Sourav Arora, that I knew! We will miss you Sourav…

The tall, handsome yet shy, soft spoken, desirous of learning, willingness to put that extra effort, still, with an amount of self doubt, trying to find the better way ahead was Sourav Arora. Though emotional, as I got to know, his outwardly projection of smile and softness was anti-thesis of his well built physique. He was a gentle-giant.

His desire to improve himself was manifested in his sending his write-ups to me on issues of interest to him, seeking my feedback. He would not let go of it, if I did not respond. Whenever I came back from my tour, the moment he spotted me, he would remind me that he is waiting for the feedback on a particular article that he had sent.

When on Sunday afternoon, I received information about sudden demise of Sourav, I went through my journey of life of last two years that I have known Sourav – from my first interaction in Ludhiana to the graduation ceremony at IWSB that I photographed while he was awarded the degree.

I pay my humble respects to his departed soul and also pray to almighty to give all strength to his parents and family to withstand and overcome the grief of the loss. God bless.

Sourav receiving the degree

Daring to be sitting in front

Saurabh at the batch farewell

Saurabh at the batch farewell

sitting with friends – outbound 2011

helping as always – lifting the bench – outbound 2011

Being at the back, yet supporting

At times sticking his neck out to lead

Ready to tango

I pray that each one us has strength to face the reality and have confidence in oneself.

“Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” – William James

“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option” – gabrielita

Lovingly,
sreeni

http://www.sreeni.org

——————– Tribute by batchmate —————– Raj Kumar Gupta

Today, 7th May 2012, 9:00AM, while entering at IWSB gate, I came across a shocking news. One of our batch mate and a lovely friend Saurabh Arora is no more with us. I could not digest the news, but Rajeev told me that it is true. All those moments of last two years, when Saurabh was with us, were in my eyes, flowing with tears. I can easily recall first meeting with him, first argument , first hug , first drink and first TT match with him and all those memorable moments when he was happy N sad. I can recall that how he sweated during presentation, how much he was happy, when he got his first job and when he got increment in his salary and when he got Ludhiyana posting. He was very dedicated person. He accepted all mistakes and guilty. He wanted to be a fit person and he was. He was never a follower of ego, He always believed in us.

He was emotional too. Very often I found him very emotional for his parents, for his friend.

I can only say about Saurabh that he had strong physique and pure heart.

May god give strength to his members and his soul rest in Peace!!!!Farewell

We’ll miss you!!!
————————————————-By Arun Kumar Mourya, Batchmate

You were an amazing friend to me and lovable guy by all.

Though you are not physically with us but you will be alive in our prayers, hearts and mind. I truly believe wherever you are you will always spread happiness around you and create a pleasant atmosphere.

Though your journey with us was too short but it was the most pleasant experience for each one of us.
————————————————-By Syed Inamullarsh Qadri, batchmate
How can I so easily forget a person with whom I spent two precious years of my life….

Person whom I met first time and felt he is living in his own world, but actually a hesitant to interact with an unknown at first place. Strong, athletic and manly one wishes to be, but still gentle, sober and shy. Typical food lover of Parathas and Punjabi music, smart in casuals but strikingly elegant in formals, that was our beloved Sourav.

His always smiling face and portraying himself as a mature but actually curious to learn always will be remembered by me. His favourite line, to overshadow his own childish heart, was, “Grow Up” which he used to say lot of times to many people.

I remember his summer internship presentation when he sweated heavily, but the effort he had put to bring perfection in it was tremendous. His joy crossed all limits when he got placed. Always ready to help known or unknown persons.

He use to get involved with heart and soul in any task, evidently the repetition of song tracks in the hostel room he use to replay for hours and days. While I am writing this tribute in his memory, his photo with bull horns on his head with Vicky and Tarun revolves in front of my eyes.

On papers Sourav was my roommate in the first year. On the very first day when he entered GN Hostel room he seems in haste and left his luggage there and then left the room himself. In the evening he came back, his first full long sentence with me was’ “I am going to change my room and stay with my friend in ground floor”. Although I didn’t asked the reason for his decision but he excused himself with sentence that amused me, “yaar mein apni chhezun kaa dhaan nahi rakhta hun, Vicky rakhega.” I guess it was meant not to offend me. I felt that guy was emotionally attached to his friends. He never wanted to leave the one whom he loved. He always felt comfortable in company of his close friends.

