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Tag: Leadership

  • Running a Tesla on kerosene?

    Running a Tesla on kerosene?

    Running a Tesla on kerosene? 🚗⛽
    Streaming Netflix on dial-up? 📺🐌

    So why are you still running your business without leveraging the full power of AI?

    AI isn’t just another social media app or search engine.
    AI isn’t an experiment. It’s not a side project.
    It’s the new engine of growth, disruption, and survival.

    Here’s the hard truth:

    👉 If you’re not building an AI-first business, you’re building a museum
    👉 If you’re not redefining your industry, someone else is writing your obituary

    Digital transformed business.
    Cloud rewired it.
    AI will reinvent it.

    Every business is now an AI business.
    Every leader is now an AI leader.

    The only question is:

    🚀 Will you use AI to redefine your future—or wait until the future redefines you?

    And yes big shout to Tesla and Netflix – They aren’t just brands, they’re disruptors who redefined entire industries. 

    Image Credit: AI 🙂 

  • The Ignite Life: Sunshine. Smiles. Sukoon

    The Ignite Life: Sunshine. Smiles. Sukoon

    “The purpose of life is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate — to make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

     — Ralph Waldo Emerson

    As I sign off from Apexon after 16 incredible years, I want to pause and celebrate something very close to my heart—Ignite.

    What started as a small idea turned into a movement of compassion.

     A platform where we didn’t just give back—we grew.

     We didn’t just support causes—we created change.

     We didn’t just help others—we found ourselves.

    ✨ Ignite has been a happiness project. Our sunshine corner. 

     From mentoring changemakers to empowering NGOs, from learning with leaders to creating lifelong bonds—Ignite has truly ignited me.

    Thank you Rutesh Shah for igniting the mission and providing unbelievable trust and unconditional support

    To every Igniter who chose hope over cynicism, kindness over convenience—thank you. Thank you Geetanjali Sahni, Pravinsinh Rathod, Heli Z Karvat, PhD, Zil Shah, Krunal Sagan, Jankit Shah, Anand Rohit, Sejal Bavishi, Nitin Nikumbh, Charu Mishra, Kashish, Rohini Chandra

    Thank you Manish Mathuria, Sriniketh Chakravarthi, Anand Kabra, Vinu Venkatesh

    To every NGO partner, colleague, and volunteer who shared your light—thank you.

    Because of you, the world is a better place.

    As I move into the next chapter, Ignite remains a part of who I am—and always will be.

    Here’s to living well—and giving well.

    One Life At A Time!

  • The Incredible Sixteen-Year Journey @ Infostretch & Apexon

    The Incredible Sixteen-Year Journey @ Infostretch & Apexon

    Today marks the end of one of the most defining chapters in my journey.

    After 16 incredible years at Apexon (formerly Infostretch), I sign off with a heart full of gratitude, pride, and purpose.

    In 2009, I walked into the Infostretch office with curiosity, energy, and ideas. The reception desk bore a powerful message by Mahatma Gandhi—“Be the change you wish to see in the world”—and I knew I was at the right place. That message became my mantra.

    Over the years, what followed was nothing short of extraordinary—a journey across continents, business verticals, strategic pivots, and cultural transformation. From startup energy to scaled enterprise; from late-night brainstorms to global partnerships—I’ve had the privilege of helping build something meaningful.

    Infostretch Founders Rutesh Shah & Manish Mathuria gave me complete freedom and encouragement.  With their intellectual humility and supreme trust, they inspired beyond measure. The company was being built with great alignment of vision, mission and values. As Infostretch moved from one orbit to another, I relished the opportunity to take multiple challenges and make a difference. The Infostretch story reached a new peak with the investment backing of Goldman Sachs and Everstone Group to create a strong platform called Apexon, which unlocked a new level of learnings and opportunities.

    Beyond all of these, I am really proud of Infostretch and Apexon for creating the amazing culture, ownership of executing customer’s business vision, winning the customer trust and confidence, and learning from best and brightest minds.

    🔑 5 Timeless Lessons I Carry Forward:

    1. Entrepreneurship = Ownership: Act like an owner, think like a founder.
    2. Excellence is a Habit: Relentlessly chase excellence—success will follow.
    3. Culture Wins: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner—but when they align, magic happens.
    4. Leadership Multiplies: Leaders create more leaders. True leaders are humble, secure and rise by lifting others. They elevate, empower and energise people!
    5. Learn. Unlearn. Relearn: Technology business keeps changing and only curious minds with passion for continuous learning thrive successfully. Be lifelong learners! Stay curious, stay humble.

