Category: Leaders

Everyone knows and raves about the latest technologies, cool startups, and disruptive services but little is known about how these function internally. What goes into the smooth functioning of an IT company to let it disrupt the outside world with its innovations? In the era of online job search, how does one go about recruiting the right talent and retaining employees? These are some crucial questions that can only be addressed by an industry veteran like Mr. Agarwal.

He has spent the last 20+ years enabling some of the biggest names in the industry with seamless IT services. Currently working as the President for Global Delivery – Judge India at the Judge Group, Mr. Agarwal has acquired over 2 decades of experience in building up delivery centers across the Americas, Europe, India, and APAC. He has worked in distinguished global brands like L&T Infotech, Capgemini Invent, Birlasoft, and Genpact.

LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED

Mr. Agarwal is a firm believer in hard work and that is what he has built his career on. Born and brought up in the small city of Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, India he completed his Bachelor of Engineering from Marathawada University, India. After working for a year he went on to pursue an MBA from Ecole des Ponts Business School, Paris, France to further his goals. After his MBA, he landed a job with Headstrong in India where he got the opportunity to work with some top-notch professionals in the IT industry. He has come a long way since then. He went on to work in global talent acquisition, resource management, workforce planning, delivery, and operations. He is currently working at The Judge Group as the President of Judge India & Global Delivery. The Judge Group is a leading global professional services firm specializing in technology, talent, and learning solutions. When they wanted to enter the Indian market around 4 years back, they roped in Mr. Agarwal for his dynamic and exceptional experience in the sector. His key responsibilities were to launch and oversee the growth of Judge India, a key component of The Judge Group’s global delivery strategy. In the last few years, Mr. Agarwal has made unimpeachable efforts to quadruple Judge India’s employee footprint; he also introduced and implemented a revolutionary hybrid work model due to which the organization’s productivity has increased considerably. Mr. Agarwal leads and abides by the company’s people-centric outlook towards all stakeholders.

AN EXCELLENT ORATOR

Mr. Agarwal has amassed a great repute and recognition in the industry for his undying spirit of dedication towards his work and expertise in dealing with all kinds of problems and issues in the business arena. He also represents The Judge Group at many well-known events and speaks on important issues related to IT and HR.

Besides leading The Judge Group’s global delivery mission in India, Mr. Agarwal is also an active member of various professional organizations in the US. He is a renowned speaker at several industry forums for global recruitment, talent acquisition, and workforce planning.

He has is also an active member of various professional organizations in the US and is well known and respected for his thought leadership and speaking roles at industry forums.

LIVING BY THE CORE VALUES

A passionate worker, Mr. Agarwal places high importance on communicating openly and connecting with all clients. He and his team at Judge India always aim to create personal relationships with all clients. Every business opportunity and placement is seen as a chance to grow. Building a lifelong connection is at the core of how Mr. Agarwal likes to conduct business. It is with this passion and foresight that the Judge Group has also scaled new heights under the aegis of Mr. Agarwal.

He has a set of mantras that he abides by – the 3I’s he calls them. Intent, Integrity, and Intellect have been the backbone of his entire career spanning 20 years. His other belief that he always stands by is that learning should never stop. No matter what age, what stage of life you have reached, the eagerness to learn should always be within you. It is his keenness to learn that has enabled him to reach the pinnacle of success.

Mr. Agarwal also shares his learning with young entrepreneurs who are entering the industry. His advice to all young entrepreneurs is that they must know the market that they want to delve into, know the people they want to work with, and know how to make talented people work together for a common goal.

He also places high importance on understanding the need of the industry/people. “What problem you want to solve, what are your goals and most importantly whatever you do should create a positive impact” – are the questions which he suggests for the young minds.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

For his undeterred spirit and contribution to the industry, Mr. Agarwal has been recognized time and again. Recently, he was named one of the ‘Top 15 staffing owners and operators to watch in 2021’ by World Staffing Summit (all participants were nominated and selected by public voting.) Last year, he won the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Golden Globe Tigers Award 2020’. He has also won the ‘Role Model and Exemplary Leader Award by ET Awards’ and ‘Excellence in Technology, Talent and Learning Solution’ by BAM Awards 2018 among many others. Under his vision, conviction, and leadership, Judge India has also won multiple prestigious awards. The company was featured in ‘Training Industry Top 20 Training Outsourcing Companies List’ 2021 and also won ClearlyRated’s ‘2021 Best of Staffing Client and Talent Diamond Awards for Service Excellence. The Judge Group also won the 2021 Top Workplaces USA Award by Energage. In 2019, the company won Clearly Rated’s 2019 Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Awards.

At the end of the day, Mr. Agarwal is a family man who lives with his wife and two sons and loves spending time with them. He also enjoys outdoor sports and reading. A firm believer in hard work, Mr. Agarwal is a go-getter when it comes to business. Once asked that if not this zealous, hard-at-work IT professional what would he have liked to be? He said, pilot – since he loves flying high. He is soaring nonetheless thanks to his untiring grit and determination.

A MULTITALENTED PERSON

Mr. Rabindra Narayan is a graduate in English literature, and has completed his diploma in Journalism and Marketing. Theatre has played a significant factor in his life. He has been a popular theatre artist right from his college days, and has shared the stage with several renowned stage personalities. As the General Secretary with the Delhi-based Collegiate Drama Society, he made significant contributions to the field of Punjabi theatre.