Nothing to comment on his step he took but, yes he created a scar on the cheerful memories that we all had with IWSB for two precious years. He will be always remembered for his untimely death in our chats and write ups.

“Do what you love, Love whatever you do” – R.Sreenivasan, Director IWSB : Welcome address at the Convocation 2012

A photo by Vasu.. on Flickr.

Distinguished guests, students of the Class of 2012, parents and all the family members of the Graduating Class, members of the IWSB Board, the media, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the IWSB’s Third Convocation and Graduation Ceremony.   At the outset, I would like to welcome our Chief Guest, Deep Kalra, Founder and CEO, MakeMyTrip.com. I welcome, one and all present here, this evening.

——–

The pioneer of online travel in India, Deep Kalra founded MakeMyTrip in April, 2000. Drawing on his experience from his years at GE Capital, AMF Bowling Inc. and ABN AMRO Bank, under his stewardship, MakeMyTrip has become the largest online travel company, as well as the largest e-commerce business in India.

Deep is a member of the Executive Council of NASSCOM and chairs the NASSCOM Internet Working Group. He is also a Charter Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and serves on the Board of TiE, New Delhi. Deep is also a member of CII’s Tourism sub-committee and a regular speaker at numerous internet and travel conferences across the world. He currently serves as an independent Director for IndiaMart.com, a leading B2B website. Deep is also a founding member of “I am Gurgaon”, an NGO focused on the improving the quality of life in Gurgaon.

Deep holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi (1990), and a MBA (PGDM) degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (1992). His interests include adventure sports, swimming, yoga, quizzing and traveling to places off the beaten path.

Deep is one of the faces of the transformational India and it is an honour and a privilege to have him with us today. I welcome you Sir, as the Chief Guest of today’s occasion.
———-

 

A photo by Vasu.. on Flickr.

I would also like to welcome our Chairman, R.Satya Narayanan, Vice-chairman Mr. Gautam Puri and Members of the IWSB Board who have come down specially to be with us today. Thank you all for coming.

It is a very special moment for us with 59 students of the Class of 2012 graduating today. The students at the IWSB have a very pivotal role to play in the progress of the school and the Class of 2012 have shouldered their responsibility in an excellent manner. I would like to highlight some of the achievements of the last academic year.

 

CURRICULUM

Our focus at IWSB has been to offer a curriculum that stokes entrepreneurial thinking and leadership, and also in tune with the fast changing global business trends and this has been one of our significant strengths. Our students benefit from this exposure and the industry values this a lot.

We have had over hundred entrepreneurial leaders coming to the campus during their two years as part of our ‘My Journey series’ every week. Each one, when they experienced the incisive questioning about minute details of running business by students, during the interactions and Q&A, have always asked me and our faculty, what do we do to foster this kind of spirit among students? Thanks to the faculty who have made this happen.

Some of the notable new courses offered to the students this year include  -Financial Engineering, Managing Entrepreneurial Firms and Family Business, International Marketing, Retail Management.

NEN, National Entrepreneurship Network, has selected IWSB as their academic incubation campus for designing new programs. IWSB and NEN are working closesly on this front for the coming academic year.

Also the TYE, The young entrepreneurs program, with TIE that is designed and executed by IWSB has successfully completed its second year. We are in talks to offering this to the college going youth too across the country where we will technology to a great extent.

IWSB continues to use technology to aid teaching. We have extensively used WEBINARs as the means to reach to vast student population across the country in facilitating understanding of business and entrepreneurship. We have significant road map ahead in this direction.

A photo by Vasu.. on Flickr.

The Curriculum Review Committee, chaired by Academic Dean, Prof. Veeresh Sharma will soon release a draft of their recommendations that are currently being reviewed by faculty, area leaders and others. We hope to have the final recommendation of the committee in the next couple of weeks and we wish to implement in the coming academic year.

