Category: Leaders

John Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” If this is so, Dilip Keshu is beyond doubt an embodiment of a true leader who has picked many careers, started from scratch and gone all the way to the top. A true renaissance man. An IIT Madras alumnus, Mr. Keshu graduated in Aeronautical Engineering and started his career at an aeronautics firm. He has since then, worked his way up and lived a life of unusual achievements. Mr. Keshu has had an illustrious career even before he came on board at BORN Group as the CEO. He moved to Singapore early in his professional journey wherein he worked at a high-tech firm. He then went on join a NASDAQ-listed services company focused on HCM/corporate learning. He became an entrepreneur by acquiring some of this company’s assets and focused the newly minted firm on consulting services and digital transformation. The company did well until it started to fail after the 9/11 industry slowdown. He then sold the firm to Scandent and became its CEO. He has made every move of his count and propelled forward by leaps and bounds. His current company, BORN, was started as a creative design, content production and commerce solutions provider. In the many years of his career, Mr. Keshu has been involved in the acquisition of many companies, the divestment of a few and the public listing of one – that in no way is an easy feat. Over the years, Mr. Keshu has led BORN group to become an award-winning global agency that focuses on enterprise commerce and experience design. BORN produces unique brand experiences and offers personalized solutions to each client. Mr. Keshu has led the company with a craft of a strategic winner who has delivered positive outcome every time. Under his aegis, BORN has become one of the most awarded company in its class. So, what is his secret formula for getting it right every time? One of his true beliefs is that success come to those who stay authentic. “People buy from people. So in the end to succeed one needs to be authentic. No one is perfect. No one has all the answers to every question. I have always encouraged people to only display the qualities they possess. The risk in being authentic is that you may not win all the business you pitch for but the flip side is that the ones you win are of a higher quality and longer lasting,” he says. Another core belief that he abides by is followership. It is rightly said that a good leader must be a good follower and Mr. Keshu practices that in his work. He describes himself in almost all written communications as the fearless follower. He also believes that being logic underpins success. “The world does not work on the foundation of flukes and happenstance,” he says. He truly believes that there is logic to everything – that science lies even underneath art. “It’s too easy when success or failure is credited to conveniences like fate or coincidence”, he says.

WORKMANSHIP

Under his mentorship, BORN has become a world-renowned name and best in its category. The company has always upheld astandard of excellence that distinguishes it from the rest. For its class-apart initiatives and branding outcomes, the business has won over 50 awards in more than 7 countries all under the helm of Mr. Keshu. The most notable ones in 2020 alone include – Agency of the Year by Marketing Magazine, Best Use of Technology at Digies, Best Digital Agency by Global Brands, SEA Brand Experience Agency of the Year by Campaign Asia among many others. Mr. Keshu’s work has been recognized far and wide. He was named the TechM Associate of the Year 2020, Best Employee of TechM, Entrepreneur of the Year – Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations awarded Gold by the Stevie Awards for the year 2020, Best Entrepreneur awarded by the Alumni Association of IIT Madras (2019), Management Team of the Year – Advertising, Business Services Marketing and Public Relations awarded silver by the Stevie Awards (2017). It is under his guidance that BORN distinguished itself through unique commercial structures. “With customers, one size does not fit all. We worked hard to provide glove-fit solutions to our clients wherever possible”, he says. He, with his unmatched foresight and focus,grew BORN from a small company to the global giant that it is today.

The firm has 500 customers. He led the company to have presence in 8 countries and when the time was right, he sold BORN to Tech Mahindra and has continued to grow the company even after the acquisition to record levels. The firm has partnered with the world’s leading technology companies – Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, SAP, Oracle, Adobe and Shopify among others. It was his untiring work that led to BORN’s acquisition by Tech Mahindra in 2019 and Mr. Keshu still continues to lead BORN. The company continues to innovate and dominate at the intersection of art and science, under his headship.

MILES TO GO

While this past year and a half has been unprecedented for everyone, Mr. Keshu believes that every year something will change, and businesses should be stay constantly agile to adapt and evolve. He applies this principle at a personal level. He had decided early on in his life to not do something again and again. And, he has lived by it – he went from being an aeronautics engineer to mastering computer-aided design and manufacturing software, to enterprise resource planning to corporate education to consulting to IT services to BPO to a marketing agency.

At every turn he started from scratch and reached the pinnacle. After attaining so much in his career and scaling so many professional peaks he is still working to reinvent and try things he hasn’t done before. He is now the author of 3 books, occasionally advises companies pro bono and is also an investor in a few new-age technology firms. He is certainly someone who has a farsighted vision of not only what he can become but also what he can make of the people and community he works along with and that’s what makes a true leader. A self-confessed introvert, Mr. Keshu likes to read and play chess when he is not working on million-dollar projects. He lives a life of gratitude and believes that every day is a gift. For him the whole journey of entrepreneurship was within himself. “Life is about discovery yourself as much as it is about appreciating others around you”, he says. He calls himself a professional dreamer and the way in which he has been leading his life, one can only say – dream big, because they can come true.

Dr. Mathur truly embodies the spirit of global business leadership combined with a new humanitarian approach. A successful business leader and a recognized corporate trailblazer, he takes pride in his humble background. As he puts it, “I always had big dreams. When I finished school, I decided to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and uncles and become an engineer. But I saw that only as the beginning – later, I added business and project management to my qualifications to take my career to a different and higher level altogether.”