Mr. Narayan is also a renowned journalist who worked as the Culture Editor with Sunday Mail in the late 80s. He was also the Acting Editor with The Weekly Sun in the early 90s. Additionally, he worked as a film and music critic during his stint in newspapers. What’s more, he has also directed a lot of documentaries for Doordarshan.

A FOUNTAIN OF CREATIVITY

Mr. Rabindra Narayan is an immensely creative person who is an expert in ideating interesting and engaging content for entertaining viewers. His dedication, combined with his team spirit, makes him a pioneer in the field of Punjabi television and media. Mr. Narayan’s greatest achievement was the creation of the first Punjabi multimedia stage show – Aazadi De Taraaney, for commemorating the 50 years of Indian Independence. In the late 90s, when Mr. Narayan was the business head of ZEE Punjabi and Alpha ETC Punjabi, he laid the foundation of ETC Punjabi.

Today, five flagship channels, namely PTC News, PTC Punjabi Gold, PTC Simran, PTC Music, and PTC Chak De come under the umbrella of PTC Network, thus, making it the largest Punjabi Television Network. These channels have ushered their way into the lives of millions of viewers across the world with music, entertainment, news, spiritual ceremonies and programmes.

Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Narayan who has been successfully serving the cause of Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiyat by offering comprehensive entertainment for people of different ages, currently, PTC Network enjoys an 80% market share, both in terms of viewership and revenue. It has more than 350 employees consisting of top notch media talents and four state-of-the-art studios.

GOING GLOBAL

Under Mr. Narayan’s able leadership, the PTC Network has become the world’s most preferred and largest Punjabi Television Network. With his hard work and dedication, he has expanded PTC Network’s base to the USA, the UK, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and Canada.

In November 2019, Mr. Narayan launched the world’s first Virtual Reality 360-degree Live Telecast Service to enable his global viewers to watch the live telecast of Gurbani from Sri Darbar Sahib through VR Gear. The VR based technology aims at wowing the viewers by making them feel as if they are physically present inside the holy premises of Sri Darbar Sahib. Viewers can avail of this spiritual experience on their smartphones through the PTC Play app or Jio TV.

GARNERING AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Owing to his dedicated efforts and unswerving focus, Mr. Narayan has added several feathers on his cap through these years. He has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Delhi State Punjabi Media Award in the year 2003 by the Delhi Government. Recently, he received the Jewel of Punjab Honor from the ex-Prime Minister of India, Shri Manmohan Singh.

As President Director and CEO of PT Siemens Indonesia, Prakash has guided the company with his sharp business acumen since October 2017. The leader brought Siemens’ cutting-edge technology to Malaysia and Indonesia, capturing landmark nation-building projects across the areas of Electrification, Automation, and Digitalization. His ability to develop and implement successful long-term strategies that outperform company expectations is particularly noteworthy.

Prakash was born and brought up in Kerala. He earned his Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kerala, India. A brilliant student, Prakash, graduated from the University in 1985 with first class and distinction.

A GLORIOUS PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

Prakash embarked on his career in 1986 as an Assistant Project Engineer at Crompton Greaves Ltd., India. In 1990, he joined ABB Industrial and Building Systems Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia as a Project Manager.

In 1996, he joined Siemens Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. His initial role was that of Vice President of Medium Voltage, Energy Management, and Power Automation. He became Senior Vice President of Power Transmission and Distribution in 2004. After serving as Executive Vice President and Head of Siemens ASEAN Energy Cluster from 2008-2011, he was named President and CEO in 2009. Over the past 30 years, Prakash has overseen numerous nation-building projects in the Power, Energy, Infrastructure, and Oil & Gas industries. Siemens appointed Prakash as President Director and CEO of Siemens Indonesia in October 2017.

A LEADER WITH DIVERSE CAPABILITIES

Having extensive experience in multiple areas, including Human Capital Development, Program & Project Management, Strategic Alliances & Partnerships, Business Development, Government & Public Relations, Organizational Restructuring, and Change Management, the well-versed leader brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. When asked about his career highpoint, the leader says, “The Malaysian energy and infrastructure market proliferated between 2010 and 2015, with numerous significant project opportunities. We developed customer-focused strategies and formed special teams to capture projects. Customers’ needs were my top priority because I understood, business is not just about selling, but it is about what the customer needs.” “Our efforts paid off, and Siemens won multiple projects in Transportation, Power Plants, and Infrastructure, resulting in a significant increase in Siemens market share in Malaysia and a growth in the Germany-Malaysia business relationship. Soon Malaysia became prominent in the Siemens world map, and everyone appreciated the results. I consider this outcome to be one of the pinnacles of my career where Siemens was also honored with the Talent Corporation’s “Life at Work” Award,” adds the enthusiastic leader.

AN OUTSTANDING TEAM PLAYER

Prakash puts the customer in the front and centre of his business strategy, actions, decisions, and processes. During the lockdown prompted by the pandemic, he facilitated 70 virtual events to keep clients engaged via thought leadership and technology topics.

LEADING WITH HEAD AND HEART

Prakash is a benevolent leader who is passionate about creating a brighter future. Through his tireless efforts, PT Siemens Indonesia has earned a reputation for excellence in its community involvement programs. He asserts, “The integration of corporate social responsibility has always been an indispensable part of our business strategy, and COVID-19 offered a valuable opportunity for us to evolve and contribute to society.” He adds, “I’m deeply touched and amazed at how my team handled this situation.”

