Exhibit Staff, Author at Exhibit Tech

Sunil Jose | Top Leaders In Texh & Auto

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by
Sunil: A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. – John Lenon John Quincy Adams, a former US president once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”.

Ex: What is the biggest change in customer relationship management you have seen in the past decade?
Sunil: Computing is evolving. It began with systems of record, which hold your customer data in silos that are not user friendly nor easily accessible. It moved to systems of engagement, which are systems like email, collaboration systems, and new social networking and learning systems. More recently, we’ve entered an era of more intelligent systems, where artificial intelligence and reporting bring the data we need to life. Now, we’re in the era of a single source of truth. There must be one singular place that has all of your customer data, from your CRM and other parts of your organization to the data that lives outside your organization completely.

Ex: With e-commerce gaining prominence and WFH becoming the new culture, what changes do you plan to bring to your system?
Sunil: Over the last few months, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need to enable distributed and remote work almost overnight. Now, as we slowly but surely turn to recovery and ensure business continuity, technology will play a key role in enabling this transition while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of employees. With all of our employees currently working from home around the world, our top priority is ensuring their safety. To this effect, we have brought in some changes in our system. As employees continue to work from home, one of the biggest challenges for organizations will be to ensure productivity. With the right setup, individuals tend to be more available, more productive, and happier.

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Sunil: This is indeed an interesting question. I would have to say, the ability to take risks and leap forward with conviction irrespective of the doubts that plague your mind while making an uncertain decision.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to? Sunil: I have always been an avid reader. Two books which have particularly had a great impact on me are – Playing to Win by A.G.Lafley by Roger L Martin and Factfulness by Hans Rosling. Both these books have predominantly shaped my outlook on a professional and personal front.

Suvajit Karmakar | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Suvajit: I haven’t been in a position where people do not believe or disagree with me. If there is a difference of opinion, either I convince them, or I get convinced.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to.
Suvajit: Bhagwad Gita

Ex: When have you failed and how did you overcome it?
Suvajit: There have been some instances of failure however, I use these as learning experiences. It is important to introspect, analyze the reasons for the failure and get back to the drawing board to correct those shortcomings. I analyze what I could have done better rather than blaming others.

Ex: One futuristic feature that you can’t wait to introduce in your vehicle.
Suvajit: Zero emission, full charge in 15 mins for a 1000 km range.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most?
Suvajit: The 1925 Rolls Royce Phantom.

Ex: do you plan to diversify your network in India?
Suvajit: The next decade is going to be an interesting phase for the mobility sector. Customers will want more flexibility and lesser commitments. There are many new and promising segments bringing in new opportunities. However, we will explore these opportunities, evaluate the risks, and then step into the segment. Once we are confident that our core competence and strengths will help us and place us like a long and sustainable player and make us the preferred choice of our customers.

Ex: In light of the ongoing pandemic, what precautions are you taking to ensure the maximum safety of your customers?
Suvajit: Keeping our customers safe is our top priority. Which is why we follow stringent hygiene practices at every point of contact – during car pick-up/drop of our vehicles. All our drivers follow these steps: Equipped with mask, gloves and a sanitization kit all the time Avoid handshakes and maintain their distance while interacting with anyone Do not share their pen for signatures Keep the car windows rolled down between rides Ensure that the car is completely clean before taking the delivery from the workshop Ensure replaced parts are not placed in the
vehicle to avoid any transmission Use disinfectant on vehicle’s high touch areas such as door handles, steering wheel, gear, etc.

Sharad Agarwal | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Sharad: The ability to motivate people and aligning them with the organization’s vision and goals. Once the team is aligned and motivated to achieve the set goals every task becomes possible. Additionally, it is also very important to learn along the way and develop skills for managing critical and uncertain situations with finesse and composure.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth.

Sharad: Being willing to constantly evolve and innovate is a crucial part of our sustained growth and, hence, necessary to progress in any task or stage in life

Ex: One book you keep coming back to.

Sharad: I love to read about various case studies and the ways in which businesses are shaping themselves for their future endeavors.

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?

Sharad: If you prioritize and keep yourself well organized then one can easily maintain a healthy work-life balance. When creating a schedule that works for you, think about the best way to achieve balance at work and in your personal life. I also believe in taking short breaks once in a while to spend more time with my family and pursuing other hobbies.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Sharad: Pandemic has taught me resilience and adaptability. The norms which we took for granted in society changed overnight and we had to adapt to new rules for survival like social distancing, living with travel restrictions, and adapting to new ways of working. Pandemic has also bought a change in traditional working culture. The trend of remote working is likely to stay even after things normalize.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most?

