In a span of 40 years in the business world, I have learnt that it sometimes does not matter what you know; it also matters, who you know. And in the 21st century, this is far more important than it was.

That is why it is useful for young people, even when they are still in college to develop the spirit of networking. Because the qualities of leadership, team work, managing relationships, etc – will always come in handy in your life after school.

 Look at the case of Vikram Gandhi, who had a good academic record and when he was doing articles for CA, was elected as the world president of AISEC (the world organisation of students of economics). He took a year’s break and went to Europe to AISEC headquarters – and worked as a full time president. It gave Vikram an exposure he could never have imagined. Working with students in 50 countries! Managing a large organisation in a foreign land! It honed all his skills in networking, team working and managing relationships. After he completed CA,Vikram got admission to Harvard and after graduation, he never looked back. He is today among the highest level executives in the financial world in New York.

The late Ismail Merchant, from Mumbai who later became a famous film producer/director in Hollywood, was a contemporary of mine at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. When he spent so much time with the Sangeet Mandal and had the annual bash, inviting most of the top stars in Bollywood at that time, I thought he was wasting energy and time and not concentrating on his studies! But the Sangeet Mandal gave him an opening to Bollywood – which opened doors for him in Hollywood – to become Merchant-Ivory Productions!

There are opportunities for networking by joining the alumni associations of school and college. One can move further into joining professional associations like the Management Association or the Engineers Association or the Consultants Association. I believe that finally, if you can combine the advantages of the old world network with the convenience and long reach of the new world network, you are bound for great success in your career! Walter E Vieira is a senior management consultant.