A GLORIOUS BEGINNING

Armed with a degree in mechanical engineering from Jodhpur, he set his sights on the wider world outside his state of Rajasthan. In 1990, after a stint with Indian big names such as Bajaj and Birla, he arrived in Bahrain as a young engineer and worked in a couple of high-profile engineering projects, including Aluminium Bahrain – one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters. Seeking a larger canvas for his professional growth, he soon joined Ahmed Mohammed Amin Al Khaja & Sons (AMAK) Group of companies. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dr. Mathur is quite meticulous and technical in his approach. His unquenchable thirst for new knowledge has facilitated his participation in many workshops and courses that helped him to bring new skill sets to his work including an MBA and a doctorate study in project management from the USA. No wonder under the joint leadership of AMAK’s Managing Director Mr. Mohammed Al Khaja and Dr. Mathur, AMAK emerged as the first contracting company in the Kingdom of Bahrain to be ISO-certified – ISO 9001: 2015; ISP14001: 2015 and ISO 45001: 2018 – denoting excellence in quality management, health and safety and environment.

In his own words, “I learnt very early on that quality control is not just about the right tools and technology but also about peoplemanagement. In 1996, I was entrusted with leading our company’s certification for the globally recognized ISO quality control label.

We succeeded in installing a management system that is responsive to the strict requirements of the certification process – we were among the pioneers in getting the certification in this field in Bahrain and we focused not just on technical expertise but also on aligning the management experience and deliverables as well because a strong, committed and excellent management automatically guarantees a great endproduct.” He adds, “While quality standards and environmental standards were laid down, we also implemented several worldclass health and safety measures so that workplace accidents were cut to minimum and working conditions improved.”

PRIORITIZING CUSTOMERS

A game changer, Dr. Mathur has always emphasized on uncompromising quality when it comes to offering goods and services to the customers. This has led to a prestigious track-record that stretches from government contracts to blue-chip companies such as the brand-new Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain Petroleum Co. (Bapco), Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC) and some VVIP clients who engage the company for palaces, private resorts and industries. It has also spurred a growth of new business ventures in the Group: from decorative wrought iron, marble contracting to industrial car park shades in a country that faces harsh climatic conditions for most of the year.

AN INFALLIBLE SUCCESS MODEL

Over a 27-year period, he has helped to grow the business of AMAK by a stunning 1700% with exports representing a major portion of the total business. This is very good news as Bahrain seeks to recast its business model and move more actively into engineering services and goods, promoting itself as an emerging technical hub for the busy United Arab Emirates and the Northern GCC, especially the giant neighboring markets of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

In recent times, Indian technology and expertise has increasingly been chosen by Bahrain to pace its development and CEOs and professionals like Dr. Mathur are at the vanguard of the new Bahraini boardroom. He has found a responsive business environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, widely celebrated as the best place in the GCC to do business because of its cosmopolitan and inclusive lifestyle, transparent and strong legal framework and relatively low business cost. He rightly points out, “The Kingdom of Bahrain is very welcoming of new ideas and we all know that a successful business thrives on diversity.” “Bahrainis are highly educated and hard-working. They are open to innovation also. This makes it easy for expats like me to share our expertise and be a part of the progress of the nation,” he adds.

He is particularly appreciative of the vision of the leaders of the Kingdom. As he puts it, “One must also pay respects to the late Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa who was a stalwart leader and laid the foundation for modern Bahrain in the early ‘seventies,” he says. He further elaborates, “India and Bahrain share a historic and warm relationship that stretches back 5,000 years and that warmth continues to this day.”

GARNERING GLORY

Dr. Mathur’s winning streak began in school when he won the President of India’s President’s Scout Award. Of the
hundred-plus awards that he has won, he is particularly proud of the Standard Chartered Asian Businessman of the Year Award 2012 which he received from the Deputy Premier of Bahrain in recognition of his powerful role as a partner in Bahrain’s progress. He is a tireless community leader with key roles in the Lions Club movement, the community Indian School which is the largest single-shift school in the GCC, serving 13,000 students and in the business-oriented Bahrain India Society.

Going forward, Dr. Mathur, like most senior businessmen, is keen to realign priorities in the company’s growth. He says, “We are working to position ourselves as front-runners in the regional solar energy shift. We have already invested in a factory manufacturing solar energy panels and have implemented plans that bring together our existing business in car parking shade solutions and solar panels that generate solar energy electricity. We see this as the future, especially in a region where solar heat is in abundance and untapped.”

An aspiring boy from a village in Andhra Pradesh to an entrepreneur, philanthropist and an educationist – Dr. P Shyama Raju has carved his name into the city of Bengaluru. From his early days, Dr. Raju has been a seeker of excellence. He dreamt of having a business to his name. After graduating from Andhra University in Commerce, he moved to Bengaluru to find his calling. Instead of settling with a secure income of a routine job, he chose to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. Many challenges awaited him but he rose to the occasion. In 1975, he established DivyaSree Developers. He started humbly with small construction activities and public work related projects but his vision and foresightedness made DivyaSree a name everyone knows.

With the passage of time, Dr. Raju moved from government projects to development of software parks and integrated commercial enclaves. He pioneered the Public-Private sector partnership with the first integrated state-of-the-art IT office in Bangalore, DivyaSree Chambers, which has become a prominent landmark in Bangalore CBD. The Group, under his leadership, has executed several international standard projects (commercial, residential, etc.) which have garnered immense praise from all quarters. Each project of DivyaSree was completed with utmost sincerity and diligence that became a legacy. His vision is reflected in all his projects that illustrate a perfect balance of art, technique and technology.

LAYING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

Dr. Raju arrived in Bengaluru from Andhra Pradesh to make a living. But, it is his sheer brilliance and dedication that made him into a name that resonates with architectural brilliance in the city of Bengaluru.

He had achieved what many only dream of with DivyaSree Developers, but, he wanted to do more. He had a strong urge to give back to the society. What better way to give back than to educate? And thus was laid the foundation of Rukmini Educational Charitable Trust in the name of his beloved wife the Late Smt. Rukmini Shyamaraju. She strongly believed in the value of academics to be imperative and something that should be available to all. “When the business was at its peak in DivyaSree Developers, we were thinking of what we can give back to society. My wife, Rukmini suggested starting an educational institution but I was reluctant to start one. Later, I felt that I must fulfil her wish and decided to start the educational institution in her name. Therefore we named it as REVA which means Rukmini Educational Vision Academy.”