Sharad: One legendary car which has inspired me is Lamborghini Countach. I would not call this car old-school as its design was much ahead of its time making it more futuristic than old-fashioned.

Ex: After the Sian, which Lamborghini is up for hybridization, and by when will the entire lineup be electrified?

Sharad: We believe that naturally aspirated engines are the best to give you the maximum performance in super sports cars. Driving a Lamborghini is all about the driving dynamics and the emotions of the car and the naturally aspirated tech offers this best when it comes to super sports cars. Hence, we will continue with this tech for our upcoming models. Along with supercars, Lamborghini now has a super SUV and a luxury yacht in its stable.

Ex: What are your thoughts about entering the performance motorcycle segment?

Sharad: Lamborghini is about high-performance supercars and will currently keep its focus only on its Supercars
and Super SUVs.

Amit Saraf | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Amit: Humanity is the mother of all Religions. Religion creates a divide.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Amit: Leaders must learn the fact that one cannot do all the tasks by oneself. As a leader, one needs to appreciate that there lies an abundant potential in people around you. This perception coupled with clarity of goals will help leverage their strengths for realizing our vision of life. One must delegate and build a team to grow substantially.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth

Amit: Change is necessary and the risk associated with the change is better than being safe. Being safe all the time not only restricts the growth but it may also actually be the reason for a big fall.

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)

Amit: Great Leadership begins with a dream. A dream is not what comes to you in your sleep: a dream is what you consciously see and, then, you don’t sleep.
The Challenge of Leadership is to be strong but not rude, be kind but not weak, be bold but not a bully, be thoughtful but not lazy, be humble but not timid, be proud but not arrogant, have humour but without folly.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Amit: No matter what the circumstances are if one remains positive, one can find ample opportunities & happiness in the toughest of the times.

Ex: What are the plans for making accessories for action cameras?

Amit: We have already introduced compatible batteries and chargers for Action Cameras. Early next year, we are coming with an extensive range of accessories for action cameras including carrying cases / several types of straps / waterproof cases and many more

Ex: How long do you think till fully automated camera accessories are introduced in the market?

Amit: There is a wide range of Camera Accessories that exists to help one get the right shot. Many of them have already been automated while some may be automated very soon. However, there are many accessories that cannot be
fully automated. Besides a professional photographer may still choose to work on manual modes despite all the automation. They actually get their best shots on Manual modes.

Roshan Sirohia | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Roshan: I always believe that being sincere and having a single-minded focus on the goal is the only way to succeed and become somebody in any market or industry. Diluting focus and trying to achieve multiple goals at the same time always comes at the cost of ultimate growth and domination within any product segment, market, or overall customer experience.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Roshan: Prioritisation & Time Management! Putting First things First – In my few years at Cruise Appliances, I realize it’s one of the lesser taught or practiced subjects and I struggle from time to time with this, which sometimes ends up affecting the value chain of the company. This skill and consistent practice is one big differentiator between good and the best leadership.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth

Roshan: Quality and consistency in every aspect of the operations – starting from product quality, sales experience, customer ownership experience and finally the brand’s promise presentation.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?

Roshan: Art of War – it’s a classic. Each of the principles and psychological strategies defined here is still very relevant & can be easily used in today’s fiercely competitive corporate scenarios as well.

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)

Roshan: “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe” “The only way to do ‘great’ work is to love what you do”

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?

Roshan: It’s easy to maintain since I plan my vacations and days off in advance and a strong workout daily helps keep me energized for long days too! I also believe in sleeping soundly for 7 hours every day even if the world is turning upside down.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Roshan: Everything is finite. Everything can be managed digitally. And in the middle of every difficulty lies ample opportunity and we will see the fruits of labor that have been sown during this pandemic in the next 2-4 years.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?

Roshan: My AirPods for seamless conversation and Slack for team working.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?

Roshan: Time with family over a nice meal or driving down at ridiculous speeds to the nearest hill station.

Kazutada Kobayashi | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Kazutada: The biggest learning for most of the businesses will be on the importance of agility. One should not let a crisis deter their growth instead, we ought to take it up as an opportunity to think differently and adapt to the changing landscape. From devising new business plans to gradually restructuring budgetary allocations and rethinking strategies, we need to contemplate a whole new dimension. This pandemic has taught us to be more flexible in our approach and to spend more time learning new ways and avenues for the benefit of their personal as well as professional lives.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?

