tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061696774651763282024-03-05T18:09:46.547-08:00AIFMB ChampsSujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-22457033588684451352018-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:002018-05-13T10:46:10.487-07:00 A SOUL TOUCH WITH A GO GETTER……..IN CONVERSATION WITH AKSHALI SHAH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="51uve-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2bbhq-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="830bg-0-0"><span data-text="true">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?”</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4vd70-0-0"><span data-text="true">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. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4f99u-0-0"><span data-text="true">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. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2fnhi-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="adsqt-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m44s-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="fo9i4-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="47pur-0-0"><span data-text="true">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. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="b0qs1-0-0"><span data-text="true">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. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5nq1h-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4u1n8-0-0"><span data-text="true">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,</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2t5fk-0-0"><span data-text="true">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!!</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="89s9h-0-0"><span data-text="true">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.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9umc1-0-0"><span data-text="true">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…</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9umc1-0-0"><span data-text="true">Written by Dr Jyoti Vora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-37814782287594830122018-04-23T23:57:00.000-07:002018-04-23T23:57:01.985-07:00Lavanya Khemka : Carving Her Niche<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">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 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is being able to carve a niche in this
industry that too in a timespan of only 3 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Lavanya,
it has been a privilege to connect with you and know about your success story.
I am sure it will inspire <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">More
power to you Lavanya. Best wishes for all your future endeavours. Keep rocking.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-36684052199166589422018-03-29T00:09:00.002-07:002018-03-29T23:47:39.668-07:00An Architect of the Education system- Rahul Singhi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">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.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">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.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Rahul
always believes in giving <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">back </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Subsequently
he did his life’s first and <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">probably</span>
the last project where he performed the role of a draftsman and practiced his
learning of Architecture to build Poornima University <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">(2011-12)<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Rahul
is inspired by his father and mentor, <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ar.</span> 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. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">In 2013</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">,</span></b> He decided to pursue Post Graduate <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">program</span> 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.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">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 <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jodhpur </span>named <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">as Medipulse Hospital</span> for better health standards<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">in western Rajasthan</span>. It is
amazing to watch the video of the 59<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Annual</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>NASA Convention which was held in 2017 in Poornima
University under Rahul’s stewardship. (The video is on Youtube)<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">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 <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">pursuing FMB at
SPJIMR,</span> 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. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">His daughter sometimes forces
him to let her attend the meetings and do discussions!</span> What a great
inspiration to a young daughter! He thinks while spending time with his
daughter, he maintains his <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">work-life
balance.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">In
addition Rahul is a social media freak. He is active on all social media apps
like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">and
LinkedIn.</span> He shares his ideas and thoughts through social media. He has
also taken formal training in the subject.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(162, 169, 177); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">It is inspiring that Rahul in spite of having a
packed schedule takes out time for his passions. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">On </span>Sundays he would either do photography or go
for a long ride. He owns the dream bike of the youth, <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">A</span> 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 <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Poornima Paathshala</span>. He is also
keen on sports.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></h1>
<h1 style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></h1>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></h1>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></i></h1>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Pinkal Kothiya<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-83497224197437958192018-02-28T07:08:00.002-08:002018-02-28T07:08:15.627-08:00WINNING HEARTS THROUGH “THE STOMACH”----THE INSPIRING SAGA OF YATIN HEGDE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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….<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that</b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">four</b>
Spirit and Kitchen Restaurants spanning Ghatkopar to Borivli and what have
you.The Icon,Yatin had ARRIVED….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Jyoti D.
Vora ,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Msc., PhD,
F.S.Sc. , MASFFBC, CME (USA), NET CLEARED, CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL FOODS SCIENTIST
(FFC, USA)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MUMBAI.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-38694351069209753832018-01-22T07:43:00.000-08:002018-01-22T07:43:13.677-08:00DHANANJAY BHARTIYA: A TAILORMADE SAGA OF SUCCESS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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”…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Jyoti D. Vora
,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Msc., PhD,
F.S.Sc. , MASFFBC, CME (USA), NET CLEARED, CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL FOODS SCIENTIST
(FFC, USA)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MUMBAI.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-80369347381780826242017-12-19T22:12:00.002-08:002017-12-19T22:12:36.931-08:00HARJAPPUN SINGH GULATI:THE ICON WITH A MAGIC CANOPY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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 <u>IS </u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Jyoti D.
Vora ,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-45016133431076865932017-07-19T00:39:00.000-07:002017-07-19T00:39:09.931-07:00‘If you think big , you will make it big’-The Journey of Rahul Sanghavi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘If
you think big , you will make it big’-The Journey of Rahul Sanghavi</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is some food for thought for everyone – ‘If you think big , you will make it big’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rahul Sanghvi, the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the major chunk of the company’s revenue comes from retail market. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Right policies and pricing of the products helped him to cover majority of the market and command an extra price .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He strongly feels that there are humungous opportunities for expansion in this sector as a lot of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yash Maheshwari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Acropolis South Campus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Indore (M.P)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-3145123834886271212017-07-06T23:30:00.001-07:002017-07-07T01:16:59.498-07:00Stay Humble,Hustle Hard:The Journey of Simarpreet H Singh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As college students, most of us belong
to the breed who have least clarity about their future goals / ambitions, and
tend to take a lot of things for granted. I can relate to this fact as even
though it has been more than a decade since I graduated, I still remember how I
knew nothing about what my professional life is going to be like. The same
holds true for another gentleman, a proud entrepreneur by the name Simarpreet ,
who belongs to the family managed business of HARTEK group. He has enjoyed good
success over the years and is highly driven by his passion to make a difference
to the society we live in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, Simarpreet is the first person
to admit he was not always like that. Till the last year of his engineering, he
was not sure about his future goals. And his parents didn’t discuss about his
career, as they wanted to give him the freedom of choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wake
Up Call<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He didn’t have much idea about the kind
of activities that his father was involved with at Amtek (which later on became
Hartek). Still, being a family business, he assumed that he would straight-away
walk into his father’s business one fine day. However, Simarpreet soon realized
that he was day-dreaming when his father placed three stiff challenges in front
of him if he intended to join him at Amtek. These were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-To get a job offer through campus placement
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-To undergo training at a company and
place, as per his father’s choosing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-To work in his father’s company at the
ground level without expecting any special privilege <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was probably these challenges that
woke up the ‘entrepreneur’ in Simarpreet and he decided to take them head on.