Dr. Raju not only honoured his late wife’s wish but also aced the area of academic administration in which he had no previous experience. Under his able guidance and leadership REVA become a front-runner in the field of education where thousands of youth come each year to fulfil their dreams and become future leaders. It had started getting recognised for its technical education even in the starting stage and with time it has gained more recognition. It is one of the top universities in the state of Karnataka. One of the most innovative initiatives that the university took under his guidance is to go paperless during exams. From a mere thought to a working university to an apex institution that is sought for its education system, Dr. Raju proved his mettle once again with REVA.

UPHOLDING MORAL VALUES

Be it in his real estate venture or his education institution, Dr. Raju has ensured excellence by entrusting his instincts and values. Dr. Raju abides by a few key qualities like integrity, humility, transparency, honesty. As a Chancellor at REVA or as the chairman at DivyaSree, Dr. Raju is always approachable, open to new ideas and approaches.

Through his educational ventures he aims to prepare youth with ethical and moral values and social commitment. He is thinker, go-getter with a penchant for learning. Even after achieving so many milestones, he has the same exuberance of a newbie. If a new idea comes to him, he will make sure to share it and make it happen. Dr. Raju is a first generation entrepreneur, who built everything from scratch and perhaps that is why he values hard work and dedication even more.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Dr. Raju is a humanitarian and a philanthropist. He has undertaken numerous initiatives that stand for the larger good. Apart from leading many educational projects for rural Karnataka through REVA, he was also actively involved in ‘Jagruti’ a voting awareness campaign by students and faculty of REVA. He was also felicitated by the State Election Commission for leading Jagruti Campaign to create voting awareness among people. Under his guidance, not just altruistic, but environmental challenges are being battled at REVA by building environmental conscientiousness; he has made a macrocosmic eco-friendly utopia in REVA.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Dr. Raju has earned many awards in his career spanning decades. The most recent was in January 2021, The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave 2020 recognized him as ‘The Most Promising Business Leader of Asia’ for his exemplary leadership qualities. Earlier, he has been conferred ‘Indian of the year 2019 (Education)’ Award by Indian leadership conclave 2019, and has been nominated as the Karnataka Education Board Mentoring System Committee Member in June 2020.

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Realty South and Swachata Award from MHRD in 2018. Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, aptly conferred him with the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) on the occasion of the 14th Annual Convocation of the University in recognition of his service to the higher education.

Dr. Raju is truly a leader in every aspect of the word. He leads by example and personifies hard work, grit and excellence. One of the beliefs is ‘To labor is to pray.’ Despite having reached the pinnacle of success, he is a grounded man who has never forgotten his humble beginnings. ‘A true leader must be able to empathize with every level of society’ and he has been perfectly doing just that. His brilliance is a legacy that will remain till the end of time.

Dr. Suresh Menon hails from the beautiful town of Vengali, Calicut. He belongs to the Meempat Malappuram families. After finishing his graduation in Science from Mumbai University in India, he went on to complete a doctorate in engineering science from Pennsylvania State University. He is the man behind the path breaking agri-tech company Menon Renewable Products. A serial entrepreneur, he has more than 100 patents and trademarks under his belt.

WORKING FOR A BETTER WORLD

Deeply concerned about the collective welfare of the planet, Dr. Menon asserts that “We have only one planet.” From the beginning of his journey his aim has been to make the world a better place for humans as well as the animals. He has worked to find sustainable methods of improving the condition of animals, eliminate trade practices that harm the ecosystem and in turn make a viable difference in the preservation of renewable resources.

He has pioneered two very successful and mindful ventures – Menon Renewable Products, that makes disruptive animal feed technology and Menon Biosensors, which provided confirmatory technology for detecting bio-weapons for the US government and is currently expanding applications to population-scale testing for COVID-19, and other viruses and bacteria in animals and humans.

He had a keen interest in improving the condition of animals and thus he started Menon Renewable Products in 2007. When he noticed increased density in farm animals and a number of unintended consequences for the animals associated with that, he decided to jump in. “We need to understand what the animal needs from a nutritional perspective in order to enhance their immune system. I understand that we need to have an adequate food supply, but we cannot just randomly increase usage of chemicals and antibiotics to treat the disease just to have more produce. We need to look at the whole situation holistically,” he explains.

He established Menon Renewable Products to discourage the use of antibiotics in animal feed. It may sound simple, but it certainly wasn’t; he pioneered a nowpatented technology that reduces infection and improves digestibility for animals without antibiotics. He did this by inclusion of a spectrum of unique pre-biotics, nucleotides and peptides. His technology became disruptive animal feed technology yielded unprecedented results. He named it MrFeed®. Today, MrFeed is a market leader in its niche and sells worldwide, promoting animal health while reducing waste and environmental impact.

ENSURING SUCCESS WITH GRIT & DETERMINATION

It might all sound meant-to-be now, but Dr. Menon worked unstintingly to prove the merit of this product. He adds that it all was possible because he and his team had an irrefutable faith in their product. He went all out to validate his product so that it was unquestionable. He believes to first have a product that sells itself and then work tirelessly to execute. “As a team, we knew for sure that technology is positively disruptive and can protect animals. This is what propels me and the team forward.” With the help of untiring work of Dr. Menon and his team, Menon Renewable Products now sells to the largest players in the world- including Tyson, Pipestone, and Costco in USA, National Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia, Walmart supplier in Indonesia and Martec in Costa Rica among others.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Dr. Menon is a self-confessed philanthropist. He has dedicated a major part of his life to innovation and activities that improve food sustainability, preservation of endangered species, and enhance human nutrition to improve immunity against infection and disease.

