Category: Leaders

There are plenty of inspiring stories in the business world, but not all of them star an ordinary man who became a national name due to his hard work and sharp business acumen. Opesh Singh’s journey is among those rare tales of success. He started his business career at the age of 21. Within a few years, his empire grew exponentially. Today, he is a proud founder of Opesh Group, which operates in India, Africa, Canada, and many more.

THE LEAP OF SUCCESS

Hailing from Jaipur, Opesh Singh is now a renowned figure in the business world in India and abroad. But all this was not there 15 years ago. Then, he was just a young graduate who wanted to make it big in life. Thus, after completing his Bachelor’s in Computer Science, he decided to start his firm.

In 2005, he laid down the foundation of the Opesh Group. The venture was initially involved in the drilling and mining sectors. As the years passed, he tapped the global markets to expand his business. His hard work and never-give-up attitude helped him penetrate the African markets relatively quickly. He also partnered with Premium Consulting in Greece to build a strong foundation across international markets.

After 15 years, he runs his business in different countries with various ventures like Opesh International Private Limited, Opesh Consultancy Private Limited, Opesh Store Private Limited, Opesh Singh Foundation, Goldessa, Vyoma International Ltd., and Megha Nath Gold Field. The firms are involved in several businesses, such as mining, construction, consultations, export-import, and manufacturing. His company was also accredited for helping many start-ups and enterprises go ‘local to global.’ As of 2022, the Group has offices in 15 countries. In the upcoming years, the entrepreneur plans to expand his base to over 100 countries.

COACHING MILLIONS

Being a businessman is just one part of Opesh Singh’s success. He is also known for his exceptional mentorship and consultation, which have helped him become a brand himself. Talking about this initiative, he expressed that he faced many hurdles when planning to expand his business internationally. That prompted him to offer guidance and mentorship to other companies and entrepreneurs who faced a similar issue.

Opesh Singh has curated numerous training and mentorship programs for business enthusiasts to guide them about market research, business strategy, business planning, overseas expansion, and so on. During the pandemic, he helped more than 50 companies in expanding their business overseas.

Looking at the rise of digital platforms, he started his YouTube channel to reach as many people as possible. He teaches entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts on creating export and manufacturing business and taking these to the global level. He also shares the secrets of his success with them.

CLIENTELE SPEAKS

Today, Opesh Singh’s massive client list speaks the story of his success. Some of his best clients and associates are, A.V. Overseas, Abhiraj International SARL, Focus Mining Pvt. Ltd., Maalo International Ltd., Sonymon International SARL, Blackstone Transcontinental SARL, Pankaj Ivory SARL, The Avenues, Bikaji, Globenex International SARL, Infrica BIZ, and many others. He has started multiple ventures to meet the needs of his clients, like Opesh Store to import and export products and merchandise through his Global Infrastructure and Team.

FOLLOWING A SIMPLE SECRET

The secret of Opesh Singh’s growth is not unique. He follows the tried-and-tested methods, and that has worked incredibly for him. The only thing that has made a difference is his perseverance and hard work. The mentor believes that success can be achieved by simply sticking to the schedule and being religious about the roles and responsibilities. He also encourages entrepreneurs to stay up-to-date with the technology and branding techniques of the market. A positive mindset and broad perspective are two key characteristics that have made him one of India’s top business people.

With such strong traits, he is leading a team of experts at Opesh Group while constantly juggling with his academy. But since he is a jack of all trades, Opesh wins in every field he steps in. The solutions that he offers are realistic and quantifiable. For this, he connects with the clients in daily sessions and provides tailor-made solutions based on their needs and business portfolio.

THE AUTHOR INSIDE

The entrepreneurial journey of Opesh Singh has been fascinating. And so has his journey as an author. Since he knows that everyone cannot afford personal coaching and guidance, he took the time to publish several books that turned out to be best-selling titles in no time. These books include Setting up Business in Africa, Win Sales Game, Do Export & Become Rich, Let’s Become A Ruling CEO, and others. This young entrepreneur guides Indians to establish their businesses abroad through these books. His books have made complicated business topics easy to understand and taught how to apply them in the current economic environment.

He has also authored around ten business programs, specially curated for business people who wish to take their projects to international markets.

THE HUMANE FOUNDATION

Opesh Singh is one of those businesspeople who do not just aim at making profits. He also believes in giving back to society. Over the years, he has contributed selflessly to various social service activities. While working in African countries, he saw the dismal condition of children in terms of nutrition and education. He was deeply affected by the fact that many of these kids did not get proper food, clean water, and education. Thus, in 2021, he founded Opesh Singh Foundation with his business partner Megha Nath.

This initiative aims to help children in Africa get access to the best possible education for a better future. The foundation seeks to achieve this goal by collaborating with established partners to start educational programs in the country.

