Ryan Vaz: An Evangelist Bringing The Needed Innovation In Construction Sector
Ryan Vaz
Managing Director
In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights Magazine, Ryan Vaz walks us through his professional journey along with the unique traits of the company.
Throw some light on your professional backgrounds and experiences. How has been your journey so far with Audry Infra and what drives you today?
On completing a Diploma in tool and die making, I began working for a company in Margao. A year later, I departed and began offering Design Consultancy Services for a company called National Engineers. While working with them, I was extensively guided, by some of India's top professionals and consultants empanelled there. My technical knowledge base was created at the Tool Room and training facility where I studied, and it was reinforced and enriched at National Engineers. I learned to work hard at a young age. 'Learn to work 25 hours a day!' Walter Almeida, the Director, often advised. At the time, we set up two 200 tonnes per hour crushing units in Nagpur. That was a watershed moment for me.
In 2003, Walter asked me to design some press tools, which I did with the assistance of a colleague, and he then asked me to build them. That's when I enlisted the assistance of another colleague. Dimensions was founded in 2004 by Abhijit Borkar, Gaurish Bhende, and me. We had always prepared to split when the time came, and so we did. Dimensions ceased business in 2018, and I established Audry Infra Pvt Ltd.
How would you define Audry Infra as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its clients?
Audry Infra's culture, in my opinion, is its defining feature. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast", I once read. This sentence hit me, and when I founded the company, my priority was and continues to be, creating the proper culture. A culture of integrity, enthusiasm, continuous progress, and lifelong learning. But it's not easy. It’s tough and it’s painfully slow, but I am convinced that once set, we will be looked upon as a Model for other companies. Even now, I can see the results and the effects of this.
When we visit clients, we approach them with enthusiasm. Our goal is to keep three things in mind at all times aesthetics, product life, and safety. We want to make sure that all of our work appears exclusive so we plan ahead of time and take the effort to design it that way. We make certain that we utilize the proper materials and never cut corners thus the work done will last far beyond the guaranteed time. I consider myself fortunate because, in all of the infrastructure work that we have done over the last 18 years, we have yet to come across a structure that has failed!
Why was Goa chosen to be the breeding ground of your company? How has the place favored you so far in your operations?
Most of my cousins, family, and close acquaintances have left Goa in search of better opportunities in other countries. That is some thing I appreciate and understand, however, I wanted to prove to myself and the youth around me that it is possible to succeed here as well! Fortunately for me, my wife shared my passion and thus fully supported me during all of my challenges.
Being a first-generation entrepreneur, it was difficult at first and it took me a long time to figure out what I was doing and how I should go about it. Later I joined BNI and met and learned from many BNI colleagues. I hired a professional business coach two years ago, and he directed us and helped us put things in perspective. We're growing better all the time.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The market has changed dramatically since COVID. Some notice it, while others do not. Some have accepted it while others are still waiting for things to return to 'normal'. I am one of those who has accepted and am attempting to
Our ultimate goal is for the project to be completed to perfection with the least amount of labour, travel, and time, and at the lowest possible cost
When we visit clients, we approach them with enthusiasm. Our goal is to keep three things in mind at all times aesthetics, product life, and safety. We want to make sure that all of our work appears exclusive so we plan ahead of time and take the effort to design it that way. We make certain that we utilize the proper materials and never cut corners thus the work done will last far beyond the guaranteed time. I consider myself fortunate because, in all of the infrastructure work that we have done over the last 18 years, we have yet to come across a structure that has failed!
Why was Goa chosen to be the breeding ground of your company? How has the place favored you so far in your operations?
Most of my cousins, family, and close acquaintances have left Goa in search of better opportunities in other countries. That is some thing I appreciate and understand, however, I wanted to prove to myself and the youth around me that it is possible to succeed here as well! Fortunately for me, my wife shared my passion and thus fully supported me during all of my challenges.
