A SOUL TOUCH WITH A GO GETTER……..IN CONVERSATION WITH AKSHALI SHAH

In my pleasurable occupation of connecting to young Icons and understanding their profiles as well as their aspirations, I have come across a plethora of amazing human qualities. Refinements of the human nature, which have both humbled me and enriched me beyond compare was the result of this endeavor. It is now encouraging me to start today’s piece with two clichés which have been actualized for me during my eventful journey. First, that “the young are wise”. Chronologically with less seasons behind them, they still manage to pick up many valuable lessons from Life’s book as they transverse their journey on their often unchartered path. Second, “It is more important how you do things, not what you do” .Akshali Shah, the Scion(gender non-specific!) of Gowardhan Dairy Enterprises under the auspices of Parag Milk Foods and the future game-changer of India’s Dairy Industry is a classic example of both the above mentioned adages.

The voice on the phone was well modulated and courteous, epitomizing a great upbringing and a well rounded education. There was a hint of a smile in Akshali’s voice and conversation, spelling out a confidence and an optimism of a young achiever riding a crest of success. Yes!!!Today’s icon and a rendezvous with her was certainly going to be worth it! A caring well knit family and uncompromisingly impeccable credentials at the Krishnamurthy Foundation School, provided Akshali’s emphatic potential the headstart to life. Akshali endorses the importance of self reliance and a value based education as irreplaceable components of one’s skill set. Early in life, she was sure of joining her father’s enterprise and started preparing herself for her role ahead . She realized that observing people and assessing the manner in which they tackle several tasks, always provided a method of self education which was much needed in any achiever. Nearly eight years into the entrepreneurship realm, she admits that real life education is more sustainable than theoretical aspects. A Dairy Business which was not a business but a vocation. Lovingly, dedicatedly and traditionally nurtured with eye for every detail, namely from the name itself….Gowardhan for the Lord Shree Krishna Himself.

Asking about her mentor was like opening out the Floodgates….an outpouring of emotion, adulation and unreserved admiration came forth…… for whom Akshali has the deepest Love…..her father. It was evident from her enthusiastic talk and the beautiful lilt that she had when she spoke about her father that she plainly adores him. To her, Mr.Shah is her support system, her guide and the one person in this world whom she can turn to without hesitation. To me, I feel that the basepoint of every Icon’s Biography is one such personage who gravitates the young achiever to recognize the expanse of his or her potential and to achieve it. She was very vocal about the ethical nature of their manufacturing practices and the specific significance of the same as they work in the space of foods. Her tinkling laugh was right there on the line when I ventured into a compliment for their clever play of words as a Brand….”Go” from “Gowardhan” and of course the concept of the implication of “forward”,” progress” and “dynamism” attached to the word “GO”!!Who says “What’s in a Name?”

Akshali Shah is currently the Sr. VP- Strategy (Sales & Marketing) at Parag Milk Foods Ltd, one of India’s largest private dairy players and manufacturer of leading brands Gowardhan, GO, Topp up, Pride of Cows, Avvatar and Slurp. She has been spearheading innovation and strategy for new product development. In her current role, she is actively involved in product innovation, branding, marketing and advertising strategy, category intelligence and competitive analysis.

Akshali started as Management Trainee in the family led business which gave her cross functional exposure. This helped her gain first hand and practical experience about the sector. She spent her formative years in sales, brand management, customer marketing and understanding the dynamics of the business. She has been the torchbearer in identifying, building and implementing the concept of farm to table milk – Pride of Cows, premium quality milk. She has played a key role in revamping the corporate identity of the company and has brought in new innovation in branding, public image, marketing & advertising strategy, sales campaigns and marketing metrics.

Akshali freely admits that the initial years of her professional tenure were definitely uphill ones, what with the expected resistance from the seniors who were well ensconced in rigidity and prototypic framework. There were also rumbles of insecurities all of which Akshali handed with grace and elan which are conformational to her likeable and pleasant personality. Very soon, the entire workforce forged behind this veritable icon and the ride on the crest had begun.

