Mentor Story: Sanjukta Mookerjee Sahni - Cadence Scholarship Program

The Cadence Scholarship Program is the flagship CSR program of Cadence India, introduced five years ago. Many meritorious students from under-served sections of society drop out of the education system after school because of the lack of finances. The project addresses this issue by retaining such students in the academic cycle through funding and support. Cadence employees come forward to serve as mentors for these students to guide them in their studies and career aspirations. They meet their mentees regularly for them to understand their issues and help solve their problems, which help students complete their course with good marks, improve their communication skills, overcome their fears, and emerge with a great personality and positive outlook towards life.

In this edition of "Mentor Story," we meet Sanjukta Mookerjee Sahni, Senior Principal Program Manager in DSG, one of the senior mentors for the Program in Noida, and hear about her experiences and association with the Scholarship Program.

Asim: Sanjukta, how did you hear about the Cadence Scholarship Program?

Sanjukta: I received an email when the Program was rolled out a few years back, and as soon as I saw it I was keen to become part of the team of volunteers.

Asim: What prompted you to get involved?

Sanjukta: I have grown-up children and working with this age group resonates with me. Plus, being a certified life coach, I was eager to provide my support and guidance to motivate these children.

Asim: Looking at your own career, how did mentorship help you in the initial years of your working life, and how did those experiences influence they way you guided the children associated with the Program?

Sanjukta: I remember the initial year of joining a company, when I felt lost in the corporate world. During those times I learnt from some of the best mentors and guides who helped me become confident, self-aware and resilient. I knew that every interaction with the students would be a platform for learning; I was keen to learn about the challenges these students faced and how I could support these highly motivated and driven students overcome the challenges. It would be a great opportunity to share my experiences for the benefit of others.

Asim: What keeps you involved with this program year after year?

Sanjukta: Seeing the passion, commitment and drive of the students, the desire to get there and achieve their life goals, and the sheer resilience in the face of adversity of the students motivates me to remain involved. I have seen a great transformation in the students over a period of time and this in itself is a motivator; it makes one realize "anything is possible"!

Asim: What are the strategies used and challenges faced while mentoring?

Sanjukta: One needs to understand that each individual is different, and each has a set of desires, goals, and skills. I help them understand their strengths and areas of improvement.

Setting short term goals helps the students take those initial steps towards building themselves as mentally strong, determined and accomplished individuals. The focus has been to ensure they are capable of making decisions and handling the challenges that life throws at them in future.