Re-skilling will always keep a person up to date: In Conversation with BKS Prasad

Born and brought up at the Karnataka’s culture capital - Mysore, I completed my education in Engineering, began my career in the hardware industry, moved onto cellular operations and subsequently into the IT industry, both in product as well as service organizations. I worked for startups and MNC’s and have about 20 years of experience. My hobbies are - long drives during my leisure time. My family includes my wife and two daughters.

Why training? What made you take up training as a profession?

Training is not just passing on the relevant information about the certification topics, but also trying to address how the same can be implemented in the real world. Training was my passion, right from the beginning. It provides a platform to share knowledge and experience. But before sharing the experience, one should make his/her hands dirty before venturing, so that we can transmit the entire wisdom. And the other important point I would like to highlight is that it’s a learning experience as well. So by this profession one can share and gain knowledge simultaneously.

How important is it according to you for a professional to get reskilled from time-to-time?

Technology is changing every minute. To implement these technologies one should get re-skilled in the respective subject. When I say re-skill, it is not only in the technology, it can be like soft skills, management skills and the training skill itself.  Also, re-skilling will always keep a person up to date.

How important is project management training?

Project management training is vital for an individual as well for the organization. It helps to get into the detailing aspects of how to define the scope and quality for the project, how to estimate for the project activities in terms of scheduling, cost & resources, risk management, stakeholder engagement etc., Professionals are using only the organization driven tools and technologies to work on their projects. But the Project Management certification trainings like PMP® speak about the tools which are used industry wide, by considering the best practices. So I would say one should invest time and give importance to get project management trainings.

How can a project management training help a candidate in his/her career?

It helps in understanding the latest about what is happening in the industry, which can be implemented in their projects. By not only completing the trainings but also completing the certifications, say, one can be unique, reskilled, boost self-confidence and can face the challenges effortlessly.

What are the challenges that you face as a trainer?

The delegates come from different industries, skill sets, experience, culture, with different interest and expectations. As a trainer, I need to understand all these parameters within a short time (may be in a few minutes), and do my best to make the workshop a success. I would say this was one of the main challenges during my initial days.  The other challenge is that I need to convince some of the experienced delegates saying that “Please unlearn whatever you know and learn whatever we are discussing in the training program” so that they can be in sync with subject.

Can you share a couple of instances which has been an unforgettable experience for you while training?
Well, I would like to recall three unforgettable experiences. Obviously one can’t forget the first training itself, when s/he takes this up as a profession. In my case, the first workshop was about 24 delegates with experience aggregating to 170-180 years and the training was successful. My second unforgettable experience was the training program overseas, only 5 delegates (other extreme of very first batch), all from different parts of the world, which I would say was a unique experience. The third experience was that one of the trainings started as usual at 9.30 A.M and went up to 8.30 P.M in the evening without me even realizing this.