CEO Insights Magazine

Over the last two decades, the world has recognized the adverse effects of fossil fuels on our environment, gradually moving towards alternative energy sources. Solar energy has turned out to be one of the most adopted alternative energy sources, with organizations across the world indulging in various R&D operations to optimize its usage. One such firm is Quantarverse, a Harwell-based futuristic solar energy innovation firm with a vision to revolutionize how we harness and use solar power. Apart from solar energy, the firm also operates across various other verticals, including quantum computing, space technologies, and advanced materials.

At the helm of its technological innovation & operations is Arun B Anilkumar, a new-age technology leader and CTO at the firm. A strong tech aficionado since his childhood, Arun has done his B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, his M.Sc. in Renewable Energy at Cranfield University, and is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in Quantum Technology Application and Management at the University of Sussex. Leveraging his technical expertise and leadership qualities, he is guiding the firm to become a leading force in advanced technology across the globe.

In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights, Arun sheds light on his overall professional experience, his leadership approach, and much more.

Shed light on your professional back ground and experiences. What is the motivation that fuels your daily business routine?

I did my B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi. It was during my undergraduate studies that I became intrigued by solar energy. Later, I did a lot of courses through Coursera that led me to pursue an MSc in Renewable Energy at Cranfield University. In parallel, I was

doing an incredibly futuristic and innovative project on space-based solar power. This led me to join Quantarverse, a futuristic innovative company where I'm working towards creating a technology that would reinvent our future. Alongside my job, I am also pursuing my Part-time MSc in Quantum Technology Application and Management. So currently, I am at an intersection of energy, quantum technology, and the space sector.

As a human being, I aspire to contribute by bringing in technical innovation that could help make our lives much easier, which is some thing that fuels my daily routine.

Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?

I think I might be one of the youngest CTOs out there. I am extremely thankful for the incredible trust my shareholders have in my abilities, especially Michael Broby for guiding me as the CTO. I am also extremely thankful for the huge support that I have received from my team. I strongly believe that open communication is the key to team building. Instead of ordering people around, a leader should always guide them in the correct direction. One of the most important things I focus on is to take their review in every aspect. I am pretty open to feedback and find it extremely important in a professional landscape.

As a leader, it is also important to Identify the true strength of the team instead of just bossing around. A leader is responsible for setting the vision and future roadmap of the firm. It's important to analyze what your organization would be like in 5-10 years, especially when working in a very advanced and sophis - ticated technology field. While I don't think I am pretty good at everything, I am still trying to constantly improve.

What is your success mantra?

My success mantra is sheer hard work. What makes me different from others is my dedi-cation and approach to a task. Once devoted to it, I keep working even without counting the hours. My approach towards a task is pretty simplistic. I believe in dividing the whole task into small modules and working on each

before finally integrating them. A vital part of being a successful leader is enabling efficient collaboration in the team. The organizational performance is a reflection of how your team is doing.

Setting the right vision for the organization is also extremely important. Being a company that can reinvent the future of technology, we have set a future roadmap for the next 10-15 years. As a leader, you have to be extremely careful about it. Apart from that, a major aspect of leadership is the willingness to take risks. Since my childhood, I have always been passionate about technology and more than ready to take risks for the same.

What is the future destination you are heading towards?

In the next five years, my vision is to lead Quantarverse as a Chief Technology Officer. As a firm, we are into creating a constellation of quantum computers in space, something much ahead of the future. We are working on various projects for a few collaborators in the UK, which remains our priority for the next five years. One of the primary issues faced by companies working on quantum technology is quantum error correction. Our initial project aim is to solve that issue. In the long term, I want to push this firm to become one of the most advanced technological companies in the world.

Arun B Anil- kumar, CTO, Quan- tarverse

A new-age technological leader with a knack for technology, Arun B Anilkumar currently works as the Chief Technology Officer at Harwell based futuristic solar energy innovation firm Qua- ntarverse, guiding the firm to grow further and become a leading advanced technology firm across the globe. A hardworking leader with a strong faith in team empowerment, Arun has done his B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, his MSc in Renewable Energy at Cranfield University, and is currently pursuing his MSc in Quantum Technology Application and Management at the University of Sussex.

•Hobbies: Reading Books, Watching Movies, Listening to Music
•Favorite Cuisine: Indian, Arab, Thai
•Favorite Book: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance, The Theory of Every thing by Stephen Hawking