He gives back always and in whatever ways possible. In addition to their on-going work to fight COVID-19 through rapid testing and bringing sustainability to the animal feed industry, Dr. Menon and his team contributes equipment and funds to groups responsible for safeguarding endangered species and animals in the wild. To him, “Giving back to the community brings about a satisfaction unlike any other.”

Through his other company Menon Biosensors, Dr. Menon is also helping the elephants in India. “In the wild there are many health issues such as TB infection in elephants. We were happy to provide our technology at no cost to help the elephants get the right treatment in time.” Their technology is now being promoted to help other animals in that country, and could eventually help endangered wild animal populations worldwide.

“Social responsibility is very important to me. If I have a position of advantage, I would use it make an impact on how we take care of the urban versus nature conflicts,” says Dr. Menon. He added that it is pertinent to balance both – protect the needs of human population for food and nutrition and prevent extinction of the precious plants and animals in the wild. “Reducing waste and even going further by converting the same to fulfill the need for humans and animals should be top priority,” he adds.

He is also proud of their work in the Covid-19 testing. “We are bringing a solution to help screen everyone to corner the virus in efficient manner. Fast, affordable and accessible testing is crucial to containing the Covid-19 pandemic and safely reopening schools, businesses and other vital institutions around the world,” he shares.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Dr. Menon started his entrepreneurial journey when he was all of 16. The experience gained at that time in starting and building a business has made him realise the significance of innovation. There are a few lessons that he learnt on the way and swears by. Firstly, one should avoid thinking that they know everything and that any mistakes will not be made along the way. Instead, find innovative solutions to those problems, he believes. Secondly, he is of the view that success is often due to what you know and others don’t. Once you have the initial idea then work tirelessly to put together a most motivated team around you to execute it.

Armed with a Masters Degree in Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, Himansu has a rich experience of around 2 decades spanning into Investment Banking, Portfolio Management, Private Equity, Real Estate Development, Strategic Management and Organizational Development.

His key fortes are investment evaluation, fund raising, deal structuring and negotiation, strategic tie-ups, setting up new ventures and executing exit strategies. He has worked with a sovereign wealth fund in Oman and other leading financial institutes in India in the past.

He was featured among 100 influential CEOs in Oman by Oman Economic Review (OER) Magazine in December 2020. He is inspired by the values of his late father and feels that his guidance has played a significant role in his success.

REAPING SWEET FRUITS OF SUCCESS

Himansu is of the view that by working diligently, with focus and passion, one is bound to achieve success. Having sown the seeds of hard work, he is reaping the fruits of success. As he puts it, “Currently, I lead investments, strategy and organizational development for Muscat Overseas Group, and manage various operating businesses under Al Tamman Investments. I count my achievements in successfully setting up and managing of seven new business verticals for the Group including Retail & Shopping malls business, Hospitality – F&B business, Education services & facilities, Entertainment business, Pharmaceutical manufacturing, Healthcare services, and Technology business.”

He adds, “I play strategic role by holding directorship in companies including Oman Investment & Finance Co. SAOG, Muscat Thread Mills SAOG, Computer Stationery Industry SAOG, Al Sahab Al Zomardy SAOC, Deepak Oman LLC, Al Tamman Group Limited, MOG Holding Limited, English Education Management Company LLC, Modern Healthcare LLC, Drug Manufacturing Company LLC, and Oman Aquaculture Company LLC. I am also a member of the Executive Committee of Muscat Overseas Group of Companies. I am privileged to work for this group and take pride in the fact that we are in the forefront of economic development of Oman, creating employment opportunities and successfully participating in the wellbeing of the society.”

Talking about his leadership initiatives and business innovations, he elaborates, “Traditionally, Muscat Overseas Group was into trading, real estate businesses and local security investments and used to run as a typical family office. I joined the Group in late 2011, and with the blessings of our Chairman and Vice Chairman, I led the path of restructuring, diversifying and renovating the Group on various fronts. I started with devising a corporate structure and governance to the family office by constituting the board/executive committee; including setting up an independent internal audit department, legal department, organizational development department, and renovating the market perception with new logo and strong identity for the Group. During the process, I also diversified the group portfolio by adding new business verticals and investing globally in equity, fixed income and private equity portfolios.”

A SKILLFUL LEADER

As a leader, Himansu believes in making a real difference. He excels at leading from the inside out. Describing himself as a leader and sharing the uniqueness about his leadership style, he says, “I am an optimistic person; I believe every situation has its own opportunity and positivity, only we need to have the right strategy to achieve it. I believe nothing is impossible, sometimes it might not be possible by current actions but definitely it will be achievable by adopting and changing parameters. I am quite determined in my action plans; I put my best efforts until I get success.”

He further adds, “I believe in shared vision and collective efforts. I pursue participative management, completely trust my team, delegate the responsibilities, and keep them accountable, at the same time I take the burden of any failure, so that the team has the freedom to work on new ideas and practices. We give chance to the people to experiment and yet support them to abort in right time any unsuccessful ventures and invigorate them for new assignments. I adopt continuous improvements policy, encourage betterment everyday whether in marketing strategy or in service innovation or new business practices; we always brainstorm for new avenues and ventures. I lead from front, inspire by example, walk the talk, accept the challenges and hold myself accountable for failure, and yet aspire for success. I treat my team as family – sharing responsibilities and giving them adequate comfort, respect and recognition.”

He is leaving no stone unturned in making the Group “a leader in the social infrastructure and services businesses by enabling new technologies and focusing on customer orientation.” He aims “to add value to people’s life and contribute actively towards social wellbeing and sustainable development that spur economic growth.”

PAVING THE WAY TO A BETTER WORLD

Himansu is of the view that “CSR is the key for a successful and sustainable company” and feels that “it should be integral part of conducting business.” He asserts, “We are committed to provide smart and quality education facilities and services in different locations of the country as well as through eLearning platforms to build the future generation of the nation.”