ENTREPRENEURIAL Endeavors and companies on Campus

We have been very delighted to have quite a few entrepreneurial talent on the campus. Our 2012 graduating batch saw –

–         JMD Pratza by kanu Mangotra in the food space

–         Arete Investors by Rishab Pruthi, Gaurav and Kriti Kankani

–         NOW by Sumeet Sharma, Arpit Kala in the convenience shopping

–         Antral by Sumit Gunjan and Arvind in education

and

–         Maharani by Anurag from the first year  in handicrafts exports

I am sure we will see many more emerging in the coming year

 

A photo by Vasu.. on Flickr.

FACULTY

IWSB has been able to make a mark among the Young B-schools (IIMA research report of last year) in the short span of time, only because of outstanding faculty. Each of our faculty bring with them a deep passion and commitment to facilitating and bringing the best out of our students. They walk the talk. We have faculty like, Prof Navneet, who runs an integrated Marketing communication firm on the campus. We have entrepreneurial faculty to facilitate entrepreneurial students.

Our recent faculty achievements and publications in top ranked journals, by Prof Raju Mazumdar in finance area, Case publication of Prof Krishna in marketing, are testimony to the excellence that we pursue in business education.

Our permanent faculty figure stands at 14 and have had equal number of visiting scholars too who have contributed immensely to every student who is graduating from IWSB.

India Immersion Program and Exchange programs

IWSB is getting recognized as No.1 entrepreneurial campus in India and abroad too. Apart from NEN naming IWSB among the top 7 entrepreneurial campus for the third year running, world class business schools are touching down at IWSB campus. We have had informal exchange agreements for this year with a couple overseas universities and corporate bodies on India Immersion, which we will be formalizing this year. We should have about half a dozen of these agreements in the coming year for Student, Faculty exchange and research initiatives.

We have hosted two universities –

• State University of New York, with 18 students and faculty;
• University Leadership team from San Diego State

On corporate leadership front in India Immersion, we have hosted –

• A dozen business leaders from Hitachi, Japan
• Leaders Quest brings Five hundred BCG consultants to India that Satya and I would address, of whom 15 will invest a day with our students on April 23 and 24 this year. I am looking forward to the batch on the campus and also Alumni, including this graduating batch to take advantage of this program

We are working on introducing FIELD program modules across the two years, of which this year, they started with Live projects/ The Experiential Learning Programme, that provided students an opportunity to work for companies, apart from the typical internship programme. All of the participating companies have reported a high customer satisfaction. Many of these projects are implemented. Our students continue to work on projects for not-for-profit organizations with similarly great results.

EVENTS

Events at IWSB serve multi purpose objectives. The students augment their class room learning with several learning events outside the classroom. The various student clubs organised events like the –

–         Shodhyatras

–         Eduthon: A 10Km Run for educating underprivileged

–         Rangmanch – The dramatics society

–         IWPL – The Sports Club

–         Tasveer- The Art and Culture Society

–         Blood donation camps

The enthusiastic celebrations of events like Holi, Dandia, Diwali, Krishnashtami and painting competitions brought the entire IWSB community together as a family.

E-Bootcamp, which we launched last year, will be an annual tradition for the School along with the Annual Business Plan competition, Srijan.

These events serve as a platform for the students to interact with industry leaders, and academicians apart from interacting with contemporaries from other institutions.

AWARDS

Our students and alumni participated in several national and international competitions and have brought laurels to the school. Notable mentions include

–         Jaydeep (Alum PG10) – A winner at IIT Mumbai, has been invited for Stanford University’s Social entrepreneurship Summit in April

–         Anurag – Business plan competitions at IIT Kanpur, Mumbai and a few other places

I congratulate each one of you for your efforts and success.

The IWSB Excellence Scholars symbolize the extraordinary ability, leadership, commitment and quality of participation of the PGP students in the IWSB campus life. I congratulate each one of them for a well-deserved recognition.

PLACEMENTS

The IWSB graduates continue to script new success stories as far as placements go. The increased interest amongst young and fast growing companies, who see IWSB graduates as tailor-made for them, and also increase in leading national and international recruiters, is a testament to the rich entrepreneurial leadership talent at the school.

