Tag: Tech Blogs Online

Atsushi Ogata | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth.
Atsushi: ‘Accepting the change’ be it in your professional life or personal, it is important to adapt to the change. The business environment is becoming more and
more dynamic and the needs and demands of the society are constantly evolving.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to.
Atsushi: It’s a book called ‘RYOMA SAKAMOTO’ by Ryotaro Shiba. The book is a biography of samurai Sakamoto Ryoma, a founder of modern Japan.

Ex: When will you say you have fulfilled all your goals?
Atsushi: Probably towards the end of my life when I will look back at the entire journey with utmost happiness and a feeling of content.

Ex: When have you failed and how did you overcome it?
Atsushi: When I have decided something without considering other view points. Upon realizing the mistake, I have always focussed to do right things based on the actual situation and harmonizing with others’ opinions.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Atsushi: Pandemic has given us many advanced digital solutions for business continuity & taught us to connect virtually. I have personally learnt how to communicate through online platforms without having face to face meetings.

Ex: One futuristic feature that you can’t wait to introduce in your vehicle.
Atsushi: Any feature that could take us in the future…may be like Time Machine.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most?
Atsushi: In four-wheelers I would say it was Honda Prelude (2nd Generation) and among two-wheelers it was Honda CB750K0.

Ex: When does Honda plan to begin electrification of its line-up in India?
Atsushi: Electric vehicles are not new for Honda Motors, we had the technology for more than two decades and was being used in the Japanese market. In spite of
having a long history, there are still many challenges pertaining to cost, range & infrastructure. In India, our first task is to prepare a complete roadmap for EVs. We have already started our research and market study on EVs. However, there is no concrete timeline for its introduction in Indian market.

Ex: Since motorsports has been officiall recognized by the Indian government, what steps will you take to promote it in the future?
Atsushi: Motorsport is in Honda’s DNA. We have been actively promoting motorsports in India for more than a decade now. I’m proud that today we have Indian team & riders competing in the Asian Championships. We will continue our talent development programs in India using our advanced racing machines like NSF250R (Moto 3) and best trainers from global Honda. At the same time, our new advanced & sporty products will continue to expand the fun riding culture in India.

Shashank Shrivastava | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: One book you keep coming back to.                                                        Shashank: “Thinking, fast & slow “ by Daniel Kahneman

Ex: When will you say you have fulfilled all your goals?
Shashank: When I reach heaven and get all the secrets of the universe from God!

Ex: When have you failed and how did you overcome it I fail every day.  Shashank:  The way to overcome it is to realize that every day is a new day. Ha ha ….. that’s complicated.

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Shashank: Very difficult to maintain that balance . Optimization is what one can hope for at best.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Shashank: Nothing can be assumed as a given.

Ex: One futuristic feature that you can’t wait to introduce in your vehicle.
Shashank: Can I ask for two please … Biometric Car Access & 3D Gestures control.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most?
Shashank: Porsche 911

Ex: How has the shift to only petrol options affected sales?
Shashank: Not much actually. But missing the Diesel option in B Segment.

Ex: By when can we expect a production-ready electric vehicle from Maruti Suzuki?
Shashank: Sometime in the future!

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Shashank: That people don’t really know what they want till you show them the infinite possibilities.

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

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth.
Shashank: Ability to maintain a learning environment.

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.

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.

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.

Veejay Nakra | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? :
Veejay: There are no coincidences in life.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Veejay: Being comfortable with uncertainty is what I think all aspiring leaders should learn.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth?
Veejay: Creating an agile organisation is an absolute must for sustained growth.

Ex:  One book you keep coming back to.:
Veejay: Founders Mentality and A Curious Mind

Ex: When will you say you have fulfilled all your goals? :
Veejay: The fun of life is setting goals, achieving them celebrating them, then letting them go and setting new ones. So I don’t think I will ever say I have achieved all my goals given that it will evolve through my lifetime. But that does not mean I am not content with what I have. I am very grateful and thankful for the gifts that life has given me.

