Category: Leaders

Sanjib is a digital innovator renowned for developing a more comprehensive strategy for digital transformation. The award-winning leader is a graduate from the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Applications from the Institute of Management Technology in Ghaziabad, India, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Calcutta University.

Sanjib was born into a humble family. Throughout his student life, he was more interested in knowing the “why” than just following the herd. Born and brought up in a small town in India, he lost his father at a young age. To support his family, he had to start working at an early age. He studied computers before continuing higher education to develop his operational leadership abilities. He also studied economics – influenced by his inspiration, Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen – to learn about macroeconomics and concepts that can help developing economies.

As there was limited career scope in this field, Sanjib eventually left his hometown in his youth to pursue a career in transforming businesses. His journey took him worldwide and through several sectors, finally bringing him to his current role at the $54 billion Fortune 100 Company Ingram Micro, which operates across 200 countries. The organization is undergoing a massive transformation under his leadership and in close collaboration with the company’s CEO Paul Bay to modernize the entire technology ecosystem with the introduction and global adoption of its Ingram Micro XvantageTM digital experience platform. Sanjib had no experience in technology when he left his birthplace. Building his IT acumen required a lot of effort for over two years. However, as a finance and computer application graduate, he had a unique perspective on business and technology. Over the years, his perseverance and passion have motivated the leader to take on challenges with constant effort and interest. He says, “I never intended to work as a Chief Digital Officer. However, I wanted to mould myself into a leader of substance and leave an impact in everything I did.”

GROWTH-DRIVEN MINDSET

Over the years, Sanjib has forged an impressive career as a revolutionary and inspirational technology executive, and company leader who consistently develops and delivers actual value. He became a financial firm’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at a very young age. It was the beginning of a rewarding journey for him. In the initial stages of his career, he built applications for various financial services companies, including Deutsche Bank, Citibank, and Charles Schwab (then Xpresstrade). He has also served as the CIO for XPO Logistics’ Transport Division as well as a member of the senior management team. Before joining XPO Logistics, he served as TradeMonster’s (now E*Trade/Morgan Stanley) CIO and CTO, overseeing the creation of a groundbreaking online trading system for both web and mobile. Rather than taking a career path, the leader adopted a growth mindset and worked tirelessly to hone his skills. He always saw his failures as life lessons instead of reasons to give up. As a CIO and CTO, he focused on business and took a keen interest in revenue, margins, and efficiency. Sanjib joined Ingram Micro Inc. in June 2021. As the Executive VP and Chief Digital Officer, he directs Ingram Micro’s strategic initiatives to swiftly produce cutting-edge, world-class customer and user experiences that will help the company differentiate itself from the competition. His responsibilities include overseeing the company’s customer-facing infrastructure, such as applications, subscriptions, and billing consumption patterns, through digital transformation and modernisation.

A LIFELONG LEARNER

Sanjib is a lifelong learner. He believes that effective leadership is not about ego, attitude, or making unrealistic commitments. True leadership, according to him, is about inspiring others to join a noble cause they believe in, and providing an opportunity for everyone to succeed. After serving as CIO/CTO for many years, Sanjib’s desire to know more motivated him to get more involved with the business. He decided to return to Harvard for an advanced management degree, which gave him a lot of new insight into many business sectors. In addition to building world-class platforms with his teams in several industries, he wanted to be a business leader with a solid technology background. He believes everyone needs to be a full-stack professional in the competitive IT sector. Every technology leader must strive to become a business leader. The leaders must grasp how the industry operates, how customers interact, and how their firm generates revenue. In addition to having business acumen and technological prowess, leaders must also be emotionally intelligent and culturally adept to become truly value generating CEOs. No matter their position or area of responsibility, if they develop these attributes, they will accomplish outstanding achievements in their career.

A PROACTIVE LEADER

Sanjib believes one must accept responsibility for one’s actions, especially influential executives, who must take immediate action instead of waiting for the outcome. According to him, this is essential to attain success. Leadership, he says, is not about being perfect but about being vulnerable. It involves owning up to your mistakes, seeking assistance, enlisting the support of your colleagues, and working as a team.

