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blog Communication | 3min Read

6 Habits of Highly Effective Communicators

Published on November 26, 2021

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6 Habits of Highly Effective Communicators

Communication – The bond builder

“Wise men speak because they have something to say.” This age-old adage defines the core characteristic of effective communicators. Communication is the basic bond builder among humans & the more effective the communication skill is, the better the bond will be.

Communication can make the difference between success & failure. The power of effective communication can motivate others to action and inspire new ways of thinking. It carries the potential to change the world.

But, can Communication Skills be developed? Yes!

Developing strong communication skills is especially essential when it comes to building a successful life. Effective communication, being a skill, can be inculcated & nurtured. It can be sharpened by emulating a few techniques, practices, and by participating in Effective Communication Programs.

Most of the effective communicators share a few basic traits among them. We list here a few points that are easy to practice, and when done right, can be life-changing.

  1. Find resources & means to evolve
  2. Prepare to Lead
  3. Curiosity
  4. Face situations
  5. Listening
  6. Emotion Control

1. Find resources & means to evolve

Effective communicators are always on the lookout to improve. They are well aware of their strengths & weaknesses. They think in advance about what they intend to accomplish with their words & plan accordingly. They find resources & means to constantly evolve. Among so many, one of the means is joining a Leadership Workshop or an Effective Communication course.

2. Prepare to Lead

Effective communicators are prepared to seize opportunities & lead. They find new avenues to add value, clarity & inspiration with their words & accelerate success.

3. Curiosity

How? Why? What? What if? Asking questions helps to understand the situation better & involves the people around. Soliciting suggestions is a great trait that helps them move ideas. Curiosity questions lead up to deeper conversations. This would also open up opportunities for a conversation about those conversations. You would need to stretch yourself on each conversation, this way you would come up with a variety of responses to make yourself clear.

4. Face situations

Effective communicators are ready and raring to face any situation. Their self-confidence gives them the ability to stay on top of any situation & work it into their favour through effective words.

5. Listening

Effective communicators do not just like to talk – they love to listen as much. Their interest in people & their opinions is just as genuine. They always want the benefit of other points of view. People like to be interacted with, not lectured to. Listening is as much a skill as communicating is.

6. Emotion Control

The most important trait of an effective communicator is emotion control. Emotions have a way of leading a person’s thought process. Anger, Sadness, Happiness, Fear have a way of finding expression through words. A great communicator must have control over their emotions. Clarity of thought leads to clarity in words.
Communicate better. Make a Difference.
Developing the ability to understand others helps you to connect better & make a lasting impression. Words have the power to influence & change the world. Be wise – speak when you have something to say.

Big Red Education and our Ivy Early Entrepreneur Program

In our entrepreneurial workshop – Ivy Early Entrepreneur, students go through the process of business development and leave the entrepreneur program having completed a business model canvas, competitive analysis, financial model, minimum viable product, and a pitch deck.

Students get an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs who are alumni of reputed universities and are experts in their respective industries.

These experts serve as coaches guiding students through the processes of developing a business concept. Risk-Taking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication &

Storytelling, Design Thinking & Innovation, and Opportunity Recognition are a few of the key learning areas of our program.

On successfully completing the entrepreneur workshop, the guaranteed internship will be extended to all the students within our partner firms and with most of the mentors teaching the program. Students will be provided with a certificate of participation by Big Red Education. This certificate can be used for your college portfolio.

Ivy Early Entrepreneur

11th – 17th Jan 2022

Idea Generation | Market Research | Design Thinking | Pitching

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Productive Things Students Can Do During The Pandemic

Published on November 25, 2021

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Productive Things Students Can Do During The Pandemic

When the pandemic struck, all of us were forced to retreat to the comfort of our homes. We spent a year being careful and social distancing. And now, with the new strain of the COVID-19 virus that has erupted in India, we might have to pass another year or so keeping safe in our homes. 