Akshali is very vocal in the tremendous benefits she has got in her tenure in the MBA Program and is very grateful to her Alma Mater and the motivating teachers.She is very emphatic in stating that the real life lessons and the case study oriented assignments helped her get a “shop floor” experience which was both timely and relevant.Akshali admits to a substantial enrichment in her personal and professional growth during this programme.

There is a deep breath at the other end of the phone when I ask her about her greatest contribution to the mammoth fabric of Gowardhan……she introspects and begins to recount that reinventing the brand to match the contemporary plethora was definitely a big challenge.Additionally, recognizing the absolute reasons why the Indian Consumer is now Global, both in his choices and his preferences and trying to negate the same with the upright and uncompromising quality of Gowardhan was another very significant aspect of the growth of her company.

Her very emphatic potential as a visionary comes to the forefront when she speaks about the Banyan tree like Parag Foods under which many a fledgling career has taken its maiden flight. Parag Milk Foods Limited, established in 1992, is the largest private dairy FMCG company with a pan-India presence. They have our own manufacturing facilities with in-house technology which are strategically located at Manchar in Maharashtra and Palamaner in Andhra Pradesh.

They sell 100% cow’s milk products which are healthy and nutritious. Recognising that the dietary superiority of cow’s milk is second to none except human milk, even the name of the Company synchronises with “Go” for “Gau” in Sanskrit.Their integrated business model and strong R&D capabilities has helped them to emerge as the leader in innovation.

Their dairy farm, the Bhagyalaxmi Dairy Farm Private Limited houses more than 2,000 Holstein Friesian cows, with a mechanized milking process and uncompromisingly high standards of hygiene and sanitation.

Under the brand “Gowardhan”, they offer traditional products like Ghee, Dahi, Paneer to name a few while under brand name “Go” they offer products like cheese, UHT milk, chaas, lassi, yoghurt and others.Akshali’s mainstay is her constant quest for novel and wellness oriented products with an underlying idealism, which is as impressive as it is endearing.She expressed her very ardent desire to make available to the masses of India, the single superior nutrient, Cow’s milk, in its entire spectrum and also be instrumental for backward integration, where her Company would be the fulcrum and driving force for nurturing of the native cattle force of the country. “Pride of Cows”, the flagship brand of Parag Milk Foods was introduced with a proposition of Farm to Home concept targeted towards customers seeking premium quality cow milk. The Company also forayed into dairy based beverages with the launch of “Topp Up” and “Slurp” - a mango drink with a dash of milk. Recently the Company has also ventured into B2C segment for Whey Protein with the brand Avvatar – India’s 1st 100% vegetarian whey protein, first of its kind manufactured in India.Their goal is to become the largest dairy FMCG company that emphasizes on health and nutrition to consumers through innovation.With a young visionary like Akshali as the driving force of the company, it does not seem to be a tall order at all.

Her expertise in Information Technology & Digital Marketing has helped Parag Milk Foods Ltd. enhance their overall brand visibility on social media and build a strong digital presence. Under Akshali's leadership, Parag Milk Foods has developed a strong brand recall and engagement with its end consumers,

An impressive aspect of Akshali’s conversation was that she came across as someone who was well read and well-informed in the sphere of her subject of Dairy Science and Technology.She seems to be a person with an eye for detail, which is a very emphatic hallmark of an achiever.She stated that though as a country we have the largest number of cows, we also are a country where they are under utilized for their dairy resources.She wishes to change this picture in the years to come.The young icon is looking beyond……her company ….its aspirations and wishes to address the country, the national requirements and the “larger picture”….what an amazing maturity in someone so young!!

Akshali loves to travel and explore new destinations, a quality that she has inherited from her father. This has helped her understand global trends in the dairy industry and design products which suit Indian palates. She has been recognised as one of the “Most Influential Women” in IMPACT's 50 Most Influential Women in the Advertising, Media and Marketing industry.

Asked by me what she does when she is free….she laughs and confesses that she is a Workoholic….but when free, she is like any ordinary,lively young girl who catches moments of “me time” with friends and family…while dreaming big and painting on life’s canvas using all the kaleidoscopic hues imaginable.Go girl…..Go…..the Milky way awaits you…

Written by Dr Jyoti Vora

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Lavanya Khemka : Carving Her Niche

“Believe in yourself” is the key mantra Lavanya Khemka lives by. It is this belief and confidence in her capabilities that has helped her achieve success in a male dominated business.