As is the news, a couple of our students will be placed internationally.

A formal announcement on the placements, once completed in the next couple of weeks, will be made. I would like to thank our friends in the industry for their continued association with the school.

CONCLUSION

While we have made considerable progress on several fronts, being a school in infancy, we still have a long way to go. The Board and industry have been a solid source of support in our work. The Faculty – Resident and the Visiting Faculty have contributed significantly to the development of the school. The resident faculty and management staff at the IWSB have always stood out with their innovative ideas and dedication in building this school. I look forward to building on these contributions.

A photo by Vasu.. on Flickr.

Now a few words for the graduating class –

I congratulate each one of you for completing the two arduous years successfully at the IWSB. I do hear many of you sharing, how these two years have been transformational. I still can vividly recall the outbound we went two years ago on our induction program as you all entered the institution. Congratulations to the Scholars of Excellence and those who have made it to the Awards List too. We are very proud of you. I wish you all the best as you embark on the journey of realizing your dreams. As you set about charting new career paths, I urge all of you to pursue what you enjoy and enjoy whatever you pursue. I am sure you will be of immense value to the organizations that you contribute and also to the society at large. You are, and will always be, an integral part of the IWSB family, and we look forward to sharing in the joys of your accomplishments as corporate leaders, entrepreneurial leaders and worthy citizens of this world.

I leave you with a quote from our ancient literature –

“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.”

And I quote Swami Vivekananda –

“Just believe in yourself, the world will be at your feet”

I look forward to seeing you all again and again on the campus! When the new batch walks in, we wish to have all our Alumni for the re-union sometime in October! I am sure I will see you all being there sharing your experiences and insights with the new batch.

Our wishes and love with you all, for ever!

Thank you.

“Once you figure out what is your MOZZO! You will make it” – Mr. Deep Kalra, Founder and CEO, MakeMyTrip.com @ 3rd convocation 2012, IWSB

Deep Kalra, Founder MakeMyTrip.com, Guest of honour for 3rd Convocation at IWSB is being felicitated by the Dean - Acads, Prof Veeresh Sharma

I commend and congratulate the faculty for creating the environment, that has seen these youngsters blossom and take off.

I also congratulate Parents! You need to be proud of your young wards that are going to make a difference to the world.

It is a special day when Tendulkar got his hundredth hundred. You will remember your special day. You will look back with contentment and joy. Some of you were so eager, that you wanted to grab the certificate from me or even forgot to get the photo clicked. Keep that enthusiasm going!

Satya and I have some karmic connect. We both started at the same time. I got to know that we graduated from the same institution, St. Stephen’s college, just a year apart! Then our connection at TIE and today, I am here.

This is the second convocation ceremony I am attending. The first one was when I passed out of IIMA! Today is a special day for me too, as I am giving my first convocation address as a chief guest.

At the end of this ceremony, flinging of your caps will happen. Is this the culmination or a beginning?

It is the beginning of your career, in one of the brightest times of India. You have had wonderful two years on IWSB campus – going through the grind, ups and downs – courses, my journey interactions with over 100 leaders and so on.. You are experiencing a WOW moment now!

It is an opportune time for me to share a few lessons that I have learnt thus far, which could be of value to you in your journey ahead –

• Learning never stops.
  • Formal education may have, but the amount you learn from your peers, colleagues, market place and environment would continue. You need to be keen. You need to figure out every moment, the secrets of success and keep incorporating in your script as you travel.

