Amruth Balaji

How did Birmingham Business School shape who you are today?

The prime reason for me to choose UoB in the first place was because of a programme like FLC. Not a lot of business schools offer such an exciting programme where you are coupled with lots of other leaders and have so many learning opportunities. It essentially made the person I am today because it helped me a lot in my application process and interviews. I had so much to talk about and so much experience that I gained from the FLC.

I balanced a lot of extracurricular activities alongside my academics. The Guild of Students, for example, I was literally camped out over there all day because I was involved with so many societies. I was part of a public speaking society, which helped me present and come out of my bubble, because I was not a great public speaker. A lot of those things helped me, so the credit goes to the societies.

What do you understand a responsible leader to be?

I think leadership is often mistaken for dominating people or dominating your delegates. More often than not, it's about being compassionate, following the rules and conducting ethical leadership standards. It's about not just focusing on your goals, but considering the impact of what you're going to do and how it will impact society or the community. I think responsible business is all about doing the right thing for everyone around you, not just for yourself.

How did the Future Leaders Certificate benefit your career?

I think the FLC gave me a lot of opportunities where I was able to portray those characteristics, and I transitioned from that to who I am right now. I'm a Project Manager, so I deal with delegating work to my peers. I have a couple of graduates who sit under me and I mentor them all the time. It's about doing the right thing and making sure they are on the right path as well. When I was a graduate, I wanted someone to guide me, and for me to be in the position to guide someone is being responsible.

How would you define responsible leadership in your line of work?

I learnt a lot from my seniors in the company because I work closely with a lot of stakeholders. They've passed on so many things that I should and shouldn't do. More often than not, seniors are focused on the goals. They want to get things done, but there's another part to it. You should also enjoy the process. I've ensured that I make it enjoyable for the people around me, not just for myself. It's not just about focusing on the goals, it's about the bigger picture. At the end of the day, you're going to do your 9-5 and go home, but the relationships and impressions last. You have to be responsible about it and not just focus on yourself but the people around you. It's about maintaining those positive relationships going forward and being able to say you've actually made a positive change.