Lavanya is at the helm of Eagle Business Group of Companies – a company that manufactures construction materials. However, what makes Lavanya a great example for other Women from Family Business  is being able to carve a niche in this industry that too in a timespan of only 3 years.

Having done her graduation in Psychology, she started her career with an internship of 6 months at Ernst & Young. During her college days she saw her father handling the business single headedly. He was a self-made man who had worked hard to make Eagle Business Group an established brand. It is her’s father’s perseverance, hard work and dedication that inspired Lavanya to become part of her family business. In fact, she believes that her father is her guiding force, mentor and the prime reason that she has been able to take her business to greater heights. She attributes her success to the confidence and support she has received from her family. Her parents - Mr Sushil Khemka and Mrs Chanda Khemka and her elder sister Khushboo Bansal have been a major influence and a driving force in this special journey of hers. They were the ones to support her and push her to achieve excellence in tough times.

A very interesting event that Lavanya shared was that how she ended up taking a 1 year GFMB course from S.P. Jain. Lavanya was a good student and was considering pursuing Management. She had made it through to IIM Indore for a regular MBA course. Her father suggested to her that since she wanted to be a part of her family business it would be better that she would consider a course that would help her lead their business. That is where she came across 1 year GFMB course at S.P.Jain. This proved to be an eye opener for her. It allowed her to become more aware about the financial aspects of her business. She also met like-minded people from similar family business background. Also, she applied all the concepts she learned during her course to her business and take it forward.

With a guiding hand from her father and practical knowledge she gained during GFMB, Lavanya introduced new age marketing methods into this traditional business. This was one of the most challenging phases of her journey as their business didn’t have any digital presence. Lavanya, took up this challenge and started with a small step of creating a website. Then she employed digital marketing tools to ensure that their business dominated the search results online. Lavanya successfully implemented the digital strategy for her business. Currently most of the clients are being acquired through the enquiries they receive through their website. In fact, Lavanya’s first major client L&T had reached out to them through their website and also because they were among the top results when they were searching for companies in their industry. L&T coming on board was a key moment in her entrepreneurial journey which gave her lot of confidence that she could take her business to the next level. She has also taken steps to ensure her employees are happy by introducing benefits like insurance for them. She has never hesitated to ask questions, gain more knowledge and learn about the nuances about the business. She is a firm believer in doing things without any delays and taking ownership of results without any excuses. From trying to find her feet in business to being the go to person for client interactions and negotiations, Lavanya’s personal and professional transformation has been path breaking.

Lavanya, it has been a privilege to connect with you and know about your success story. I am sure it will inspire other women entrepreneurs out there to follow their dreams and shatter any preconceived notions that society has. Also a huge shout-out to her family especially her father for supporting her in this beautiful journey of hers.

More power to you Lavanya. Best wishes for all your future endeavours. Keep rocking.  

An Architect of the Education system- Rahul Singhi

Mr. Rahul Singhi is a graduate in architecture & holds a post graduate certificate in Family Managed Business from SPJ Mumbai in 2015. He is an executive committee member of the Young Indians which is an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He’s also an Advisory Board Member of AIESEC in Jaipur, which is the world’s largest non-profit youth-run organization.

I was eager to talk to Rahul, who is an optimistic person looking for innovations to excel at work. He was extremely courteous and it was great learning about his life journey. Within a short span of time, Rahul has crossed many milestones and aims to do the best for the future. 

Rahul always believes in giving back to society. He likes to share knowledge and information with others. Having begun his journey as an Architect, he says it’s in his genes and it runs across his narrative. He did his B.Arch. in 2011.  Subsequently he did his life’s first and probably the last project where he performed the role of a draftsman and practiced his learning of Architecture to build Poornima University (2011-12) 

Rahul is inspired by his father and mentor, Ar. Shashikant Singhi who spent many years in Education system. Deeply influenced by the hard work, struggle and the dedication of his father, he thought to follow in his father’s footsteps with modern thoughts and technologies to bring a change in the Education system. In 2013, He decided to pursue Post Graduate program in Family Managed Business. Getting a Degree along with the Job is not a simple task for anyone. It requires management skills which Rahul has in plenty. 