• Discover what makes you tick, what makes you happy.
  • The sooner you realize the sooner you make it happen. People talk about ‘getting into the zone’.
  • Before parents get worried, chart your untreaded path. It took me eight years to figure out what I want to. And here I am in front of you. Had I not found out my ‘love’, perhaps I would not have been here sharing my learning.
  • Create opportunities and grab opportunities. If you do what you really love, sky is the limit. Once you figure out what is your ‘Mozza’, you will make it.
  • It is not necessary that you have to become an entrepreneur. I do see a few of you are keen. You can use your degree as a noose or as a ropeway to higher goals. There are many of my classmates who have joined big corporates – one of my batch mates will soon be a CEO of Wipro. Finding your calling is the key.
• Life ahead will get tougher. I keep promising my family that I will slow down. But the journey becomes so exciting that you get hooked on.
  • Next 10 years you should look forward to work hard and sweat it out. Gather whatever you can to strengthen your armory.
  • Subsequent 10 years you will start working smarter along being harder.
  • Then perhaps being smarter will suffice
• READING is the key
  • I keep reading and re-reading. Do not give up. Books like ‘Seven Habits of highly effective people, I must have read a dozen times. Every reading as I progress in life makes a new meaning. I keep applying in new ways and in new places too.
• Value of Analytics
  • In the businessworld and the decision support systems that you will create or use, Analytics will play a very important role. You use analytics all the time to understand behaviours and create opportunities. You should focus on it. Every one has got data! How you analyze and make a meaning out of it will derive and drive your business.
• Resilience Vs Stubbornness – Back yourself and your instincts
  • There is a fine line between the two. There have been at least two occasions in my early years of MakeMyTrip, that I thought of hanging up my towel.- 9/11 happened and SARS followed. The travel world collapsed. Tough times they were. We kept going…
  • If I look at people around me, Satya (founder CL Educate); or Sanjeev Bikhchandani (founder Naukri), who delivered last years Convocation address here at IWSB, all have the same trait – of bouncing back with passion and perseverance.
  • Back yourself and your instincts – Be yourself. It may take a little longer, but you will reach your path and the journey will continue to be wonderful one.

I would like to conclude this precious address by quoting one of my favourites – Jeff Bejos, The founder of Amazon –

“WORK HARD! HAVE FUN! MAKE HISTORY! TWO OUT OF THREE IS NOT AN OPTION”

Best of luck!

MY Journey – Amit Shahi, Co-founder and CEO, The Idea Works.

Posted on August 23, 2011 by R Srinivasan | Edit

Amit Shahi, interacting with students at IWSB

Amit Shahi, Co-Founder, The Idea Works, (www.theideaworks.in) was at IWSB campus interacting with the budding young entrepreneurial leaders. The session evoked a lot of interest and slew of questions towards the end. Thanks Amit for sharing your journey

——–

I was born and brought up in Ranchi.  Went to St. Xavier’s.  Father tried really hard to get me into IIT, but I was never interested.  So landed in Delhi for graduation.  Finally ended at Kirorimal

 

Education

• Intermediate – 86%, graduation was in Economics – 58%
• DSE – delhi school of economics
• Paper, debates
• Only CED paper I liked. Rest hated.

Civil Services
Like a true Bihari, I wanted to get into civil services – sociology (also MA in sociology)

• IAS – cleared mains and into the interview
• Got into an argument with a panelist, who made sure I never made it.
• Missed the merit list

Career and Job
So went looking out for a job

• Nov 88, NIIT – marketing
• 2.5 years – till 92 may
• Not having an MBA was impeding the growth
• Discovered that I am not a great marketing guy

Entrepreneur Born and initial struggle

Started Able communications private limited – early 1993

• Data management company
• Bank Of America allowed us to manage their database of non-account holders
  § NRI account holders too
• Within two months a couple of my colleagues left

Sept 1993 – was riding a two wheeler…

• Four weeks on the road, Met with an Accident…
• For 9 months paralyzed and was bedridden.. left side
• Business closed down
• As data-entry operators were the army, I was the only front-end

 Mid 1994 – Revival

• Old boys network came to help
• Picking up copy righting assignments
• Apollo Tyres gave some work
• Slowly the communication agency took shape

Bouncing Back

• Summer of 1996
• Decent work
• CII break came into existence
• American express was launching – cards
• Ogilvy was the competitor
• Strong pitch won us the account
• The business started moving, though systems was poor
• Dream Bigger – Showing off would get more business?!!
• 22 people – 14 creative, 6 in client servicing
• Façade – business will come
• Pitches was not converted
• After seven years, we found ourselves to be in 1.5 crores in red
• We had a lot of goodwill, but not business. My partner moved out…