Under his leadership, the company swung into action to assist the public response to the pandemic by contributing 7,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a ventilator machine to 61 hospitals in Indonesia’s top six COVID-19-infected regions. Under the supervision of the National COVID-19 Task Force, these items were delivered directly to the hospitals to assist medical workers and patients in fighting the disease. Additionally, Siemens Indonesia and its employees have donated over 100 million rupiahs to support global efforts against COVID-19. We have also distributed 300 food packages to aid low-income families and orphans.

Additionally, the leader looks to help the next generation, mainly engineering students at universities, through software grants to better prepare them for the competitive and complex power systems and substation automation market. Prakash also led the company to participate in the German Dual Vocational Education & Training (GDVET), certified and quality-controlled by the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKONID). His objective is to help the Indonesian government improve its workforce by promoting skill-based learning and industry-readiness among the youth in the digitalization era.

IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Prakash has received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished career spanning over three decades. The Malaysian Institute of Management inducted him as an Emeritus Fellow in 2018 during its Court of Emeritus Fellows. In 2017, he was conferred with “Panglima Setia Diraja,” which carries the honorary title “Datuk” by the King of Malaysia. In 2014, he received the Transformational Corporate Leader BrandLaureateICON Leadership Award.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Indonesia in March 2020, Prakash took several initiatives that are still ongoing. A wide range of measures was taken, including implementing strict health protocols at work in conformance with central and regional government regulations. Prakash’s selfless service helped Siemens receive recognition from the Jakarta city administration for implementing exemplary COVID-19 protocols in the workplace.

MUSICALLY INCLINED

Prakash is a successful leader, a gourmand, and a music fanatic, all bundled into one. He enjoys film music and pursues vocal music as a serious study during his leisure time. Another fascinating thing about Prakash is his signature trait of sharing nuggets of wisdom by digging into his seemingly endless collection of anecdotes.

Mr. Goenka’s relentless vision and exquisite finesse for detail have earned him the most prominent position in India’s iron and steel business. He holds a B.Com. (Hons.) from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata, India. As the Managing Director of Devashree Ispat, he is making giant leaps in the sector with great agility, which is evidenced by the company’s 500% growth over the last 15 years. Making Shree Xtra TMT the most trusted brand was a shining moment for Mr. Goenka. The brand is regarded as a premium one, with the biggest market share in Telangana’s secondary steel market. The goal of the focused leader has always been to create the highest amount of product at the lowest manufacturing cost & with the least amount of investment while maintaining the highest quality. Under his direction, the existing plant of the firm was renovated rather than being discarded or shut down as part of the modernization & capacity expansion. This is a historic exercise in & of itself!

A MAN OF PRINCIPLES

Mr. Goenka has not only preserved the ethos of the company but has also strengthened it with time. His steadfast adherence to the company’s values & ethics has laid the groundwork for his successful journey besides helping him win the hearts of his coworkers, associates, & clients. Because of his ceaseless efforts, Devashree Ispat is currently revered as a leader by his peers. It has been possible due to the leader’s vision for futuristic development, a positive and aggressive approach to modifications, modernization, & innovation in the areas of cost-cutting, production enhancement, & quality improvement. He attributes the success of his firm to the vision & guidance of his uncle Shri Sajjan Kumar Goenka & unflinching support & hard work of his brother Shri Neeraj Goenka, his son Siddhartha & nephew Karan. He also owes it to the employees & workers who have been giving their best to the firm. Mr. Goenka, like a true leader, believes in learning from his mistakes and not repeating them. “Mistakes are bad, but failing to learn from them is even worse”, he says. Failures are embraced as pillars of success by the daring and optimistic leader. In failures, he is never despondent or depressed. “Accepting failure drives me to explore different things I’ve never tried before, paving the way for me to win big.”

QUALITY COMES FIRST

For Mr. Goenka quality is of paramount importance. He leverages innovations in quality improvement and perfection to help the company climb the ladder of success. For example, he pushed the firm to move from traditional rib patterns in TMT bars to “XXX” in order to make the company’s TMT bars 10% stronger than regular TMT bars. He is a responsible & honest entrepreneur, employer, & citizen. Sound corporate governance, he believes, is vital to enhancing & maintaining investor trust, as it reflects the firm’s culture, policies & values commitment. He says, “Corporate governance’s significance in today’s dynamic & cutthroat business environment cannot be overstated. Thus, we have a solid corporate governance framework in place & we strictly adhere to the principles of transparency & accountability in our firm.” The leader adds, “Whether it’s financial institutions or our suppliers, the firm has never failed to pay its financial commitments. This reflects the company’s greatest level of morality & integrity.”

SAILING SMOOTHLY THROUGH ODDS

Mr. Goenka has the readiness and flexibility to cope with new circumstances regardless of how challenging they may be. He knows how to tackle challenges sagaciously. The leader has taken some impressive initiatives to address the issues posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As soon as COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, he made sure his organization adheres to the lockdown guidelines issued by the government earnestly and strictly. The organization’s supervisory teams were directed to educate the workers on the necessity of wearing masks, using hand sanitizers, and practicing social distancing. Buses were also provided to make it easier for workers to commute safely and avoid taking public transportation. What’s more, full salaries and wages were paid to all the employees and workers during the Covid-19 lockdown of 45 days in 2020. Under his direction, workers were also provided with private transportation services, allowing them to travel to work from their hometowns & resume their jobs. It was done to reduce rail travel and unnecessary virus exposure.