Recently, Opesh Singh launched foundation activities in Rwanda with the support of the non-profit organisation, Children’s of Rwanda. Through this program, he is working towards financial literacy, education, entrepreneurial development, and mentorship programs for the youth.

Mr. Gautam Boda, Vice-Chairman and MD, J.B. Boda Group joined the family business in the year 1994. His constant efforts and unwavering determination towards the company’s success earned him the rank of Vice Chairman.

J.B. Boda Group, a renowned name in insurance & reinsurance broking, was started by Mr. Gautam Boda’s grandfather late Mr. Jagmohandas Bhagwandas Boda, together with his brother, Late Mr. Dhirajlal Bhagwandas Boda, way back in 1943. They started this business when reinsurance broking was unheard of in India. Both founders worked diligently to build a legacy from scratch. Under their powerful vision, the J.B. Boda Group has established itself as a pioneer of reinsurance broking in India by insuring the Professional Indemnity (P&I) policy of engineers on behalf of the Indian Insurance Company.

Since Mr. Gautam Boda joined the company, his responsibility has been in driving sustainable business growth, devising group strategy, and guiding to execute, explore and evaluate new areas of opportunities. He has around 28 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry and is an eminent risk management consultant. A distinguished thought leader, he has extensive experience in broking, risk management, and other allied services. At the Boda Group, he has also been instrumental in managing the Group’s branding and global marketing initiatives. Under his supervision, the company has seen tremendous growth and success in brand building. His strategic vision and ability to think outside the box have been instrumental in taking the company to new heights. The organisation, in its business activities, is currently associated with over 550 insurance and reinsurance companies in more than 90 countries.

A CONSISTENT DRIVE TO IMPROVE

Mr. Boda is known to have an insatiable drive to do better. It is his permanent zeal to constantly improve his work and conduct. In his view, being a leader is a huge responsibility towards his people and, thus, is a never-ending process. He always lends a willing ear to any feedback his team might have for him. It is, in fact, one of his biggest strengths the way he is able to adapt to changing circumstances, an attribute that greatly distinguishes him as a leader.

He also puts a great deal of importance on creativity and humility in a leader. “To be able to inspire is essential for effective and inspirational leadership.” He strongly believes that teamwork is the most important component of any successful business. He is a strong team player who believes in motivating everyone around and working together towards a common goal.

As a leader, he never fails to encourage his team members and ensures that they do not get burdened by failures and mistakes. In his team, everything is an opportunity to grow and learn. It has been a long road but for him, the rewards have been sweet. This allows him to lead by example in different situations. The recognition that J.B. Boda has received globally has been immensely gratifying for Mr. Boda and everyone at the company. Under his leadership, the Group has continued to build upon the legacy created by the founders. For Mr. Boda, this success has been driven by personal involvement. He has ensured that the family legacy is carried forward without any compromise on the core ethics and values.

During his tenure with the Group, Mr. Boda established the Ports & Terminal Vertical, Employee Benefit Vertical, Empanelment of the Group with international insurers or reinsurers for designing or supporting complex global programmes of MNCs in India, groomed the Group’s leaders, set up a specialised team to cater to the requirements of Indian companies who are investing globally, partnered with International Brokers across the globe for MNC exposure in India, and developed various technology platforms. He also introduced the Risk Management Society to India. He took knowledge-sharing initiatives such as in-house publications and webinars, and has been the guest speaker at various events. He has gone out of his way to contribute towards the company’s expansion and diversity. His efforts have also been recognised by the industry time and again. As a testimony to his in-depth knowledge & vision, he is appointed to be the Board of Directors for the largest independent insurance brokers network, Assurex Global and also the Chairman of Asia Pacific Region (APAC) for over 11 years. He was invited to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Insurance and Pensions, to undertake constructive dialogue with the Government and the Regulators for the creation of a conducive regulatory environment for the growth of the Insurance and Pensions Sectors. He was also invited as the first Indian broker to speak and partner with the German Insurance Industry.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

In 2019, Mr. Boda was conferred with the CNA Award for being a valued partner and for showing excellence in International Solutions. He was also awarded the ‘Indian Achiever’s Award’ for Business Leadership in 2021.

He has been featured in some of the finest publications in the insurance and business fraternity such as Asia Insurance Review and Leader’s Edge Magazine. He was also featured in the special ‘Collector’s Edition’ of the magazine Passion Vista.

All these industry awards and mentions only affirm his strengths as a leader and his dedication towards not only his business, but the whole industry.

Mr. Boda is also a committed philanthropist and has been a consistent supporter of many charitable institutions. The J.B. Boda Group has been a staunch supporter of the environment, and through the in-house CSR wing, has been contributing to the betterment of society since its inception.