He soon realized that the road ahead was going to be a tough one when he faced
back to back rejections from no less than four companies. Finally, Simarpreet
made the cut with a job offer from I Gate Patni Computers and he was a relieved
man. At the back of his mind, he knew that the first challenge was just a
trailer of hardships that lay ahead of him.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Turning
Point<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He set out to complete the second
challenge put forward by his father which was to undergo training for 8 months
for Schneider Electric at Vadodara, Gujarat, with just a couple of thousand
rupees and an ATM card with an unknown pin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Upon arrival in Vadodara, he got a shocker – there was no stay arrangement
done for him. The training was going to start after four days and he had to
manage his stay from the limited money he had in his pockets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That was when he learnt the first
entrepreneurial lesson – getting work done at the lowest possible budget. He
stayed at the railway station for a night, and then, got hold of a cheap room
to suit his budget, with the help of locals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As per Simarpreet, he was ready for the
surprise challenges being thrown at him one after the other. However, his
determination got a major boost when he had a talk to his father over phone. His
father spoke about ‘lack of electricity’ being the major problem plaguing
Indians and wanted to focus on ‘why’ to get relevant answers. He advised
Simarpreet to never look back and shared his vision of seeing a developed and
sustainable India. The manner in which his father spoke and conveyed the
message, Simarpreet was totally convinced that his father’s purpose is now
going to be the purpose of his life – such was the impact!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
learnt the value of money and facing hardships in life while undergoing the
gruelling training at Schneider Electric, where he was inducted as a shop-floor
engineer, working almost 13 hours every day. Thus, Simarpreet managed to
complete the major challenges in front of him and got selected as an engineer for
the BD (Business Development) team at his father’s firm, Amtek. This learning
experience made him quite stronger and ready to face the world. Simarpreet felt
a great sense of achievement as he had proved himself worthy of inheriting his
father’s legacy and carrying it forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And he was thankful to his father for
throwing those challenges, especially the training one, along with the
inspiring talk over phone from Vadodara. As per Simarpreet, this period was the
major turning point of his life, and he was well prepared to achieve bigger
things for his family business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Hard Yards and Bold Decisions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Under his father’s guidance, Simarpreet
was exposed to a variety of sites and was made to interact with a lot of
customers. He continued to work hard and take as much learnings as possible
from his father, who was a real taskmaster (as per Simarpreet). After joining
Amtek, Simarpreet made his first major strategic contribution by convincing his
father to change the name from Amtek to Hartek (his father’s name). The reason
being there was already a company with the name Amtek, and that made Simarpreet
feel uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And Simparpreet managed to get the brand
name change from ‘Amtek’ to ‘Hartek’ even though his father was sceptical about
such a big change for a company that had done business under the name ‘Amtek’
for more than two decades. He managed to do so by convincing his father that
the North Indian public relate more to the entrepreneur than the company. And
even several big companies like Tata, Dell, HP, Schneider, etc. have been named
after their founders. Thus, Simarpreet managed to get the first decisive move
towards formation of Hartek India Pvt. Ltd, under the Hartek group. And this
lead to the flagship company of the group changing its name from Amtek Energy
& Power Pvt. Ltd. to Hartek Power Pvt. Ltd.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Major
Accomplishments<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To achieve his father’s dream of a
sustainable India, Simarpreet focused on sustainable energy sources and
strongly believes that they are the future. In 2014, his business came up with
the rooftop solar division of Hartek Group, and later founded Hartek Solar Pvt.
Ltd. in 2015. Natural energy sources like solar, especially rooftop solar
panels were the stuff with which Simarpreet and his team started getting
involved in (for residential space).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As part of Hartek Solar, he travelled to
more than 11 states in around 18 months for the purpose of solar panel
installation. And all of this realizing that it is completely futuristic work.