    💡 Highlights & Memories That Shaped Me:

    • Annual planning offsites, night long brainstorming, animated discussions & Bollywood stories
    • Designing new business models for Indian telcos
    • Mobile app development and certification business
    • The making of the Infostretch house
    • European expansion
    • Leading key deals in fintech, payments, and healthcare
    • Building the Global Alliances
    • Spearheading Ignite program: Global giving back & philanthropy program
    • Hosting events like Mobile Monday, Koffee with Karania, Hot Seat, Filmy Fridays, and our legendary Sales Super Saturdays
    • Winning trust, building culture, and co-creating lasting impact with an amazing team

    These are not just career milestones—they’re life moments. They shaped the leader I am today.

    🙏 A Thank You Note From The Heart:

    To all my customers, partners, colleagues and friends – they are the reason that each day of the sixteen years journey was filled with purpose, energy and joy!

    Rutesh Shah for being one of the biggest cheer leaders for me – While he has led with example, showcased passion with compassion and treated everyone with respect, he has been an amazing mentor and guiding light to me.

    Apexon Leaders—Sumitra, Somesh, Sriniketh, Vamsi, Sandeep, Anil, Anand, Vinu—your leadership sharpened mine.

    To my early crew at Infostretch—Manish, Shalin, Pinakin, Avery, Siva, Vipul, Palvinder, Leila, Anil, Padmini, Michael, Kanhai, Deven, Kinjan—we built something beautiful.

    Awesome Champions: Jay, Gaurav, Vaibhavi, Rajesh, Rupal, Chinar, Niraj, Anushree, Bhavana, Aris, Brijal, Avani, Harish, Yatendra, Ankit, Sheetal, Murali, Chetan and others who made this journey joyful!

    Alliance Rockstars: Rama, Adarsh, Kavita, Geetanjali, Prashant, Viveck for creating amazing impact with frugal resources

    Amazing Ignite Team: Geetanjali, Zil, Heli, Pravin, Kashish, Charu and local leaders Krunal, Jankit, Sejal, Anand, who work for a cause and not applause!

    Family & Friends: Aditya, Aangi & Komal & Friends for accepting that Apexon was the fourth family member for 16 years – the one who was part of all our vacations and weekends!

    (If I’ve missed names, forgive me—so many memories flooding in!)

    📖 As I Turn the Page…

    While the celebrated thinker Daniel Kahneman states that we only remember our most intense and concluding experiences – ‘Peak-End Theory’, I remember it all. Because Apexon wasn’t just a job—it was a mission, a family, a journey.

    I leave with no regrets—only deep gratitude, enduring friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

    Here’s to new beginnings. To applying everything I’ve learned to what comes next—at the intersection of technology, innovation, and impact.

    Forever a cheerleader and well-wisher of Team Apexon.

    Thank you for the 16-year magic. 🙏

  • Listening – A rare and an extinct quality!

    Listening – A rare and an extinct quality!

    Listening – A rare and an extinct quality!

    In the world that constantly wants to speak and be heard, listen seems almost a forgotten skill! 

    And how costly it is! Yet we do not realise it!

    God gave us two ears and one month – But we do not understand!

    Listen to customers and business will never fail!

    Listen to employees and success will soar!

    Listen to friends and relationships will enrich!

    Listen to kids and family will smile!

    Listen to heart and life will thrive!

  • Are You A Giver Or Taker?

    Are You A Giver Or Taker?

    Are you a spectator or doer?

    What is your default position?

    The roles may differ as per life stage and situation but leaders drive change and are always willing to share. Influencing change, driving action, defining trends and making things happen!

  • Rediscover Gandhi

    Rediscover Gandhi

    Mahatma Gandhi: A man synonymous with India. Nobody deserved Nobel Peace Prize more than Mahatma Gandhi. Nobody deserved more respect and love than Gandhi. But, nobody gets more criticism than Gandhi( especially by Indians). So isn’t it quite surprising for many of you to see Gandhi topping the list of people I admire.

    Gandhi was no emperor, not a military general, not a president nor a prime minister. He was neither pacifist nor a cult guru. Who was Gandhi ? If anything, Mohandas K. Gandhi was a constant experimenter. Mahatma gave us the freedom by revolutionary concept of non-violence, non-cooperation and satyagraha. He was the best communicator known to us. He won the hearts of people even in a new nation like South Africa.

    During my Gandhi sessions, I reiterate that he was the best example of servant leadership. He was equally terrific example of authentic and situational leadership. Beyond his politics and philosophy, he was a linguist and health expert. I am glad that Gujaratilexicon has played a small part in digitising his dictionary. His ideas on women empowerment, village economy, self-reliance,  untouchability and health are timeless. 

    Majority of Indians have not understood Gandhi and we label him as a bygone phenomenon. But I feel he is more relevant today than ever before. 

    Gandhi is in us. Let’s rediscover him. 

    Will we? 

    I get hope from T S Eliot’s lines:

    We shall not cease from exploration

    And the end of all our exploring

    Will be to arrive where we started 

    And know the place for the first time.