Kazutada: In the past few months, with Work from Home and Business from Home becoming the new norm, most of the technologies and apps I use are primarily for being connected with my colleagues. From daily video conference calls to my CEO address, everything has shifted to my device now.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?

Kazutada: Weekends are an important time for me to unplug from work, get a technology detox & do things that I am passionate about. It is a perfect opportunity for me to clear my head and come up with fresh ideas. Hence, I spend a lot of time cooking as it is an outlet for my creative expression, for peaceful thoughts, and for stress relief. Apart from traditional Japanese dishes, I love to experiment with Indian spices and cook for my family, friends, and colleagues.

Ex: What’s coming next from Canon?

Kazutada: In 2019, we successfully strengthened our leadership position and had good growth in various domains. While in 2020, we are focused on becoming more agile, changing with new dynamics in the market due to the pandemic situation. There are immense opportunities present for us in both B2B and B2C segments, as users look forward to technologies that will enable them to adapt to the new normal. Having sustained current businesses, we are also focusing on the new areas of growth, which are health and safety. Our technological innovation in the health and safety segment becomes all the more important given the current COVID-19 situation.

Ex: What are your thoughts on venturing into the sports section camera?

Kazutada: Sports photography is all about capturing athletes’ emotions, energy, and movement during the competition or training. We see immense scope in the sports section camera as every click is becoming important with new innovations and technologies. Canon EOS 1D series is the preferred choice of professional sports photographers. Earlier this year we launched EOS-1D X Mark III, which is the ultimate speed machine and the fastest DSLR in the market with an impressive shooting speed of up to 16 fps using the viewfinder, in sync with the newly developed AF/AE system for rapid response on precision autofocus and exposure control in every decisive shot. The EOS-1D X Mark III is the perfect choice for sports photography, where every frame is critical. We are continuously looking for ways to delight our customers and cater to their needs. Within this segment, we see immense opportunities present for us and shall continue to innovate as per our customer’s needs.

Kartik Bakshi | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Kartik: Attitude is more important than hard work

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Kartik: I don’t think this is a subject in school but teaching and showing the way to others is essential to be a good leader. Everything else can be learned in college but some skills have to come from within your personality traits.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth

Kartik: Keep taking calculated risks…you never know when they might pay off!

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?

Kartik: Blue Ocean Strategy

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)

Kartik: “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise” – Kobe Bryant “Leaders become great not because of their power but, because of their ability to empower others” – John Maxwell

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?

Kartik: Time-Management is the key ingredient in living a balanced life. I always believe everything is possible if you just manage your time in an organized fashion.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Kartik: The power of the internet. It can unite people from all over the world.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?

Kartik: Garmin fitness App. Notes. Linksys app (managing my wifi). Calendar & reminders.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?

Kartik: A good workout before I start my day. It helps in clearing my mind and is the only time I am not thinking about work as much. Cooking from time to time is very therapeutic as well; not sure how it tastes though

Ex: Apart from connectivity devices, which other segments would you like to target?

Kartik: Belkin international has always been about solving human needs, hence during this pandemic, we have forayed into Health & Wellness. We have launched our very own face masks as we know wearing a mask is one simple action that can help in keeping each other safe.

Ex: How do you see the world shaping up post-COVID?

Kartik: As of now, the pandemic hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Face masks will continue to be the new norm while the focus on innovation will be key especially for schools & work. Given the fact of how technology has united us during these tough times, people may feel even more grateful & empathetic towards each other now more than ever.

Jitendra Chouksey | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What were the hurdles and what pushed you?

Jitendra: I do not think funding is that big a deal. Even before receiving the funding, we were a successful bootstrapped company, earning revenue of around 5 million a year. If people don’t believe in you, take that in your stride and work towards building a business that is profitable. Whatever you do, try to solve the problems of your customers.

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Jitendra: I do not think there is any since I consider everybody’s opinion and act accordingly. I do not believe myself to be arrogant that there would be something only I would believe in as opposed to anybody else.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Jitendra: Most of the things that you learn as a founder are things you will not find in books. Being in fitness and sports prepares you physically as well as mentally. Sports, especially combat sports, teach you a lot of things that apply in real life. So, my advice is that if you can manage your physical and mental health well, you can achieve anything. Leadership quotes that you live by. I follow Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes and I believe he is one of the best guides to learn from on how to live life!

