It’s critical to have the strategy & ecosystem in place to support yourself during this phase. Achieving the trust of your customers and employees should be your priority while attempting rapid scaling.
I was born in Ranaghat (WB) but did my entire schooling in Manmad, a small town in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. My father was a worker in Railways and my mother a housewife.
I am the eldest of four siblings (a brother and two sisters younger than me). Though not very educated (my father studied till Std IV while working in Kolkata and my mother couldn’t attend school) my parents instilled the importance of education in all of us.
I stood 14th in Maharashtra Board during my HSC exams and later graduated in Electronics & Telecom Engineering from Government College of Engineering, Pune (Popularly know as COEP) in 1990.
The joy of graduation was very short-lived as I lost my father before I could even join the company I got hired in my campus interviews. I resigned as Electronic Design Engineer from the Machine Tool Division of Premier Automobiles Ltd. (an automobile major during those times) in 1993 to start my own venture with two of my classmates in COEP.
My company Netwin has over 300 people now and we cater to clients in India, the US, the UK, the Rest of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. It has been an exciting journey till now and I believe the best days are yet to come.
My company Netwin has over 300 people now and we cater to clients in India, the US, the UK, the Rest of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. It has been an exciting journey till now and I believe the best days are yet to come.
When and how did you get clarity on what you wanted to do?
Right from my school days I always thought of having my own company. I used to think then of going to the Middle East for few years and then start my own business with the money earned. I never ever thought I would have my entire professional journey in any other company.
But, the decision to start my own company (or our company) took shape when three of us started sharing the same house during our working days in Pune for different companies. Those were early days of liberalization in India and also a very nascent phase of the Indian IT growth story. We three thought it was the right time to take the plunge.
The clarity to know what to do is a continuous process though. It’s like moving in the fog. The goal gets clearer with each step ahead.
The clarity to know what to do is a continuous process though. It’s like moving in the fog. The goal gets clearer with each step ahead.
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What does your typical workday look like?
I get up at around 6.15am and spend around an hour and a half every morning in yoga and brisk walks or a jog. I start my workday with team calls at 7.45am which I normally take during my walks. This is followed by more review calls till about 10am from home. I reach office at 11.15am and work from office till about 7.15pm with no lunch break.
Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?
It depends on the role you have in the organization. The leadership role demands more people skills for which it is not necessary to have formal education. But I feel formal education can always build the foundation on which you can develop other skills required. Learning is a continuous process and cannot be limited to formal education only.
It depends on the role you have in the organization. The leadership role demands more people skills for which it is not necessary to have formal education. But I feel formal education can always build the foundation on which you can develop other skills required. Learning is a continuous process and cannot be limited to formal education only.
How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?
A little bit of exaggeration is acceptable. Candidates also omit negative elements from their CVs. I wouldn’t rate them very highly. But many times it may be a simple mistake which is fine.
A little bit of exaggeration is acceptable. Candidates also omit negative elements from their CVs. I wouldn’t rate them very highly. But many times it may be a simple mistake which is fine.
A blatant lie or misrepresentation of facts could however be not acceptable to me. I normally try to understand the circumstances which led to the person doing so and based on that I would take action against the person.
What are some of your typical challenges and how have they evolved over time?
The initial challenge was to establish our credibility in the market. This we could do by placing honoring of commitment given – both to customers and the employees, over the rapid growth of the company.
The initial challenge was to establish our credibility in the market. This we could do by placing honoring of commitment given – both to customers and the employees, over the rapid growth of the company.
In hindsight, I feel we should have evolved strategies to faster growth while being committed to customers and employees. We are currently in a phase where can achieve faster scaling now.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs or those eyeing the top job?
Persistence is the key. Time taken to achieve success may vary depending upon your team, sector, the problem you are solving, geography you are addressing, etc. but if you are persistent you would certainly achieve success.
It’s critical to have the strategy & ecosystem in place to support yourself during this phase. Achieving the trust of your customers and employees should be your priority while attempting rapid scaling.
Which is your favorite book and why?
There are many but Start with Why by Simon Sinek could be the topmost. It helped me develop the mindset of asking the right questions (to the right sources) to get the right solutions to the right problems.
There are many but Start with Why by Simon Sinek could be the topmost. It helped me develop the mindset of asking the right questions (to the right sources) to get the right solutions to the right problems.
Bio -
Done B.E (Electronics & Telecom) from Govt. College of Engineering, Pune in 1990
Over 30 years experience in Information Technology. Initially in the development of application software and later in business development.
Setup a nationwide and international sales network for Netwin Group. Presently CEO of the company with direct responsibility for product & business development.
Holds honorary positions in various organizations like Computer Association of Nashik, Computer Society of India, Nashik Chapter (Past Chairman) and also a member of the governing body of Sandip Foundation’s Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Centre), Member of Board of Studies of KKWIEER, Managing Trustee of COEP Alumni Trust (AMVSS).
Founder President of Nashik Information Technology Association. Avid reader, learner, and regular speaker on technological issues at various technological forums. Mentor to startups and companies in Fintech, AI, and IOT.
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