Boredom has grown quite prevalent in this era, especially in the case of teens and kids. We can’t meet our friends, go to the mall or even the park. So, in this time of utter disarray, here’s what students can do in the lockdowns:

  1. Courses/Workshops
  2. Internships
  3. Hobbies
  4. Social Work

Courses/Workshops

Courses are an extracurricular activity that help you keep boredom at bay. Choosing to learn more about a subject you’re interested in only furthers you on the path to success. You can broaden your horizons and have fun at the same time, what’s not to like? Webinars and sessions such as these allow you to learn new skills and ways of thinking, while giving you feedback on your previous shortcomings so you can improve. These courses and workshops let you engage with new people who most probably share similar interests. This way, you can make new friends and further your social skills, too. Plus, furthering your extracurriculars like this shows colleges that you’re actually interested in a subject and are serious about it.

Sparkling up your resume like this is definitely an advantage and could land you in the university of your dreams. One other possible benefit of courses is that they can help you realise whether you truly want to pursue a field of study. Knowing what your passion is is a big part of life, and these realisations could possibly help save you money and time. So, taking part in courses and workshops doesn’t only keep you busy but it also offers you multiple other benefits that are too attractive to ignore!

Internships

Internships for high school students can be considered similar to courses in terms of their benefits, but are different in their own way. An internship is an official programme that is offered by an employer. Internships let high-schoolers and college-students gain valuable work experience that would be otherwise hard to acquire at such an early age. Interns have the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge to day-to-day work experiences, first-hand, fully preparing them to enter the workforce post graduation.

Further through internships, you can explore a career path, and gain confidence in your chosen field of study. They allow you to decide whether the field is right for you and make mistakes in a safe environment, where they are expected. By developing and refining new skills that you gain during the internships, you can give yourself an edge in college applications and in the job market. Even virtually taking part in such experiences, you can learn countless things both from your superiors and your mistakes. Internships provide you with the opportunity to learn from the people around you, ask questions and impress. They are surely a great way to have fun and take advantage of the free time you have available as they will greatly aid you in the future, too.

Hobbies

Finding ways to pass your boredom need not only include extra-curricular activities. Hobbies are a way for you to creatively express what you’re feeling and enjoy your time. They allow you to take a break and carve out time to devote to what you want. Losing yourself in a good book, or immersing yourself in an artwork can keep you productive and instil you with a sense of purpose while having fun. Hobbies benefit you mentally by decluttering your mind and letting you be in the moment. They take you away from stressful thoughts and situations, and their productive nature keeps feelings of guilt at bay. They help you practice mindfulness techniques without even realising it and are a great way of keeping yourself occupied. Physical hobbies such as badminton, yoga, dancing or other sports keep you in shape and provide countless health benefits. These activities keep us active and result in increased confidence and energy levels. Lastly, hobbies can open up your world by stretching the limits of your imagination. They satisfy a curious mind and help you learn new ways to improve. They are one of the best ways to show your passion and leadership in your professional life, and hence are a very advantageous way to chill out.

Social Work

Social work is a way to not only benefit yourself, but also others. Spending even an hour a day focusing on how you give back could possibly change someone’s life. It helps you increase your emotional intelligence by exercising empathy and the practice of giving. You can build unforgettable relationships and learn essential people skills. So how exactly do we engage with it? Well, you can opt to lead a social project . This can provide you with new skills such as long-term commitment and the ability to think on the spot. Even if you only participate in one, it can be highly beneficial as you learn to overcome obstacles and work in a team. Further, doing social work enhances self-esteem as giving back and driving change can make you feel good about yourself. It gives one a sense of accomplishment and is extremely rewarding. Educating yourself in these skills at an early age cements them forever. Occupying yourself by doing social work like this helps everyone learn effectively and is an unparalleled way of passing your boredom.

There are so many things and so many ways to do them, and we’ve only listed a few. Going out there and simply looking for experiences such as the aforementioned is an important way of keeping yourself constructively busy. Co-curricular activities help in the holistic development of students and assist in developing critical skills and abilities to be successful and happy in the 21st century life and workplaces. Plus, you can have so much fun while doing them. Now, it’s your choice whether you want to succumb to boredom or try to be a busy bee.!