    Image: My favourite anecdote of Gandhi’s visit to Lancashire mills….

  • All Managers Are HR Managers

    All Managers Are HR Managers

  • Core Values – Defining Your Guiding Light!

    Core Values – Defining Your Guiding Light!

    Creating a life of purpose requires us to be in sync with our true self. And I believe knowing our core values is an important aspect of life design.

    Core Values are usually associated with organisations. But all of us also have our core values and principles. Our behaviour, decisions and actions are driven by them.

    Core values are our guiding lights! Core values are our true north! Core values define us! They help us to understand what is important to us and what we really cherish! Core Values enable decision-making. When we are confused, our values can direct us to the right road. It can help us make the choices that are consistent with our belief systems. And that creates happiness and bliss. If our actions are not aligned with our core values, we feel frustration and stress.

    What are your core values? How do you define your core values? Core values are not created – they are discovered. Over a period of time, our values emerge and become our compass. So, reflect on yourself, the journey and list out all things that come to your mind – when you define yourself and what you stand for. Be honest with self and only list the real values – no need for cool or nice words.

    My core values are:

    Authenticity – Being honest, straight-forward and sincere

    Simplicity – Less is more

    Loyalty – Dependability, sticking to commitments

    Creativity – Being different, versatile and trying new things

    Generosity – Share the success. ‘Live2Give’ is the mantra!

    My professional values are:

    Purpose – Always be goal-driven

    Passion – What is life without passion or enthusiasm?

    Promise – Deliver the commitments, keep the faith

    Performance – Results drive professional life

    Play – Add life to work with fun and joy for self and everyone around!

    Once the core values are determined, live the values! The details are in action! Let the behaviour be aligned with your values. It will help you take the right short term and long-term decisions. It will help you to live life to your own chosen standards. And that is a bliss!

    Image Credit: Joshua Hibbert

  • Life Lessons from India – New Zealand Thriller!

    Life Lessons from India – New Zealand Thriller!

    The World Cup 2019 Semi-final has silenced a nation of 1.35 billion people.

    The India – New Zealand clash has prompted strong emotions across the globe. The fans’ reaction is a testimony to their love of the game and ‘Men in Blue’. One can discard their involvement and ideas as arm-chair suggestions but without fans, the game is incomplete. The game is a bigger game because of fan, and it unites everyone – delivery boy, CEO, office staff, families!

    What else did I see in the India – New Zealand clash? What can be learn from it for our life?

    1. Innovation

    Indian team showed no innovation. India stuck to their old ways. Same batting order except pushing Dhoni down. Dhoni should have risen up in the order and he would have anchored the batting. He would have stopped Rishabh and Hardik from rash shots.

    Our Batsman played the same way as they did in earlier matches.

    We all need to innovate in life. We cannot keep trying the same things every time. Our career requires us to develop new skills and bring new ideas to the table. Innovation is key to success in today’s world. We need to evolve!

    2. No Plan B

    Indian Team did not have a Plan B. What if our big guns did not deliver? What if our middle order was exposed? India’s middle order was our biggest problem and we never worked on it. The lack of Plan B costed us the match.

    We had a great opportunity in India vs SL match to give practice to others. But still Virat came at No.3 and so did others at their own positions.

    In life our best planned ideas can go wrong. We need to have a Plan B. If our dream promotion does not happen, what do we do? If we do not get admission in IIM, what do we do?

    3. Flexibility / Overconfidence

    The team came across as stubborn as well. The rains would have made the batting difficult was a given factor . But our earlier success blinded us to the new situation. Maybe we got overconfident. What has worked well would continue!

    Respect the conditions. Respect the opponents. Every artist touches the stage before it performs on the stage – we did not kiss and read the pitch well.

    It is not the strongest or the smartest that survives – it is the most adaptable that survives. We need to learn flexibility in life. Change as per the situation and circumstance. Do not be stubborn.

    4. Discipline

    New Zealand was a disciplined outfit. The batsmen, bowler and fielder played to the strength. The bowlers stuck to the line and the length. The batsmen may have been slow but scored a decent score in the circumstances. The fielding was exceptional including the run-out that broke Dhoni’s stellar run and Indian hearts.

    Indian batsmen were still in their flashy IPL mode. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya could not control their natural instincts. Clearly Rahul was out of the place. We had our share of woes in fielding as well. Virat said that 45 minutes of bad cricket cost us the tournaments. That is what happens in life as well. One bad impulsive action or decision can cause greater regrets!

    Whether is studies or financial planning, discipline goes a long way. Avoid flamboyance. Just do the job silently and consistently. The devil is in the details. Persistent efforts win!

