Ananya Muralidhar
Role: OPERATIONS AND MARKETING HEAD
Duration: April 2020 - April 2021
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STUDENT VOLUNTEER
Duration: September 2018 - March 2021
In my dual role as the Operations and Marketing Head, I wore many hats to ensure the seamless orchestration of our club's activities.
On the operations front, I was responsible for the logistical arrangements and smooth running of the club's activities, administrative tasks and forming partnerships with other clubs and communities within or outside RIT.
As for marketing, often seen as the cell's public relations arm, my chief responsibility was to craft a compelling narrative around our events and activities. By promoting the club's vision and mission, I endeavored to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm among RIT's community. It demanded an innate understanding of our college's pulse, a drive to make an impact, and an innovative mindset to continuously think outside the box.
INITIATIVES
India's First Data Analytics Hackathon on the Plastic Crisis
Collaborating with “WasteKnot,” the event aimed to uncover transformative solutions to plastic pollution and served as a confluence of thought leaders and change-makers. Conducted with the support of KSPCB Wipro and AMIMED CURA in April 2021
The event saw participation of over 95 teams from all over India.
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Benefits for the participants:
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Winners presented their ideas at UC Berkeley and the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
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Incubation and Support from Wipro, KSPCB and ELCITA
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Opportunity to secure Government Grants, enabling them to transform their concepts into tangible solutions.
Incubation Centre
I played a pivotal role in launching our state-of-the-art Incubation Center, conducting research regarding potential startups, and assisting in the logistical aspects such as space planning and resource allocation.
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Here, I encountered a vast spectrum of innovators, from emerging startup enthusiasts to recognized industry stalwarts. Their stories, filled with trials, triumphs, and tenacity, not only enriched my understanding of translating research from lab to market but inspired me to fearlessly pursue any venture I was passionate about.
Outreach
I outlined the cell’s Marketing and Public Relations strategies, curating content with compelling narratives, informative articles, and visually stunning materials that deeply resonated with our audience. Alongside this, my team and I orchestrated various campaigns including games, treasure hunts and captivating flashmob events, creating memorable and shareable moments that showcased our mission.
I utilized analytics to track engagement, identify trends, and refine our strategies for maximum impact, leading to the expansion of our social media presence with a 120% increase in our outreach within a year (2020-2021) of becoming the marketing head of the club.
Empyreal
I led the execution and publicity of our flagship intercollegiate fest, Empyreal, held in celebration of NEN (National Entrepreneurship Network) - E week. Spanning an exhilarating week, the events drew a diverse array of events attracting over 500+ students and budding entrepreneurs from various colleges across the state.
Highlights
Business Plan Competitions
Aspiring entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of judges, which included angel investors. Winning proposals secured valuable funding and mentorship, helping transform and grow their ideas into viable startups.
Networking Opportunities
Throughout the fest, participants engaged in networking sessions, forming connections with mentors, investors, and fellow entrepreneurs. These connections led to numerous collaborations, partnerships, and long-lasting relationships, with some resulting startups even being hosted in our State of the Art Incubation Center today!
My Story Sessions
Seasoned entrepreneurs were invtied to share their journeys, replete with their struggles, successes, and their takeaways from those experiences giving attendees a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial path, inspiration to overcome challenges, and an opportunity to make personal connections with these industry veterans.
Virtual Stock Market Competition
This 3-day event provided financial enthusiasts a platform to engage in simulated stock trading, learning to make strategic investment decisions. They competed with peers, analyzed market trends, and experienced the thrill of financial decision-making, potentially discover an interest in investment and finance as a career path.
Educational Workshops
Coming from a technical institute at the heart of the Silicon Valley of India, our institute was often teeming with innovation. To help my fellow students safeguard their intellectual property, I organized workshops on IPR and Patent Filing to help students gain practical knowledge on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and the legal nuances of protecting their innovative ideas.
Reflection
The opportunity to lead, create, and contribute within the Entrepreneurship Development Cell was a journey of learning, growth, and profound impact. The innovative projects and the amplification of our presence not only fortified the cell’s influence but also ignited entrepreneurial fervor within the MSRIT community, inspiring many to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
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The experience has been a cornerstone in my development as a leader and a changemaker, reinforcing my commitment to innovation, collaborative growth, and entrepreneurial excellence. Looking ahead, I am deeply interested in exploring the idea of catalyzing sustainable, lasting change through social entrepreneurship.