A GOOD LISTENER

Sanjib believes in leading through his ears more than through his mouth. He actively listens to his employees, which helps him learn many things. Rather than chasing perfection, he advises budding leaders to be practical and humble. He highlights the necessity of communication in today’s competitive environment and emphasises situational communication since leaders are expected to employ a distinct tone when addressing different gatherings or situations. The leaders must figure out how to communicate in different circumstances. He advises them to focus on the art of storytelling and communicate with compassion. He is also known for his excellent team spirit. “Your team must understand and execute your vision as a leader. Also, a leader and their team must embark on the same success journey to achieve concrete results,” he says.

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

For his outstanding leadership abilities, Sanjib has received numerous prestigious accolades, including “ET Global Icon for Technology” and “Pride of India 2022”. The well-versed leader has also authored several technological models and white papers on leadership, risk and innovations, leadership training, creative marketing, open-source architecture, and mobile strategy. He owns several patents related to streaming for mobile devices and dynamic communications. He contributes to Wired and the Harvard Business Review, and is a part of the Forbes Technology Council. An excellent orator, Sanjib has spoken at several national conferences organised by Computer World, CIO Magazine, TEDx and others, on a range of topics, including leadership, mobility, innovation, talent, risks, and CIO issues.

Mr. Lal Abdul Salam is a great example of how hard work and patience can take you places. He is an accomplished entrepreneur who has carved a niche for himself and paved the way for others as well.

Hailing from the quaint village of Kannanallur in Kollam, Kerala, Mr. Salam attained a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam. After completing his education, he began his professional journey in Kerala. He started at the bottom-most rung as a Junior Engineer at Kerala State Pollution Board and after gaining four years of work experience, he moved to Abu Dhabi to work as a Sales Engineer at Testron International.

In the UAE, Mr. Salam moved gradually up the ladder and worked at many organisations. One of the longest stints of his career was at the Abu Dhabi Pipe Factory where he spent around 14 years. This experience was vital in shaping the next decade of his career. At present, he is the CEO and Managing Director of Smithline Reinforced Composites in Ras Al Khaimah. Smithline is an industry leader in fiberglass pipes and fittings, and his previous experience have earned him a coveted role in the company. His role has been instrumental in the company’s growth.

Mr. Salam brings a certain uniqueness to the table and that’s what makes him different from other leaders. He believes that a team that works together and is on the same page is better positioned than others to grow. This is the reason he always believes in taking his co-workers into confidence for any field of application that he might be planning. He has successfully developed a new technology of composite pipe manufacturing with topology concepts, which are indeed adding great value in upholding technological changes for the future. Under corporate social responsibility (CSR), he diversified business activities by implementing proper waste management. He also created an innovative new methodology for manufacturing nonmetallic as an alternative to the metallic product, which reduces the carbon footprint to half.

Another important trait that has taken Mr. Salam places is his honesty and uprightness. He has worked as an employee for over two decades and learned a lot of lessons along the way. The most important lesson has been gaining the trust and confidence of clients and co-workers. He has held these virtues in the highest place and it has helped him carve a name for himself in the industry.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Mr. Salam and his efforts as a virtuous entrepreneur have been recognised in the industry many times. Under his vision, Smithline has been honoured by the Abu Dhabi Municipality and chosen to be a part of the team of the 2030 vision of Abu Dhabi. They are also a part of the Green Energy Team of Sharjah Electricity and Water. The manufacturing methodology that Mr. Salam has pioneered at Smithline has won many accolades, including a mention in the JEC Composite Magazine – a world renowned composite industry publication. He was named the ‘Best Businessman 2022’ at the World Wide Achievers Forum conducted by the Global Media Hub in the UAE. In 2022, he won the Master Vision International Excellence Award, and the prestigious Golden Achievement Award held in Dubai in association with the Kerala Chamber of Commerce & Industry, presenting a strong testimony of his leadership skills and vision for the industry.

A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADER

The underlying idea behind all of Mr. Salam’s endeavours has been to create an ecosystem that is sustainable and does not compromise on the needs of the current or future generations. “To meet the needs of the present generations without compromising the needs of the future generations,” has been the motto and vision that leads all his initiatives. He has always tried to follow the principle of ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’ while creating new technologies and solutions for manufacturing.

