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About the Organization
Krishi Star’s vision is to improve lives for smallholder farmers and deliver quality food to end customers by transforming agricultural value chains. Currently, rural farmers in India are trapped in an economic environment where they have little ownership of the value chain and little access to higher margin markets. This means they have unstable and low incomes. We’re here to change that.
About the Fellowship
This year Krishi Star is proud to announce its first Fellowship Program. The 9 month program has been designed to give the successful fellows an unparalleled experience of Social Enterprise in India. The bespoke program will introduce fellows to our dynamic, fast growing start-up based in the best city in the world – Mumbai.
Unlike many Fellowships, the Krishi Star Fellowship is tailored to you. From day one your specific needs will be assessed and you’ll be given accountability so that you receive the best possible learning experience. You will choose a mentor and receive executive coaching from a Master Practitioner in NLP throughout your fellowship in areas such as: Business planning, Finance, Marketing, Rapid prototyping or Business development.
You will get hands-on field experience balanced with the exposure to Krishi Stars’ extensive and unique network. The experiential learning will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to build a professional platform for your career development.
You will work alongside a diverse and international team comprising of: Kellogg /IIMA Alumni, MNC Senior Management and established Indian business transition expert.
Through the Krishi Star Fellowship program we will attract superhero candidates with a social conscious and prepare them for a career in sustainable development. You will be between 22 and 26 years old and have a restless energy for social change. Your determined attitude, willingness to cross boundaries and creativity will secure your position on this transformational program. Your personal and professional growth will be seen by those around you and your desire to have fun will be embraced by the Krishi Star team. Your hunger for continuous learning will be met with challenging, hands-on assignments and in-time feedback. This tailored program can prepare you for your MBA or accelerate your ambition to become a world class leader of tomorrow.
What are you waiting for?
Course Structure
Your nine month bespoke program begins in August with a full induction and an analysis of your learning needs. Once on-board, you will get access to a large range of projects ranging from Market Research or Marketing Communications through to Business Strategy or Product Development. Following allocation of your mentor (choose from: Kellogg/IIM Alumni, 25 Year MNC Senior Manager & Executive coach, Social Entrepreneurs, 8 Year Indian textiles businessman) you will be given a ‘live’ assignment to get you rapidly inducted into the organisation as you take accountability for your deliverables. Once you have chosen your desired project, you will work to create the hypotheses and begin to plan along critical milestones. Market leading tools and cutting edge templates will be provided for your ease of reference and you will enjoy the creative freedom to begin your holistic journey with us.
Program Design
You will be based at our Head office in Mumbai and assigned a project based on your learning needs and personal development requirements. Your program will be a mix of high to mid priority project work, fieldwork (including market research/analysis), experiential learning and rapid prototyping, applying the latest thinking in this sector. A healthy mix of getting to know your stakeholders alongside an awareness of the problems they are facing will ensure that you gain valuable on-the-ground expertise in this area. As you begin to add new skills to your portfolio you will represent the Krishi Star brand values in all your external facing activities. Your desire for continual learning, sense of fun and authenticity will be observed through execution of your daily tasks and interactions. Small, direct, in-time feedback will coach you through the many challenges that you will face in this environment so that you emerge as a strong, proven and more aware leader.
Mentoring & Coaching
A mentor will be assigned to you based on your learning style and preference, someone who will be there throughout your journey to provide you with the benefit of their experience and support. That person who you can ask silly questions of or just sit on the beanbag and grab a coffee with, will be invaluable as you try out new ways of working and initiatives. Your own executive coach will hold your hand through the entire journey and help you to understand how your beliefs and values manifest themselves in your behaviours. You will gain valuable insights into what your ultimate purpose is in life and carve out a unique path that is right for you. Your specific goals will be addressed and your increased confidence and personal growth will be witnessed by all those around you.
Networking
You will have access to Krishi Stars’ extensive networks including top Business School Alumni/Professors, Celebrity Chefs/Restaurant owners, Government representatives, NGO Officials, Farmer groups and other Start-ups. You can attend seminars, conferences and exhibitions as per your program and represent Krishi Star at both back and front end interactions. The network you will create in the 9 months of your program will be invaluable in your desire to influence key leaders in this field. If you are looking to embark on an MBA course then this opportunity will provide you with the necessary pre work preparations.
Calendar – 9 month program
By starting in August you will have had the opportunity to reflect on your formal education, regain focus and maybe have experienced a little bit more of the world through your travels. You will be ready to embark on a life-changing journey with you at the center. A suggested schedule of events await:
Typical Schedule
August – Arrival and Orientation, Allocation of Project, Accountability, Mentor, Training Needs Analysis, Template sharing, start to have some fun!
September – Confirmation of Project deliverables and Key Milestones Agreed, Immersion, Prototype, Field trips.
October – Personal Review, Research & Analysis, Project pivot
November – Mid-term Project review (Critical Milestones), reward!
December – Networking events/activities, deep dive exploration of behaviours
January – Personal Development: Retreat (more fun)
February – Draft presentation preparation/Impact study (where appropriate)
March – Deliver Project and capture Next Steps
April – Project & Learning Review, and farewell party! (Hangover cure)
Selection Process
Our unique selection process will ensure that you are a ‘best fit’ for the organisation and will give you an opportunity to see if you like us! Candidates should be between 22-26 years old (exceptions considered) and ideally have an undergraduate degree. You must have a great sense of humour and enjoy office banter with the ability to adapt to a variety of situations including: (but not exclusively) hitch-hiking on the back of a farmer truck; being hazed (ragging); drinking all sorts of weird stuff (milk straight from a cow, salted lassi or warm beer); speaking in front of 400 people in your first week, traveling for 14 hours standard class on a train, wearing traditional Hindi costume on Thursdays, etc. etc.
- Skills: Excellent communication skills, proficient in Office/iOS, well organised and able to meet deadlines.
- Knowledge: General appreciation of the plight that farmers face in India, awareness of cultural differences, know what you are getting in to.
- Capability: Resilient, a ‘people person’, independent, adaptable, works well under pressure/in the back of a cab or on the sofa in a coffee shop!
Examples of Past Projects
- Strategy: Technology comparisons across key technologies. Your report should show how different processing technologies compare to each other so to help us in our business development. This report will inform us on how feasible setting up a unit is for different
products as well as help us in our negotiations on pricing with the manufacturers. - Marketing: Global Import/Export Landscape – Build your report describing
import/export/domestic capabilities of key countries and crops. The report will assist in
various pitches to stakeholders and also our own market research necessitates that we have a good understanding of gaps in the global supply chain for key crops/products of interest. The intent is that Krishi Star would be able to meet these gaps in the future or guide our
partners to the same. - Market Research: Onion Value Chain Evaluation – Your report will deep dive into the Onion value chain. Propose processed onion products/markets for entry. Complete competitive analysis and entry strategy following primary and secondary research.
- Operations: Supply Chain Analysis – Give your recommendations for making our supply chain / logistics more cost-effective. We want to greatly improve on our logistics and reduce costs.
- IT: CRM System – Set up a bespoke system for tracking customer relationships and
interactions. Krishi Star needs to track the customer interactions (sales) in a manner that multiple people can update at once.
Still interested? Then send your application to david@krishistar.com along with a subject line ‘Fellowship Application (Reference of Goodjobs)’ and story about why you want to be a member of Krishi Star. (Less than 500 words please) The risk averse should please skip to another opportunity and let the superstars claim their rightful place.
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