AN ECO-MINDED ENTREPRENEUR

Mr. Goenka is a proponent of green entrepreneurship. Under his direction, Devashree Ispat has carved out a distinctive niche for itself over the years. There is no tolerance for any kind of pollution, whether it is the pollution of the air, water, or the dumping of waste on the land. He has always blazed the trails in the field of fuel economy. Under his leadership, the firm remained far ahead of its competitors by spearheading the timely shift from furnace oil to the gasifier to coal pulverizer & finally to direct hot charging of billets. It also achieved the rare feat of recycling 100% of its waste products for other commercial activities & value creation. Furthermore, he has pioneered measures to reduce emissions from furnaces.

A BENEVOLENT SOUL

Besides being a successful businessman, Mr. Goenka is a philanthropist who believes in promoting the well-being of humanity. With his CSR initiatives, the leader aspires to have a lasting impact on society besides making his life meaningful and worthy. “We are highly aware of our corporate social responsibilities & are always zealous to fulfil them,” the compassionate leader says. He asserts, “Our villagers admire us because we always come forward to resolve their problems & concerns. For the last 10 years, we have been providing free drinking water on a daily basis to all the residents of Elkatta village & surrounding villages by installing and operating an RO water plant. When bore-wells dry up in the summer, we supply free water to the villagers for the entire summer.” He always makes sure that his firm is conscientious of its social obligations. “We make a sizable monthly contribution to charitable institutions in the state for the education of girls,” he says. He also donates regularly to government entities during disasters such as COVID-19 and helps in raising funds for martyrs’ families

After completing his Honor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Liverpool in 2010, Tejas joined his family-owned business Jayalakshmi Group, which has a strong foundation in commercial real estate, warehousing, and renewable energy sector. When he joined the group, they had roughly 50,000 square feet of Commercial assets under management at the outset, with a couple of high-profile IT tenants.

Between 2010 and 2014, with his unwavering efforts, Tejas built and added 90,000 sq ft. of assets with clients ranging from Fintech, Data Centers, Medical Research, and E-commerce. After establishing a foothold in the commercial real estate sector, the young leader focused on expanding into the coworking sector. Under his direction, JG began exploring the coworking segment in 2017, beginning with a 3,000 sq ft pilot project that has now grown to a massive 63,000 sq ft and is still growing. His coworking space strategy was to cater to 90% MNCs and 10% start-ups, allowing the group to secure consistent revenue in a turbulent industry.

A GREEN LEADER

Tejas is an ecologically concerned leader who seeks long-term solutions to reduce carbon emissions while shifting to a clean energy economy. Under his proactive leadership, the group entered the renewable energy industry as a separate wing of JG, where it produced 2MW of wind energy for captive and non-captive use, thereby, reducing the group’s overall carbon footprint. This thoughtful initiative not only aided in the creation of a diverse portfolio for the firm but also contributed to the profitability of this segment of the business within the second year of its inception. His desire to create and offer the best real estate product led him to blend sustainability and efficiency in his designs, resulting in a one-of-a-kind customer experience for the clients. His green initiative has aided in the development of a brand image for sustainable office space design besides setting the standard for all future projects.

GARNERING GLORY

His passion for green energy has earned the group nationwide recognition. In 2017, JG was nominated for Design & Architecture Award 2017 by NDTV in the interior office category. In 2019, Tejas took charge of the most ambitious project to date: the development of a 5,00,000-square-foot tech park in Bangalore to be known as JTP (Jayalakshmi Tech Park). “We made this a Gold standard LEED certified project due to our strong interest in environmental sustainability,” he says. Around 350 trees will be planted inside the tech park as part of the project and ensure carbon positive environment.

EMPHASIZES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Even though COVID-19 has impacted the realty sector, his flexible leasing strategies have helped JG to stay cash flow positive during these tough times. During the pandemic, the company not only maintained a steady revenue without shrinking but also successfully increased its client base by 18%, resulting in a 22% rise in overall revenue.

A BENEVOLENT SOUL

An accomplished business leader, environmentalist, as well as a philanthropist, Tejas never fails to stun us with his intriguing multifold characteristics. By making every aspect of the business sustainable, the leader has been driving positive change for all. He credits his success to his family members, who have always pushed him to follow his heart and value quality over profit margins.

Dr. Natarajan started her medical career with a MBBS degree in 1979 from the prestigious Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal. She stayed on at KMC and completed her DGO and MD degrees after which she came to Coimbatore. She took a sabbatical to train herself in laparoscopic surgical techniques at Tuttilingen, Germany in 1995. She returned to India to start her career as a consultant in G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital, Coimbatore. She eventually took over and spearheaded a busy Obstetrics/Gynecology department at the hospital for almost two decades. During this time, apart from running a high volume clinical practice, she also managed to give back to her academic community by conducting several international conferences and training postgraduates at the institution and beyond. Over the course of her career, she has published several high-impact articles and book chapters in peerreviewed journals and textbooks, and has delivered lectures as an expert speaker in several national and international conferences.

AN ESTEEMED VETERAN

Beyond her clinical and academic endeavors, she has also taken up multiple leadership roles in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has led two successful terms as President of the Coimbatore Chapter of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI). She is also a member of prestigious organizations like Indian Medical Association (IMA), Ultrasound Society of India, Society of Urogynaecologists of India, Indian College of Maternal and Child Health, Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), and Indian Fertility Society (IFS). Notably, she also leads the very popular “Labour Congress” conference every other year and has made a mark for herself in the academic community in India. In pursuit of greater challenges, Dr. Suma moved her practice to Ganga Women and Child Centre, Coimbatore in 2007 where she started the Obstetrics and Gynecology division and continues to serve as the head of the department. Her keen interest in the field of Infertility led her to establish a State-of-the-art infertility treatment center, the Esjay Craft Fertility Center in Ramnagar, Coimbatore.