Some other ways in which Mr. Salam has made a social impact is by playing an active role in building an inclusive society. He ensures diversity in the workforce, works with local communities as much as possible, and takes appropriate measures to reduce the environmental impact of the industry. He has worked diligently to implement a sustainability practice at Smithline Composites in a way that it has managed to significantly reduce its carbon emissions.

“To improve the quality of life of the community we serve has been our motto,” he shares. During the COVID-19 outbreak, he and his team optimised the use of resources, lowered the cost of operations, and increased employee productivity. The strategy not only created an increased investor interest and a subsequent rise in the output, but also led to the kind of corporate governance Mr. Salam had tried to introduce.

The sustainability practice involved reducing emissions and creating value from waste, which proved to help the business overall and not only the environment. His multi-pronged approach has always been appreciated by the business community. Today, Mr. Salam is known for his far sightedness and vision for overall growth and prosperity for everyone.

ON THE PATH FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Mr. Salam is passionate about what he does and he wants to take it forward with a certain zeal. He envisions an even stronger business that faces the competition head on and gets the better of them. He wants to build a resilient business that achieves superior returns without compromising on quality or client satisfaction.

In terms of business, Mr. Salam is looking to build a sustainable future. He wants to achieve this by gradually transitioning from metallic to non-metallic composites all to be in line with international standards. This approach will help him build the sustainability that he wants. The non metallic composites offer more durability than the metallic composites, and are better for the environment, as they reduce the company’s carbon footprint, all at lower operational cost.

The attention to detail in Mr. Salam’s business plans is a clear demonstration of his passion as an entrepreneur and substantiates the fact that he has a very lucid vision not only for his business, but also for the community. His futuristic bent of mind is laudable and so is his commitment to the business.

AN ARDENT BELIEVER OF WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION

As the Sun sets, Mr. Salam is just another homebody who likes to spend time with his wife and two children. Leaders like him who are grounded in their roots are inspirational for all budding entrepreneurs. He proves that patience, determination, and an eye-on-the-goal attitude are all non-negotiable for eventual success in any field.

Mr. Salam’s new-age initiatives are also a testament to the fact that every entrepreneur has to move with the times. Embracing technology and building something beneficial for the whole community is not only a goal, but at times a responsibility for large business owners. His efforts to build a sustainable future are truly commendable.

TCI Express Limited has been on a steady growth path since 2013, after Mr. Chander Agarwal took charge of the company. He remained deeply involved in all the strategic and financial decisions of the company and was instrumental in establishing its business in overseas economies such as Brazil, Indonesia, and Africa. Mr. Chander Agarwal knows how to turn hard work into success and has highly profitable plans for his firm. With his diligence, he aims to increase the company’s branches to more than 1,000 in the upcoming year. In addition, he plans to expand the delivery and pick-up locations from 50,000 to 60,000.

A REMARKABLE LEADER

A leader should always have integrity and a clear vision. He should be a strategic planner to guide his teammates in the right direction.

Qualities like these make Mr. Chander Agarwal a true leader who believes in achieving big things using the most innovative ways for his company. Since the logistics industry needs creative strategies and specific leadership skills, he has significantly contributed to the company’s success and growth with his in-depth knowledge and skills. He believes that to attain the best results, a company needs to provide a healthy working environment to its employees. Therefore, he focuses on the training and development of the entire workforce to make them aware of the ever-changing policies and procedures required for a successful business. He prioritises clients’ needs and provides them with round-the-clock pick-up and delivery services throughout the country.

A STOREHOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE

Mr. Chander Agarwal has completed various executive management and finance programs at prestigious institutions around the globe. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant College, Rhode Island, USA. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s OPM program in 2018. He even completed the Advance Management Program certification from the National University of Singapore. In addition, he obtained a Finance Management certificate from INSEAD, Singapore.