TOWARDS AN EXCITING FUTURE

Mr. Boda’s vision for the Group is to become the preferred partner for various stakeholders across the board from clients, insurers, reinsurers, surveyors, and all stakeholders. In the near future, he sees consistent growth for the J.B. Boda Group. He is hoping to gain market share as they look into expanding the product offerings. The journey has truly just begun and with the ever-expanding product portfolio, the future is exciting for Mr. Boda and his team.

STANDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION

Respect for others, professionalism, and fairness are at the heart of everything Mr. Boda does. Humility fosters authenticity and a never-ending desire to learn and Mr. Boda’s childhood was rife with these lessons in humility and being true to one’s virtues. These characteristics were the foundation of his personality and he has taken them with him throughout his professional journey. The values learned early on in life have resulted in better outcomes for him and his entire team.

Mr. Boda is a humble person who does not seek any recognition or fame for his good deeds. He believes that it is our duty to help others in need and he does so with a caring and thoughtful attitude. As a leader, he believes that he has a huge responsibility to the community and he takes it very seriously.

A man joined Baker & Taylor, Baker & Taylor – the world’s premier distributor of physical and digital books and services to public and academic libraries – as Executive Vice President Software Products, Services, and PK12 EdTech in June 2014. He was EVP-Sales, Product Management, Services, and Technology Operations from December 2017 to May 2019. From June 2019 to November 2021, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Eventually, in November 2021, Aman purchased Baker & Taylor from Follett Corporation. Currently, he is serving as the President and CEO of the company. Under his stewardship, Baker & Taylor launched its own Paw Prints Publishing in 2022, bringing physical and ebooks to its youngest readers.

Speaking about his mission, Aman says, “My mission is to share inspirational and enlightening stories with children and teens from all walks of life, with a particular emphasis on work featuring underrepresented children.”

He also penned the first book in the series, titled Jeet and Fudge – the story of a young Sikh boy named Jeet and his adorable side-kick chocolate labradoodle. The book is about a young Sikh boy and his dog. For Aman, it is reminiscent of his childhood and his pet dog.

A goal-driven leader, Aman aims to transform the company selling books since 1828 into a genuine community outcomes provider. His short-term goal is to enhance Baker & Taylor’s operational efficiency in the post-pandemic era.

His long-term vision is to become the leader in library innovation. Besides physical book distribution, which is his company’s core business, he plans to introduce complementary services such as digital content distribution, predictive analytics and software, and sustainable supply chains in the long run.

Facing Challenges Head On

In the wake of COVID-19, many businesses worldwide faced unprecedented challenges. With 95% of libraries closed nationwide, Baker & Taylor, too, had to face a challenging situation.

As book orders remained stagnant, Aman remained optimistic and faced the situation boldly. He realised this was not an opportunity for innovation. Engaging the staff in creating DEI was the next step in his plan. It allowed employees to remain engaged and enabled librarians to enhance engagement by adding diverse books efficiently.

A Thought Leader

Aman takes a proactive role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries and at work. As a thought leader, he focuses a lot on representation and intersectionality. He is not someone who simply talks about diversity; he develops technology that allows cities worldwide to provide adults and children with education, knowledge, and hope. Furthermore, Aman provides programming to librarians worldwide and spearheads the formation of internal committees such as the Diversity Council and author webinars.

As a result of the industry veteran’s leadership, Baker & Taylor launched a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion solution in 2021 that offers public libraries a way to discover, archive, and manage diversity related books across print and digital formats. Using this technology, librarians can scan library catalogues and identify gaps in representation.

The solution also allows them to order titles that address overlooked topics. Among Aman’s favourite books is Kim Scott’s Radical Candor, which encourages you to grow as an individual, build a cohesive, kick-ass team and achieve exceptional results. The principles mentioned in the book serve as a guide to his leadership, and he encourages his team to do the same.

In addition, the leader promotes a culture of innovation where everyone in the organisation feels comfortable failing forward. Finally, he approaches everything with kindness and grit.

An Advocate of Reading

Aman aspires to transform lives and society by encouraging the habit of reading. Besides championing reading, the visionary promotes diversity, especially in children’s books. He firmly believes that variety, especially in children’s books, can transform our communities for the better.

He says, “Young readers can more easily identify with the characters in their stories because of the diversity in the library’s shelf.” He adds, “Reading also enables us to gain insight into the lives of people we may not fully understand, thus fostering empathy and kindness.” Aman promotes these ideas in his weekly LinkedIn videos, at speaking engagements, and on the boards on which he sits.

Racking Up Accolades

Aman’s leadership skills have earned him several awards and accolades, including EdTech Digest 2021 Global Leader Award; Charlotte Business Journal 40 under 40 Award; Publishers Weekly Notable People 2021; and Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 leaders under 50.

Reinventing Baker & Taylor as the owner operator has been Aman’s career high point. Taking a 194-year-old company and building on the culture so it thrives for the next 200 years is a commendable task.