Rahul gives immense importance to education and health. He believes in practical exposure and freedom to experiment with learning. With modern tools and technology, he wants to raise the Education and Health standards of the country. They have also started a Hospital in Jodhpur named as Medipulse Hospital for better health standards in western Rajasthan. It is amazing to watch the video of the 59^th Annual NASA Convention which was held in 2017 in Poornima University under Rahul’s stewardship. (The video is on Youtube) 

When asked about the greatest challenge and memorable moment, Rahul said that the greatest challenge was to manage his professional, personal and educational life. While pursuing FMB at SPJIMR, he was blessed to be a father. He strived to balance studies, family and work. The memorable moment shared by him brought a smile to my face. He said it was the time when he heard that he is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Jiana who is four now. Rahul likes to share his work with her taking her along with him for meetings and presentations. He treats his daughter as an adult. His daughter sometimes forces him to let her attend the meetings and do discussions! What a great inspiration to a young daughter! He thinks while spending time with his daughter, he maintains his work-life balance. 

In addition Rahul is a social media freak. He is active on all social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. He shares his ideas and thoughts through social media. He has also taken formal training in the subject. 

It is inspiring that Rahul in spite of having a packed schedule takes out time for his passions. On Sundays he would either do photography or go for a long ride. He owns the dream bike of the youth, A Harley Davidson. The longest he rode was from Jaipur to Mumbai. Apart from these two things, he is generous and kind. He does social work too. He along with the students of the University teaches students of the village areas and provide them study materials in the school named Poornima Paathshala. He is also keen on sports.

 

Rahul said that the message he would like to pass on would be to spread knowledge. He has always believed in giving what he is gifted with.

 

I am sure Rahul, we have learnt a very good message from your life journey and hope this continues as a chain for betterment of the society and the world at large.

 

After speaking to you I felt so motivated and I wish all the very best for your future. As said by you – We will surely meet on roads one day, passing by.

 

Pinkal Kothiya

WINNING HEARTS THROUGH “THE STOMACH”----THE INSPIRING SAGA OF YATIN HEGDE

I love food, gastronomy and people who are on the same page as me……hence, I was quite keen to have a telephonic rendezvous with the young icon of this month, Yatin Hegde.A polished, very cultured voice greeted me and before I knew it, a very lucid autobiographical account of a gentleman was mine to imbibe and write about. Three things struck me immediately. Yatin is a gifted and lucid speaker with clarity of thought which is noteworthy. Second, he is an extremely well sorted person who does not get swayed by the crests and troughs of Life. Third but not the least, Yatin is a man with a mission……. a soulful, committed, gastronomical mission.

Born in the traditional hospitality- sector driven family has its veritable Headstart….Yatin’s father was one of the pioneers of the classical Udipi prototype hospitality enterprises….that which colors the top of “favourite” list of delicious,wholesome and utterly hygienic eating-out experiences of the discerning Mumbaikar.The yummy South Indian concoctions served lovingly at these ‘joints’ have assumed National and in fact, Global profiles. Interestingly, the emphatic success of this genre of business enterprise also has at its fulcrum, a curious conservative approach and a slightly staid methodology of operation.

As a schoolboy, Yatin was at his father’s restaurant during his vacation and got an opportunity to learn hands-on the intricacies of the trade on the shopfloor. Today, Yatin  is profusely grateful to the strict disciplinarian of a father he has! A father, who insisted that Yatin be the most modest apprentice at the lowest rung of the hierarchy….waiting at tables,clearing the dishes and gaining firsthand the most valuable lessons of dignity of labour.He admits that he was an eager student and a fast and astute learner, hence,he was soon at the cash counter.The logistics and the financial aspects of the game were immediately no strangers to him.