Throwing light on the Group’s various social initiatives, he says, “We offer quality and specialised healthcare facilities, worship facility (Mosque) for the community, social and entertainment facilities for wellbeing of the people. Moreover, we create many employment opportunities for local as well as expat communities and groom them for being future ready. We also support SMEs by providing them with various business opportunities, and offer support to the weaker section of society.”

He concludes with satisfaction, “We have created many employment and business opportunities during this pandemic in spite of all the hurdles. I believe that we have quite actively contributed in sustaining, reviving and giving back to the society and economy at large.”

Graham has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and is a UK Justice of the Peace (JP) in the Magistrates Court, where he presides over Criminal and Proceeds of Crime trials as well as Crown Court appeals. Over the years, the influential leader has been raising the bar of excellence and innovation in the banking industry. His analytical and strategic mindset and his in-depth industry expertise are his greatest assets. Graham has served in several leadership roles over the last three and a half decades. His role involves consultancy, partner/channel management, and collaborating with industry utilities, regulators, and Central Banks.

A LEADER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Graham embodies the persona of an ambitious individual whose unwavering efforts and high aspirations have propelled EEB to new heights of achievements. Under his quintessential leadership, the bank has witnessed record-breaking growth. Headquartered in St. Lucia (West Indies), EEB, has a representative office in London that deals exclusively with registered corporates and clients in active markets such as the UAE, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Africa. The dynamic leader has effectively established a robust network of extremely competent agents, affiliates, and associates in key regions who support the import and export businesses all over the world. Graham is currently concentrating on expanding his business by setting up offices in Singapore, Dubai, and Chennai (India) to capitalize on the burgeoning trade relations between the Middle East and the Far East.

When asked about his career highpoint, the poised leader says, “It is difficult to pinpoint a specific high point as every turning point in my career has been a step closer to the direction of the next pivotal moment.” He adds, “If I had to pick one such high point, it would be my stint at the EEB, as the organization has provided me with multiple shining moments over the last six years — each unique and meaningful in its own way.”

Graham believes that effective leadership calls for good communication skills, whether it’s giving a presentation in front of a group, developing and writing a corporate strategy, or engaging with staff and clients. “I strive to be a good listener and believe in listening with intent while engaging with my colleagues and clients,” says the leader. For him, leadership requires the ability to listen to those who work with and for you.

Like a true leader, he recognizes the importance of resilience even in the face of disasters. “From hurricanes and floods that damaged our offices in the Caribbean and India to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have always been more agile, focused, and flexible than before, and used our expertise efficiently,” says the bold leader. “In any decision-making process, I always hope for the best and plan for the worst, backed up by critical data, creative thinking, and my experienced teams.”

CULTURE-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE

Graham lives by the rule of doing the right thing at the right time. The CEO works hard to uphold corporate practices that serve consumers fairly and politely. “With so many clients around the world, we deal with a variety of nationalities, business philosophies, and regulatory requirements, many of which are starkly different. We are conscious of both individual and national obligations, and we strive to not only meet but also exceed customer expectations,” says the proactive chief.

Graham, who is always upbeat and optimistic, also goes to great lengths to keep his staff motivated. The honest leader strives to create a work culture that has high standards of governance. “Our teams are continually updated, constantly reminded of rules, regulations, international, national, and local consequences of health issues, as well as trade impacts,” says Graham. According to him, such ethical practices enable him and his team to remain alert in the fight against fraud, double billing, scams, and money laundering.

VISION FOR GROWTH

Owing to his outstanding vision, EEB has achieved many feats. On being asked about his long-term plans, he says that he aspires to build the largest and the most competent sales team in the industry and become the world’s preeminent trade finance issuers universally. To that end, the bank has already begun recruiting in India, with other key locations to follow. Under his guidance, EEB is also gearing itself to take advantage of new markets and locations where large banks are withdrawing their services.

On being asked about the importance of sustainability in business, the leader says, “The term ‘sustainability’ to us is about profits, the environment, and people and ensuring that today’s well-maintained resources do not jeopardize the needs of the future generations.” As a proponent of sustainability, the ecologically conscious leader is working with buyers in emerging countries that are transitioning from agricultural to industrial economies, with an emphasis on emissions reduction and low energy use, as well as free and fair trade to enable global competition.

ACHIEVEMENTS GALORE

Graham’s vigorous efforts have been duly recognized and acknowledged in the form of the awards and accolades bestowed on him as well as EEB. In 2020, the accomplished leader was honored by the prestigious Business Worldwide Magazine (BWM) Awards program for his clientcentric revolutionary approach to global trade finance. In 2019, he was awarded the “Most Innovative Executive in the Trade Finance Industry’’ at the BWM 2019 Global Corporate Excellence Awards. He was also named the winner of the highly prestigious CFI Co’s Best Global Trade Services Bank award in 2018 and 2019.

Recognized as the “Most innovative executive in Trade Finance,” he regularly contributes to multiple trade journals. His experience and trustworthiness are demonstrated by the insights he offers in his thought leadership pieces. He is also a keynote speaker at international trade industry conferences. What’s more, the versatile leader has also appeared as a supporting actor in amateur theatre, television, and cinema.

PAVING THE PATH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

A trained financial economist, investment banker and entrepreneur, Sonnie Babatunde Ayere has changed the way people looked at investments. A leader par excellence, he is known for having a futuristic vision that has transformed the financial market of Africa for ever

Mr. Ayere was born in London to Nigerian Parents, Gideon and Ebunoluwa Alatise Ayere in 1966. He was in London for the first few years of his life and returned to Nigeria in 1970. After finishing his school and college from Lagos, Nigeria he went to Scotland for higher studies. He Completed MA (Hons) degree in Financial Economics (2:1) from the University of Dundee, Scotland, and later an MBA in Finance from the Business School, University of London, England. He also studied Corporate Finance at London Business School.

