Raghav Saraogi: Bringing About Vision & Innovation In The Steel Sector Of India
Raghav Saraogi
Director
"We have a low-carbon policy specific to the company and we have been following that for the past 5 years. We go for energy efficiency because power is one of the primary requirements for our industry"
Tell us about your professional journey and about the experiences that you have had throughout your career
Our company is involved with the manufacturing of crude steel and finished steel products. To have a better point of view towards our business, I got educated on Construction Management from the University of Melbourne. In India, the infrastructure sector is undergoing a boom, and steel demand is growing. I started my career in the steel sector even before I went to Melbourne and after going there, I got educated on the different technologies that are getting used in this sector in which India was still lagging. I wanted these improvements to take place in India. Apart from manufacturing steel, our company has also diverted operations to construction activities and has started executing residential, commercial, and government projects. It took me some years to understand the operations and dynamics of this sector because it is a little difficult to execute a different set of technologies and processes that were not in use before. This is a reason why it took a little time for the transition to happen. Over the
years I have gained a lot of experience starting as a team member in the Operations Department and reaching the position of Director. I have completely immersed myself in the intricacies of the steel sector. Added to this, I am also interested in new technologies and making use of them for our company operations.
Shed light on the education that was provided to you at the University of Melbourne. In what ways did it influence your growth?
For me, education at the University of Melbourne was a very transformative journey. The program there helped me become a better individual. It has affected a lot on my perspective of things and influenced a lot of my personal development. In my opinion, people who have the resources available to them should step out of their hometown and go abroad to learn a new perspective. One gets to manage things on their own which helps immensely in professional growth. The University of Melbourne has a very intellectually stimulating environment. The program was quite critically arranged and it helped me analyze various kinds of complex problems. The campus is excellent and it has several curricular activities like professional clubs and student clubs that align with the courses. This helped to explore my passion in a very resourceful way. The course also helped in develop my leadership skills and time management skills as well. The university pays a lot of attention to establishing real-world connections which is why we had industry seminars and site visits which gave me first-hand experience in interacting with professionals.
How is the company positioned in the steel market of the country?
Alaknanda Group of Industries is a conglomerate of 3 steel manufacturing units. My family has been associated with the steel industry for the past 30 years and most of the people who work for the company including us think the company to be an extended version of our homes. Many employees have been there with us since the inception and have now become a part of the family. We are one of the fastest-growing steel brands in the eastern part of India. We aim to expand our capacities very soon and in the process of growth every day. In the beginning, our company was in the retail sector and then we started with distribution and slowly diverted to manufacturing. The backward integration helped us a lot in under standing the supply chain and taking care of all kinds of stakeholder requirements.
What are your daily roles and responsibilities at the company?
In my opinion, people who have the resources available to them should step out of their hometown and go abroad to learn a new perspective
Shed light on the education that was provided to you at the University of Melbourne. In what ways did it influence your growth?
For me, education at the University of Melbourne was a very transformative journey. The program there helped me become a better individual. It has affected a lot on my perspective of things and influenced a lot of my personal development. In my opinion, people who have the resources available to them should step out of their hometown and go abroad to learn a new perspective. One gets to manage things on their own which helps immensely in professional growth. The University of Melbourne has a very intellectually stimulating environment. The program was quite critically arranged and it helped me analyze various kinds of complex problems. The campus is excellent and it has several curricular activities like professional clubs and student clubs that align with the courses. This helped to explore my passion in a very resourceful way. The course also helped in develop my leadership skills and time management skills as well. The university pays a lot of attention to establishing real-world connections which is why we had industry seminars and site visits which gave me first-hand experience in interacting with professionals.
How is the company positioned in the steel market of the country?
Alaknanda Group of Industries is a conglomerate of 3 steel manufacturing units. My family has been associated with the steel industry for the past 30 years and most of the people who work for the company including us think the company to be an extended version of our homes. Many employees have been there with us since the inception and have now become a part of the family. We are one of the fastest-growing steel brands in the eastern part of India. We aim to expand our capacities very soon and in the process of growth every day. In the beginning, our company was in the retail sector and then we started with distribution and slowly diverted to manufacturing. The backward integration helped us a lot in under standing the supply chain and taking care of all kinds of stakeholder requirements.
