Gaurav Kant : Elevating Business Success & Social Change With A Multi-Faceted Approach To Leadership
Gaurav Kant
Managing Director
The Managing Director of ZOOM Communications, Gaurav Kant leads South Asia's largest outdoor broadcast systems, solutions, services, and integration company. A seasoned entrepreneurial leader with 15+ years of experience across private, non-profit, and public sectors in India and the U.S., he is a three time founder and Entrepreneur of the Year winner. With expertise in leading under ambiguity, business building, negotiation, and crisis management, his background spans high-pressure security operations, local government, consulting, and live events. An alumnus of UCL, he actively supports defence veterans and social causes alongside his corporate leadership.
Below is an excerpt of Gaurav Kant’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights magazine.
What motivates you to keep going every day?
The world today remains inherently unstable, shaped by COVID-19, artificial intelligence, and numerous disruptions that have redefined human existence. My driving force lies in fostering meaningful employment opportunities and shaping stable, secure career paths for fellow Indians. A key focus is on Indian Army veterans, guiding them toward professional growth beyond the conventional confines of security roles.
What is the most valuable lesson or experience you took away from University College London?
No one can truly be the best at anything. My journey had always placed me amongst the best, whether competing as a polo player for the 61st Cavalry, running Delhi’s leading executive protection company, or excelling in grad school in America. Yet, stepping into UCL’s classrooms meant entering a space filled with some of the world’s brightest minds, individuals destined to shape the future. Among them were an Argentine bureaucrat, a woman who had fled Afghanistan after battling gender crimes, and change makers from Africa’s most under privileged regions. Each possessed an extraordinary depth of experience and intellect. UCL instilled in me the necessity of intellectual humility, recognizing that someone will always surpass you. Embracing a learning mindset became the true take away.
How accessible are the faculty members to students at University College London?
Faculty at UCL remains highly accessible, providing the necessary support wherever required. While not every faculty-student relationship evolves into a deep connection, there is always that one mentor who becomes instrumental in navigating UCL. For me, that guiding force was Dr Melanie Garson, Professor of International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution. She embodied the role of a Chanakya, sharpening my negotiation skills and offering direction throughout my time at UCL.
The institution fosters an environment where students can discover the right guru by aligning their interests with the right mentor. Even today, in high stakes negotiations, Dr Garson remains a crucial sounding board, offering perspectives that refine my approach and ensure a well-calculated resolution.
How would you describe your leadership style? What principles or strategies guide you as a leader?
My leadership style is a fusion of various approaches I’ve encountered throughout life.
No one can truly be the best at anything. My journey had always placed me amongst the best, whether competing as a polo player for the 61st Cavalry, running Delhi’s leading executive protection company, or excelling in grad school in America. Yet, stepping into UCL’s classrooms meant entering a space filled with some of the world’s brightest minds, individuals destined to shape the future. Among them were an Argentine bureaucrat, a woman who had fled Afghanistan after battling gender crimes, and change makers from Africa’s most under privileged regions. Each possessed an extraordinary depth of experience and intellect. UCL instilled in me the necessity of intellectual humility, recognizing that someone will always surpass you. Embracing a learning mindset became the true take away.
Gaurav Kant exemplifies leadership rooted in experience, resilience, and strategic vision, driving innovation while fostering growth across industries and communities
How accessible are the faculty members to students at University College London?
Faculty at UCL remains highly accessible, providing the necessary support wherever required. While not every faculty-student relationship evolves into a deep connection, there is always that one mentor who becomes instrumental in navigating UCL. For me, that guiding force was Dr Melanie Garson, Professor of International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution. She embodied the role of a Chanakya, sharpening my negotiation skills and offering direction throughout my time at UCL.
The institution fosters an environment where students can discover the right guru by aligning their interests with the right mentor. Even today, in high stakes negotiations, Dr Garson remains a crucial sounding board, offering perspectives that refine my approach and ensure a well-calculated resolution.
How would you describe your leadership style? What principles or strategies guide you as a leader?
My leadership style is a fusion of various approaches I’ve encountered throughout life.
From my time playing polo for the army, I observed the distinct structure of military leadership. During my security career, working alongside special forces veterans exposed me to yet another leadership dynamic. At UCL, we explored different leadership models rooted in academia. Rather than adhering to a single model, my approach blends military discipline with the best academic frameworks. At its core, leadership is about one thing, which is ensuring that my people succeed at whatever they do. Whether it’s an engineer, a manager, an accountant, or an army veteran, my role is to empower them to excel in whatever they do. That principle guides every leadership decision I make.
What goals or aspirations are you working toward in the future?
Expanding into new business verticals remains a key priority, with a strong focus on scaling OB services and system integration. The approach revolves around continuously broadening service offerings, ensuring clients benefit from seamless, 360-degree solutions while maintaining a meticulous and thoughtful hiring strategy.
Recruitment follows a long-term commitment, and employees are seldom let go unless ethical concerns arise. The vision aligns with a special forces inspired model, where compact, highly capable teams drive maximum impact. This structure not only strengthens business continuity but also fosters stable employment, cultivating an environment where individuals grow alongside an organization built for sustained expansion and resilience.
Gaurav Kant, Managing Director, ZOOM Communications
Gaurav Kant has a career that spans polo, security, and business leadership. A former national and international polo player for the Indian Army and Indian team, he later established security ventures before pursuing advanced studies at UCL and Cambridge. After working with the Philadelphia City Council and in public sector consulting, he returned to ZOOM Communications in 2022, taking on business development and operations. In 2024, he moved into a director role and has recently stepped into the position of Managing Director, focusing on business expansion and operational growth.
What goals or aspirations are you working toward in the future?
Expanding into new business verticals remains a key priority, with a strong focus on scaling OB services and system integration. The approach revolves around continuously broadening service offerings, ensuring clients benefit from seamless, 360-degree solutions while maintaining a meticulous and thoughtful hiring strategy.
Recruitment follows a long-term commitment, and employees are seldom let go unless ethical concerns arise. The vision aligns with a special forces inspired model, where compact, highly capable teams drive maximum impact. This structure not only strengthens business continuity but also fosters stable employment, cultivating an environment where individuals grow alongside an organization built for sustained expansion and resilience.
Gaurav Kant, Managing Director, ZOOM Communications
Gaurav Kant has a career that spans polo, security, and business leadership. A former national and international polo player for the Indian Army and Indian team, he later established security ventures before pursuing advanced studies at UCL and Cambridge. After working with the Philadelphia City Council and in public sector consulting, he returned to ZOOM Communications in 2022, taking on business development and operations. In 2024, he moved into a director role and has recently stepped into the position of Managing Director, focusing on business expansion and operational growth.