He tasted success with his first commercial project for Hartek in the city of
Chandigarh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s when his resolve and
determination received a major boost. Thanks to the preachings of his father,
Simarpreet has always been focused on nation building. Everything that he and
Hartek does is from the point of view of growth – rising from the belief that
when the nation grows, you grow and so does your business!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Incidents
that have Contributed to His Entrepreneurial Growth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Simarpreet believes that every
experience in life teaches you something invaluable and there have been many
such experiences in his life that have helped him grow as an entrepreneur. He
had never seen any employee of Hartek India ever leaving the company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, when one such employee came to him
and cried, he was taken aback. He dug deep to realize that the reason was an
injury to his mother and lack of money for her treatment. This was when he
pitched in, on behalf of the business feeling a sense of being a social entrepreneur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The employee started working with double
enthusiasm and Simarpreet could feel the difference his help had created during
trying circumstances for him. It was the first time it struck him that Hartek
was not just his own family business, but, was in turn taking care of a large
number of families and their livelihood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Role
of Family Managed Business Course <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the most important experiences
for Simarpreet has been his tenure at SP Jain for the Family Managed Business
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per him, the biggest
takeaway from this rendezvous was the mentoring he got.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Their ‘Guru-Shishya’ model has nurtured
thousands of entrepreneurs by helping them to not only to become better
businessmen, but, also better human beings. He is still grateful to the program
for giving him mentors with whom he is still in touch and seeks valuable advice
from time to time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He realized that to become a great
leader, you have to be a great follower. And SP Jain imbibed good reading
habits in him. In fact, Simarpreet claims that he has become a voracious reader
only because of his student experience..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the key learnings from SP Jain was the difference between ‘blood equity’ and ‘sweat equity’ – to
earn your rights through the hard grind and sweat, rather than just being lucky
to get them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The story of Simarpreet is quite
inspiring as he has matured quickly to become a responsible entrepreneur who is
driven by his larger than life ‘purpose’ which is to clean and build a
sustainable India. He has stayed grounded and is a live example of the phrase
“Stay Humble, Hustle Hard!” He has never shied away from challenges thrown by
life or his father, enjoyed the learning experience on the job as well as at college,
and feels responsible towards the needs of his employees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Clearly, he has all the makings of a
successful entrepreneur and Hartek group is definitely in safe hands!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Written by Mr Tejas Savla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-16265869530435259382017-06-29T00:16:00.002-07:002017-07-06T22:53:26.234-07:00Kabir Bhasin: Still a long way to go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At 21, Kabir Bhasin was
working at CITI Bank in Delhi when a phone call from his father changed his
life. The family business in Bangalore was in trouble, the factory was facing a
lockout it was time for Kabir to take his place in the family business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">East Distributions, a
furniture manufacturing and export company, was conceived by Kabir’s parents
Kamini and Devinder Bhasin in 1996 in Bangalore, after having shifted their
base from Kolkata on account of the state policies not being very business
friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Stepping in by his
parents’ side, the decision to take on the role that always seemed like a
natural eventuality proved to be anything but smooth. At the tender age of 21,
Kabir still had a lot to learn and familiarize himself with. Kabir graduated
from Delhi University with B. Com honors. Managing the business with his
traditional education, he was putting more than 12-14 hours a day at the factory,
dealing with labor issues, finances, handling irate clients and striving to
improve sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I have inherited the
vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship from my father who always encouraged me to
join the business and do things on my own” says Kabir looking back at his
decision to join father’s business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After a year of tireless
work, the factory was back on its feet securely. Kabir had grown volumes under
his father’s guidance, absorbing every bit of knowledge that was imparted to
him. But hungry for more and knowing the potential for growth, Kabir felt a
change was needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kabir reached out to
Prof. Merchant of S.P.Jain <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who advised
him to join a course specifically designed to cater to the intricacies involved
in managing family businesses. Though initially skeptical, Kabir had faith in
Prof. Merchant’s words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kabir soon came to
realize that his family business set up was a small and traditional one and it
restricted its own growth. After completing the course, Kabir joined the
department of business development at Titan watches, a decision that seemed
atypical at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What makes Titan a
great brand is that not only do they have great products but also a strong
network of loyal dealers across the world helping them retain their market
leadership” observes Kabir. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After working with
Titan for 18 months, Kabir once again joined East Distribution. Kabir’s main
aim was to observe how he could help expansion through business development,
operations efficiencies and various other aspects. Kabir still remembers Dr
Srikant’s statement by heart “By the end of this course, instead of blood there
will be business flowing in our veins.” <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During his initial days
back then, one of the unique challenges Kabir faced was the transition from
weekly cash payouts to the laborers onto monthly payroll. However, moving all
the factory workers onto a monthly salary basis comes with several statutory
obligations. Kabir began to persuade his workers to open bank accounts. The
initially approach resulted in another lockout, taxation being the primary
concern. During this lockout, Kabir had to individually explain the benefits.
To further communicate his empathy for their apprehension and also explain to
them the importance of paying tax, Kabir took the entire workforce to watch ‘Lagaan’.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kabir took over the
reins of the business entirely after his parents retired in 2010. He has since
started 9 ventures in his career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.furlenco.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.furlenco.com</span></a> is one of the first
furniture renting platforms in Bangalore. It operates in the space of
affordable luxury furniture and has received a very positive response since in
launch. Kabir exited the company and moved on to launch a few other . the most
recent is one which is in a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>completely
different segment, entertainment ,with a site<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> called <a href="http://www.fanagig.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.fanagig.com</span></a> .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.fanagig.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.fanagig.com</span></a> is designed for live
entertainment driven by fans. It unites fans with performers, revitalizing and
revolutionizing the live industry in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Talking about the
important influence on his career, Kabir credits his parents, especially his
father and the exposure received at SP Jain. He recommends it to all the second-generation
entrepreneurs. The course has made him understand the business world in depth
and helped him understand the essence of money and how money works in the real
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From inheriting
business to starting and running companies on his own, Kabir has indeed come a
long way but he insists that he still has a long way to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mr Ajinkya Arjun Swadekar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-37727866031200724542017-06-11T23:14:00.002-07:002017-06-12T00:11:35.719-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus and
Success: The story of Akash Khetan</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Focused minds reach the optimum level of success.