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Jitendra: I have always been someone who never worked from home. These 8 months have been the longest time that I have worked from and worked out at home. This was also the first time I realized that I could work out from home.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?

Jitendra: Skype, Zoom for managing the team, and GitHub

Ex: How do you plan to scale up?

Jitendra: We are already scaling up. There are millions of people worldwide who need education about health and fitness. We do not sell any products or gimmicks; instead, we teach people how to adopt fitness.

Ex: Who would be your closest competitor?

Jitendra: Our competition is ourselves. We look at what we have done in the past and look to better it.

Ex: What are your plans for introducing your own range of fitness gadgets?

Jitendra: That is not our expertise. Our expertise and USP lies in educating people. We would like to focus on that. There might be a scenario where we might tie-up with a company that specializes in those. However, that is not on our priority list.

Bipul Chandra | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Bipul: I strongly believe that life is too beautiful and one must enjoy the “present” to the fullest, rather than planning too much for the future.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn

Bipul: In my view, aspiring leaders must develop the attitude of being humble with everyone they interact with, regardless of the other person’s position. On similar lines, aspiring leaders must also inculcate the habit of being patient listeners.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth?

Bipul: Sustainable growth is among the biggest challenges faced by businesses. While sustained growth is achieved through a mix of objectives like purpose, community, sound decision making, etc, the most crucial aspect for any business is its customers and customer retention.

Ex: When will you say you have fulfilled all your goals?

Bipul: Every new day brings new challenges and new hopes for me. I wish I never get to say that I have fulfilled all my goals. Life is too short to hang your boots and retire.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Bipul: Professionally, I think the biggest lesson would be “Innovation” – the biggest game-changer. COVID-19 has put to test the resilience of leaders, businesses, and their capacity to adapt during a crisis.

Ex: One futuristic feature that you can't wait to introduce in your vehicle.

Bipul: With motorcycle technology coming on leaps and bounds in the past five years, I think connected tech is the future and the way to go for bikes. This will go a long way in making our bike rides much safer. Apart from this, to enable the growth of motorcycling as sustainable transport some futuristic features would be self-balancing, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, IoT enabled, advanced security systems, etc.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most?

Bipul: Ducati 916 is one amazing, drool-worthy design. I keep on looking at the photograph and never get tired of it.

Ex: Apart from electric vehicles, which Ducati technology do you think will benefit the environment?

Bipul: The best technology to benefit the environment is “human-powered” machines. We at Ducati are serious about this and thus have introduced a range of Ducati bicycles to complement the lifestyle of passionate Ducatisti.

Alok Shankar | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?

Alok: In my mind, truth is very personal and is based on personal circumstances and point of view.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?

Alok: Understanding people, organization, development, and culture.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth

Alok: Total conviction in a larger goal/vision of what you or the organization want to achieve.

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)

Alok: Following are the quotes I believe in the most:
● People are the most important resource.
● Devil is in the detail.
● Planning and execution are key to success.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?

Alok: The pandemic has given us a great opportunity to re-think about ourselves and see the society/world through a different prism. I as an individual have learned a lot during this time. One of the most important learnings we’ve seen is that the bigger the crisis is, it demands strong leadership. Another key learning is the importance of being agile and quickly adapting to the environment.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?

Alok: In the current environment, entire work has moved online where we are witnessing usage of digital productivity tools such as Slack/Zoom/Google Drive/emails/MSOffice/WhatsApp/Google Sheets and the good old phone call like never before! Apart from this, my Fitbit has been a constant for me. I have been using it to track my activity, sleep, and heart health amongst other things. With the introduction of Fitbit Premium last year, I can count on personal guidance from
the Fitbit app and coaching all in place. I love the fact that it evolves with every user, gets smarter over time, and delivers a personalized experience.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?

Alok: Can there really be any technology detox these days? Almost everything has some ‘technology’ involved. Reading a book is probably the best technology detox or for that matter meditation. I also go on a technology detox with the help of technology though since I stream meditation sessions and breathing exercises from my Fitbit.

Ex: With so many wearables available in the market, what makes Fitbit different?

Alok: At Fitbit, we have embraced the evolution of fitness – the Future of Fit. We believe that wellness is no longer restricted to physical fitness. We are looking at fitness and wellness holistically! In our view, the concept of fitness has expanded manifold and today more than ever, it is imperative to take into account mental fitness, heart fitness, sleep fitness – just as much as physical fitness. We believe this is one of the many things that gives us an edge.