 Big Break and Merger

• At this point CII had to manage India Brand Equity fund – 100 Crore
• Building equity for India in global market
• Person whom we had a great relationship with became CEO
• So we got that assignment
• A friend suggested that you need to look for a firm that has systems and process to meet that kind of volumes
• You bring all business, get a fat salary, pay off your loans from your earnings

 Ambiance Publicis advertising happened – Able was disabled

IBE fund –   ‘I am India’ campaign.. India story to the world

• 2005 – asking right questions will have answers too
•  Sudhir John Horo joined me to head creatives

Summer 2005, British campaign in India to be launched

• 19 agencies were called for the presentation, Ogilvy, contract and publicis
• Nov 2005 – UK creating tomorrow campaign

o       2005 – Brand India at Davos – World Economic Forum

•  India brand equity to launch brand INDIA
• JWT, Lintas, Ogilvy…were competitors
• We fought hard
• Go and get the pitch, on the strength of logo that we created
• Watershed moment for us
• 3 crores in 1.5 months
• More than what we gave in more than three years
• Once we won it, we knew that our agency will not take us to Davos. So we told CII – you will have to take us to Davos
• 2006 – First overseas trip by both partners; 10 days

• We decided that will leverage this place for all our endeavours
• India everywhere campaign
• It has become HBR and Stanford cases
• No other nation has done it before
• 2007 brazil, 2008 (another country) did it
• We could not match our 2006 campaign ever
• My entrepreneurial instincts were smothered at Publicis, so again took a plunge into entrepreneurship

 March 7, 2006 – The Idea Works was born

• SMS to my boss
• I Quit. OK was the answer
• All business is going with us – I told
• Started the Proprietary concern

 2009 Another fair Hanover tech fair in Germany

• We became partner company
• 90% of the work is done by two people
• Create jobs than seek jobs… sharing all
• IBEF CEO traveling with
• Hanover campaign 12^th of April
• Client paid quickly
• 1.86 cr cheque
• Working like mad, not even opened bank account; it was foolish
• Wanted to open the account in a multinational bank – Citibank to project our image
• CEO and Proprietary – the banker wondering
• Formal documents given
• You cannot open an account post the cheque date; you will not be able to bank this cheque!!
• Citibank to State Bank of Patiala… finally managed to open
• We traveled, in no time, all over the world

2009 – India campaign – 60 years

• UN General Assembly
• Min Tourism and IBEF came together
• Incredible India @ 60 campaign in Manhattan
• Six crores of billing in 2-4 weeks
• Partner went to NY and parked
• Came back with whole idea and proposed the idea
• 2 weeks every street saw Incredible India @ 60
• Time Square, NASDAQ, Reuters bldg
• All big names lost out to us for this campaign
• We had understood what Brand India is…
• 25% of Incredible India campaign came to us

 Incredible India campaign? How we got into it?

• IBEF gone slow, Ogilvy was in charge of Incredible India
• Tourism offices around the world were actively engaged
• We wanted a break. How? We thought of engaging one Tourism office.

• We went and pitched in at 2008 night grand prix in Singapore
• July 2008, invested in Spore – Markets in Asean
• Campaign outside this grand prix to connect India with the event
• Discover diff formulas
• Camel, Donkey, Bullock, buffalo races, showing the contrast with the grand prix
• Take risks and win awards
• Straights times advertisement
• Half a page, premium
• Different bull run, discover formula run
• News paper report about India campaign appeared all over..
• Every one claimed credit
• Two months later we won Singapore advertising awards for outdoor and a few more awards
• When we won awards and we were now invited to the campaign. The door opened
• Are you empanelled?
• Empanelling through backdoor
• They empanelled 15 agencies – brief give to all
• All will submit
• Technical packet – 70% marks
• Financial packet – 30% marks
• We lost 6 pitches

• Change of guard happened and we gained
• Feb 2009-mid 2010
• 90% of all tourism work
• Creative agency does only design
• 5 campaigns in 15 months
• CWG
• 26/11 campaign
• Visit India year 2009

