Nisant Mohta - Relevant Skill Development Is the Need of the Hour Across Industries (Founder & CEO - Finlatics)

I believe it is really important to have mentors in your professional life, who can guide you and you can learn from their experiences. That is one of the most understated ways of getting an edge on your career.

Tell us about your background, journey, and upbringing

Being born and brought up in Bombay, I feel the city has always been a motivating factor in my journey so far. I feel it inspires you with its might, as it widens your horizons on the innumerable possibilities that are really adding fuel to your dreams.

I did my graduation in Economics from NMIMS Mumbai and a Post-Graduation in
International Business from the Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick; which I was fortunate enough to complete on a Warwick Business School Scholarship. 

Both institutes have been key contributors in my thought process and I derive tremendous value from them, more so since we’re reimagining learning at Finlatics.

When and how did you get clarity on what you wanted to do?

At home, I was always taught that elimination is as important as selection. It’s really important to know what you do not want to do, to know what you want to do. I feel this process has helped me gain a lot of clarity on what I wanted to do.

Also, believe it or not – the idea of Finlatics was inspired by a game of FIFA on the
PlayStation. The game has been delighting enthusiasts through various forms of simulations and that got me thinking about how simulations can be used as an effective way to learn. 

At Finlatics, we aim to do exactly that – where our core lies in simulated learning through technology & expert guidance.

                                    

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What does your typical workday look like?

The first half of the day is dedicated to mapping student journeys on our existing programs and ideating with my team on how we can enhance the student experience and accelerate student outcomes.

The second half of the day is usually spent strategizing to deliver the Finlatics experience to more students.

Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?

Firstly, I feel this is very subjective to the kind of industry that you’re working in. Some industries need formal education more than others and vice versa. However, relevant skill development; I feel is the need of the hour across industries.

Also, I believe it is really important to have mentors in your professional life, who can guide you and you can learn from their experiences. That is one of the most understated ways of getting an edge on your career.

How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?

I believe the only way to handle this is by asking for a reference at the time of application. Even if it’s a fresher, an academic reference is important. Having a conversation with someone, who has taught or managed the candidate can be extremely helpful in envisioning her performance on the job.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs or those eyeing the top job?

One of the most important pieces of advice that I received from one of my mentors on this was that there are two very key factors that are needed for growth. 

The first is the ability to manage stress and the second is the ability to push the boundaries. And this is exactly what I want to pass on.

Which is your favorite book and why?

I’d like to mention two books here. The first one is Misbehaving by the Nobel laureate, Richard Thaler. It’s a book on one of my favorite topics – behavioral economics. 

The second one is Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, which is on the partition of India.