It was his experience of working with Transfreight, USA, a 3PL specialisation in lean logistics primarily for Toyota Motor Vehicles USA, in 2001-2002 that enabled him to have an unmatched knowledge of the logistics business. With his foresighted vision and strategic approach, he played a crucial role in bringing relevant changes in the logistics sector in India. Today, his firm is publicly listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange and is considered the best in the logistics industry in India. He has given the company a new avatar and made it Number 1 and the fastest-growing express delivery company.

AN ARRAY OF AWARDS

Mr. Chander Agarwal’s dedication and experience have won him many awards and recognitions. Economic Times recognised him as the Most Promising Business Leader for 2016-17 and 2018-19. In 2019, he was felicitated with the India’s Inspirational Business Leaders Award by WCRC Insights and received India’s Inspirational Leader of the Year from Daily Media India 2019.

Under his skillful leadership and guidance, TCI Express Limited was certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ and recognised by Hurun as one of the 500 most valuable non-state-controlled companies.

ALL ABOUT DEDICATION

An engineer by education, Nitin knows one thing for sure – it takes dedication and the right vision to achieve goals. He always intended to put sufficient time and energy into each of his projects. Whether as a design engineer or a Chief Executive Officer, he never stopped learning.

Nitin is now one of the top leaders in the industry because he is curious to discover and gain new knowledge for actionable solutions. His company, Blueberry Semiconductors, is serving customers across the globe and has delivered hundreds of successful projects, and the credit for this level of expansion rightfully goes to the leader.

He leveraged his network to learn deeply about the semiconductors industry. Now, Blueberry Semiconductors offers services in niche areas such as ASIC/SoC, embedded product engineering supported by machine learning, industrial IoT, and artificial intelligence.

CAREER GRAPH

Entrepreneurship was not his first choice. He was just passionate about engineering. So, after schooling, he received a diploma in electronics and telecommunication engineering and enrolled in Nagpur University for a Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering.

Right after college, Nitin started his career with Electronica Mechatronic Systems as a Design Engineer. Later, he did various stints in companies like AdorPowertron, Saint-Gobain India, Spike Technologies, KPIT Cummins Infosystems and E-Infochips.

These years in the corporate world revealed the ins and outs of the tech industry to him. Some of his positions were directly associated with project management, where he played an instrumental role in business development and customer relationships across the globe. Little did he know that these skills would be a game changer for his career.

In 2013, Nitin established Orange Semiconductors, which grew to over 50 employees in just three years. Due to the venture’s extraordinary success, Moschip Semiconductors Limited acquired it. But Orange Semiconductors wasn’t the only start-up founded by Nitin.

Later, the entrepreneur teamed up with other experienced professionals and established Blueberry Semiconductors. The organisation is headquartered in Bengaluru and exclusively focuses on the Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) Design and Verification domain.

Due to its excellent success record, it was recently listed among India’s Most Promising Semiconductor Companies to Watch in 2022 by the Inner Review.

MOVING AHEAD

Backed by his 25 years of experience, Nitin is now ensuring that his organisation sets a new benchmark in the tech world with its futuristic and innovative products. He realises that over the past few years, the semiconductor industry has evolved a lot in terms of scientific innovation, the complexity of design and business models.

Therefore, he has made Blueberry Semiconductors a one stop destination for semiconductor services and niche software (artificial intelligence-machine learning) solutions. He also provides that every new engineer hired by the organisation gets expert mentorship to align with its values and goals.

Under his leadership, the organisation has started its global journey. The clientele includes names such as SanDisk, Intel, Mahindra, EnSilica, Raymond, Microsemi and Infineon, to name a few.

Nitin now aims to make Blueberry Semiconductors a 100-million-dollar Indian tech company. If he keeps adding more international clients and successful case studies to the portfolio, this dream will get materialised soon.

In the last eight years, Aditya Kejriwal has been instrumental in making customer experience strategies that have worked wonders. Moreover, he has added new milestones to expand the company’s focus on building a customer-centric culture. As a result, Cardinal Health has become a top choice in the healthcare space. It is no doubt that Aditya’s strategies have turned fruitful.

He plans to improve the home-based patient experience by building a new program. He is leveraging technology to execute the transformational changes that would significantly impact their direct-to-customer business. In simple terms, he understands his customers’ dynamic needs and is ready to launch solutions that address the challenges.