As a result, she has been able to provide affordable infertility treatment options to struggling couples and give them a chance at experiencing the joy of parenthood. Furthermore, she also serves as Chairman of InHouse Medicare, a facility that has been successfully providing vital in-home services and assisted nursing facilities to many of the vulnerable elders in the community since 2015.

A PASSIONATE PROFESSIONAL

Her achievements have earned her numerous prestigious awards in the medical field including the Mahila Ratna Award in 2014, Acharya Award in 2015, Women’s Achievers Award in 2017, and Lifetime Achievement Award by IMA in 2018 and Lifetime Achievement Award by Coimbatore Obstetric & Gynaecological Society in 2018.

Over the decades, Dr. Suma Natarajan has made her mark as a pioneer in the OB/GYN field and her ultimate vision is to expand her clinical practice with the aim of providing her patients with the most affordable and up-to-date solutions to all of their healthcare needs and ultimately transform the city into an excellent hub for advanced gynecological, infertility and obstetric care.

Pawan was born in Faridabad, Haryana to Chaggan Lal Sharma and Kusum Sharma and has 2 elder siblings Poonam Sharma and Rajani Dixit. He is married to Jannat Sharma and has a 9-year-old daughter Menaha Sharma. He has been with Tolaram Group since a very young age. Over the last many years, he has grown along with the company. Owing to his versatility and business acumen, he was entrusted with the responsibility to run West Africa operations for its CPG vertical. Pawan has come across as an embodiment of perseverance whose success story is an inspiration for umpteen aspirers who aim to make a mark for themselves. As he puts it, “As a person who has been a part of the CPG industry in Africa for more than 20 years, I’ve been a fortunate witness to the evolution of the market, and consumer behaviour trends. Ever since Pawan assumed his role as CEO-West Africa, the Group has seen a rise in the diversification of its segments. The business which started with one product in CPG category has diversified to more than 10 categories and 7 countries in West Africa.

SETTING HIGH BENCHMARKS

Pawan’s entrepreneurial spirit has been the driving force and the reason behind the establishment of many successful brands. His education at the Harvard Business School has provided him with a global perspective and a multicultural approach towards work. He strongly believes that the only way to succeed in a developing market is through economic independence and self-sustenance. Owing to his dedicated efforts, today, Tolaram Group has emerged as one of the fastest-growing CPG companies in emerging markets and it’s changing the lives of millions through their offerings and fully backward integrated operations. A brand is not built in a day and enormous efforts are required in making it see the light of day. Describing the tremendous sweat and toil which went behind establishing so many popular consumer brands, he asserts, “I strongly believe that our brand’s success story defines us, just as much as our struggles to make the brand a success, which is why, to my mind very few stories have matched the magnanimity of the success that our brands owns.” With a humble beginning in the year 2000, Pawan rose to the leadership position in just 2 years and continued to lead the pack in terms of innovation and product quality.” Being extremely involved and enthusiastic about driving the growth of the group to the path to success, he elaborates, “I’m happy to be the hand that was chosen to rewrite history and make group a resounding success. In recent times, we’ve upscaled our portfolio to include beverages and personal care products, and have 20 manufacturing plants and serving more than a billion consumers.”

RIDING THE SUCCESS HORSE

It is a universally acknowledged fact that a man’s true strength can be assessed by the way in which he deals with adversity. Besides talking about some of the challenges which Mr. Pawan faced, he also shares the techniques which he employed to overcome those challenges, “The market has evolved greatly over time and has grown exponentially in terms of the number of competitors, the expectations of the consumers and the calibre of both the talent and technology employed in product development and innovation facilities. It was, admittedly, an uphill task, but not something we couldn’t handle.

We realized early on that the success of any venture is the result of the single-minded and concentrated effort of an entire team of like-minded and passionate individuals which is aligned with the vision of Founders. So we started at the very base, got the right team on board, identified our strengths and played to them.

Our legacy of 2 decades brought the best of the best on board and set the ball rolling. We explored uncharted territory both in terms of the landscape to establish our facilities and the mindset of the team that led to some of our path-breaking innovations.” He addresses tough situations with fresh strategies that are purely guided by the mantra of ‘Passion and Commitment.’ He has always understood the importance of guiding values, empathy and liberty to dream.

BANKING ON THE SUPPORT SYSTEM

Pawan owes his happiness and success to a strong support system, “While I have been on the quest for innovation, my entire family has been a pillar of support that I could always lean on, especially my wife. My father and mother have inspired me in innumerable ways specially how not to give up to adversity and pave your success path from nothing. Banking on the efficient support system of his family, he elatedly expresses, “My wife & daughter always gave me that boost & support when I was entangled in solving business issues and spending long hours at work.”

He adds, “When it came to making hiring suggestions and decisions for talent to assist with back-office operations, choosing and deploying the right technology and IT resources to ensure a hassle-free production process, we always went for the best. We are implementing the SAP ERP model, for efficient resource management. With an efficient and competent R&D Team, we were able to tap into the evolving needs of the user base and devise innovative solutions to fulfil those needs.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

From the very beginning, Pawan has been more than just a CEO. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he motivated the employees at Tolaram to contribute towards relief work. Serving and helping people with food for days, this support drive continued for over 6 months across the country. As an expression of gratitude, Tolaram gifted hampers to the frontline heroes, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers for their selfless service to the nation during the pandemic.