Akash Khetan, a focused and successful businessman is one of the biggest
examples of intelligence and discipline. He is a post graduate from S.P Jain,
Mumbai, with a specialization in Family Managed Businesses. Prior to this, he
pursued his B.Sc. in Business Administration from Cardiff University, Cardiff,
U.K. in 2005-2006 with specialization in Marketing Management. A strong
interest in the business systems led to Akash being profiled in the March 2010
issue of the ‘INC India’ business magazine. Being strongly inclined towards
achieving his business vision, Akash has a firm belief that his mission will be
accomplished through the potential of his team. His father Mr. Anand Khetan laid
the foundation stone of Narayan Group in the year 1994 in Surat, India. Akash
was a brilliant student, excelling in his studies, ranking 1<sup>st</sup> in
the 2008-10 batch.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Narayan Texfab Private Limited is for women’s
fabrics. And its unique selling point is its quality and innovation according
to the trend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recent recognition of
Narayan Group as a leading name in “Dyed Synthetic Woman’s Fabrics” category by
ET Now in the Leaders of Tomorrow Program (in association with India Mart) has
been the talk of the town in the textile industry. Akash believes in positivity
and considers his father as his biggest inspiration. “The discipline in me
today, is because of my father,” he says. With a strict schedule that starts at
6 am in the morning and ends by10 pm, he still finds time for himself and says
time management is not an issue for him – since his days start early. Narayan
Texfab is today a famous brand which guarantees the quality of the fabric. Texfab
has collaborated with pre-eminent designers such as Manish Malhotra and Rohit
Verma. In the 2016 New York Fashion Show, Narayan Texfab collaborated with
Archana Kochar. The company is NIS certified and has SAP installed which wins
the trust of the customers and clients.</span></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The team is excellent and hard-working which helps
the company to prosper more. When being asked about the challenges faced, Akash
replies, “Yes, I did face challenges and the biggest one was to change the
mindset of the workers since they lacked professionalism in the early days.” To
change mindsets was required a lot of skill and time, since it was really
difficult to get workers who have been imbibed with the traditional approach of
thinking to see new perspectives. Now workers readily move out of their comfort
zone and work with more innovative ideas and approach. His passion and
willingness were the main reasons for him to choose his family managed
business. He was focused right from the beginning. When asked for his favourite
book, he said, “The Goal is my favourite book.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He listens to Brahmakumaris thrice a week and he is inclined towards
spirituality. His vision and goals are pretty clear and his aspirations are
practical. He believes in ‘Do what you love!’ </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When asked about how he deals the pressure and
stress of competition, he says, “I don’t get stressed because of the
competitors, I will do what I am supposed to do – focus on work rather than panicking
and/or reacting” He also believes in Law of Karma and hard work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The new generation tries to go away from family
managed business and tries something new and somewhere doesn’t understand the
value of family managed business and when being asked about his views on the
same, Akash replies, “Yes, Youngsters these days try new aspects and like to
explore opportunities themselves. They consider their Family business as
something they think can run and manage right from day one depending on the
scale of work. So, after exploring their choices if they succeed it's a jackpot
for them , or else they come back with so much of confidence and start to consult
their fathers and uncles without knowing the practical after effects of their
own decisions. Somewhere youngsters think they don't need any qualification to
join their own business, and subconsciously it becomes their last choice! In my
opinion Family run organizations should be managed the way corporates are managed
in order to sustain in today's competitive market.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He advises the budding entrepreneur generation to be
focused and to not lose hope at any point. His aura is very positive and can
charge anyone with optimism. When being asked as to where does he see his
company five years down the line, he says, “The brand should be globally
recognized!”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He is a true face of the next generation of family
managed business with clear vision, goals and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intentions.</span><br />
<br />
Written by Ms Amrata Joshi<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-69625782325620237472017-05-22T03:11:00.000-07:002017-05-23T02:00:09.654-07:00Once an Entrepreneur always an Entrepreneur! The story of Supriya Pahwa Batra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #555555;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I come from a 3 generation family business of handicraft and textile export. I began my career in my family business right after college where I pursued Mathematics honours. My family business did not involve technical knowledge and was not really glamorous. It involved working with artisans and factories in remote corners of the country on one hand and international companies located abroad on the other. My friends who chose to work with MNC's seemed to be enjoying more. But Since I was always told that work for what is yours vs work for someone- I decided to stop comparing. I knew it wasn't apples to apples</span>.</span></span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The good part was that my business was creative and ever evolving as trend changed every 6 -8 months. The need to reinvent was challenging yet exciting. I worked for about 5 years in the export business -initially assisting my father and eventually developing and handling all aspects of my own accounts. I was given independence and space to do things my way for the accounts I worked for. . The learning and personal growth was immense. All through, I felt passionate about my work. Other than on the job experience, in my quest to be able to give more to my work, I pursued a Diploma in Textile export merchandise management and also MBA in Family Business at SP Jain.While I was in SP Jain I got married into a business family working in the space of electronic component manufacturing and e-design.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I decided to start contributing to my husband's business and spent the next 2 years working in a totally different set up. .I am not going to say it was a completely thought through decision nor am I going to say it was easy for me. But I had been oriented into business with my father always telling me someday post marriage, if I got married into a different business family, I should be open to adapting myself to the different business environment. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw 2 years after I joined the business as my role was taking more time than I could give at that time-taking care of the two beautiful girls I brought into the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 131.25pt 5pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With less time on my hands I thought of teaching for a brief period again thinking ‘maybe a school someday’!