Davos and the Hungama

• We were getting bored of same thing again and again
• Do 10 pitches and get at least 10 – standard thought
• 2009 went to Davos
• Spoke to property owners
• 7 days earning
• convinced five owners to put ads on the building
• Biggest property dealers in Davos – idea works
• We booked
• Bldgs for holdings
• Cafes and museums for events
• 2010 January
• 400000 francs we spent
• Sold spaces for only 200000 francs
• 92 Lakhs lost
• But we managed to show the people in Davos that there is spaces
• Come 2011 Brand India Campaign was huge success
• Museam – JP Morgan, Oracle,…
• All sights sold
• Nation branding specialist

 India Future of Change

• Another Idea we should take up, substantial; engage the young audience
• We thought, if we have to engage youngsters, we will need to do through competitions
• Went to IIM Ahmedabad and pitched
• Thankfully they agreed
• IIMA Knowledge partner – Business plan competition
• Partner – Design competition
• IIT Mumbai agreed
• Global competition
• Wrote to 70 B-schools and 40 –Design schools
• 75% B-schools, 65% Design schools responded
• We INDIA FUTURE OF CHANGE campaign started
• We got no sponsors
• Posters, essay, photo, design, business plan
• Participation from around the world
• All earnings from elsewhere were pumped in
• We should do campus events across the world – spent hugely
• INSEAD Singapore – 16 Lakhs
• LBS – 12 Lakhs
• Univ Berlin, Hamburg –
• Total burnt 44 lakhs
• Now that we are here just go ahead
• We headed to DAVOS, since we had slots and museum at Davos
• Cracked WEF database and sent mails…
• We got 10 odd panelists; booked Place of 80 people
• How will India grow faster than China – What India has to do?
• Martin Wolf of FT; Montek singh Ahluwalia
• SBI; General Electric; Walmart
• Raghuram Rajan; Prashant Ruia
• 98 people inside, closed the doors
• Our own client CII, not too happy about it, their HBS event did not go off well.
• Design Innovation
• Tim brown – IDEO
• Shibulal Wilfred,
• Paul, Museum of New York
• We came back from Davos as masters; not just of real estate but also of event holder
• Fairy tale run ended…
• Arithmatic does not fall in place
• Great brand great programming going

We were looking for someone who can run the business for us.

• We are in discussions with 2 sets
• Large network of ad agencies
• Investors from Switzerland
• Idea works evolved from proprietary to private Ltd works
• Idea Works design and strategy
• We managed Bank account before
• The company got registered
• Two months now
• Billed 3.5 crore.. related 2012 of Davos
• Events and Spaces
• Design assignment of Apollo tyres
• Largest design assignment today
• Half baked identity – realized –
• Acquired Brussles based tyre company
• To-and-fro travel
• Would you do it…
• 30 min in just a couple of days
• We had a rough figure of X lakhs from Swiss company
• 10 Lakhs more than that company, finally settle for 2 lakhs less
• 60 percent of the work is done

 India future of change – India Africa, A shared future

• AIESEC – Nairobi world
• India Africa, a shared future
• Students from Africa and India together through the competitions
• Fellowship program
• GOI funding for next three years
• Also have the mandate from the govt – to generate partnerships and sponsorships
• Plan is to bring private sector players to bring into the fold
• AIRTEL, TATAs, Essar and others
• In most cases whatever we are doing DAVOS is the big campaign
• In Milan world-expo, we would have base of executable of business plans, manufacturable design, India Future of Change large show

• November 18-20, Valedictory of IFOC in Delhi
• Producing a book
• Contest winners
• 28 overseas students, total 60
• A journalist on yatra, IFOC
• Film crew on Jagriti yatra

We are now trying to do things the way smarter entrepreneurs do. We would like to keep majority control. The plan is that in five years will exit… and relax…

The idea of an enterprise is great. Idea should be workable. Should not be Eutopian. We were lucky.