Additionally, he credits his success to his team members as a team player. He claims, “It is an incredible accomplishment to have our entire company of more than 1,400 team members focused on assisting our library partners in improving outcomes in their communities. We did it by fostering innovation, refusing to recognise the status quo, and disrupting the way libraries have traditionally been served.”

A Benevolent Leader

Aman’s roles in life revolve around serving those around him in the best capacity possible. He never hesitates to fight for the marginalised sections. Fighting for others’ rights gives him the purpose to live. As he puts it, having a clear goal to focus on and a set of priorities to guide your activities makes you successful.

Under Aman’s leadership, the company focuses on corporate social responsibility initiatives ranging from internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to ecologically sustainable practices.

He directed the Baker & Taylor’s launch of the Sustainable Shelves Program during the COVID-19 outbreak. He and his team knew that when libraries reopened, they would have to deal with older volumes that needed to be eliminated to create room for new books. He devised an automated approach that allowed libraries to return their used materials to the company so that the latter could either resell the books to another library or dispose of them sustainably.

The business leader also developed an award-winning, industry-leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Analysis programme that allows a library to assess where its existing collection stands with industry accepted topics. The programme also evaluates the representation of diverse communities in its print and digital collections and helps make material recommendations to build a diverse selection.

Suresh earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (Evanston, IL, USA) and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India. The well-versed leader is proficient in “Strategy Deployment” – a methodology for chalking out and implementing strategies that result in transformative performance in complex businesses. His specialities include scaling companies for rapid growth, managing global P&Ls, integrating acquisitions, expanding gross margins, managing global supply chains, and leveraging operational excellence.

A Forward-thinking Leader

Suresh took over NTE as CEO in April 2020, a period when the company needed a cultural and financial turnaround. Under his sterling leadership, a cultural and leadership transformation has taken place in the company in the last two years. Since its inception in 1981, NTE has been a founder-led business; however, Suresh, with his leadership skills, soon transformed the organisation into one with an entrepreneurial mindset. With his relentless efforts, the focused leader has enabled the organisation to serve a record 3.6 million customers in the last two years. Furthermore, due to his efforts, the company’s revenues have increased by 42% to $1.6 billion, and gross margins have increased by 190 basis points.

NTE’s workforce has grown to over 3600 employees under Suresh’s leadership. With a visionary 5-year growth plan in mind, the goal-driven leader has led the company to establish a second headquarter in Hyderabad, India, which currently employs over 50 employees. He plans to double its employee base and expand its capability over the next year. He also plans to double NTE’s revenues through a 5-year growth plan. Essentially, this strategy entails expanding brick-and-mortar retail stores.

He is investing heavily in a multi-year organizational transformation that will provide an exceptional end to end experience for customers. He also aims to double the company’s profits in the next five years by investing heavily in NTE’s omnichannel and e-commerce prowess and training his team members to serve their defined customer audience better than others.

Due to Suresh’s goal-driven strategies, NTE has gained a competitive advantage through significant technological investments, innovative brand strategies, omnichannel customer experience, and speed. Suresh says, “The customer experience is at the heart of everything we do at NTE.” He combines a deep knowledge of market research, consumer insights, and data & analytics to boost customer experience. The forward-thinking leader has helped the company achieve strong NPS and Google rankings by consistently delivering an omnichannel experience across the 126-store footprint.

A People Person

The goal of his life is to motivate and help others achieve their maximum potential. Suresh finds great joy in providing his team with opportunities to try new things. Throughout his career, he was influenced by several mentors; however, it was his high school soccer coach who had the biggest impact on the leader. He says, “After losing a championship game that was expected to be won, our coach had said that no matter how well prepared we are, sometimes even the best teams can lose. Therefore, we need to build resiliency and learn from mistakes to bounce back, whether we are playing next time or resolving the next problem.” “The ideologies and teachings of our soccer coach inspire me every day to lead 3,500+ employees,” he says.

A Multitasker

In addition to serving as NTE’s CEO, Suresh also sits on the Carlson School of Management’s Board of Advisors. He also teaches at renowned B-schools, including Northwestern’s Kellogg School, the University of Michigan’s Ross School, and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School. Suresh is known for his problem solving abilities. He says, “My experience working and living on three continents has taught me to overcome cultural and geographical barriers for solving problems efficiently.”

In order to set bold and courageous goals, he leverages the available data to get a quick grasp of problems. His team spirit is also noteworthy. The seasoned leader also believes in empowering his team. He inspires his team members to communicate, debate, and challenge openly, but when a decision is made, they support it unanimously.

Suresh considers himself a lifelong learner and is always looking for ways to learn from others. Throughout his career, he has helped several organisations create new markets, leverage global supply chains, establish talent pools, and build new capabilities using global thinking.