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though I was an employee, I viewed the set up from the owner point of view. The entrepreneur in me could not stay shackled in a job for long but while I was there, I sensed many other opportunities that could be tapped as an entrepreneur given the huge potential in education space. Today, I am working on a new project, with more time on my hands as my girls have grown up. The project is in the education space supported by my family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The spirit of entrepreneurship inducted by my father when I was young has accompanied me all through my career. . I know it brought in me passion, determination, confidence to make decisions and make things happen and a sense of ownership and pride to be a part of the family work , adaptability to my constantly changing environment, ability to take risks and accept possibility of failure ,bounce back post any set back and keep going forward , ability to spot opportunities in my environment and most importantly ability to constantly learn and grow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, I can't measure my success with numbers as for me the spirit of contributing to the family business/ portfolio is way more satisfying and meaningful and I know I have contributed significantly to both businesses I have been a part of - as a daughter and as a daughter in law. The experience I gathered, in turn, gives me the confidence to work on my own business plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a world of fancy jobs with global corporations seeming to promise the life which looks easier and more glamorous - I still come from the school of thought where I feel what synergy families can bring into work by working together in complementary roles can't be replicated; provided the members are inducted to work in complementary roles and go forward to achieve the family goal over their own personal goals. There needs to be that sense of pride and satisfaction in being part of a whole. Induction and handling of relationships is key. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would like to urge you to spend your energies to identify your vision for the next 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and so on to formulate goals - short term and long term. Work out action plans and timelines to achieve the same. You will need to keep learning, updating knowledge and skills. You may also need to adapt and change the outline and that’s okay. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 23.25pt 0pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Choose wisely and choose well. But choose where you want to go and start! Cuz even if you feel you chose wrong somewhere down the line, you can begin again! Making a decision gives you a 50% higher chance of getting it right than no decision at all.</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Before I conclude I will just say today, given changes in the global scenario, family businesses don't look easy. But Easy may not always as satisfying and rewarding as challenging.. so consider the challenging path as well before you move toward what looks easy !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span></div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-84385704510646256922017-04-17T01:42:00.002-07:002017-04-20T12:30:08.213-07:00Balancing Objectivity with Subjectivity: Naveed Shaikh of ACS Lead Tech<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Naveed Shaikh, the
young and dynamic partner at ACS Lead Tech, fondly recalls his childhood
conversations with elder brother Assad and says, “All we discussed was dad’s
chemical business and how both of us would grow it together. In fact, while we
were still at middle school, we had jointly decided that we would become
engineers!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assad went on to qualify as
a mechanical engineer while Naveed graduated as an electronics engineer. Looking
back, Naveed feels that the most defining influence on him has been the easy
camaraderie and trust the brothers repose in each other. “Assad always wants
the very best for me and I feel the same for him. In fact, we are always
fighting so that the other gets it a little easy or a little better, be it a
car or a holiday.” It is this willingness to sacrifice and this readiness to
put the other before oneself which has ensured that the business controlled by
their strict father, has grown and diversified ever since the two brothers
joined the business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ACS Lead Tech was
established by Shakir Razak Shaikh in 1983-84 and is currently recognized as a
leading manufacturer, supplier and exporter of environmentally sound
technologies for battery recycling, litharge red lead furnaces, red lead furnaces,
lead oxide ball mills and pollution control equipment. A first generation
entrepreneur, Shakir Razak Sheikh, started his career as a chemical engineer
and spent eight years as an expert in lead oxide and allied products, working
for various organisations. It was during his stint in Germany, while working
for Napro industries, when he first decided to take up full time consultancy.
Soon he found the mismatch between his precise advice and the actual
implementation by his clients. He asked himself the question, “Why tell others
how to make and see them create the mess? Why not make and give a perfect
product to the clients?” This was the turning point in the trajectory of the
Shaikh family. Shakir Razak Shaikh soon set up the one man company and took on
the different roles ranging from soliciting quotations to acquiring raw
material to manufacturing parts to arranging transport and labour for
commissioning plants. He had re-invented himself from a consultant to a manufacturer.
As the business grew, so did his responsibilities and he became almost an
absentee father in the Shaikh household. Naveed, here recognizes the stellar
role played by his mother in ensuring that both Naveed and Assad appreciated
the hard work of their father and aspired to join him soon. Assad joined the
family business immediately on his graduation while Naveed decided to accept
the campus placement offer from Siemens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking back, Naveed
feels that his decision of not going to the USA to get a master degree was the
most profound decision he had taken. Citing the examples of his cousins and
friends, he says that none of them came back to India and gave up on their
entrepreneurial dreams. He feels that the Family Managed Business course both
he and Assad did at SP Jain, has had a defining influence on them as it set
their expectations right. They understood the value of sustaining their family
managed business and also understood the critical role their emotional maturity
and relationship handling would play. So when Naveed decided to resign from his
job and join his father and brother in the business, he knew well that he would
need to create a role for himself. He knew that since ACS Lead Tech is in the
core business of manufacturing machines for the chemical industry, his father
and brother would always a pivotal role on account of their domain expertise in
chemical and mechanical engineering. Accordingly, Naveed added a new wing to
their business and started trading in chemicals and metals. He took on the role
of market expansion and diversification and strengthened the core team of his
father and brother by pitching in as an expert in business management. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Asked to explain the key
component of a successful family managed business, Naveed is forthright in
talking about the importance of communication. “It is not that we do not have
disagreements, but we never push them under the carpet. We discuss everything
out and always take the solution oriented approach. This helps to balance
subjectivity with objectivity”, he said. As an explanation of this open
communication channel, Naveed spoke of the support of their father on all
issues, be it starting a new business vertical, or to invest<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>
in additional space for the growing family..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even between the brothers, the discussions are always marked with candor.