Mr. Ayere was a name to reckon with even before he started his entrepreneurial journey. He began his career with NatWest Bank in London as a Corporate Banking Officer. He went on to work at Sumitomo Mitsui Bank working in corporate and property finance. Soon, he transferred to the structured finance department of the bank in 1997, completing the first Japanese CLO securitization transaction, working with the Lehman Brothers team. He left Sumitomo Mitsui to join BMO Nesbitt Burns London in 1998 as part of the team responsible for setting up a $20 billion Fixed Income Structured Investment Vehicle (SIV). He had already led or been a part of many firsts in the investment sector when he joined the International Finance Corporation (a subsidiary of the World Bank). At IFC, he worked on the development of the Nigerian bond market. Mr. Ayere’s role was of a structured finance specialist for sub-Saharan Africa. He developed structured finance and securitization transactions in addition to creating instruments that support value in debt capital markets. The initiatives he started laid the foundation of structured finance market in the continent.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

While he was working on the complex financial solutions, he got introduced to securitization in 1997 and that piqued his interest. He was keen to learn the means and ways of financing large corporate projects, private firms and government institutions. He had a very innate talent of devising outof-the-box solutions for structured finance. He truly believes that a certain level of creativity is absolutely necessary when it comes to striking the perfect equilibrium between different financial requirements.

It was with this underlying belief that he founded Dunn Loren Merrifield (DLM) Capital Group in 2009. DLM Capital Group gives bespoke financial solutions to all the clients. He wanted to create new paradigms, offer new solutions and contribute exclusively to the financial sector of Africa. Mr. Ayere is a great believer in two tenets of good business – clients come first and people are the greatest asset. He has built DLM Capital Group from ground up on these and other core values. It is his vision and strategic thinking that has made the company what it is today – Nigeria’s top financial powerhouse. Mr. Ayere has said many times that their complete focus at DLM Capital Group is to provide “new and simple solutions to the sometimes-complex financial needs of our clients.” Undoubtedly, DLM Capital Group thrives on a culture of innovation and creative thinking.

“IT IS HIS VISION THAT HAS MADE THE COMPANY WHAT IT IS TODAY – NIGERIA’S TOP FINANCIAL POWERHOUSE. HE HAS SAID MANY TIMES THAT THEIR COMPLETE FOCUS AT DLM CAPITAL GROUP IS TO PROVIDE ‘NEW AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO THE SOMETIMES COMPLEX FINANCIAL NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS’”

AN UNENDING SERIES OF RECOGNITION

Mr. Ayere’s work has been felt far and wide. Under his stewardship, DLM Capital Group has won many awards and Mr. Ayere has also been recognized by the industry many times. DLM Capital Group won the award for the best debt house 2011 and best investment bank 2012. More recently, it won the ‘Innovative Investment Bank of the Year’ at Business Day Financial Institutions Award (BAFI) 2020. At the same event, Mr. Ayere was named the ‘Investment CEO of the Decade’ for establishing DLM Capital Group as the most creative solutions provider for the debt and equity needs of corporations, institutions and governments in Nigeria as well as a powerhouse advisory and restructuring counsel from 2010 to 2020.

He has also won the West Africa Nobles Forum Award; Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Award, Ghana; Best Male Entrepreneur, Investment Services; International Business Star Award, Ghana; Winner Top 10 CEOs in Nigeria Insight Global Awards, UK; Africa’s Patriotic Personality of the Year Award from LEADS Africa and many others. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Science (DSc) from the European-American University. The West African Youth Council also recognized Mr. Ayere as Winner of the ECOWAS Icon of Societal Development and African Man of the Year in 2020.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

Apart from leading revolutionary initiatives at DLM Capital Group, Mr. Ayere also dons a lot of other hats to make sure Africa’s financial sector gets the boost it needs. He was recently made the inaugural CEO of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company is set up as a private company charged with the public purpose of developing the primary and secondary mortgage markets in the country. The NMRC aims to raise long-term funds in the domestic capital market and later from foreign markets. The company is supposed to contribute to affordable housing in a country of 170 million people. The initiative was started by the presidency under the patronage of the Co-ordinating Minister of Finance and the Economy; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with support from the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and other private sector partners – commercial and mortgage banks. It is a very ambitious and respectable project that will work to change the face of Nigeria’s housing and finance sector. In 2018, Mr. Ayere was tasked by the Council of Petroleum & Energy Ministers of Africa under the chairmanship of Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, to set up the Africa Energy Investment Corporation (AEICORP). He was also a member of the Inaugural Nigerian Bond Steering Committee set up by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in 2006, he was a part of the SEC Committee on Market structure & reforms, the Steering Committee for the review of the Foreclosure and Securitization Law of Nigeria and the CBN FSS2020 Steering Committee. He is also a member of the Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Committee (CAMMIC) as well as an avid commentator on financial market developments in Nigeria and across the African continent. He clearly has a penchant to go way beyond the norm to promote the society. It is his irrefutable contribution in more ways than one to the African market and the public that makes him an avant-garde leader.

Mr. Shetty is an ex-banker, who has worked with Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. His knowledge and grip over the equity markets in New York and Hong Kong gave him an edge in establishing his own entities. His entrepreneurial adeptness accompanied by his love for wines led him to start his first venture Myra Vineyards in 2011. A competent entrepreneur, he turned the company into one of the leading wine manufacturers in the country. He later sold it to a Singapore/French fund named VisVires Capital in December, 2018.