What are your daily roles and responsibilities at the company?
How does your role bring about the growth in the business?
My basic responsibility at the company is to make corporate decisions and make sure that operations go smoothly in the company and the market. I am deeply involved in market analysis of steel consumption trends and global market fluctuations as well. This knowledge helps me create strategies considering all the market realities. This in turn defines the company's growth in the steel market of the country. It is a very competitive industry which acts as a critical factor because of which understanding of the market becomes necessary.
Tell us about the flagship offering of the company.
Flagship offering revolves around the quality of our products which we never compromise with. Our primary goal is to provide complete satisfaction to the customer. Our products are also sold through our distributor channels and networks. That is why we have to make sure that all our distributors and stakeholders benefit from us. We are also known for our commitment to the cause. Throughout the last 10- 15 years, we have never faltered on our commitments. The company always tries to deliver on time. We have also acquired a new plant in Bihar just before COVID which is a relatively new project for us. We have been able to capture the market in Bihar in a very short period. Cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability can always be expected from us.
What are the measures taken by the company to ensure Environmental Sustainability?
We have a low-carbon policy specific to the company and we have been following that for the past 5 years. We go for energy efficiency because power is one of the primary requirements for our industry. We create electricity from the waste gases of sponge iron and have formed a recycling process. The company has its waste management processes and looks forward to a sustainable future.
What is the road map ahead for the company?
All future goals are centered on continuous growth both personally and professionally. I am committed to advancing my career by taking up challenging roles that would help me further in applying my skills in the construction industry. Our company is expanding to a lot of other projects related to different sectors. We have a fintech firm which is to be launched soon. My short-term goal is to develop the brand because it has been accepted by consumers over the years and monetize that as soon as possible.
Raghav Saraogi, Director, Alaknanda Group Of Industries
Raghav Saraogi, Director, Alaknanda Group of Industries is one of the professionals in steel industry whose background in the steel industry and education at the University of Melbourne has catapulted his company to new heights.
My basic responsibility at the company is to make corporate decisions and make sure that operations go smoothly in the company and the market. I am deeply involved in market analysis of steel consumption trends and global market fluctuations as well. This knowledge helps me create strategies considering all the market realities. This in turn defines the company's growth in the steel market of the country. It is a very competitive industry which acts as a critical factor because of which understanding of the market becomes necessary.
Tell us about the flagship offering of the company.
Flagship offering revolves around the quality of our products which we never compromise with. Our primary goal is to provide complete satisfaction to the customer. Our products are also sold through our distributor channels and networks. That is why we have to make sure that all our distributors and stakeholders benefit from us. We are also known for our commitment to the cause. Throughout the last 10- 15 years, we have never faltered on our commitments. The company always tries to deliver on time. We have also acquired a new plant in Bihar just before COVID which is a relatively new project for us. We have been able to capture the market in Bihar in a very short period. Cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability can always be expected from us.
What are the measures taken by the company to ensure Environmental Sustainability?
We have a low-carbon policy specific to the company and we have been following that for the past 5 years. We go for energy efficiency because power is one of the primary requirements for our industry. We create electricity from the waste gases of sponge iron and have formed a recycling process. The company has its waste management processes and looks forward to a sustainable future.
What is the road map ahead for the company?
All future goals are centered on continuous growth both personally and professionally. I am committed to advancing my career by taking up challenging roles that would help me further in applying my skills in the construction industry. Our company is expanding to a lot of other projects related to different sectors. We have a fintech firm which is to be launched soon. My short-term goal is to develop the brand because it has been accepted by consumers over the years and monetize that as soon as possible.
Raghav Saraogi, Director, Alaknanda Group Of Industries
Raghav Saraogi, Director, Alaknanda Group of Industries is one of the professionals in steel industry whose background in the steel industry and education at the University of Melbourne has catapulted his company to new heights.