There is a popular saying in the corridors of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE): "You enter as a student, but you leave as a survivor." But for those who choose to step out of the classroom and into the chaotic, electrifying world of organizing college fests, the transformation is far more profound. You don't just survive; you learn to lead.

In an era where technical skills are often considered the only currency for employment, the legacy of student bodies like IEEE UVCE proves otherwise. Celebrating its Silver Jubilee, this student branch has churned out not just engineers, but CEOs, Founders, Vice Presidents, and Research Scientists. But how does staying back late to arrange chairs for an event or arguing with a sponsor over ₹5,000 translate into global corporate success? Let’s dive deep into the journey from student volunteer to global leader.

The Classroom vs. The Control Room

Engineering curricula are designed to teach you how to build things. Student organizations teach you why things fail and how to fix them in real-time. The transition often begins with a spark of curiosity. For many, like alumnus Bijil Abraham Philip (2013 Batch), the question was simple: "Will this help me get a job?"

His answer, looking back after a decade, is profound. "Membership alone won't get you a job, but the experiences you gain and the connections you build will serve you for life." In the control room of a fest like Impetus or Kagada, there is no syllabus. You are faced with ambiguity. You might have a speaker whose flight is delayed, a technical glitch in the presentation software, or a sudden lack of volunteers. These aren't theoretical problems; they are crises that require immediate leadership.

Arun Makkath, a 2004 batch alumnus who is now a Group Head of Technology at Grab, puts it perfectly: "The real world has significant ambiguity and adversity. The exposure taught me not to expect a paved road. Being able to create a successful path on your own makes you incredibly valuable to all stakeholders."

From "I Can't" to "I Did": The Confidence Shift

Public speaking is a common phobia, especially among engineering students who often prefer code to crowds. However, organizing fests forces you onto the stage. Vidhya K Pai (2015 Batch), who served as the Student Chair, recalls her early days as a Ripple Event Coordinator. It was a role that unknowingly gave her the biggest gift of her life: the confidence to speak fearlessly.

"Standing on stage, coordinating sessions, engaging with participants... it slowly chipped away my hesitation. Becoming the Chairperson felt like running my own startup inside the campus. I found myself juggling finances, asking for sponsorships, and mentoring juniors."

This "startup simulation" is unique to UVCE's culture. Unlike many private institutions where events are managed by paid agencies or faculty, at UVCE, the students run the show. They handle the money, the logistics, and the marketing. Bharath S Kulkarni, a 2014 alumnus, notes that he learned skills impossible to teach in a classroom: "Raising crucial funds from companies, meticulous logistical planning, and the sheer grit of working through the night to meet deadlines."

Crisis Management: Tales from the Trenches

If you ask any UVCE alumni about their fest memories, they won't tell you about the events that went smoothly. They will tell you about the disasters they averted.

Take the story of Nachiket Karajagi (2005 Batch). During Impetus '04, his team faced massive hurdles, including sponsors backing out at the last minute and the campus needing a massive cleanup which the students did themselves. Yet, they pulled off one of the biggest technical festivals of the time with prize money that rivaled top Bangalore colleges.

Or consider the experience of Tejas J (2011 Batch), who remembers sleeping on classroom benches and realizing that KR Circle is eerily empty at 2 AM. These experiences of shared struggle create a resilience that corporate boardrooms value highly. When a project deadline looms or a product launch goes sideways, the former fest organizer doesn't panic—they get to work.

The Art of "Jugaad" and Resourcefulness

One of the recurring themes in the 25-year history of IEEE UVCE is achieving global standards with limited resources. Suhas Chethan (2018 Batch) reflects on how handling fests with limited resources gave him the assurance that he could take on responsibilities efficiently later in life.

This resourcefulness is often termed "Jugaad"—innovative problem solving. Whether it was Rahul Prabhu (2010 Batch) working on biometrics research with limited lab facilities or the team behind CodeFury organizing a national-level hackathon virtually during the pandemic, the constraint becomes the catalyst for innovation.

The Alumni Verdict: Does it Pay Off?

It is easy to dismiss fest organization as "extra-curricular," but a look at where these student organizers are today tells a different story. They are spread across the globe, leading major tech initiatives.

Mentorship: The Invisible Ladder

No student transforms into a leader in isolation. The ecosystem at UVCE, particularly within bodies like IEEE, is held together by mentors. The name Dr. P. Deepa Shenoy appears in almost every testimonial from the last two decades. From giving up her office room for students to work late nights, to pushing hesitant freshers to write research papers, mentors play the role of the catalyst.

Krishna S (2011 Batch), now at Google DeepMind, recalls asking Dr. Shenoy if IEEE would affect his studies. Her answer changed his perspective: "She was very eloquent in explaining how IEEE would, if nothing else, actually improve my approach and attitude towards engineering as a whole."

Conclusion: Your Turn to Lead

As we look at the history of events like Impetus, Kagada, and the new initiatives like BRIDGE, the message is clear. Engineering is more than a four-year degree program; it is a training ground for life. The assignments will be forgotten, and the internal marks will become irrelevant, but the negotiation skills you learned while securing a sponsorship, the team management skills you honed while leading a committee, and the network you built will remain.

So, the next time you see a call for volunteers for a fest, don't just walk past. Sign up. It might just be the most important career move you make in college.