Big Red Education and our Ivy Early Entrepreneur Program

In our entrepreneurial workshop – Ivy Early Entrepreneur, students go through the process of business development and leave the entrepreneur program having completed a business model canvas, competitive analysis, financial model, minimum viable product, and a pitch deck.

Students get an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs who are alumni of reputed universities and are experts in their respective industries.

These experts serve as coaches guiding students through the processes of developing a business concept. Risk-Taking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication &

Storytelling, Design Thinking & Innovation, and Opportunity Recognition are a few of the key learning areas of our program.

On successfully completing the entrepreneur workshop, the guaranteed internship will be extended to all the students within our partner firms and with most of the mentors teaching the program. Students will be provided with a certificate of participation by Big Red Education. This certificate can be used for your college portfolio.

Ivy Early Entrepreneur

11th – 17th Jan 2022

Idea Generation | Market Research | Design Thinking | Pitching

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blog Leadership | 4min Read

How To Identify and Improve Leadership Skills Within Yourself

Published on November 16, 2021

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How To Identify and Improve Leadership Skills Within Yourself

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It is said that great leaders are born and not made. While the truth of this adage is certainly debatable, it is definitely true that leadership skills can be identified, inculcated and nurtured.

Leaders have the potential to influence great changes. What a leader says or does has a great impact. Good leaders always respect themselves and others. A great leader always chooses the harder right rather than an easier wrong. They take responsibility for their actions.

Though each leader is unique, successful leaders share a few common traits. These traits can be identified, developed and nurtured to create great leaders.

Initiators.

Great leaders are excellent initiators. They always strive to help others in any way they can. They proactively look for opportunities, volunteer for responsibilities and are a part of the solution.

Demonstrate a desire to do more than what your role includes. Be ready to assist in other domains. Identify issues and try to develop potential solutions.

Critical thinkers. 

Failures are inevitable. But the ability to think rationally, critically and avoid failures or rise from a setback is what sets great leaders apart. Leaders understand failures may happen, but they do not dwell on the mistakes.

Use failure as a learning opportunity and a way to improve your skills. Learn to think critically and use failure as a motivation to succeed.

Listen. Listen. Listen. 

The biggest problem is that people do not listen to understand – they listen to reply. Leaders listen more than they need to speak. This allows them to gain a better insight into the situation and determine if they need more data before making a decision.

The word ‘Listen‘ contains the same letters as the word ‘Silent.’

Motivate.

Successful people build each other up. Encouraging others to succeed is a trait of a good leader. Good leaders give credit where it’s due and avoid taking credit for others’ work.

Good leaders help others feel confident about themselves. Learn to enjoy seeing others succeed. Be a part of a process. Success is all about what you inspire others to do.

Stay Disciplined.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Leaders have to remain focused. They have to be able to work in all types of conditions without getting distracted. With self-discipline, anything can be conquered.

Discipline is the key to success. Motivation gets you going, but it is the discipline that keeps you growing.

Keep Learning. 

Learning is a continuous journey. Leaders welcome the chance to learn new skills or ideas. They are constantly on the path of updating and upgrading themselves.

Be willing to learn new things. Learn continually – there’s always one more thing to learn.

Delegate.

Delegating tasks is a vital part of being a leader. Finding the perfect person for the job is a skill that good leaders excel at. Leaders avoid trying to complete every task themselves. They ensure the perfect completion of the job.

If you are good at something, do it. If you are not good at something, find someone who is good at it and get the job done.

Conflict Resolvers.

Leaders work well with others. They have strong interpersonal skills. They effectively sniff out conflicts and snuff them out immediately. A good leader identifies discordant notes and ensures a harmonious working environment.

Play fair, but play tough. Learn to work with others.

Nurture your leadership skills

Leadership development programs help in nurturing and developing leadership skills. They help you develop your strengths and work on your weaknesses. There are various leadership development programs in India that are great places to indulge with qualified professionals. They empower you to reach your full potential.