“All our finances are controlled by dad. He pays for all household expenses
ranging from groceries to school fee. He ensures we never feel short of money
but the control remains with him. Sometimes, it gets overwhelming but then
Assad and I hear each other out and counsel each other. We understand, it is in
the best interest of our business and the case rests there. For me Assad has
been a father figure. He is my anchor who keeps me grounded and ensures that we
always have a positive work environment”, he said. Coming to his own family,
Naveed takes pride in his wife’s technical aptitude and hopes that she would
soon set up her own business of technical writing. When asked about the
possibility of her joining him in their family business, Naveed feels that the
core team of his father, brother and himself are best suited to run ACS Lead
Tech. “This is an objective decision and we intend to keep it that way”, he
says signing off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dr Minu Mehta in collaboration with Naveed Shaikh<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIdNaLC_Rly-oSf7U-Yyf4VNo2ti-kx2iTrmasezSKZnkfCbq8GbW5n7dCtApvFIudDpR9pDpxETmwAM647FmX8ZVeFCcx6I2vyYXw0AKgC6-ybpVx91NoUiAB2HNjUmLC7XlWUOuxkI/s1600/naveed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIdNaLC_Rly-oSf7U-Yyf4VNo2ti-kx2iTrmasezSKZnkfCbq8GbW5n7dCtApvFIudDpR9pDpxETmwAM647FmX8ZVeFCcx6I2vyYXw0AKgC6-ybpVx91NoUiAB2HNjUmLC7XlWUOuxkI/s1600/naveed.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-71748707109892713612017-03-14T04:02:00.003-07:002017-03-14T04:04:33.504-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><u><span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In the Business of Movies:the journey of Akshaye
Rathi<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Being in the
entertainment industry is one thing, and doing business for this glamorous
industry is another. Ask Akshaye Rathi, who is a film exhibitor and
distributor. This young and dynamic director of family-run business, <b>Vidarbha
Exhibitors (Rathi Group of Cinemas)</b>, has enjoyed a highly successful
entrepreneurial journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It is not easy to taste
success in the world of films, where the fate is decided every Friday based on
the Box Office reports. And this is where the foundation of the business plays
a big part. Akshaye’s company has been involved in the business of film
exhibition and distribution for more than 3 decades now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may have become an integral part of this
business in August 2010, but the company has already been running a chain of
cinemas across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh under the banner
of <b>Rathi Group of Cinemas</b>. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Reasons for Joining Rathi Group of Cinemas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A family business acts like a double-edged
sword for the kids in the family. With most family members involved in the same
business, the kids hear about the same stuff regularly. They are either going
to get excited about the opportunities that the family business provides, or
get irritated with having to deal with the same business concept that they have
heard all through their childhood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In case of Akshaye, he was always in awe of the
family business. It helped that he had a considerable amount of interest in
movies, which went a long way in him developing a significant taste for cinema
and understanding the need of the masses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">As per Akshaye, Indian movies are meant for the
masses and multiplex cinema halls do not seem viable for them. He believes that
while the multiplexes do provide an enhanced cinematic experience, they are not
meant for the average Indians who love to clap and whistle while watching their
favourite stars or movies in the cinema halls. It is the single screens that
can provide such an entertaining experience for the masses at pretty affordable
rates, and hence Vidarbha Exhibitors has been catering to this audience, which
forms majority of the movie-viewing public in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">According to Akshaye, he
understood it pretty early that his family was in the right business, and his
long term goal was always to take this business to the next level. With such
clarity he mind, he first completed his BMS from HR College of Commerce &
Economics, Mumbai in 2009, and then gained valuable experience as a Consultant
for media and entertainment advisory services, E & Y.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Even while he was
studying, Akshaye did work for Rajshri Media Pvt. Ltd. on content acquisition /
management and for INX Media Pvt. Ltd. on production of TV reality shows as
well as events. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Challenges Faced and Related Solutions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Akshaye was having a
wonderful time at E&Y for about a year. However, the challenge for him was
that his goal was to go back to his family business some day. And he didn’t
wish to delay his official entry in to their family business. So, he took the
plunge in 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">However, it wasn’t just a
random move. Akshaye knew what he was doing and joined Vidarbha Exhibitors at
that time, with the purpose of implementing the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>family business management techniques & skills that he was going to
learn from his FMB course at SP Jain, which he enrolled for during the same
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Akshaye mentions that the
design of the course helped him to take the plunge as it allowed him to learn
for a while and practise the learning in real-time (for his family business)
during the tenure of the course itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">And Akshaye came across
one of the biggest challenges of a family business- the generation gap. He
realized there were differences in the thinking of his father, uncle and his
own. Importantly, he required to stay patient and not come across as someone
who just enters the business and starts dictating terms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Akshaye found out that
being a good observer and listener during the early days proved to be a
masterstroke. He gave himself enough time to not only understand the
nitty-gritty of the business, but also to come to terms with the thinking of
others who were associated with the business for a long period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">He realized that to be a
successful business owner, he will first have to work at the ground level and
understand the end-to-end workflow in real-time. He took his own time to prove
his work and develop a sound understanding of the overall business. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Role of FMB and Value Addition to Business<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In an attempt to bridge
the generation gap in most family businesses, the SP Jain FMB course played a
big part in helping Akshaye and his classmates realize the importance of
effective communication. Communication (or lack of it) between new entrants and
old timers can make or break a business. And Akshaye was able to practise this
learning in real-time for Vidarbha Exhibitors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The family business
dedicated course did help Akshaye to mingle around and align his thought
processes with people belonging to different industries (all family