A SOLID EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Mr. Shetty’s academic qualifications have provided him with a foundation which has facilitated his ingenious business moves. After a Bachelor’s degree from Christ College in Bengaluru, he acquired a Master’s degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology. His educational background has driven him to learn about different cultures. His exposure to diverse geographical locations has enabled him to understand people’s lifestyles. His capabilities have enabled him to explore the contemporary Food & Beverage choices that people love. He also has his finger on the pulse of the younger generation, helping him keep up with the latest trends. From establishing Myra Vineyards as a meritorious business and then selling it, Mr. Shetty moved on to becoming the Chief Lifestyle Officer in the same company that acquired Myra Vineyards. Shouldering essential responsibilities, he has strived to develop the company as the second largest in India. In continuation with the success story, he created a first-of-itskind beverage brand – Salud Beverages.

BUILDING THE BRAND

Salud is an urban lifestyle brand that is distinguishing itself with unique, fresh and modern RTD (Ready-to-Drink) beverages in both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic sections. In so doing, it has opened up a unique market segment, successfully garnering mass attention. While the original idea was to launch it as a beverage, the team discovered the impact it could make when launched as a lifestyle brand. Through this excellent marketing strategy, the brand has been quickly picking up amongst gin consumers. Salud primarily translates to ‘Cheers’ with health, wealth and security being its other synonyms. It sets the objective on augmenting people’s lifestyle through its unmatched products. Salud began with India’s very first ready-todrink gin and tonic – G&T 2.0. The brand’s ethos is giving people fresh and exciting ways to celebrate through its beverages. Aiming towards a global presence, Salud’s offerings will include beverages in the alcoholic, non-alcoholic and craft spirits categories. For greater outreach, the brand has introduced its own fashion and merchandise label as well as a musical vertical under its titles – Salud Live and Salud Sessions. All these work together to offer the larger-than-life Salud experience. Salud has been associated with some of the biggest and most popular names in India. From Prasad Vanga of Anthill Ventures to Urbanl, which is the speed scaling partner, these brands have helped in accelerating the growth of Salud. Rana Dagubatti, the acclaimed actor with a huge fan following, is also an active investor and advisor associated with the company. Thanks to Mr. Shetty’s talent and efforts, investors can find greener pastures that are waiting to be explored. An entrepreneur with an eye for detail, Mr. Shetty has been quick to recognize the growing market for a niche brand like Salud and has been successfully tapping it.

Maneesh has been based in Singapore and various countries in Asia Pacific for the past 2 decades. He is a global citizen who has worked in several multinational firms spanning 10+ countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Singapore, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. He is an Engineering Graduate with a Degree in Electronics & Telecom and is also a PGCGM (Management graduate) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta, (India). Not only does the leader has a strong academic background, but also has a practical and straightforward attitude towards business matters. His sharp vision and diverse skill set enable him to execute his plans flawlessly.

AN INTRIGUING JOURNEY

Over the course of 28 years, this dynamic leader has amassed a wealth of experience in key leadership roles such as Chairman, COO, Group CEO, and Technology Head in various prominent global corporations, viz., Philips, IBM, Olivetti, Spice International, and so on. Currently, Maneesh is the Director and Board member of Digilife Technologies Limited (SGX Listed) which was formerly known as SEVAK Limited, a 250 million dollar plus listed company in Singapore that operates in the areas of telecommunications, IT/system integration, and electric vehicles. He joined SEVAK Limited as Group Chief Executive Officer in 2010 and was promoted as Executive Chairman in September 2019 by the Board. His role as Chief Executive Officer of Sevak Limited ended in March of 2020 when he handed over the Chairmanship to the promoter group and was given the additional key responsibility of Chairman and Group CEO of Affinity Capital Pte Limited, a 100% owned subsidiary of the Indonesian company Seluar Global Networks, which operates a S$ 250 million telecom business in Indonesia. Maneesh also served on the boards of over 10 subsidiaries of SEVAK Limited. He serves on the honorary board of Global Schools Foundation, a 15000 students’ nonprofit organization that holds a special place in his heart. He has been the Group CEO and Director of Sevak Limited, a Main Board – SGX listed firm, for over 10 years.

As the linchpin of the company, he is wellversed with the SGX listing standards, MAS guidelines, and all International business and financial compliance rules governing how to conduct multi-country trade.

SHIFTING FROM INFORMATION TO INNOVATION

To prepare for the future EV innovation and revolution in autonomous electric vehicles (AEV), Maneesh played a pivotal role in shifting the company’s focus from “Information to Innovation.” The proactive chief also took the initiative of reorganizing his company with the help of his shareholders and promoters. Consequently, an additional innovation unit within the company was entrusted with investigating emerging technologies. This spawned a new business unit, Singapore Electric Vehicles Pte Limited (a subsidiary of SEVAK Limited), one that would go on to become a pioneer in Singapore and ASEAN. His role in propelling the new business unit to become Singapore’s first 100% commercial electric vehicle fleet company deserves special mention. Maneesh is also the one behind the invention of Singapore Vehicle Advanced Keylogger (SEVAK) Software, which is a product of his ingenuity. Developed by an internal engineering team, it has been architected, coded, developed, and deployed on the cloud as a SaaS. As a strategic leader, he has overseen the acquisition, integration, transition, and growth strategies of at least 10 projects for his group firms. He was also in charge of the $250 million Affinity Group and the Selular Group (an Indonesian company that is a subsidiary of SEVAK Limited).

INDUSTRY AND SOCIAL WORK

Maneesh has been recently elected as Vice Chairman of Singapore Indian Chamber Of Commerce (SICCI) in 2020, and the Chairman of Committees leading “Incubation and Startups” and “Bilateral and Multilateral Trade relations” for Singapore via SICCI. He is the Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of SGTech formerly known as Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) and a member of Singapore Institute of Directors (SID), Singapore Computer Society (SCS), Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SVCA), Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF). He is also a Hon Governing Board member of Global Schools Foundation at Singapore. Maneesh was also involved in key events as a core committee planning and executing member for G2G (Singapore and India) large events, and bilateral trade and connectivity discussions, where both High Commissions were involved, and firms like SICCI and SGteck were also involved. He was a part of a business delegation with SBF where Singapore PM also visited India in the year 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maneesh was a senior member of the Singapore Indian Chamber’s COVID Relief task force to raise funds and worked tirelessly to provide aid and support via Red Cross and the High Commission to various states and cities in India.

