| | DECEMBER 202119by generating growth and improving performance. How has your response been to the challenges posted in the Covid-affected market and the need for new strategies? Tell us about your role in tackling these challenges?Amid the COVID peak, we saw several organizations switching entirely to digital ways to engage with their customers. From our small to medium brands of coffee producers, localized cloud-based telecom operators, to even multi-billion-dollar FMCG corporates, all were taking to digital means of running complex client and beneficiary engagement processes. Hence, keeping up with the requirements, we designed these processes and implemented the tools for them in 2020. As a result, by 2021, with the economy opening again, these clients are back to growing their impact. In fact they are no longer restricted to geographies and segments. As of the second half of 2021, now our clients are showing no signs of stopping, now wanting to fully automate conventional engagement and operational processes, and ready to take on changes that scale. Highlight upon the various milestones that you have achieved over the years of your professional career so far. My first major milestone was when I had to leave my home to pursue my management course, and I was the first in my family to go for a masters in business management so it was a celebrated thing in the family. Those two years at Symbiosis business school opened my eyes towards a bigger world and that the unique culture that the B-school follows left a lasting impact on me. The second major milestone was that as a traditional Hindu boy, I married an atheist South African citizen of Asian origin and then, I decided to move to South Africa; this was my way of breaking the traditional norms. Doing this majorly helped me in realizing that I can create a life of my dreams in any place that I want to. Adding to this, becoming a father at the age of 30 was another major milestone that changed me for good. Professionally, over the years, I have been lucky to have been guided by many good mentors which have helped me to be a better professional. Being a general manager for products and services at the MTN group which is the 10th largest player in the industry globally was one of the milestone for me that helped boost my professional career. I built a strong team over the course of my work there, we had grown a lot as well. Then, moving to Mobileum, I got to have direct access to end-clients and their needs and this helped me to get first-hand experience about customer interactions. At Mobileum we were rapidly turning product concepts into profit using a lean approach. This experience helped me in getting closer to my goals, whether I can, as an individual create a product from scratch and sell it with significant returns. At Mobiliem, me and my team were able to generate a 20 million dollars in new product and license revenue. This gave me confidence to start a business of my own and it was at the age of 37 that I started my own business with my own designs and choice in mind. In the light of your strong industry experience, what would be your advice to upcoming entrepreneurs?South Africa has a great environment with numerous opportunities and challenges which is kind of similar to India. With its well established economy and emerging markets, as an entrepreneur, there is great environment for budding business seekers to learn in South Africa. Don't hold back, enjoy it and learn it which will help you to develop both personal and business relationships. Always keep your eyes and mind open for new opportunities and challenges. One should also have the subject matter expertise about the industry they want to operate in. Once you have an idea, share it with someone like a client who can give honest feedback. Also, even if you fail, you should always stay hopeful and positive to come back better and stronger. AS PROFESSIONALS OUR EXPERTISE CAN BE SUMMED UP AS CUSTOMER AND MARKET DISCOVERY, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT, PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
< Page 9 | Page 11 >