He continued his education side by side, mastering people skills.His naturally affable personality and value based upbringing helped him at every step of the way.However, he started feeling thwarted by the predictability of it all.His superior intellect and analytical mind made him realize that the customer had all the winning cards in his hand and was the one who called all the shots.He realized that contemporary Indians due to their well rounded knowledge and extensively travelled profiles now had started developing adventurous palates. They were changing in their food preferences…….hence,Yatin deduced that the time had come to metamorphose.The caterpillar was poised to become a butterfly……but that is where his arduous journey began. Ironically,Yatin had an uphill task convincing his father that if they had to survive in the hospitality industry, they had to reinvent themselves.His father belonging to the Olde World cadre was neither impressed nor convinced about the potential of his ideas.However, Yatin was a man driven by purpose,diligence and single-minded focus.He finally managed to get his father to come around.

Well,well….Spirit Kitchen and Bar was born….!!As they say the rest is history.It was a concept totally different from the conservative, maybe even run- of- the- mill Udipi experience which the Hegde Clan had provided to innumerable loyal and well satisfied Mumbaikars.At the same time, there were some very fundamental similarities between the old and the new.Uncompromising quality,delicious food and a memorable eating experience were still their goals and Yatin promised that they would always be.So, then what was different??The understated faintly Colonial and utterly classy facades, the stylish decor and food ,which was the result of tireless experimentation to achieve nothing but the best.Little wonder, that now Mumbai boasts of four Spirit and Kitchen Restaurants spanning Ghatkopar to Borivli and what have you.The Icon,Yatin had ARRIVED….

He hands to his Alma mater all the credit of doing a fabulous job of putting the World skills in his kitty.He specified that the ethos of SPJ as he calls it is one of the most valuable takeaways from his MBA program.He definitely agrees that a structured MBA training was a mandatory requirement for his practical skillset.Yatin also deeply appreciates and recognizes the importance of the contacts he made with scions of other business families, by way of seniors and peers.He maintains connections with quite a few of them even now and the bridges built in the MBA days are strong and sustainable.

“What plans for the future,Yatin?”….my question drew an answer in the form of an enthusiastic guffaw and a statement hued with passionate drive and enthusiasm.”I would like to continue scaling new heights and would like the restaurants to carry a brand image synonymous with finesse,elegance and amazing food!” was his answer.

Yatin, throughout his interview had given innumerable take home messages which can be beacons to his juniors and the youth of today.As I was poised to wish this very promising young man, all the success he deserves, he invited me to his Spirit and Kitchen for a meal so gracefully that not only have I accepted but am actually looking forward to an unparalleled gastronomical experience.God bless you,Yatin….may many stomachs and hearts be satiated by your magic ladle!!

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Dr. Jyoti D. Vora ,

Msc., PhD, F.S.Sc. , MASFFBC, CME (USA), NET CLEARED, CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL FOODS SCIENTIST (FFC, USA)

MUMBAI.

 

DHANANJAY BHARTIYA: A TAILORMADE SAGA OF SUCCESS

A philosophical ethos and an innate sense of idealism are truly endearing virtues especially in the young. When I was asked to initiate a rendezvous with the scion of a very old and pioneering family in the arena of garment manufacturing, I had some preconceived notions about the young achiever whom I was slated to encounter. Some of these were reconfirmed…..a very well bred voice and manner and a perfect sense of politeness laced the greeting offered to me by Dhananjay.However, I was surprised in other quarters and agreeably so…..there was not a single trace of arrogance and in fact the self effacing undertone was particularly endearing.Dhananjay was a very easy person to talk to…a quiet confidence was evident in the entire recount…a confidence of a “doer”…

An early start to any enterprise always generates a distinct, game- changing advantage which can increase exponentially through initiative, motivation and what have you! A young tenth standard student set off on a learning voyage under the strict, uncompromising tutelage of a Grandfather some years ago. The mission was to gain Real time knowledge…..hone people skills and finally shape into a leader of a team and a driving force of a huge industry. That young man was Dhananjay.He freely admits that he was very much in awe of the intimidating personality of his grandfather and understood that the iron rod approach meted out to him would ultimately lend him the unique advantage of recognizing his own latent talent. What is admirable is that there was a capacity in Dhananjay to recognize the long term benefits of sacrificing “freedom” in a way, at the tender age of about 15 years or so. His grandfather was a stickler for perfection and ensured that Dhananjay learn the ropes of the business the hard and arduous way. He was given no benefits of being the darling child of the owner’s family and had to work his way up. He recognized the value of modesty and also of seemingly mundane tasks like banking, administration and so on. In a few days the exercise grew on him.Dhananjay was soon looking forward to spending every moment before and after school and college on the “shop- floor”. He hardly got time to admire the sublime colors of the Arabian Sea from his Marine Drive Home! Yes the metamorphosis of this So Bo youth…..with his HR College and BMS degree had begun.