MASTERING CHALLENGES WITH ZEAL

Maneesh believes in leading by example. When his company Sevak Limited plunged into losses in 2015, he became the first CEO in Asia-listed businesses to willingly accept S$1 salary. Consequently, many board members, as well as members of the management team, followed suit. With his unwavering efforts and tenacious spirit, he pushed the firm back into profit the following year and then off the watch list with clear audit opinions in consecutive years. Profits have been flowing since then and there’s been no turning back.

AN ALL-ROUNDER

Sport has always been a driving force in Maneesh’s life. He is an ardent cricket player and has represented State teams in U-22 Col CK Naidu Trophy. He has also captained College and University teams in India, viz. R.D.V.V. University team in Jabalpur (India). He also captained Ceylon Sports Club Singapore and the Singapore Indian Association during his 15 years of playing Division 1 cricket in Singapore. He says, “Sport trained me how to lead, and I found myself at ease in that role.” For him, the analogies between sport and business are quite relevant. A hobbyist at heart, he has a 4-year diploma in the percussion instrument called Tabla. He also has a Certificate in Film Production & Planning from Singapore Media Academy.

Birendra’s journey can leave anyone awe-inspired. He was born to a family of poor farmers and grew up in a remote village in West Bengal (India), where there was no electricity till 2010. He pursued his graduation from outside of his village. He was always passionate about working in IT sector. After completing engineering, he started one of the finest technology companies of that time – Tandem, which was later acquired by Compaq and is now a part of HP. He has been in the technology domain for a long time, working for large corporations such as HP.

The successful entrepreneur attributes his accomplishments in the entrepreneurial world to the virtues instilled in him by his father, which enabled him to reach the pinnacle of success.

AN INSPIRING JOURNEY

Following his stint in the IT sector, Birendra ventured into the entrepreneurial realm, by launching an IT consulting firm Fusion Tech with his American colleagues. The company quickly expanded from a small team of a few people to a workforce of 360 people. Fusion Tech was acquired by a venture capitalist in 2006, after which it merged with Alliance Consulting, a US-based firm. It is now part of EPAM, one of the largest companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The launch of a company called Subah, based in West Africa has been one of the highlights of his career. Under his direction, the company focused on how to generate revenue for the West African government so that the revenue can be utilized for the welfare of the people. “We started Subah with five people and soon it became a 1500 people team within five years, with over $100 million turnovers,” says the leader.

Birendra recently co-founded Science4Data, a FinTech and media analytics firm in New York. Currently, the leader is spearheading GreenFinch in India which provides digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to various telecom operators, financial institutions, and federal agencies in the United States, Africa, and India.

SPREADING ROOTS & WINGS

Birendra has been instrumental in the development of businesses in various parts of the world, including the USA and Europe. The technologist-cum-investor is currently focusing on spreading presence in Asia, especially India to empower the Indian farmers in particular and support the Indian economy in general. He believes that India is witnessing remarkable growth in terms of IT. Therefore, he intends to concentrate his efforts on agricultural technology in India and surrounding countries. ”That, I feel, is the one area in which the APAC countries have been battling for a long time to improve their output, productivity, and yield”, says the thoughtful leader.

INNOVATION RUNS THROUGH HIS VEINS

Birendra is a forward-thinking leader who stays on top of industry trends and innovations. As a growth enabler, he prioritizes two things–innovation and continuous improvement. Over the years, he has built a strong foothold in the IT industry. His mission is to provide businesses with a cutting-edge set of tools to help them grow faster. He also wants to assist his clients in achieving their organizational goals. At the same time, he believes in empowering his team for greater business success. He is quite adventurous and eager to explore uncharted terrains. From inventing solar base stations for remote African villages to empowering Indian villagers through Fintech, he has done it all. For example, he founded a financial services company for people residing in rural villages more than a decade ago, when only a few Indian villagers had a basic mobile phone. Birendra came up with the breakthrough idea of doing banking transactions utilizing a simple mobile phone. His goal was to provide financial tools to underserved businesses in India, particularly in the last mile, where no financial services had previously been available. That was a remarkable concept, which was implemented in over 100 villages across India.

A GEM OF A PERSON

Birendra’s commitment to society is unshakeable. He believes that it is important that we use our earnings to benefit the society that has invested so much in us. “It is our duty that when we become capable of earning a living, we should give back to society for the welfare of the less fortunate,” says the benevolent leader.

He adds, “Every person has a unique value chain. So one of my value chain principles is that everything I take, I must give back.” The leader established almost six basic IT training schools and trained over 6000 children from various countries and remote areas on the African continent.

Birendra also emphasizes the need for waste management. “One of the areas in which we made significant contributions has been waste management. We created a solution that can track your garbage bin and identify whether it is empty or full. It also sends you notifications about how long it has been empty. It can also keep track of the types of raw materials that are derived from garbage,” says the C-suite leader.

GAINING PROMINENCE AS AN INDUSTRY LEADER

For his outstanding contribution to the IT sector, Birendra has been honored with European Business Award. He is also the recipient of the UK Asian business person of the year. What’s more, he has also received the President Award from Ghana for his voluntary services to Africa’s army in various security areas, which have been highly beneficial to their security issues. Additionally, he was also honored with the Falcon Award in Africa for his work on innovative revenue tracking tools for the government. He was also a guest speaker in the United Nations ITU programs several times. Birendra has quickly ascended the success ladder as a result of his unwavering commitment to succeed and enormous desire to make it big. He sees an exciting future ahead of him, full of new adventures and possibilities that will help him grow as a person.