 Arithmatic is the key, along with great ideas…When you start an enterprise, one of them has to be a finance guy…

One year ago, I attended a session by Narayan Murthy… for any enterprise to be successful

1. Idea
2. Money
3. Supportive family
4. Foolhardiness

We had all the three in abundance except the second

We have overseas centers of excellence…. NID / Copenhagen institute of design

• Audi – Business strategy contest – for Audi to be India’s Luxury car by 2015 – execute assistant to the CEO
• Design – Submit design Audi for Indian metro – 6 month in the design studio in Germany

Q & A

What are the Challenges in the first 3 years?

• I will do my calculations with the calculator, not tech savvy
• I have not done much right that I did
• In 2006 when Idea Works started, cash flows keep happening… but always kangal (paupers), since we overspend
• Best guys hired at twice the market price
• We were not able delegate, blessed knit pickers… brickbats from the client
• Knee jerk responses
• Got creative strategy

Nation Branding Specialist – how different or similar is it?

• Similar in the sence is that we are fighting for same mindspace and physical space
• Selecting catch phrase or a picture was a challenge
1. It does not be a true story of the place
2. But it should be liked by the minister, client head and sponsors
• Many niceties to be considered
• We are trying to make Brand India campaign in Canada
1. Apparently they feel what they see of Sikhs in ‘tronto’
2. Positive light and reality

Indian Tourism growth and decline – reasons?

• Numbers of India is growing
• 2 mn visitors by 2015… we are not geared for it
• We do not have infra to support larger arrives
• India tourism …. High income traveler. Not enough hotel rooms in delhi
• Everybody goes to Taj Mahal, we have not developed
• Lack of vision à lack of infra
• People will come to varanasi
• They do not go back with happy experience
• Do we get repeat travelers?
• The way Ministry promotes? –
1. India is an all year around destination
2. We advertise only for 4 months…
3. We do not aim to get travelers right through the year

As an entrepreneur when you were in losses what kept you going?

• I would have never got a job I wanted. My liabilities can be cleared only through enterprise than employment
• I had to work for myself. I value my freedom, hence I kept on going..

Early days when you had to compete with Ogilvy, how did you go?

• We always did what we wanted to do, and did not see what they did
• We had advantage of managing costs, their overheads are usually high
• Nimble footed
• We have understood nation branding business
• India Inclusive campaign…. We had a pitch based on last 20 years of growth…ogilvy made a campaign with 6 year old girl telling stories…
• Ours was direct communication against metaphors

Your real estate business did not pay well…DAVOS experience

• We could not do was sell
• Before committing ourselves we should have got the players..
• Two months is too early to sell
• We got late and had hardly any time..
• Now we do

As you are running business for the 20 years, not able to run is psychological?

• The comment you made is what my wife says all the time
• Why don’t you learn from the mistakes
• Must be a DNA issue
• I cannot comprehend… you get into the hole and come back and fall in again
• The key thing is to maintain accounts and finances…

World Expo in Milan in 2015

• Architects
• Showcase in World expo
• Compete, collaborate and co-create
• Identify ideas, put in touch with mentor
• Large number of these ideas are coming from Indians, that showcases

2008 – World went through economic down turn, how did you manage?

• A couple of clients were spending, so we went about as usual and not got affected

Backdoor practices? Is it unethical?

• It is not corrupt a practice – Singapore
• Ogilvy guarding, we had to find a way to show our capability
• We had to do in Singapore to show here
• At WEF…. Delegate shared the access to database
• It is a Business strategy of trying to find a way to showcase us

What do you want to say to MBA students like us?

Had I been an MBA, I would have become an entrepreneur? Not sure

• Comforts of life
• What I see of my friends who became an MBA
• Starting entrepreneur was because I did not have an MBA

Once you are entrepreneur, you are entrepreneur for life

• I joined, had accident, and got out of the course at FMS

You promote India as a brand. What change do you see in India, five years down the line?

• There is a lot of emphasis on innovations, ideas
• Manufacturing practices
• Embrace new things going
• A lot of new dynamism

At the same time we have challenges

• Government indecisive
• Corporate are not doing in CSR
• US, Germany, UK… all have gone through it
• All of them are centuries old
• This is a social evolution
• Citizen action and self-realization …

We love what we do, yes the reality is ….what keeps us going?

• 75% is bread and better – this is what we have been doing
• 25% I believe in what I am doing…