businesses). SP Jain proved to be a platform where most relevant real-time
family business problems got discussed and solutions for the same were being
suggested / implemented as well. Such level of networking and on-the-job
learning proved highly effective in Akshaye’s journey from being a novice at
Vidarbha Exhibitors, to becoming a responsible decision-maker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">As per Akshaye, his most
important learning from the course was the importance of branding and brand
connect for any family business. He realized that for Rathi Group of Cinemas, a
strategic alliance with a known brand could make a huge difference in
increasing the footfall for their single screen theatres across India. This led
him to take the strategic decision of collaborating with India’s first
international exhibitor, Cinepolis, in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">According to this
alliance, Cinepolis started operating 10 single screen theatres spread across
eight cities. Akshaye termed this as a win-win partnership for both the
companies, especially for Rathi Group of Cinemas, as it allowed them to look at
a broader picture of the industry. This association helped his screens to be
rebranded as Fun Cinemas, which is a known cinema brand in India, encouraging a
shift in the context of renovation and adding amenities to properties that
would eventually help in increasing footfall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Akshaye credits this move
to the learnings from course that allowed him to see the bigger picture behind
associating with a brand name, and was able to get positive results almost
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Akshaye has come a long
way ever since he first joined Rathi Group of Cinemas, and owes his success to
the guidance he has received from his elders as well as to the enriching
learning experience at SP Jain’s program for Family Business.. It goes to show
that an established family business has plenty of scope to improve and expand,
provided the upcoming generation is willing to learn, listen, and implement smart business strategies.</span><br />
<span style="color: #555555;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #555555;">Written by Mr Tejas Savla in association with Akshaye Rathi</span></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-37244904343818444042017-02-18T09:55:00.000-08:002017-02-18T09:55:01.014-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bkind:The
story of Vidhi Shah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s well
said that when a woman decides to bring a change, she definitely does. Vidhi
Shah, an entrepreneur and creative director at b:Kind not just brought a change
but a cult and wave in style and fashion. b:Kind is a brand which is quite well
known for womenswear, got introduced in India through M-square Clothing(India)
Pvt. Ltd. The brand focuses on the quality and keeps the range quite reasonable
and affordable. It launched in 2010 and Vidhi Shah joined in the later phase.
She did face few struggles when she joined the company as she was very new to
product development. But she eventually got familiar with the various working
areas. The competitive vibe turned out to be good and challenging. She did her
FMB course from SP Jain, Mumbai, which was an add on to her skills and helped
her in business. She has a great sense of fashion and style with the maturity
of handling the business and progressing Vidhi Shah succeeded in breaking the
stereotype of a male dominant business. Her parents are her biggest inspiration
and they were her main supporters during her highs and lows. She was pretty
much sure of getting into the business world right from the beginning and she
is happy with her decision.She happily says,”I was inclined towards business since
the very beginning.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The biggest
unique selling point is the use of Indigo yarn which is not available in most
of the brands. Also, the cost and quality is something that a customer would
love! ”Our major focus is the quality,” Vidhi says with the confirmation in her
voice. Her dedication and focus is noteworthy. Family business has its plus
points and one of them is the level of understanding and that’s purely
reflected by b:Kind. Vidhi Shah aims to progress more and more by bringing more
to b:Kind and helping the customers and clients. Creativity has its own energy
and aura.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She takes
each day as an experience and learns something new. Her growth as an
entrepreneur is relevant and she thinks each day helps her in this growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The innovation and creativity keeps on
growing and blooming with great ideas. She loves the fact as to how friendly
and comfortable it is to work with the team and the amount of love and support
she gets is commendable. She says with an exciting tone, “We work as a happy
team.” Her father played a key role in her personal and professional life. “My
father is my mentor,” she says. The environment of the workplace does matter a
lot and which is quite vibrant and positive around the family and that usually
happens in a family managed business. She also finds herself fortunate enough
to have supportive in laws. Being an Indian woman and a mother of a 14 months
old kid finds a balance between personal and professional life easily. Her
advice for Indian women is to set the goals and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>pursue their dreams and to have faith and confidence in oneself. Vidhi
Shah is truly an inspiration for the youth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Written by
Amrata Joshi in collaboration with Vidhi Shah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-46052340897062322082016-12-27T09:04:00.005-08:002016-12-27T09:04:46.741-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mysore Deep and the Journey of Ankit Agarwal</span></b><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ankit Agarwal born on 2nd July 1985 joined
his family business - Mysore Deep Perfumery House (MDPH) in 2004. The company
is a 25 year old group dealing in:-various products viz Agatbattis, Deodorants,Tea,Coconut
Oil, Mustard & Soya Oil ,Heena cones etc.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Group MDPH has 29 Regional Sales offices and
2000 distributers in India with Head Office in Indore (MP) .Apart from leaders
in domestic market it exports to over 10 countries. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He pursued Post Grad in FMB from SP Jain in
2006-2008.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ankit decided to join the family business especially
after amicable family separation in 2004-2005. It was an emotional moment for
the family where he took the call to support his father. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was during one of those meetings with
suppliers one of them referred that instead of joining a full time program it
would be ideal for him to join Part time MBA in FMB specially. This suggestion
was further endorsed by other few <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>alumni who happened to
be his business partners. Ankit too was happy that along with fetching a
degree, it would be possible for him to look after his dad and the business
too. Classes happening in weekly blocks were aptly designed to create time for
learning.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the course duration, he did not find
difficulty in managing time. Infact, class room learning became an interesting
platform to resolve real time business problems as the group discussions were
