The original post appeared on LinkedIn. You can view it below on Linkedin or scroll below for the web version.
"Being an IAS officer is somewhat akin to being a serial entrepreneur."
A few days back, I was discussing various career options with a batchmate who transitioned to civil services after running a successful startup.
Curiously, I asked him if he doesn't miss being involved in the startup ecosystem.
He replied, 'Being an IAS is akin to being a serial entrepreneur.'
Puzzled, I asked him if this is about postings at Corporations and PSUs?
"To a certain extent, but it's much more than that" He answered and then came the explanation:
[1] You start with district field postings like SDM, Collector, etc. This is like B2C startups, and as you move up in the hierarchy, you are posted as Joint Secretary, Secretary, etc., which is equivalent to B2B (or G2B and G2G).
[2] Each DM/Collector posting is like running a unicorn. The district's gross domestic product is equivalent to GMV, and the district budget can be equated to the revenue of the district (i.e. India Budget ÷ Number of districts ~ Approx $ 1 Billion per district). Assuming a revenue multiple of 10x means a decacorn.
[3] As a civil servant, you need to wear the hats of a VC (when you are sanctioning budgets for projects), an entrepreneur (strategic vision and running operations), and a fundraiser.
[4] In the "district startup", Consumers are the entire district population while customers are the working population.
[5] In startups, you are accountable to shareholders/investors. In the IAS, it's the stakeholders—citizens of the country.
However, there is one key difference, he added. Startups are all about exits (IPO/Acquisition). IAS is more about getting entry.
While I might not agree with the arguments (I could see confirmation bias in action), it definitely offered me a new perspective to look at my service!
