Atul Mehra : Crafting A Future Of Unmatched Excellence At Bharat Stars Services
Atul Mehra
CEO
Could you share some of the unique experiences IIFT Delhi offers and what you learned from the campus beyond academics?
Navigating the mid-level phase of a career offers a blend of challenges and opportunities for advancement. Despite your accumulated exp- erience, there's always room for further achievements and growth.
For me, the time spent at IIFT was immensely beneficial, fostering both professional and personal development. The institute instilled in me a sense of purpose and clarity, enhanced my critical thinking skills, and helped me prioritize tasks while staying focused on what truly matters.
Additionally, IIFT improved my cultural adaptability and my ability to form relationships with a diverse group of people. My classmates came from various backgrounds, and I formed strong, lasting friendships. We remain connected through a Whatsapp group, always ready to support each other a rare privilege in today's disconnected world.
Can you describe your leadership approach? What principles or
methods do you adhere to as a leader?
My concept of leadership revolves around providing long-term direction and vision for team members, fostering harmony among them and between myself and the team, and building a strong sense of commitment. I believe that there is no one-size-fits all leadership style; rather, the approach should be tailored to the specific task or situation and the people involved. Factors such as the experience of the team, individual strengths and weaknesses, task complexity, time constraints, perceived risks, available resources, and cultural differences all play a crucial role in determining the most effective leadership approach.
As a leader, my team looks up to me, and I strive to stay at the top of my game by continuously learning. I lead by example, holding myself to even higher standards than those I set for my team. Authenticity is another key principle for me; being genuine helps me connect with my team on a deeper level and improves our interactions. By being open and honest, I create an atmosphere of support that encourages team members to participate actively, share their ideas, ask questions, and contribute their best efforts. This approach not only enhances their performance but also fosters a collaborative and motivated team environment.
Can you explain the objectives of your quality control program and how it contributes to maintaining a high level of service?
The company's success in the aviation fueling industry stems from an unwavering commitment to excellence. In aviation, where the margin for error is minimal, Quality Management Systems are crucial. They provide a structured approach to ensure products and services consistently meet rigorous safety and performance standards, which is vital in our field.
In addition to maintaining quality, we prioritize efficient service delivery. Fueling delays (longer tarmac times) cost airlines an average of $74.20 per minute, making it clear why we are dedicated to minimizing these delays. Our organizational value, 'today's best performance is tomorrow's baseline,' aligns every employee with our mission. This
My concept of leadership revolves around providing long-term direction and vision for team members, fostering harmony among them and between myself and the team, and building a strong sense of commitment. I believe that there is no one-size-fits all leadership style; rather, the approach should be tailored to the specific task or situation and the people involved. Factors such as the experience of the team, individual strengths and weaknesses, task complexity, time constraints, perceived risks, available resources, and cultural differences all play a crucial role in determining the most effective leadership approach.
Navigating the mid-level phase of a career offers a blend of challenges & opportunities for advan-cement
As a leader, my team looks up to me, and I strive to stay at the top of my game by continuously learning. I lead by example, holding myself to even higher standards than those I set for my team. Authenticity is another key principle for me; being genuine helps me connect with my team on a deeper level and improves our interactions. By being open and honest, I create an atmosphere of support that encourages team members to participate actively, share their ideas, ask questions, and contribute their best efforts. This approach not only enhances their performance but also fosters a collaborative and motivated team environment.
Can you explain the objectives of your quality control program and how it contributes to maintaining a high level of service?
The company's success in the aviation fueling industry stems from an unwavering commitment to excellence. In aviation, where the margin for error is minimal, Quality Management Systems are crucial. They provide a structured approach to ensure products and services consistently meet rigorous safety and performance standards, which is vital in our field.
In addition to maintaining quality, we prioritize efficient service delivery. Fueling delays (longer tarmac times) cost airlines an average of $74.20 per minute, making it clear why we are dedicated to minimizing these delays. Our organizational value, 'today's best performance is tomorrow's baseline,' aligns every employee with our mission. This
shared commitment has helped us build a strong brand image of reliability, dependability, strength, and loyalty, and has established a proven track record of high standards in the aviation fuel service industry.
What is the future destination you are headed towards, and what advice would you give to upcoming industry leaders?
Future is not a destination; it’s a direction. It’s not some place we are going, but one we are creating. We are an organization that constantly learns, improves, and innovates. As pioneers in the aviation fueling segment, we are well-positioned to participate in the phenomenal growth of the aviation sector in India. We are very optimistic because demand in the aviation sector is growing. The Indian aviation sector is soaring towards a promising future, marked by record-setting aircraft orders from many airlines, reflecting growing confidence in the industry. Our team has implemented effective working capital optimization strategies and other measures to reduce operating costs. Looking ahead, we expect our PAT, operating margins, and ROCE to improve significantly.
On a more personal front, as I will be stepping down from my role in a few months, my future direction will depend on the opportunities that arise post-departure. I would love to take a sabbatical or temporary break from work, which could last a week, a month, three months, or longer. Afterward, I plan to follow my passion and stay relevant.
For upcoming industry leaders, my advice is to be fully invested in your work. Work ceases to be effortful when you are passionate about it. Think about what makes you smile or what drives you to wake up every morning. It’s not a race to define your vision; it’s about having clarity, which, when fueled with passion and perseverance, will drive you to success.
Atul Mehra, CEO, Bharat Stars Services
Atul Mehra is a visionary leader with over three decades of multifaceted experience in the downstream hydrocarbon sector. His academic prowess, strategic acumen and unwavering drive has steered this company to capitalize on India’s burgeoning aviation market. Under his stewardship, the company has implemented various costs optimization strategies that optimized working capital requirements and reduced operating costs, leading to significant improvements in profitability metrics such as PAT, operating margins, and ROCE.
What is the future destination you are headed towards, and what advice would you give to upcoming industry leaders?
Future is not a destination; it’s a direction. It’s not some place we are going, but one we are creating. We are an organization that constantly learns, improves, and innovates. As pioneers in the aviation fueling segment, we are well-positioned to participate in the phenomenal growth of the aviation sector in India. We are very optimistic because demand in the aviation sector is growing. The Indian aviation sector is soaring towards a promising future, marked by record-setting aircraft orders from many airlines, reflecting growing confidence in the industry. Our team has implemented effective working capital optimization strategies and other measures to reduce operating costs. Looking ahead, we expect our PAT, operating margins, and ROCE to improve significantly.
On a more personal front, as I will be stepping down from my role in a few months, my future direction will depend on the opportunities that arise post-departure. I would love to take a sabbatical or temporary break from work, which could last a week, a month, three months, or longer. Afterward, I plan to follow my passion and stay relevant.
For upcoming industry leaders, my advice is to be fully invested in your work. Work ceases to be effortful when you are passionate about it. Think about what makes you smile or what drives you to wake up every morning. It’s not a race to define your vision; it’s about having clarity, which, when fueled with passion and perseverance, will drive you to success.
Atul Mehra, CEO, Bharat Stars Services
Atul Mehra is a visionary leader with over three decades of multifaceted experience in the downstream hydrocarbon sector. His academic prowess, strategic acumen and unwavering drive has steered this company to capitalize on India’s burgeoning aviation market. Under his stewardship, the company has implemented various costs optimization strategies that optimized working capital requirements and reduced operating costs, leading to significant improvements in profitability metrics such as PAT, operating margins, and ROCE.