Dhananjay is a constant learner; by his own admission he finds that this is one of his most significant strong points. He also is gifted with an astute nature much beyond his calling and age. Well into the thick of business, he felt that the Company needs to reinvent itself in the areas relevant to the contemporary norms of business conductance. Here he received an initial resistance from his more conservative Grandfather. However, his father and Uncle ably supported and encouraged him and soon the Garment manufacturing enterprise that the family owned was indulging in “Hedging” and other risk oriented activities…with caution and prudence.It is the result of Dhananjay’s unreserved efforts and focus that they are a name to reckon with.Dhananjay set the flag of D.Bimala Enterprises and Nechiketa Exports flying high.Their garments specially the nightwear range find pride of place in Prime stores in Italy ,Germany and Gulf Countries. They also have a Unit in Tirupur, and a base in Mumbai.

Interestingly, around the midstream of his self internship (as he calls it!), he was ignited in purpose to establish a separate and totally delinked enterprise. His company of Injection molding plastics and packaging material, named DB Technoplast, is an extremely busy set-up in Daman, conveniently close to Dhananjay’s base in Mumbai.

Asked about his MBA at the prestigious SP Jain’s Family Business Specialization, Dhananjay humbly records a deep sense of gratitude to his Alma Mater.Theoretical skills to back his hands-on knowledge, grooming of his personality to take on his real world of business and entrepreneurship and a beautifully ramified network of peers who support and nurture each other’s professional and personal needs………these are takeaways from his MBA days.

Today Dhananjay is ensconced in the place he wanted to be. Far from being complacent he plans ahead to spearhead his capture of other global markets. He wishes to nurture his two companies like a conscientious parent, learning on the job all the time. Yes, this is a Young Icon who has tailor-made his present and future quite like his bespoke garments. Yes, the attitude is Injection molded with uncompromising hardwork and dedication. Yes, Dhananjay serves as an inspiration to many. God bless him.

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                                                                                        Dr. Jyoti D. Vora ,

Msc., PhD, F.S.Sc. , MASFFBC, CME (USA), NET CLEARED, CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL FOODS SCIENTIST (FFC, USA)

MUMBAI.

 

HARJAPPUN SINGH GULATI:THE ICON WITH A MAGIC CANOPY

It is said that one can accurately place a face and personality to a voice.Well,well this I could certainly do when I connected telephonically to Harjappun Singh Gulati.A genteel, extremely courteous and sophisticated voice returned my greeting and my conversation with the Icon was underway! The first thing that struck me about Harjappun was his clarity of thought and uncanny ability to draw word portraits, as he took me through his chequered professional and personal journey.He certainly is gifted with a veritable talent of lucid communication skills. It is my belief that this is a quality which is catalyzing his sustainable success and has certainly put him ahead of his peers.

Harjappun’s story begins with his absolutely benign requirement to top up his graduation with an MBA.However, Destiny was adding an unpredictable twist to the tale! His joint family vetoed that he first do his bit from the lower most rung of the ladder. This, for the Gulati family, was an attachment to the family run Petrol Pump, under the auspices of Harjappun’s beloved Grandfather. Typical of his finesse oriented temperament and well brought up ways; he concurred unreservedly and devoted his fledging days to putting a single minded effort into turning a seemingly predictable enterprise into an innovative and forward looking platform. A sad turn of events in the passing away of his Grandfather brought Harjappun to the helm of affairs. As fate would have it, 21 year old Harjappun had to keep aside his dreams of a Management sojourn and found himself managing singlehandedly this Petrol Pump from its running methodology to sales to accounting…it was as if he was not learning Management in a Class bound Environment but in fact living its chapters in the Real World. These are lessons of life which he freely admits are always going to remain part of his conformation and made him wise beyond his years. Interestingly his extramural occupation in those days was also taking active part in his family’s hardcore business, that of Engineering anxillaries under the auspices of Power Lux. Harjappun spells out the sublime Mantra that to observe is to learn and Experience IS  the best teacher.He hardly presented his opinion in those days at family meetings, rather he enriched his already analytical mind by imbibing what the elders thought and did and how they tackled recurrent problems in their professional space.