It has been a career milestone for him to help several companies embrace the global environment as a growth opportunity.

Giving Back to Society

Suresh emphasises CSR, especially in terms of environmental awareness. “As a manufacturer of high-powered gas engine equipment, we are also on the cutting edge of diversifying our unique commercial grade product portfolio with battery power. We are launching the first-of-its-kind battery powered log splitter and skid sprayer, with more to come,” he says. He considers battery-powered equipment an innovative and crucial way to help customers do their tasks more efficiently and effectively.

He makes sure that the company comes forward to express solidarity, particularly during times of natural catastrophe. He has led NTE in establishing multiple stores to serve in disaster-prone areas such as Texas, Louisiana, Florida to help customers recover from hurricanes and other natural disasters. He praises his team, saying they are quick to mobilise and offer relief to our communities during catastrophic failures and emergency relief efforts.

Finally, Suresh has been a huge proponent for serving the trades and building future trades professionals. Two important examples illustrate this: NTE’s Tools for the Trades program and their support of the Texas High School Welding Series. “Tools for the Trades partners with high school career and technical education programs by donating much needed tools and equipment to provide instructors with the right tools they need to teach the classes. Through our leadership in the Texas High School Welding Series, we partner with Texas based companies to host welding events where students can earn the professional certification needed to begin their career in welding.”

Remarkable Achievements

Because of his leadership initiatives, numerous awards and accolades have been bestowed on the organisation. In 2022, Newsweek named NTE’s e-commerce website the Best Online Shop in the DIY, Tools, and Supplies category. Moreover, NTE has consistently been recognised as one of Minnesota’s Top Workplaces for five consecutive years. From a product perspective, NTE’s NorthStar brand NorthStar Electric Power Washer, designed and built at NTE’s manufacturing facilities, won Consumer Reports’ award as Best Heavy-Duty Electric Power Washer in 2021. What’s more, as a company dedicated to innovation, NTE has been granted 66 patents around the globe.

Rahi One Travels

Emiratis swear by Rahi One Travels’ services, whether for official trips or vacations. Though there is no shortage of travel agents in the UAE, customers and clients choose Rahi One because of the quality of its services. And the man responsible for this quality is the founder of the business, Mr. Shafiqul.

Located in Ajman, Rahi One Travels L.L.C. is famous for its customer-centric approach to business. The principle behind every company of Mr. Shafiqul is “Responsibility Is Prayer,” and Rahi One is no different. The sense of responsibility and attentiveness towards customers’ needs has made the company grow by leaps and bounds.

A Story Worth Telling

Mr. Shafiqul’s life is the classic story of how a small boy made his way to success despite all the odds. He started his career as a salesman at a monthly salary of BDT 500 in a dates shop in Khatungonj, Chittagong, in 1993.

At that time, BDT 500 was insufficient for even one person, but Mr. Shafiqul still worked with patience and grit. He also worked as the loading and unloading staff at the Chattogram seaport to earn a little extra income.

Mr. Shafiqul was a student of Fazilin from 1999 to 2000. During this period, he could get free food and stay as a muezzin at a mosque. He kept working and living with frugality then, and so saved some money and bought shares of land. Slowly but consistently, he kept growing financially by making some profit through land deals.

Start of a Long Journey

After facing a lot of struggle, Mr. Shafiqul finally won the test of time. In 2015, he emerged as a competent and hard-working entrepreneur. He started his travel agency Rahi One Travels in Ajman, UAE.

When starting his business, Mr. Shafiqul had an idol in mind – Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the former and longest-serving Prime Minister of Malaysia. Believing in the life principle that “Man is equal or greater than his dreams,” the entrepreneur dreamed big and worked hard enough to make his dream a reality.

Bringing Social Changes

Mr. Shafiqul’s philanthropic endeavours have contributed to his good reputation. Using the hard-earned money, he has set up a Hefzokhana, an orphanage, and a Women’s Dhakhil Madarasha in Bangladesh. He is also associated with similar institutions dedicated to serving the underpriveleged. The philanthropist is the Chairman of the Anumia Ayesha Khatun Foundation and Shafiqul Islam Rahi Etimkhana and Hefzokhana in Bangladesh. He also serves as Chief Advisor at the Baitun Noor Jame Masjid in the Asian country.

Seeing his extraordinary work for society’s betterment, many organisations, such as Satkania Association, Khagoria Association and Chittagong General Hospital Patient Welfare Association – all in Bangladesh – have made him a lifetime member.

Going Strong With Each Passing Day

The idea of starting his business was seeded in young Mr. Shafiqul’s mind when he was just in secondary school. He fulfilled his dream in 2015 when he established Rahi One Travels, and never looked back.

To the leader, the venture was just the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. In 2021, Mr. Shafiqul started another travel company in Chattogram, Bangladesh – also named Rahi One. Within just one year, the company has garnered a huge base of satisfied customers. Thanks to his positive and hard working outlook towards business and life, both his companies are winning laurels.