A TRAIL OF SUCCESS

What Aditya has done for Cardinal Health is more of a recent milestone. However, his trail of success is far longer.

Before entering the business world, he made sure he gained all the knowledge and credibility by studying in some of the finest colleges in India. He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Rourkela in 2000. He later shifted to the US to start his career with Cognizant.

However, he returned to India after five years to study again. This time, Aditya was surer of his career, which is why he pursued an MBA from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. The course gave him an insight into strategic marketing, and he then began the journey of a bright future.

Aditya experimented a lot with his career for the next few years. From IT space and consulting to banking and healthcare, he worked in several industries to gain expertise in strategic management. He worked with and led several significant transformations in companies such as Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, Citibank, SwissRe, Morgan Stanley, Merryl Lynch, and many others. During these jobs, he also travelled extensively, which helped him get a global perspective of the field.

Finally, Aditya joined Cardinal Health in 2014. Since then, he has taken many transformational roles ranging from program managing transformation of customer support services to the position of subject matter expert in cost optimization initiatives. Now, he is using all his expertise and experience to push the growth graph of Cardinal Health.

ESTABLISHING A NAME

Aditya Kejriwal’s leadership is known all over the industry. This is the reason he is often invited as a speaker at various events in the health space. In 2022, he was invited to the International Customer Experience Awards 2022.

He has also been invited as a key speaker at the Process Excellence Network World Summit 2023 to address business leaders across the industry. He is a judge at the International Business Transformation Awards 2023 and Stevie Awards 2023.

In addition to being an industry expert, Aditya is also a member of Mensa International (High IQ Society), American Mensa, and is a Certified Project Management Professional.

Like every remarkable leader, he does not shy away from sharing his industry insights on Customer Experience and Transformation. Thus, he often writes and publishes several blogs and articles on digital platforms such as the Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports.

SUPERLATIVE CREDENTIALS

Mr. Harish Poojari holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Mumbai University. Before commencing his entrepreneurial journey, he began his career in human resources. He focused his attention on bridging the gap between employees and the organisation, which grew his interest in operations.

Today, Mr. Poojari, the Founder and CEO of Innovinc Aspire Infratech Solutions Private Limited, is known as an expert in developing the latest innovations in the industry. As a result of his vision, the company saw significant financial and business growth. The entrepreneur has set a precedent in infrastructure development by delivering exceptionally for the turnkey tolls and road construction projects allocated by the state governments.

A FUTURISTIC APPROACH

Due to his strategic abilities, solid competence, and great business sense, he stands tall in the infrastructure sector. His organisational and leadership abilities set him apart from the competition. Owing to his dedicated and unwavering efforts, the business quickly expanded to four states.

Currently, the firm is operating in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, with ongoing and upcoming projects. Possessing true entrepreneurial skills, Mr. Poojari introduced technologies to the firm for building smooth roadways connectivity that are safe and reliable.

The visionary leader was able to achieve significant milestones by constructing high-quality roads and a toll collection system throughout India’s western and southern regions.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Poojari is committed to sustainable construction and adapting to future changes by placing it at the centre of his business’s expansion plan. Under his direction, the firm aims to be a turnkey provider of renewable energy resources and end-to-end infrastructure deployment by 2025.

The firm recently launched Innovinc Aspire Renewable Energy Solutions Private Limited under his leadership. Assemblers, fabricators, and dealers will be based with this subsidiary company specializing in lithium batteries, lithium ion batteries, and other renewable energy systems based on solar energy.

A relentless pursuer of perfection, Mr. Poojari did not leave any stone unturned in making his companies succeed. As a result, both companies have received ISO certifications for implementing top-notch standards in their operations.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

According to Mr. Poojari, it is teamwork and superior processes that make an organisation successful in the fast-paced and ever-changing environment. He also dedicates time to create an organic work environment in his company.

He believes in fostering a culture of social responsibility and creating a business that will shape our future. With a rich experience in HR and operations, he possesses excellent leadership skills, and strives to enhance employee performance and foster higher growth rates.