    5. Leadership

    New Zealand skipper deserves equal credit for the leadership he demonstrated. He was the captain cool. Not only did he read the pitch right, he played to the strengths. Kane Williamson outsmarted India tactically with the way he attacked upfront and the way he set the field. He was in action throughout out the match and encouraging the team. He changed the bowlers, backed the colleagues and calmed every one when Jadeja-Dhoni were on fire. His belief ensured that New Zealand was through the match.

    Many people talked about the luck and the rains. A champion team does not need luck. And luck favors the brave and the prepared teams. Had India showed more steel and flexibility, the outcome would have been different. Luck helped Dhoni and Jadeja. But it also helped Guptill – whose run out was the worst thing to happen to India. Or Virat’s dicey wicket. But there are no other excuses – we lost on our own account. We were almost there…but New Zealand got it better that day! We should have not lost to England – we could have got another opponent!

    But the most important thing is that India put a great emphatic show during the entire World Cup. All of us loved it and our team was the table toppers! We had a great semi-final as well where hopes were alive till the last over. It was Dhoni that gave us the belief that we could still have win probability of 70% at 5-3. And we got to see Jadeja’s striking response to Sanjay bits and pieces comment!

    Rohit Sharma’s magnificent batting and Bumrah’s magical bowling will remain in our hearts and minds for long time to come!

    Life is about wins and rising after each fall. Sports is the greatest teacher. This too shall pass!

    Let us back the BlackCaps for a win! Cricket needs a new champion!

  • Modi Redefining, Opponents Anachronistic

    Modi Redefining, Opponents Anachronistic

    Leadership Matters ! Leadership Shows !

    The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in the top job for only about a fortnight. He was expected to bring optimism and efficiency – but he is clear surpassing expectations with his mission mode speed and clear sense of purpose. He has forced even his die-hard critics and the opposition to acknowledge that this is a different Modi. All the so-called adjectives and fear created around him sound so silly and anachronistic.

    Modi means business. A look at his first steps:

    1. The Pakistan Masterstroke: By inviting Nawaz Sharif and the entire SAARC bloc, Modi has proved that he is wired differently. He has shown that he understand the ground realities. Not only has he created new opportunities for Indo-Pak relations, he has won the domestic community. For India to be accepted as a global super-power, it needs to be recognized as a natural leader in SAARC. All will grow around India. I am sure he would have told them – India is going to grow like crazy in the next years – all of us can enjoy the growth together and all of you will benefit as well.

    2. The Cabinet Signal: Modi has created a cabinet team of the people that will work as per his wishes and deliver as per the promises made. He has rewarded loyalty – Jaitley and Smriti Irani. He has welcomed new faces and empowered minister of states.

    3. The Empowered Bureaucracy: Modi knows that for his plans to succeed, bureaucrats have to deliver. His immediate appointment of his team of Mishra, Doval sent a clear signal to everyone. He has held direct meetings and provided his full support to honest officers. The bureaucrats were disillusioned, de-motivated and directionless in the previous government – here they have the great opportunity to take India forward.

    4. Clear Expectations: Modi has set clear expectations to the team, ministers and party. He has to deliver. Whether working on the 100 day plan or identifying old acts to be repealed, he has set his clear goals. Such clarity only helps everyone and energizes and excites the team towards reaching the goals effectively.

    5. Deliver With Humility And Integrity: He has asked his team and ministers to avoid appointing relatives. He has asked ministers to be in touch with their area. He has asked them to deliver and work effectively for re-election in 2019. Gifts are to be shunned. Favor-seeking people are to be shunned.

    6. Japan-China-US: Modi has excellent relations with Japan and China. He is a pragmatic and he is held in high esteem in those countries. Manmohan was a good boy and had respect, but he was never taken seriously and could not make impact. Modi has taken the right steps with Japan and China as well.

    7. Importance of Communication: The joke was that within one day of election, Modi spoke more than the previous Prime Minister ! He has launched the redefined PM Site. He has very intelligently used the election social media machinery and transforming the same for policy discussions and ongoing communication. He has held several meetings and is clearly ensuring communication and transparency.

    By accepting to go to US without any fuss, Modi has shown that he is not the prisoner of past. Though he has excellent relations with east, he knows that US matters and he would be happy to leverage the strengths.

    The other notable actions include:
    1. Disbanding GOMs and EGOMs
    2. Strong assurance to investors – Only red carpet, not red tape.
    3. Shunning Sycophancy – No Modi chapters in books, No touching of feet,
    4. Personal Example – Working relentlessly from Day one
    5. Avoiding transfers, continuing with old officers
    6. E-auctions for defence deals beyond 10 lakhs

    I understand it is too early to judge the impact. But the environment has changed. The bureaucrats are excited. Citizens are interested in government. world is taking note of India again. Swaminathan Ankleshwaria Iyer said that the animal spirits are backed in stock market. Shashi Tharoor noted that this is Modi 2.0 and we should encourage it.

    It is an opportunity not be missed ! Let us hope the good run continues !

    Modi-Nawaz