Around that time,Harjappun face a dilemma which he solved in his characteristically calm and serene manner.He took stock that though his Bhopal based upbringing and work exposure had numerous advantages, he lacked two things in his profile.The first, was structured tutelage in the aspects of theory of Management skills and second a taste of a World outside his sheltered plethora. He decided at that point that the ambitious,relevant and very applicable program of Family Run Business Management by the Prestigious SP Jain School of Management was tailormade for him. Today Harjappun, who is tremendously proud of his Almamater, freely admits that this decision and the tenure he spent in Mumbai for his MBA are the Game changers of his life. He was delighted to discover innate aspects of his personality which were till now latent. He honed his already razor sharp skills and he came back to his homestead truly “World Ready”.His family was now very happy to present him, his rightful seat in the family fold.He was sought after for his wise and mature counseling and was lauded for his astute assessment……the “Son” had come Home!

Harjappun is today instrumental in all the diversification efforts of the Gulati family.Whether it is the innovative generation of the Canopy for extremely valuable Engineering machinery,whether it is expanding their business interests to overseas shores like Indonesia or whether it is roping in big names like Tata in their client list…..Harjappun has achieved it all.Like a true team leader, he is very enthusiastic in his adventure and hunger for newer pastures and in the days to come Power Lux would certainly scale new heights of success…..he has roped in the veritable talent of his younger brother and other family members and the story is moving towards a truly Happy ending…..or is it Happy beginning???

Take home messages from the man whose name is so beautiful that on one side it means….”Pray to Hari(the Supreme God”) and on the other side it means “Pray all the time”!!!!Well, he says treat people kindly….human resources are the most precious part of any enterprise.Second, never lose an opportunity to learn and third, always be grounded and modest.Yes….the Man with the Magic Canopy certainly has it all in place.God bless him.

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Dr. Jyoti D. Vora ,

 

 

‘If you think big , you will make it big’-The Journey of Rahul Sanghavi

‘If you think big , you will make it big’-The Journey of Rahul Sanghavi

Here is some food for thought for everyone – ‘If you think big , you will make it big’

Rahul Sanghvi, the  lead of Sanghvi Foods smilingly narrated that his father started it with a small plant of capacity 60 tonnes per day which has now swollen to a capacity of 2300 tonnes per day.

Sanghvi foods Pvt. Ltd. was established in 1990 by Mr. Dinesh Sanghvi and is currently recognised as one of the leaders in wheat flour milling in India. Sanghvi Group owes to its credit India's highest wheat grinding capacity.  Sanghvi Group started its operations under the brand name Silver Coin. The brand has now extended its product range from wheat range to Rawa, Daliya, Besan, Suji, Maida and so forth. Rahul joined his family business in 2006 after completing his studies in the U.S. Family business had caught his fascination since childhood and he dreamt of taking it to the next level. After graduation, he worked in companies to gain practical knowledge and experience. He found that the working style in US was very different from that of India’s and initially had difficulty in adapting himself to the work culture of Indian companies.

In the beginning, the company focused on wholesale market but gradually shifted their focus from wholesale to retail realizing the huge potential that a retail market entailed. The biggest challenge he faced was the shift over from wholesale to retail. He started Sales and Marketing team with small pockets like Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain and the nearby areas. It was the time when Retail Sector was at its boom and there was no major player in the market. This boosted his confidence to venture further in it.  Now the major chunk of the company’s revenue comes from retail market.

Right policies and pricing of the products helped him to cover majority of the market and command an extra price .

He strongly feels that there are humungous opportunities for expansion in this sector as a lot of  potential lies untapped. He highly recommends family owned business as he feels that there are better chances to grow in traditional business in comparison to other businesses. His astute advice to everyone ,”Take on the family legacy and make a difference”

Yash Maheshwari

Acropolis South Campus

Indore (M.P)