The entrepreneur prioritises the fulfilment and well-being of employees at Innovinc, while maintaining his position as the company’s public face with a great deal of responsibility towards clients.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Mr. Poojari has received recognitions from the ET Inspiring Indian and Darwin Group of Companies. The company felicitated him in August 2022 for his notable contribution to the infratech industry.

A CHANGEMAKER

A social entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and a committed philanthropist, Mr. Malay dons many hats and each with equal determination. His leadership persona and vision is such that he envisions equality and growth for all. Rural economic development and quality education have been his biggest missions all through the years.

AN ACCLAIMED EDUPRENEUR

Amongst his various initiatives, his most notable one is the Swadhin Charitable Trust, which he started in the year 2009. Swadhin refers to Society for Welfare & Development of Human Initiatives, and has been Mr. Malay’s painstaking initiative to drive his mission of offering education to the youth. The objective of this trust is to develop medical colleges, organise training and development programmes, and drive social development through education.

Since 2009, Mr. Malay has been involved in the development of rural areas of West Bengal through the Swadhin Charitable Trust. The prime objective of his social activities has been to protect the minority people and tribal communities of West Bengal. He has partnered with more than 67 institutes to impart various interpersonal skills, technical skills, education and more to rural children, right from primary education to higher studies. The government and private ITI institutes that are involved in this partnership belong to the first 20 ITI institutes pan India. Polytechnics, skill development centres, B.Ed colleges, and other institutes are a part of these social development initiatives by Mr. Malay.

SERVICE WITH SINCERITY AND PASSION

Another feather in Mr. Malay’s cap is the Santiniketan Medical College (SMC). Established in 2020, the SMC is India’s first medical college built through a public-private partnership under the National Medical Commission Act. It was started by Mr. Malay to offer transformative learning experiences. The college is the first one to come up after the Centre’s decision to open a path for private players to partner with government hospitals and build medical colleges. Set up under the supervision of NITI Aayog, the teaching hospital is affiliated to Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital.

Under Mr. Malay’s guidance, the medical hospital-cum-institute has been a frontrunner in providing world-class medical services with compassionate care and at affordable cost. It is also dedicated to producing globally competent medical professionals with a strong urge to serve humanity with the core values of sincerity and passion towards quality patient care guided by ethics.

Mr. Malay has made sure that the medical college has an array of modern laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly trained staff. To make medical education an enriching experience, he has introduced a few museums at the college. These museums have on display over 300 dissected specimens, 500 models, and other items from the world of surgery. His idea is to present to people key, lesser known medical facts about human bodies.

MANY INITIATIVES, ONE MISSION

A not-for-profit organisation started by Mr. Malay is Gobindapur Sephali Samaj Seba Samity. Through this institute, he offers efficient technical and non-technical training to people, which enables them to run educational institutions successfully. This institute also conducts training programmes under various livelihood sectors to help in socio-economic uplift of many people in need.

SWATIRTHA CHARITABLE TRUST

Mr. Malay also started Swatirtha Charitable Trust during the pandemic to offer services to rural people. The unprecedented pandemic and its aftermath were particularly harsh on the rural people whose livelihoods got affected. Under his guidance, Swatirtha Trust engaged in expanding plantation and agricultural activities to sustain the livelihood of rural people. The trust increased its services to feed rural people inside the campus during the pandemic. It also provides classes of physical activity and motivational lectures so that people from the rural community get interested in engaging with their jobs. This trust also provides e-learning study materials for students from different resources.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

By participating in many skill development projects, Mr. Malay has managed to improve the lives of over 3,500 people. His vision and determination to see a visible change in society has often been recognised.

In 2020, Mr. Malay was recognised at the Leadership Innovation Excellence awards held by the Institute of Economic Studies (IES). He was also conferred the ‘Innovative and Excellence Award’ by the National Economic Summit in the same year.

Driven by benevolence for society and strong social conscience, Mr. Malay is an insightful and inspirational personality who has devoted his life to the uplift and sustainable development of the rural society of West Bengal. His philanthropic work for the marginalised communities of the state has led to an improved life and livelihoods for thousands of people. It is this kind of selfless work that makes a leader transform into a visionary.

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.