Executive Par Excellence

Mr. Aggarwal is a creative thinker with high energy and the enthusiasm to drive innovative and disruptive digital technologies. A business leader who has played multiple roles successfully, he has been leading a large team of Architects, and has gained considerable experience in pre-sales, management, partner business development, and consulting. He has gained wide industry recognition for his consistent success in achieving sustained revenue and profit gains. Currently, as the Principal Strategist, he drives a portfolio worth $1 billion in the pipeline for Cloud and Application Modernization business. Prior to this, as a Modern Application and Application Outsourcing Business Lead for Asia & LATAM, he has delivered 30%+ YOY growth for the Cloud and Application business worth $250 million. As the Director, Technical Sales at Microsoft, Singapore & India, he was instrumental in developing innovative Cloud solutions & Cloud practices with the Microsoft Global SI and National SI partner ecosystem. As Co-founder and Chief Architect for Partner Enterprise Architect Team (PEAT) at Microsoft, he established a Global SI-led $400M Azure consumption business for Microsoft. He also built and led a large global team of Cloud Solution Architects and aspiring Solution Architects. As Senior Architect at Microsoft India, he has been involved in the solution architecture for first-of-its-kind projects like Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme, BangaloreOne, e-District, Rural ICT, Nemmadi, etc.

Glorious Achievements

Mr. Aggarwal is known for his customer-partner obsession and is recognized as a leader in the field of Solution Architecture by both Microsoft and the International Association of Software Architects (IASA). He was globally the first Architect to get certified as Microsoft Certified Architect – Databases and Microsoft Certified Architect – Solutions. He is also a Certified IT Architect – Distinguished (CITA-Distinguished) by IASA, Prosci Change Management Practitioner, TOGAF 8 Certified Enterprise Architect, and Six Sigma Green Belt. He has served on the review boards of MCA and IASA Architect Certification Programs. Mr. Aggarwal is a prominent industry expert and a well-known voice in leading Cloud and Digital Transformation, Application Modernization and Outsourcing, Solution-offering and GTM strategy development, Partner Business Development programs, Solution Architecture, Azure, SQL Server, IoT, AI, Building, and leading high-performance teams. He has worked extensively on Organizational Development and Integration, and is a domain expert in ITES, Retail, and Public Sector.

Lessons In Sustainability

Mr. Aggarwal believes the mantra for success today includes a healthy mix of innovation with thoughtfulness and corporate social responsibility. He feels to stay relevant; organizations must embrace the power of sustainable business solutions. The pressures around improved environmental, social and governance efforts are an outcome of the increasing expectations of diverse stakeholders. He points to migration to cloud computing as one of the ways businesses can achieve their sustainability goals and experience substantial net energy and carbon savings.

With every company making the move to cloud computing, it will help in reducing global carbon emissions, drive circularity, and result in more sustainable products and services. He has time and again highlighted that ensuring sustainability has become an integral part of corporate strategy, which can be achieved only by harnessing the power of environment-friendly IT practices. He firmly believes that by combining cloud with the 4th Industrial Revolution technologies, firms can drive better customer outcomes.

LEADING WITH EXPERTISE

An accomplished leader in the tech industry, Rajesh Pathak knows what is best for a company’s growth. Over the past 20 years, that is what he has learned during his stints with major multinational tech firms such as BT Group, Alcatel Lucent, Ciena and Novell. From beginning his career as an engineer at Hughes Networks Systems to now holding the position of Country Director – India & SAARC at Accedian, Rajesh’s career graph has added to his job profile and expertise with each responsibility. He is now using the same experience to help Accedian understand its customers’ experience and support them throughout their digital transformation efforts.

In the past two years since he joined the company, Rajesh has successfully accomplished rapid business growth and a fair market share. In simple words, he is making the change Accedian needs to make to be in a strong position in the Indian market.

MOVES THAT MATTER

Before Accedian, Rajesh held several crucial positions responsible for multifold growth. He helped companies such as Ciena and BT Global incubate, develop and create a sustained market for security products, network solutions across the enterprise and service provider networks, artificial intelligence and machine learning based analytics solutions, network and applications analytics, and network detection. He handled the teams with a cross-cultural mix and ensured smooth functions. Rajesh further created new markets and increased market and segment growth by understanding the pulse of the tech field. His experience shows that he can grow a mid-size business into a sizeable profitable organisation, thereby creating immense stakeholder value.

Leadership and mentorship are also inevitable parts of Rajesh’s work. He is known for his inclusive leadership style in the industry. During his stint at British Telecom, he was credited for creating a strong partner ecosystem in India. His stints are marked by unprecedented moves he made as a leader. Whether developing large teams for India and SAARC market or setting up a Product Centre for Excellence, he has always proved his mettle.