Lead the change with Harvard YLC Leadership Conference

Youth Lead the Change is a leadership development program created by professors of the Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard School of education, and held by Harvard students. Held for students in grades 8 – 12, the program aims at empowering students and unlocking their leadership capabilities as they develop tangible solutions to global problems. Over the 7 day course, the students work in a group to understand a global issue and develop a social change project to address it. Through this program, students learn about core leadership skills such as collaboration, public speaking, time management, and self-knowledge.

The Harvard trainers also hold one-on-one sessions with students who continue to serve as mentors after the program. On finishing the program, there is an opportunity to complete mentorship for an entire year, to implement their project. Presented by The Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC), this Harvard student organization aims to provide and promote leadership development opportunities across the world.

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7 Reasons Indian Students Should Get on the Gap Year Bandwagon

Published on November 15, 2021

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7 Reasons Indian Students Should Get on the Gap Year Bandwagon

A gap year is defined as “a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between school and university or college education.”

Gap years have been all the rage since the 1960’s. Although popular in Europe, it has become popular in other developed countries like the USA, Australia, Canada, etc.

Students in developing countries, especially India, do not consider gap year as an option due to several reasons such as visa restrictions, access to funds, financial dependence on parents, etc.

However, things are changing fast and students in developing countries with their aspiration, access to funds and the internet are getting educated faster and are looking for different options before the start of their college years.

College applications in India are extremely competitive, however, the competition is concentrated on a single aspect – % of marks. Unlike in the west, where applications are evaluated on GPA, work experience, diversity, achievements, etc.

This aspect of admission in the west challenges young students to be more experimental with their lives before they go to college.

If planned well, a gap year in India can truly provide immense benefits and value that no book or school will teach you. If you get on this journey early on, it will have a profound effect on your life.

Entrepreneurs should have the gift of seeing things in the present, even if they are in the future. To start a
successful start-up three simple things are needed – An idea, people who want your idea, and a burning desire to succeed.

Our top reasons for taking a gap year:

  1. Time to think
  2. Work experience
  3. Improved performance
  4. Financial Management
  5. Learn life skills
  6. Awareness to the real world
  7. Well rounded

1. Time to think

A gap year will give you time to think about what your passion truly is. A lot of college students who don’t know what they like, end up paying for an education and realising it is too late. A gap year will help you reduce these costly mistakes both in terms of money and time. It will give you opportunities to experiment with different things. Habitually, humans tend to select short term gains over long term impact and education is no exception to this. Don’t be short sighted. Your career will span for over 35 years.

2. Work experience

A gap year will provide you with plenty of opportunities to pick up work experience. You can choose to work for fun, for social causes, to gain actual experience, to learn something new, work an internship or to find out whether you like something or not. Since you will be starting out, you will be open and flexible to a lot of new experiences.

3. Improved performance

Chances are that you have been learning all your life. A break will help you refresh and increase motivation to do well. With a plethora of new experiences under your belt you will be set apart when you decide to start college. Real life experiences will help you imagine situations far better and how to implement your learnings in a more meaningful way. 

4. Financial Management

A year is a long enough time to pick up a hobby or some other skills that will come in handy for your entire life.  Skills like language, cooking, yoga, writing, public speaking, developing a hobby can all result in happiness and/or opportunities to make money part/full time.

5. Learn life skills

A little help, timely advice and encouragement goes a long way in helping you do better. A good mentor  is a critical asset. Mentors share knowledge, valuable contacts and invaluable nuggets from their oodles  of experience that helps you hack through the thickets of start-up struggle. A mentor is your guardian  angel. Every start-up team and every seasoned entrepreneur needs one good mentor. 

6. Awareness to the real world

A gap year provides the opportunity to travel. Something that most people struggle to do once they start college or work. Travelling exposes one to different cultures, languages, problems, people, etc. that you cannot experience in the environment you grow up in. It helps increase awareness and create empathy towards different sections of the society and world in general.

7. Well rounded

With awareness and new experiences you are able to make better decisions and become a lot more considerate about problems faced by others since you might have faced the same issues during traveling or during cultural exchanges. Besides, all the experience that you have had in terms of dealing with people from different sections of the society and culture will also open you up and make you a lot more rounded as a person.