Being a first-generation entrepreneur, it was difficult at first and it took me a long time to figure out what I was doing and how I should go about it. Later I joined BNI and met and learned from many BNI colleagues. I hired a professional business coach two years ago, and he directed us and helped us put things in perspective. We're growing better all the time.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The market has changed dramatically since COVID. Some notice it, while others do not. Some have accepted it while others are still waiting for things to return to 'normal'. I am one of those who has accepted and am attempting to
capitalize it. 'online' has become the new norm. My crew is small and agile. I only have three teams super visory, design, and accounting.We outsource and/or collaborate the rest of the work. We are constantly experimenting and employing various software to make work easier, lighter, automatic and efficient. We are always learning new things and experimenting with new solutions in order to save time and effort. Our ultimate goal is for the project to be completed to perfection with the least amount of labor, travel, time and at the lowest possible cost. With this, we hope to dramatically scale our business both within and beyond Goa.
In the light of your strong experience in the industry, what advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Understand one's own strengths and work on them. In my perspective, people fall into three categories: makers, sellers, and the rare species who can do both. If you are good at making, then focus solely on making. Give the selling to someone else. Find a product that you believe in and focus on selling it, if you are skilled at selling. In either case, identify and serve your target market. Building a competent work force is also essential for a successful and growing organization. As a result having the correct team is critical to your success.
Ryan Vaz, Managing Director, Audry Infra
As leading authority on 3D printing in Goa, Ryan helps schools, colleges, startup incubation centers and companies in training and setting up technology labs. He has been relentless about the idea of fostering innovation in students, Ryan spends a lot of his time in teaching and hand-holding young students in exploring the seamless opportunities that 3D printing contains
●Hobbies: Playing the guitar, driving around and exploring new places, crafts
●Favorite Cuisine: I love to tryout the Street food everywhere I go
●Favorite Book: The one that disrupted the way I think, Rich dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiosaki
●Favorite Travel Destination: We rarely holiday in the same place twice, but the Place I really would love to visit again is Bhutan
Awards & Recognition:
-Best Jaycee of the year 2005
-Best President BNI South 2019
-Best Training Director BNI South 2018-19
-Corona Warrior by Shree Dambabalem -Goddem Cultural Association
-Numerous Awards for Effective Public -Speaking and Effective Leadership by JCI India
-Numerous awards by BNI for Top performance in Traffic Lights, Max Business Given, Max Visitors etc
-Featured on 2 local Newspapers
In the light of your strong experience in the industry, what advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Understand one's own strengths and work on them. In my perspective, people fall into three categories: makers, sellers, and the rare species who can do both. If you are good at making, then focus solely on making. Give the selling to someone else. Find a product that you believe in and focus on selling it, if you are skilled at selling. In either case, identify and serve your target market. Building a competent work force is also essential for a successful and growing organization. As a result having the correct team is critical to your success.
Ryan Vaz, Managing Director, Audry Infra
As leading authority on 3D printing in Goa, Ryan helps schools, colleges, startup incubation centers and companies in training and setting up technology labs. He has been relentless about the idea of fostering innovation in students, Ryan spends a lot of his time in teaching and hand-holding young students in exploring the seamless opportunities that 3D printing contains
●Hobbies: Playing the guitar, driving around and exploring new places, crafts
●Favorite Cuisine: I love to tryout the Street food everywhere I go
●Favorite Book: The one that disrupted the way I think, Rich dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiosaki
●Favorite Travel Destination: We rarely holiday in the same place twice, but the Place I really would love to visit again is Bhutan
Awards & Recognition:
-Best Jaycee of the year 2005
-Best President BNI South 2019
-Best Training Director BNI South 2018-19
-Corona Warrior by Shree Dambabalem -Goddem Cultural Association
-Numerous Awards for Effective Public -Speaking and Effective Leadership by JCI India
-Numerous awards by BNI for Top performance in Traffic Lights, Max Business Given, Max Visitors etc
-Featured on 2 local Newspapers