BEYOND ACCEDIAN

Rajesh’s life beyond his corporate life is equally fascinating and ambition-driven. He often chairs multiple juries for evaluating start-up ideas by young professionals.

The famous mentor also helps entrepreneurs through incubation for commercialisation — another branch of the inclusive growth strategy he uses for leadership roles. The only difference is that, through these mentorship programmes, he aims to assist new-age entrepreneurs in achieving bigger goals in life. Rajesh understands that a combination of hard work and a sense of accountability helps get to the best results. It is what he passes on to the next generation in the hope that it will create a positive impact at large. For his role as a mentor, he credits the inspiration he himself received from a few of his mentors, who shaped his thinking and leadership style during his early years. He also practices astrology and guides people who seek help on the larger aspects of life beyond work.

THE AWARDS AND FELICITATIONS

A leader who does excellent work never gets unnoticed. Rajesh, too caught the eyes of the industry. For his work and achievements, he has been awarded several times. In 2015, he was given the People Leadership Choice Award by Business Today. In 2021, he was felicitated with the “India Achievers Award for Business Leadership” by the Indian Achievers Forum. In 2022, he was given Pathfinder Award and APAC Sales Award for his incredible work at maximising sales and revenue across the APAC region.

BREAKING RECORDS

Real estate brokerage is a tough nut to crack, especially in luxury real estate. But Luxury Concierge Real Estate’s track record has made it look like an easy job. The man behind this successful venture is Shitij Kapoor.

Last year, the real estate market of Dubai saw some record breaking numbers. According to the Dubai Land Department, there was a growth of 71% in the total value of transactions. A big part of this growth is credited to his company, Luxury Concierge Real Estate (LCRE), which made a made record sales worth Dh1.3 billion at the Dubai Land Department.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Out of the total sales of Dh1.3 billion, Shitij alone brought in Dh1.05 billion. The numbers tell that the key to LCRE’s success is its leadership. However, the leader refuses to rejoice or turn complacent about his staggering success. He is busy hiring multicultural staff and enabling them with skills that help the company expand its reach further to international markets.

Shitij has earned clients from North India, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Africa, thanks to his dynamic personality and a long list of contacts. He has also convinced several Western investors by showing Dubai’s vibrant and safe culture.

INHERENT BUSINESS EXPERTISE

Shitij comes from a family of businesspersons. His family has a pharmaceutical business in the capital of India with multiple interests in real estate. Bubbling with the entrepreneurial spirit, the young Shitij decided to take the family’s legacy to the next level.

In 2012, he moved to Dubai to start a brokerage arm of his family business. In the initial years, he focused only on investors from two geographies: India and Dubai. But as his venture tasted success, he planned to take the business to a global level and reach every continent.

To attract investors from all over the world, LCRE hosted a number of property exhibitions in many countries, including South Africa, Mauritius, Congo, Kenya, France, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Senegal, Hong Kong, Ghana and Russia. Furthermore, by hiring multicultural staff, the company has managed to communicate with people from different nationalities and finally created a global presence.

PROPERTY FOR THE TOP 1%

Considered an old hand at cracking luxury real estate deals, Shitij has experience of working on the Main Line for more than one and a half decades. During this period, he has managed to create personal and professional relationships with investors worldwide. Moreover, many successful business leaders seek him out mainly because of his integrity, professionalism and loyalty to the work.

Dubai, full of iconic architecture and magnificent skylines, has coveted properties for the top 1% of luxury home buyers. With the UAE managing the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally well, the city’s attraction as a real estate investment destination grew further. This proved to be an opportunity for Shitij, as he led LCRE to capitalise on all its hard work and contacts made over the years. Today, he enjoys a high-net-worth clientele from the world over. It has proved to be a perfect market for LCRE and a talent like Shitij.

The leader has also enabled the company to accomplish best standards and enter elite clubs and partnerships. LCRE is a Platinum member of the Alliance by Emaar, Chairman’s Club Damac, and channel partner for Sobha (an Indian multinational real estate developer), making it one of the most credible real estate firms in Dubai. Thanks to Shitij’s relentless work in the past year, it also became a member of the Billion Round Table in 2022.

A TRUE BUSINESS LUMINARY

Anuj Gupta’s personality certainly reflects the charm and charisma of a global leader. With his decisive leadership and deep industry knowledge, he has shown what it means to be a CEO. He took strategic steps for the company in times of need.

The resultant success made the company grow from a ₹100-crore company with 800 employees to a ₹1500-crore organisation with more than 3,000 employees. The growth has not stopped here. WIth the passage of time, Hitachi Systems has been adding new feats to retain its global position.