Pawan also ensured that even with reduced work hours the quality of service was never compromised. Continually bent on improving lives, Pawan has been leading by example and continues to inspire many more so that everyone in need of help is touched and benefited positively.

He asserts, “Our CSR initiatives are closely driven and largely motivated by our Founder’s sentiments, as a Tolaram family, we have always centered each of our initiatives around the act of giving. In 2015, the Group restructured into a trust and created a Tolaram Charity Foundation – a beneficiary of 25% of its profits.”

Mr. Vora comes from a humble Jain family with a solid business background. His strong desire for success from a young age, combined with his excellent upbringing and education, has shaped him into a successful individual. The astute and enthusiastic leader holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Communications from Gujarat University (India). The success of the programmer- turned-innovator is genuinely remarkable, and it can be credited to his years of hard work and professionalism. Under his inspiring leadership, Vora Ventures is taking giant strides and has been showing remarkable business growth consistently on a year-by-year basis.

HIS JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Mr. Vora has been based in Cincinnati since early 1988 after graduating from the University of Michigan. The high-tech industry veteran considers his relocation to the Blue Chip City as propitious because it allowed him to join a friend and fellow student who was launching a business in the same city. Mr. Vora has spent the last 29 years in the Tri-State area, co-founding and selling multiple profitable technology ventures to Fortune 500 companies. In 2005, he sold his fourth tech start-up, Intelliseek, for more than $100 million in Ohio.

In 2006, Mr. Vora founded Vora Ventures as a technology holding company with multiple IT businesses. Vora Ventures creations include Ascendum, Ascendum KPS (India), AssureCare, Aquiire (sold in October 2018), CenterGrid, KoncertIT, Zakta, Bluespring, ShakeDeal (India), and Vora Technology Park. In 2014, Vora Ventures became the largest self-funded tech group – a remarkable achievement. In 2017, the ambitious leader purchased Sourcebits, a cutting-edge digital solutions firm headquartered in Silicon Valley. In 2018, Mr. Vora purchased ShakeDeal, India’s leading B2B Online Marketplace. In addition, he bought Hinge Global in 2019. It is a digital commerce startup based in Cincinnati that works with Fortune 5000 brands to enhance their eCommerce revenue. Additionally, he has been part of over 25 tech start-ups in Tier-II cities. Vora’s AssureCare leads the pack of digital healthcare transformation worldwide, with a mission to help improve health for millions worldwide.

PROGRESSIVE IDEAS

According to Mr. Vora, obstacles and hurdles are an inevitable part of entrepreneurship, particularly in the IT industry, where one must learn to quickly embrace constant change. The optimistic leader believes that each challenge reveals a key opportunity to grow. He says, “If you see an obstacle as a challenge, it is indeed a challenge. But if you are motivated by the obstacle, then it turns into an opportunity. I believe that impediments should always be viewed as opportunities.” It is his vigorous optimism that drives him to stay focused on the future while dealing with today’s obstacles. Mr. Vora is renowned for his innovation, speed of execution, sound business principles, and wellbeing (care) for his employees. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded advanced and powerful information technologies in the domain of distributed (client/server) and Internet-based computing, as well as advanced search engines and text-mining. The visionary leader has also pioneered the design of numerous leading-edge software projects, including Pioneer Systems (bought by Unisys), ICC (bought by Attachmate), SecureIT (bought by VeriSign), and Intelliseek (merged with Nielsen-Buzzmetrics).

LEADING WITH UNCOMMON SENSE

Mr. Vora is a bold leader who coined the term “Uncommon Sense”. Uncommon Sense is all about empowering common people to do uncommon, seemingly impossible things with a fraction of resources, in a record time. Otherwise called defying odds. It is a step above the common sense that allows leaders to venture outside their comfort zone. It includes taking measured risks, making rapid decisions based on relevant data to seize opportunities, and understanding human motivations to create win-win partnerships, Mr. Vora summarizes The Uncommon Sense in five core business values in his upcoming book – Aggression with Ethics, Frugality with Class, Humility with Confidence, Quality with Speed and Creativity with Process. He adds ”the key is to practice these seemingly opposite values at the same time, all the time”.

SENSE OF URGENCY WITH FAIRNESS

As a focused leader, he strongly believes that a clear sense of purpose and mission among all stakeholders and empowerment of employees to own decisions through entrepreneurial culture is key to success in a tough, competitive and rapidly changing businesses. Mr. Vora also believes in creating a sense of spirited urgency with his team for success. Embracing and instilling “Urgency without Desperation” (he says) enables his teams to never procrastinate and make decisions quickly. “The world is moving at a faster pace as a result of technological advancements; and ultimately all businesses are about people. So moving fast while not being reckless, rising from failures with empathy and humility is critical.” He exhibits and conveys the importance of fairness and urgency via his actions, conduct, and words.

COMMITTED TO SOCIAL WELFARE

Mr. Vora is well-known for his active involvement, and dedication to the local and global communities. He believes in leaving a lasting impression by reinvesting in people and communities. The compassionate leader gives 2% of his profits to Vora Foundation, which has partnered with Green Light Foundation to help children, teens, and families in high-poverty urban areas better their lives. He also supports the Ekal Vidyalaya campaign – a movement that aims at providing education to every child by establishing one-teacher schools in the most remote rural and tribal villages in India. Mr. Vora is active in Jain community and is a staunch supporter of organizations like United Way and Association for Indian Development(AID). What’s more, he encourages his employees to participate in charitable activities through The Vora Charitable Action Committee.

