Amit Soundalgekar empowering soft skills worldwide

 The art of communication and presenting oneself before prospective hirers/bosses is very important. You might be an all rounder when it comes to academics, but if you fail to impress your interviewer/boss with the right CV and the right words; your knowledge is of no use. Communication skills are very authoritative as they are required to go through the Group Discussion /Personal interview while chasing their dreams of landing at a leading business school of their choice. Directors, deans and professors of leading business schools, have reiterated the fact that one of the factors they see in GD/PI is how well a candidate can express himself.
















Amit Soundalgekar is an entrepreneur adept on communications and soft-skills training. Amit has a Bachelors degree in Science from GSS college Belgaum and a Post Graduate Diploma in business management from Local self GOVERNMENT. He did his schooling from Oriental School Belgaum and has corporate training experience of over 9 years. An excellent motivational speaker with a specialization on communication skills, team building and body kinesics. In addition to training for ICMIS, he is associated as a corporate trainer with Kotak Life insurance, AKP Foundries, JP Foundries, Hewlett Packard, Goldman sachs, CRISIL, GeneralMotors, Duke University ,Goodrich, Convergys,IBM,Novell, Identified as the Training partner for Linfox of Australia & other organizations.
 A Corporate Consultant with wide experience in corporate training and consulting with a range of industries, across levels and functions. Experienced in strategizing, pre-validating, designing customized training interventions and facilitating for development of skill and effective behaviors to help organizations meet defined objectives. Addressed areas of Sales Effectiveness, Customer-ism, and Behavior Management, using Classroom and Outdoor Adventure based training interventions.
 Amit has previous manufacturing experience in water treatment equipments and sales experience in the pharma industry. Through his personal and professional experiences, Amit gradually became a specialist in Negotiation skills, Project Management, Leadership programs, Focused groups, Cross culture Communication, Communication skills, Presentation skills, and Team building
Amit has been part of c2c since its inception with other expert trainers at C2C Training & Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
He has experience working with clients in Europe, Middle east, Africa, Far east. He has made presentations in Netherlands for valve Manufacturers and Amit was invited for a Management talk show on Radio Mirchi and Radio Indigo.
 Some excerpts of an interview: 
What made you take up Corporate soft skill training was it an accident or you wanted to be one?
Amit ---> It is a shear accident. Because before getting into training I was into manufacturing of water treatment equipments. I accidentally took up an assignment at the cyber college in Kolhapur. Their i met the branch manager of Kotak life insurance, who mentioned that they were looking for some trainers in Insurance. That was the beginning of a long and pleasurable journey. I always had a flair for public speaking but never did it cross my mind that I can make a career out of speaking to people. Because I started as a automotive paints seller then pharma sales and even toilet cleaning acid.
How important is communication in the field of management, according to you?
Amit ---> I feel communication is a tool to inspire people.
I would say the more articulate, patient and assertive you are, the more you can gather information and make the best out of communication. To me communication is to achieve shared understanding At the same time I always say “communication is not what is said, but what is heard and understood”. To me in management communication is a very important skill and especially kinesics. I am almost branded in Belgaum as Body Language
How can an individual overcome their spoken English and bad body language?
Amit ---> First is the willingness to better your speaking skills and then the resilience to keep reading and being bold to communicate in English. Not shying away at every learning opportunity and be willing to fail. Beyond that one technique that I suggest is that one should read a article and then try to speak out the gist of it into a recorder. Then play it for yourself,or even share it with someone whom you consider is better in language skills. Persoanly I have seen people finding amazing results for themselves.
And when it is about body language, we all are aware that a chunk of the meaning in communication is understood through body language. Be a good observer and a quick learner to adopt different postures and expressions or hand movements. I am a big fan of body language as a study. I am almost branded as Mr Body language in Belgaum. Every act or mood of an individual is easily reflected through body language. You can see through a person through his or her Body language.

Any idols that you admire?
Amit ---> I definitely admire Gandhiji for the simple fact that he was able to inspire an entire nation singlehandedly and at the same time inspired some world leaders of his own generation e.g. Nelson Mandela,Martin Luther king. To me that is amazing, being able to inspire a whole generation of leaders.
 You have given training in many corporates in India and abroad is there any difference?
Amit ---> Culture is the biggest difference. Every individual from a different culture reacts in a different way to the same information. Thats one challenge which I usually cherish. I need not stereotype my experience but it’s a general observation. Because I get to train people from various organization and at different levels. To name a few would be ABB,CRISIL,LINFOX,HEWLETT PACKARD,IBM,NOVELL. Every organization throws a different challenge in terms or organization culture and national culture.
 Do you think being in Belgaum is advantageous or otherwise?
Amit ---> It’s a definite advantage. On a very positive note I am able to devote a lot of time for myself and my family. Not spending time in traffic is the biggest advantage and my sole purpose of being in Belgaum is that I wish to share my experiences with the industry or student fraternity of Belgaum, everything that I keep learning world over.
 How was the Radio experience and speaking there?
Amit ---> My radio experience was one of a kind. Going live on air was like”I cant go wrong”.I was nervous the moment I was introduced as a management consultant and a corporate trainer. But as we progressed through the talk I received a few compliments by the editor of the show and that eased my nerves. But honestly speaking I felt like a kid getting some well deserved gift.
 How is the family support when u took this job?
Amit ---> I cannot ask for more from my family. I personally believe that the biggest sacrifice anyone makes for your success is your family. Hats of to my wife and my parents for being exceptionally supportive. I need to make a special mention that my wife having worked for a multinational herself and studied in Italy as an Italian language specialist,Understands how demanding my profession is. The best part is everybody including my brothers and their family stay involved about what I am doing,where I am traveling,and feel proud about the small things that I have achieved till date.
 You travel a lot how does your family take this?
Amit ---> I sometimes come home only to exchange my baggage and leave for another destination.
I work hard and at the first opportunity I spend most of my spare time with my family. Though they don’t complain I know I am falling short in spending some quality time with my kid,wife and parents.
 What would you say to other enthusiast trainers out there who aspire to be what you have achieved?
Amit ---> Be passionate. Being ready to learn and not hesitant to accept mistakes,will ensure that you would go a long way in being a good trainer. I am at my motivated best the moment I enter the training room.
 Your favorite place / food in Belgaum?
Amit ---> Ramkrishna ashram and in particular the room where Swami Vivekanad stayed.
As far as food in Belgaum,it cannot be any better place than my own house as I am hardly home. I love home made food but if I still need to make a choice I would say Sun n Sand,and Rasraj (a small Savaji outlet near Ushatai Gogte Grils high School).
 Your views on ITBelgaum group and its effectiveness?
Amit ---> I see IT Belgaum group gathering momentum in their activities and It Belgaum becoming a brand.
In your view is this website(AAB) doing good for Belgaumites?
Amit ---> I need to congratulate Uday on coming up with the idea of ABB. I first got to know about it through a friend of mine and then when I visited the site I felt it was worth. One other thing that I need to share is ABB has helped me know Belgaum better than ever before. I am sure most Belgaumites who visit ABB regularly share the same view.