Microsoft’s young leader does Himachal ...

By: Ravish Sharma

“Big multinational companies hire only from the IITs & IIMs,” is what youths generally think. But the mindset seems to be fast changing with more number of students with their sheer hard work proving that talent does not need a brand name. The statement has proved true for this young talent from Shimla, Vikram Jeet Singh, who is among the 23 candidates selected from lakhs of engineering students from all over the country to be a Microsoft’s Young Leader this year.

Back in 2006, his first big achievement came as he emerged as a North India topper in computer science in the ISC board exams at St. Edward’s School. After that, in the very first year of engineering, he got selected as a Microsoft Student Partner. “I was the youngest person sitting among all the 31 final/pre-final year students during my first-ever All India MSP Boot Camp held at the Microsoft’s Gurgaon office in 2007,” proudly says Vikram, who has now attended various Boot Camps at Goa, Hyderabad, Bangalore & Gurgaon. Even at Microsoft, he is the youngest but yet most experienced MSP. As a MSP, he is responsible for conducting technology related seminars, promoting the .NET platform, deployment of software & email solutions, etc for various educational institutes in and around his region, which happens to be almost the whole of North India as he is the only MSP from the adjoining states. Some of the institutes he mentioned are the HP University, St. Bede’s College, SLIET-Sangrur, SVIET-Banur, IEET-Baddi, etc where he is most active.

Another big feat attached to his name is that he recently got selected as a part of the Young Leader Program, initiated by LeadCap in a joint venture with Microsoft. “I never forced him for anything; whatever he likes he can do as I have full faith in his abilities,” says his
proud father Er Satbir Singh, who is working as an assistant engineer with the HP State Electricity Board. His mother’s eyes were full of joyful tears & thanked God for all, as we spoke to her. The HP University Institute of Information Technology is proud to have him around,. “We are glad at his achievements at a young age & wish him even greater success. He has made us proud,” speaks the director of the institute.

About his future plans, Vikram disclosed that he has just completed working on a project for identification purposes that can even be regarded as a prototype for the upcoming Unique Universal Identity Card project taken up by the Government of India under the guidance of former Infosys head Nandan Nilenkani. He plans to explore his leadership skills for the upliftment of the people of North India. He says that it could be great if he can do something for the export of lesser known but healthy fruits such as pears, kiwi etc out of Himachal. While concluding, Vikram paid a silent smile and dedicated his achievements and luck to the M factor.