity this afternoon: Tea with the British High Commissioner. That is a wonderful honour and a great representation of MCC. It was such a joy interacting with you, Sweta. We wish you the absolute best in your future career.
Sweta: Thank you so much, Sir.
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