About Me
Beginnings
Studying in prestigious institutes like IIT Madras (1979) and then IIM-Ahmedabad (1981) has opened my mind to the vast potential of people.
My first test of putting my knowledge to work was at NOCIL, still India’s largest rubber chemicals factory. Spent a good 9 years at NOCIL wherein I learned the art of management – in practice. The burning desire within me to build something better lingered.
I believed that the best organization you work for is the one you build yourself. It led to my foray into entrepreneurship.
First Step As an Entrepreneur
My first venture was an Agri Seed venture. Three years into it and learned that we are unfit for this business. Losses were mounting by the day and failure was written on the wall. However, as a team we committed to ‘1000 days’ hence we stayed back the last 90 days and wound up the venture.
A Leap into Success
We started 2 new businesses – recruitment and advertising.
It was 1991 and India was pushed to change its economic philosophy, driven equally by circumstances and sheer vision. As India opened its door thanks to reforms, a paradigm shift in manpower, jobs, and skills happened. TMI was there at the right time with the right product. Product, Market & Timing Fit!
Milestone followed by Milestone
The first was an investment by a PE fund in our businesses. This boosted our capacity to build a large institution that grew into TMI that it is today.
As reforms gathered pace, we realized that there is a divide between India and the Bharat – urban versus rural India. Spurred by the desire to support rural Indian youth, started TMIe2E academy, an institution devoted to imparting skills to rural youth so that they will be suitable for employment for the new India.
Three years into TMIe2E, realized that SME and MSME sectors were the highest employment generators in India across multiple sectors. Jobs Dialog was launched to serve this sector.
Jobs Dialog served two objectives at one go – served the manpower needs of SME’s and that of the youth who were seeking a career opportunity in SME sector
TMI Success Story
TMI was started with an investmeof Rs.50,000. Today it has grown into India’s largest recruitment and HR services firm. Our turnover has neared Rs.1000 million in the 30th year of its operation.
Employing over 2,500 members, with offices all over India, we have come a long way.
Public Policy Activist
I dream that one day public policy will be co-created with the stakeholders and public. To reach that stage every one of us must participate and contribute to public policy.
I have been active as a member of FICCI since 2010 and have been associated with various ministries like MSME since 2015.
Contributing to the New Education Policy, advisory panels of various state governments in India in shaping public policy has been a very satisfactory journey.
Author & Journalist
Writing gives me great joy. It helps me structure my dreams and ideas to reality. Being a great student of life, I always believed that a mode of expression like writing is both stress relief and motivation for self & those who seek to learn from others experiences.
I’ve authored 2 books, both best sellers. Both were based on the employment scenario in India.
Media plays an important role in shaping opinion and driving public policy. I’ve been writing since 2000 and since 2018 am an accredited journalist. I’ve published in all leading local and national publications.
Career Consultant
I believe that Indian skilled Talent in the non-IT space will also get global recognition like in IT. The best way to touch any professional’s life is to guide them in the right direction at the right time without any agenda “
I have guided over 300,000 students and 50,000 managers to date and counting
Key to My Success
- Commitment
- Integrity to a cause
- Self -belief
- Faith in the people around you and
- A simple lifestyle
Learnings
- Do the business which is in your core competency
- Don’t give up easily – the first business fails for the most, it is the second that succeeds.
- Never underfund your business – always overfund. Learning from our PE funding exercise.
- Build a strong team that stays with you. Many of my team who were with me in difficult times are now the pillars of our success