EXPERIENCE SPEAKS

With two decades of experience in the IT space, Anuj is an all-rounder. From entrepreneurial start-ups to large global corporations, he has seen varied organisational scenarios. Earlier, he was a part of two ventures that saw exponential growth under him.

One of them was his own start-up Trident Infotech. He started the company with family seed capital and built it into a 100-member pan-India company in just five years.

Anuj has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the H.R. College of Commerce. Later, he completed his Management Degree in Finance from the University of Singapore. Additionally, he has completed the Prestigious Hitachi GAP training from the Harvard Business School.

Anuj has the best of both worlds. He applied the learnings of his educational background to the real-life scenarios of the corporate world. In his 20-year long career, he has mastered the art of doing business and handling the ups and downs of the corporate industry.

The business leader is also a well-known speaker and panelist who has spoken at the IIMs and industry forums such as the DSCI, the NASSCOM and the ET Council of Leadership. He is also an integral part of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the global leadership community of Chief Executives driven by the world’s best leaders.

MAKING DREAM TEAMS

Anuj’s experience taught him that creating a strong team is one of the most crucial ways to strengthen a business. Therefore, he ensures that the company hires people with zeal to learn and improve.

To foster growth, the CEO and Director has created a nurturing and encouraging work culture in Hitachi Systems. In fact, it is his dream to turn the firm into a place where people would aspire to work and partner with.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

A great example of Anuj’s resilience is the company’s growth despite the pandemic. He joined Hitachi Systems in 2021 — a hard time for the business world. But he did not let the pandemic affect the organisation’s business and work culture. Hitachi Systems remained fully functional, while offering the highest level of support to the employees and their families.

AWARDS SO FAR

The industry leader has received several awards for his outstanding work and business acumen. In 2021, he was awarded “Business Leader of the Year” at the 19th Global edition of Times Ascent. Some other titles he has won are in categories such as Visionary Leader, Master Entrepreneur, Best Emerging CEO, Influencer of the Year, and so on.

LIFE BEYOND BUSINESS

Anuj is a fitness and sports enthusiast. In fact, he was a state level badminton player, and his passion for the sport has not faded a bit. Whenever he gets free time, he plays badminton, along with cricket and golf.

When it comes to understanding what the future holds, it is not wrong to say technology is going to be a game-changer. Today, technology has become an inevitable part of our lives and those who explore its deep secrets are endowed with great success. Saitej Annareddy is one of those passionate technologists who dived into the world of blockchain technology and discovered a new treasure. An ardent technophile, Saitej Annareddy is the founder of successful ventures such as Chakravuyha, Coinovy OU, Smashit. live, and DLT Labz. Now, he is planning to take these ventures to newer heights while exploring the wonders of blockchain.

JOURNEY TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

From a young man who had humble beginning to a respected entrepreneur in Dubai, the life story of Saitej Annareddy is memorable tale of inspiration. Saitej Annareddy was born in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, and completed his school education at Bhuvanagiri Public School in the state. In 2013, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Hindustan Business School, Bangalore. While the early years of his life were not easy, they did not stop Saitej Annareddy from pursuing his passion. During his college years he supplied electronic payments to government contracts. That was his first initiative in the technology sector. During this time, he started thinking about how he could build a faster and more secure payment system. After that, his real stint with technology began in 2014. He worked in several companies such as Sulekha.com and Virtual Arena before finally starting his first firm, Chakravuyha. With this venture, Saitej Annareddy leveraged the use of blockchain technology to eliminate the asymmetric traffic flow problem and allowed ownership of data to empower its owner. Everything scaled even more when he co-founded LaunchMyIco and DLT LABZ the same year. Both the firm opened new avenues of blockchain technology and Saitej Annareddy wasn’t the one to be stopped here. In 2021, he co-founded Coinovy—a digital finance app with digital assets that combine an unlimited number of wallets to send, receive, exchange, earn and borrow.

AN INFLUENTIAL FIGURE

The years of experience and industry insights have made Saitej Annareddy a name to reckon with. The expertise that is reflected in his interviews and interactions is enough to highlight his visionary ideas for the blockchain sector. This is why he gets invited to speak at various national and international events. For instance, he was a speaker at the International Blockchain Summit. He was also one of the key speakers at the Thailand Blockchain Authority and Singapore Blockchain Meet conducted by SAM. Moreover, Saitej Annareddy was also a member of the Chief Advisory Board at the International Blockchain Symposium 2.0 (Malaysia) in 2017.

EYES ON TOMORROW

True technologists like Saitej Annareddy never rest. He keeps working on new ideas and push their boundaries through hard effort, enthusiasm, and tenacity. The young entrepreneur, Saitej, brings a fresh perspective to the field of cryptocurrency by offering new services and platforms.

He believes that one should always meet new people and learn new perspectives. No knowledge is ever enough; with this motto in mind, Saitej Annareddy hopes to build more cryptocurrency exchange applications in the future.