Conclusion:

While we realise that a gap year in India is quite unorthodox and not a natural path for most Indian students. We feel that there are several tangible and intangible benefits if done well. There are definitely pitfalls like everything else, which we will cover in another blog post.

However, if you set out your goals and plan this year well, it will be one of the best decisions that you would have made.

Your turn, what is your opinion about a gap year? Do you feel there are other benefits to it? Do share your thoughts in the comments below

Big Red Education And Our Entrepreneur Program

In our entrepreneurial workshop – Ivy Early Entrepreneur, students go through the process of business development and leave the entrepreneur program having completed a business model canvas, competitive analysis, financial model, minimum viable product, and a pitch deck.

Students get an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs who are alumni of reputed universities and are experts in their respective industries.

These experts serve as coaches guiding students through the processes of developing a business concept. Risk-Taking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication &

Storytelling, Design Thinking & Innovation, and Opportunity Recognition are a few of the key learning areas of our program.

On successfully completing the entrepreneur workshop, the guaranteed internship will be extended to all the students within our partner firms and with most of the mentors teaching the program. Students will be provided with a certificate of participation by Big Red Education. This certificate can be used for your college portfolio.

Ivy Early Entrepreneur

21st June – 29th June 2023

Idea Generation | Market Research | Design Thinking | Pitching

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10 Reasons Why You Need to Participate in a Model UN Conference

Published on October 22, 2021

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10 Reasons Why You Need to Participate in a Model UN Conference

What Is An MUN?

To begin with the basics,  a Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of a real United Nations convention in which students are entrusted with researching, writing, lobbying, and debating a suitable resolution to a global issue. Students assume the roles of delegates, presenters, and chairmen, representing various nations, and collaborate with students from all backgrounds to participate in conversations and find a solution to the agenda they are given.  The agendas or themes addressed at MUNs are a reflection of real-world concerns discussed at the United Nations, and vary from broad topics like religious minority’ rights to specialised topics like improving nuclear plant disaster precautions. Through these dynamic conferences you can harness not one but several of your skills. Some of which are as follows: 

  1. Expert On Global Issues
  2. Surge In Overall Confidence
  3. Expert Problem Solving Skills
  4. Logical Thinking
  5. Young Professional Diplomat
  6. Negotiation Skills
  7. Effective Communication Skills
  8. Early Network Building
  9. Professional Writing Skills
  10. Boosting College Applications

1. Expert On Global Issues

Keeping up with current events by reading news articles or watching television news programmes can be tedious at times. When you represent a nation at a ‘global’ level and engage with delegates from other countries, your understanding of the globe greatly grows. As a delegate, you are expected to conduct extensive study on your assigned nations, analysing and comprehending their foreign policies and determining which variables could impact the country’s international behaviour. Not only this, but students also grow knowledge on the local issues of various countries and cultivate into empathetic adults. This prepares them to tackle problems as well as build a strong EQ at an early age.

2. Surge In Overall Confidence

Meeting new people, engaging with new faces, working in teams to create resolutions, and expressing oneself confidently are all part of an MUN. The entire experience will increase your confidence. From the preparation for the MUN to the deliberations, arguments, and solutions made at the conference. You will feel much more at ease dealing with new people and expressing yourself freely after participating in the same. The confidence you’ll earn will aid you in future conversations where you’ll be required to explain yourself under duress. Hence, attending the MUN hosted in India by The Big Red group might be your first step towards this exciting journey. 

3. Expert Problem Solving Skills

The MUN is focused on problem-solving abilities at its heart, since it positions you at the core of an organisation tasked with resolving global concerns.  Thus, problem-solving is an art that you will get to refine from the start of the MUN, by understanding how to identify the critical components of a theme, evaluating factors to consider while contemplating on a solution, and placing it all together to come up with a final negotiated settlement that is acceptable to all parties involved.