To deal with the challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, he ensured that there have been no layoffs or pay cuts during the pandemic, not even for hourly employees. What’s more, Ascendum Solutions has also launched SafeReturn, a health screening app for students and workers in the US, for improving safety and driving actionable intelligence to reduce COVID-19 incidences.

TOWERING ACHIEVEMENTS

Mr. Vora’s experience and zeal for excellence have won him several international accreditations. The exuberant leader, also known as the Midwest’s high-tech poster boy, is the youngest winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Innovation at Midwest Awards in 2014. Mr. Vora is also a recipient of the 2019 “Entrepreneur of the Year” at the ACG Deal Maker Awards and numerous other entrepreneurial awards from reputable global organizations including Ernst and Young.

As the Chairperson of The Times Group, Smt. Indu Jain has enabled the conglomerate to enter new realms of advancement with her phenomenal efforts, matchless determination and indomitable leadership. She has strengthened the group’s leading position in television, radio and online media. Further, owing to her dedicated efforts over the years, The Times of India has not only established itself as the most popular newspaper of the nation, but it has boldly stamped its position as the world’s largest-selling English broadsheet daily.

Under Smt. Indu Jain’s able leadership, the group also operates several popular television channels offering content across multiple genres. The group’s general and business news channels, Times Now, Mirror Now and ET Now, have redefined news and debates. Alongside, its entertainment and lifestyle channel, Zoom, has huge viewership. In the radio business, the group owns and operates the genre benchmark FM channel, Radio Mirchi. Chairperson Smt. Indu Jain has also overseen the group’s expansion and leadership in the digital media space.

Being a firm believer in empowering others with knowledge, Smt. Indu Jain has also established a world-class university located in Noida, UP. Bennett University offers international-level multidisciplinary courses and prepares students for what Chairperson Indu Jain believes will be the most important issues of the coming years, ranging from economics to ecology, social transitions to technology.

Under her leadership, the group has also ventured into the business of film production and distribution. In fact, thanks to her farseeing stewardship, the group is now a dominant player in the cinema industry.

The Times Group’s company, Junglee Pictures, has produced cutting-edge films that have been both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. These include the gritty ‘Talvar’, which won two National Awards, and the now-iconic ‘Raazi’, a pathbreaking film depicting a real-life espionage agent and her personal challenges.

All of these endeavours underline Smt. Indu Jain’s consistent commitment to creating a positive impact around the perception of women’s status in society. She has powerfully championed the cause of women’s empowerment across the globe. In India, her passionate advocacy led to the formation of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry – Ladies Organization (FLO). She is the Founder Member of FLO and an icon of women leading businesses in what was once an unquestioned male sphere.

Alongside, Smt. Indu Jain has always appreciated and promoted literature and culture. She is the President Emeritus of Bharatiya Jnanpith, which is considered the highest literary honour in India. Her judgement and refined perceptions have steered the organisation towards recognising and celebrating some of the country’s most compelling and vibrant literary talent.

ROOTED IN SPIRITUALITY

A deep philosophical thinker, Smt. Indu Jain practices spirituality in all spheres of her life. While approaching various issues, whether in the world of business, education, art or culture, she constantly draws from her deep well of spiritual understanding and guidance. Her humane and philosophically rich approach has enriched the mindscape of not just the Times Group, but also the entire Indian media. She views every incident of life, even its challenges and occasional setbacks, as the Grace of God. “The divine leads” is her guiding principle and belief. While recognising and tackling all the challenges which material life presents, Smt. Indu Jain has always been a true visionary, with her efforts to bring spirituality to the workplace, across India and the corporate world.

She has authored two books which share vast and valuable knowledge about saints, sages and spiritualism in India. The books have been best-sellers and have gone into multiple print runs. Her ‘Encyclopaedia of Indian Saints and Sages’ is a unique publication which gives a glimpse of different strands and lineages within Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Sikh belief, exploring the profound legacies and simple teachings of their great spiritual heads and secular masters.

To encourage spirituality within an Indian corporate culture, she has promoted ‘Sach Bharat’, an initiative between the Times Foundation, ASSOCHAM, the Aditya Birla Group and the SREI Foundation. She has also created two large ashram facilities at the Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore and the Isha Foundation, Coimbatore. Besides imbibing the spiritual benefits of staying at such inspiring places, corporate employees can also hold important conferences there.

CATALYSING GROWTH

Apart from harnessing the growth potential of the multiple businesses where the Times Group is already active, Smt. Indu Jain’s vision is to lead the organisation into newer and ever more exciting business fields. An innate leader, she believes that the group should always lead the change and move ceaselessly towards bigger opportunities, instead of resting on its laurels. This spirit of striving for growth and imagining new horizons was summed up by her in 2013, when the group celebrated its 175th anniversary. Smt. Indu Jain, a visionary par excellence, declared, “We are not 175 years old but 175 years young – and the journey has just begun.”

AN EPITOME OF COMPASSION

Smt. Indu Jain has always striven to give back to society and empower some of its most vulnerable groups. In 2000, she founded and now heads The Times Foundation, which has garnered international acclaim for its activities in the field of development. The Times Foundation forges multi-stakeholder partnerships and acts as a point of convergence for government agencies, NGOs, the corporate sector, multilateral agencies and individuals working towards inclusive and equitable socio-economic development.