based on experiences and experiments as undertaken by others (batchmates). </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He remembers Prof Advani to whom he suggested
that it would be excellent if made into a single working week thereby avoiding
weekend at Mumbai<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and saving some family
time as well. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ankit recommends that, those keen to extend
their network and utilize it for expanding existing business, must choose Customized
MBA in Family Business over regular full time programs. </span></b><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Written by Prof Vandana Tripathi in
collaboration with Ankit Agarwal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.1pt 0pt 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206169677465176328.post-91448164811309810502016-11-28T09:23:00.000-08:002016-11-28T09:34:31.239-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Graphisads and the
Journey of Alok Gupta</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Alok
Gupta, the young director of Graphisads, speaks with maturity that belies his
age. As he describes it, “Graphisads is a 4 decade old family run business
started by my father Mukesh Gupta in the field of advertising and media. Our’s
is a 360 degrees advertising agency and a leading outdoor advertising media
owner dealing in print/electronic media, creative designing, events and
exhibitions and digital media”. A second generation entrepreneur, Alok candidly
appreciates his father’s wisdom in not pushing his children into their
established and flourishing advertising and media business. “While growing up,
I was always certain that I would never work for someone, as in a full time
employment. I always knew it was business that I wanted to do. After completing
my education, I immediately took the plunge by joining our family business. Not
content with the work, I always wanted to start something of my own. Dad was
always supportive and I started independent/ unrelated business of e-commerce/
Home Shopping, burnt my fingers, started a business of electric bikes and
eventually learnt to see value in our family business. While I was never away
from our traditional media business, post the failures, I joined back family
business voluntarily and happily. Dad allowed me to taste failure and in
hindsight I believe it is better to fail early on”, he said. Talking about his
induction, Alok says,”Family business is a learning curve. Getting the tuning
right with your employees and bringing new changes in the organization becomes
a challenge. Whenever a young family member joins an organisation, his quick
growth through the ranks is considered as a given. But in my case, I was
trained in all aspects of the business, and then thrown in the deep end of the
ocean to swim to save myself. Dad felt that it was necessary for me to work
with and work like other employees to understand their point of view.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Looking
back at his journey of last ten years, Alok feels that the biggest challenge
was communication, despite the fact that they are in the business of
communication! “It is far easy to prepare market communication strategies for
clients than actually communicating with father, uncles and old employees” he
said laughingly. Alok’s attempts at professionalizing the work culture and
setting up systems and processes was resisted and attempts were even made to
drive a wedge between him and his father Mukesh Gupta. “It was Dad’s faith in
me and our strong family values that helped us bring in the desired changes.
Some employees took it positively and co-operated while some left us. It was
tough but necessary to pave the way for a modern flexible business”, Alok
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These changes made their team
agile and flexible gave them the ability to diversify not only into allied
areas like digital media, events and exhibitions but also set up new verticals
in construction, waste management. Asked which business is closest to his
heart, Alok says that a big drawback of small businesses is that they get
emotional instead of being rational towards their business. “I am passionate
about all my businesses but at the same time I am detached. The world today is
dynamic and fast paced. There is no point in holding on to businesses that have
so scope in future.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Talking
about the most important influences on his career, Alok cites the strong family
values imbibed in his childhood and the education he received at University of
Birmingham, UK and SPJAIN, Mumbai. More than the education, it was the exposure
of staying independently in UK and then in Mumbai which was a great experience.
He feels that his grandfather’s insistence on all the family members meeting for
the Sunday lunch to be a very good family initiative that promotes sharing and
discussion amongst all the branches of his family. This practice was started by
his grandfather after Family Business was mutually split between Alok’s father
and his two brothers into three segments consisting of outdoor media, TV
production, and print media. The business had grown and the common
understanding of the three brothers was that it is best to split the verticals
amongst them and grow them as independent businesses. Somewhere along this, the
three brothers also moved with their families to separate and bigger houses.
All these happenings made his grandfather institutionalize the Sunday lunch
meeting practice to ensure that the family bond remains strong. These weekly
lunches ensured that the brothers and their families retained close ties and
complemented each other’s business strengths. As Alok puts it, “Our grandfather
started a family tradition that whole family should sit together every Sunday.
Now it has been 20 years that we have been following this. Though he recently
passed away, we feel that it is now our duty to carry forward his legacy and
maintain the same harmony. This particular tradition has helped us create a
very strong family bond internally. Every Sunday we all meet, discuss each
other’s problems, business and family developments and new business opportunities”.
When the government policy<a href="file:///C:/Users/acer/Downloads/Alok%20Gupta%20AIFMB%20(1).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> on
hoardings and billboards changed in 1997, it was this family understanding and
support that helped Mukesh Gupta to shift his core business from outdoor media
to print publications, which was already being handled by one of his brothers.
Alok goes on to say that instead of any feeling of rivalry and competition, he
and all his cousins happily pass on work to each other’s firms and pitch in to
help as required. Another very important factor that has led to the second
generation cousins being very close to each other is the family business course
all five of them did at SPJAIN. In Alok’s words, “Because of MBA in FMB, now
all of us are more or less aligned in our thought process. This is a great
space to be in. Usually families get on to a self-destructive mode between 2nd
and 3rd generation. Ours is just the complete opposite”. Thus the three
branches from the original business started by Alok’s grandfather and his sons
are now flourishing with third generation trying to step in big shoes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Written by Dr Minu Mehta in collaboration with Alok Gupta.</span><br />
AIFMB ,2016</div>
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Sujata Royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819098047862445282noreply@blogger.com1