4. Logical Thinking

Insightful analytical skills can help you overcome difficulties via analysis at any stage of life in any vocation. The MUN is an excellent place to practise analytical abilities because you will be challenged and expected to solve the issue after considering the apprehensions of other countries, previous precedents, and viable solutions in a simulated environment.

5. Young Professional Diplomat

Diplomacy, or the art of negotiation, is a tremendously useful talent to have because it applies to any meaningful interaction between the two parties, not only conversations between two countries. You will gain more training and information on how to conduct diplomatic negotiations between subgroups in a polite and result-oriented manner by participating in MUNs. Students interested in becoming professional diplomats can practise and groom themselves for the industry by participating in Model United Nations, which are a good demonstration of the lives and work of professional ambassadors.

6. Negotiation Skills

The importance of health cannot be overstated. With the obvious workload of running a fledgling start-up  comes the added buIn these conferences, students learn how to negotiate, argue, and achieve a consensus. Each student, while portraying a nation, needs to stay true to the sentiments and political stances of that country. They  must collaborate to provide answers to global issues while remaining compliant with their country’s policies. This requires good negotiation skills that you can only polish further by practicing. And for High School students, an Model UN conference might just be the best place to meet like minded people who want to learn the same skills as you. rden of hopes, aspirations and expectations of many. All this can create a very  stressful environment that has the potential to impact your health adversely. But remember, your health  is what is keeping everything afloat. Take care of your health and everything else will take care of itself.  Eat healthily, take time-offs, exercise regularly, and meditate.

7. Effective Communication Skills

It takes practice to develop effective communication skills, and MUNs are an excellent place to test and improve your abilities. You get a chance to voice your opinions and discuss them before an assembly. Because you’ll be giving several presentations throughout the MUN, you’ll have plenty of chances to hone your public speaking skills. After successful workshops on communication, The Big Red group’s MUN will help you refine your communication skills even further. 

8. Early Network Building

Attending a MUN is a great way to meet new people, network, and develop connections that will help you later on. You’ll meet fellow delegates, senior participants, organisers, co-sponsors, judges, and event chairmen at a MUN. You can expand your network for future usage by making new contacts and meeting potential mentors.

9. Professional Writing Skills

There is a hefty amount of writing involved at MUNs, including writing for speeches, writing position papers on the topic given for resolution, possible amendments, and finally, writing the resolution itself. It is different from the writing that one does in High School as it is much more formal and requires creativity. Each document that you present will require hardcore research and analysis that will prepare you for writing much longer documents and assignments at university. 

10. Boosting College Applications

MUNs are known for their excellent caliber, professional integrity, and varying degrees of difficulty, and participation in one will help you stand out when applying to colleges and/or jobs. Students who have participated in Model United Nations have been reported to receive preferential treatment from top Ivy League universities such as Yale and Harvard.

Even Indian universities (such as Liberal Arts colleges) are starting to use profile-based admissions, which give extra-curricular activities a lot of weight. Admissions committees and job recruiters look for candidates who have discipline, assertiveness, strong analytical, and problem-solving skills, all of which are demonstrated via MUN participation.

All in all, attending your first MUN in India might just be your door to success in many different arenas. All you have to do is register yourself for the biggest upcoming conference in Asia to get started!

Big Red Education and our Ivy Early Entrepreneur Program

In our entrepreneurial workshop – Ivy Early Entrepreneur, students go through the process of business development and leave the entrepreneur program having completed a business model canvas, competitive analysis, financial model, minimum viable product, and a pitch deck.

Students get an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs who are alumni of reputed universities and are experts in their respective industries.

These experts serve as coaches guiding students through the processes of developing a business concept. Risk-Taking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication &

Storytelling, Design Thinking & Innovation, and Opportunity Recognition are a few of the key learning areas of our program.

On successfully completing the entrepreneur workshop, the guaranteed internship will be extended to all the students within our partner firms and with most of the mentors teaching the program. Students will be provided with a certificate of participation by Big Red Education. This certificate can be used for your college portfolio.

Ivy Early Entrepreneur

11th – 17th Jan 2022

Idea Generation | Market Research | Design Thinking | Pitching

Learn More

Editor's Pick