It is a platform for engaging meaningfully on critical national imperatives to enhance public awareness and facilitate impactful dialogues on crucial issues – these include water, environment, education, health, women’s empowerment, disaster relief and rehabilitation, advocacy, vocational training and spiritual wellness. The Foundation’s motto is “Your Mission is Our Mission”, which recognises the spirit of cooperation and mutual inspiration a bountiful society must have.

She also supports a ‘Widow Ashram’ at Vrindavan, which teaches vulnerable women’s groups life skills and ensures dignity for them. Apart from her many social initiatives, Smt. Indu Jain has always stepped up to the forefront whenever our nation has been hit by calamities. A proud and committed Indian, through the Foundation, she has provided monetary and other assistance to help and empower the needy to reconstruct their lives.

By combining tremendous business growth with deep ethical and spiritual pursuits, Smt. Indu Jain has shown a path of inspiration and motivation to many corporate and business leaders.

With over 30 years of professional experience, Mohan knows what it takes to run a company and to build one, too. Under his stewardship, Plintron has jumped from strength to strength over the years. The dynamic leader is currently making waves in the telecommunications and IT industry and has earned a remarkable position for himself in the national as well as global market.

Mohan is a thought leader in Telecom as a Service (TaaS) for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOS), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Enterprises, IoT services providers & connected Devices. In his previous roles, he had worked in the telecommunications, financial services, and information technology industries, where he headed global operations and held leadership positions. Security, M2M, and smart devices are some of his other areas of expertise. The visionary leader believes that the future will be dominated by smart devices, Crowd-Sourced Networks, and related services that will empower the average man to live a contemporary lifestyle.

Mohan specializes in bringing a commercial perspective to technology and service delivery. He also has international expertise working with regulators and network service providers of different countries to develop the full MVNO model and commercialize network sharing.

EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

When asked about his greatest achievement in life, Mohan said it was Plintron’s global reach across all six continents, which was achieved through strategic planning and execution. Due to his unwavering efforts, Plintron has grown into the world’s largest multi-country end-to-end MVNA & MVNE, providing CPaaS services to MNOs, MVNOs, Enterprises, and IoT services. With the help of 1000+ telecom specialists, the astute strategist has led the company to build over 140 MVNOs and connect over 150 million mobile subscribers with mobile network services in 30 countries across six continents.

Over the years, Mohan has been helping businesses grow their revenue by providing top-notch products and services, as well as cost savings through network sharing and outsourcing. He can guide nearly any business toward obtaining tangible results in the world of cloud computing.

ONE TEAM, ONE SPIRIT, ONE GOAL

Mohan always puts his people first. He is a powerful motivator who loves boosting the morale of his employees. He also goes to great lengths to ensure his team feels valued. The enterprising leader believes in fostering an inclusive environment to empower his team and foster a productive and healthy workplace culture.

Like a true leader, Mohan listens with the intention of understanding. He values suggestions from his employees. “I place a high value on collective success. To me, success happens when everyone feels like they have a stake in the firm. Therefore, every suggestion coming from my team members is listened to and taken into account,” he asserts.

A GOAL-ORIENTED LEADER

Mohan is a hands-on leader with significant domain knowledge of both business and technology, as well as regulatory awareness, which helps him to be directly involved when solution design and monetization are required. He thrives because of his focus, attention to detail, and refusal to make assumptions without verifying facts. Understanding the nitty-gritty of every project is a quality that is well pronounced in his personality. Additionally, his sense of curiosity inspires him to seek new opportunities and explore new horizons. “My curiosity never wanes and I am always receptive to fresh ideas,” says the forwardthinking leader.

Eternally optimistic, Mohan sees limitless possibilities for the Plintron Group as it continues to witness significant growth across the globe. Looking ahead to the future, the ambitious leader says Plintron Group will focus on becoming the largest Telecom as a Service (TaaS) and Cloud Communications Platform as a Service (CPaas) player in the world with a presence in 52 countries by 2025. “Company efficiency is the most essential aspect for us to focus on,” he said when asked how he and the company as a whole plan on hitting those targets. “Because there is so much rivalry in the market, we tend to remain as competent, proactive, and costeffective as possible,” he explains. Mohan wishes to transcend beyond horizons, through a strong desire for innovation, focus on quality, high emphasis on human resources, rigid compliance, and efficient risk management.

BRACING UP FOR EVERY CHALLENGE

Amid the COVID-19-induced epidemic, the Plintron Group has handled the challenges of corporate governance admirably under his dynamic guidance. Mohan says, “The COVID-19 pandemic caught everyone off guard, and everything seemed to change abruptly.

Despite the uncertainty looming large over the industry following the COVID-19 outbreak, we geared up to overcome even the most difficult challenges that were thrown our way.” He adds, “Even during the pandemic, we have been hiring for new positions to help the sluggish global job market and economy.” Thus, despite the nationwide lockdowns imposed by the governments of different countries, he made sure the company continues to grow. Every new challenge is an opportunity for Mohan to learn something new, and he uses each setback as a launching pad for himself and his organization.

WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION

Mohan’s dedication and ceaseless endeavors have helped Plintron receive the Best Companies in India Award – CPaaS category 2020 from Berkshire Media. What’s more, in 2019, Forbes Technology Council approved Mohan as a member of its exclusive community of world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. As one of the members of the prestigious Council, he has access to approved business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and its member concierge staff.