Ex: When have you failed and how did you overcome it? :
Veejay: Failure is a part of life. Depends as how one looks at failure. It happens in multiple roles not just at the workplace so I reflect on them for all the roles I play as a husband, father, son and a contributor, team player, and Leader at my workplace. The way I deal with failure is to pause, step back, learn from the incident, rethink the plan of action, bounce it off with someone who may be able to help me depending on the type of failure, play it in my mind, plan and align and then go out and take the necessary action without fear.

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance? :
Veejay: Easy – it is a choice that only you can make and I manage this well. At least I believe so.

Ex:  What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Veejay: There are no holy cows. Challenge everything and everything is possible as long as you believe in it.

Ex: One futuristic feature that you can’t wait to introduce in your vehicle.
Veejay: Advanced Driver Assistance System. One of the most advanced safety systems for all passengers in the vehicle.

Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most? 
Veejay: Mahindra Classic and Jawa

Ex:  After the commercial success of the e-Verito sedan and the e-Supro van, which other segment are you targeting for electrification next?
Veejay: Since this is classified information I would not like to comment on this, except to mention that we believe last mile mobility is going to be the big growth segment for electricity in India in the near future and we clearly have our plans to play a big there.v

Shashi Arora | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What are the changes that you have seen in the technology world in India in the last 25 years?
Shashi: 25 years is a long period and one of the most prominent changes everyone has observed is the smartphone. While it is a cliche now, everything we once had around us has merged in the smartphone. Another thing is the IoT (Internet of Things). So all that we do and all that we have will gradually become a part of the smartphone.

Ex: As a brand what are your learnings from the pandemic? What are the changes you have witnessed in the business plans?
Shashi: First and foremost I have learnt that these “black swan” events that happen once in a lifetime cannot be expected or prepared for. While these events have a lasting impact on any industry, there is nothing we can do to preempt
these situations. Talking about our business, April is the time when our business peaks. So naturally, we were considerably affected by the pandemic. So it was only in June that we looked at the hindsight and figured out what we should do. We figured that we need to diversify our categories of air conditioners and refrigerators, to cater to a wider range of customers. Most importantly, all of our products are Made in India!

Ex: Apart from TV, refrigerator, which new product launches are on your charts?
Shashi: Lloyd was recently acquired by Havells, which is an electronics giant. Since it is already well-established in the electronics segment, Lloyd’s priority is to establish itself further n the consumer durables segment. Alongside ACs, we are also into LED TVs, washing machines and we have also expanded full-time into refrigerators. We realised that the need for convenience products has shot up post lockdown, after which we also entered the dishwasher segment.

Ex: What is the one subject that you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Shashi: If you’re talking to youngsters, Data Science is one topic they should learn about. As we talked about IoT, the fact is there is a lot of data around us and to make meaningful sense of that data is important. Whether you consider Amazon or
Google or any other example, you can get a lot of consumer insights. But making good sense of that data and to derive useful analytics out of it is important. Talking about elder entrepreneurs, it is important for them to learn and understand digital marketing. The reason is that the individual need for marketing is gaining prominence rapidly. The need for targeting is becoming important, as individualism is becoming significant.

Ex:  Share any leadership quote you live by?
Shashi: One of the top ones that come to mind is “Leaders don’t do different things, they do things differently.” After all these years in the industry, I have realised that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Whatever you may be selling, the principles remain the same. Another one I like is “Together Everybody Achieves More.” It is even better for me as it is an acronym for “TEAM.” So I abide by the quote since I thoroughly believe in it.

Asim Warsi | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: Which quote/s do you always refer to when the chips are totally down?
Asim: Harry S Truman said, “ It’s amazing what you can achieve when no one really cares who takes credit for it.” That has inspired me considerably. I believe it is more about the team and the team effort in the end.

Ex: How has your schedule changed in the new normal?
Asim: When the lockdown happened our schedule did change, but it is pretty much back to normal. However, the intensity of working has increased since it has become imperative to stay connected and keep working. What you would do outdoors now you do at home. So that has been the biggest change in my schedule, in terms of intensity.

Ex: Do you think the extensive use of AI support is dumbing down creative talent and why?
Asim: Whether you look at Bixby or several other platforms that we are working on globally, they have a lot of AI embedded in their development and their backend. So it will surely be a backend in our future development.

Ex: Which are the current premium features of Samsung that will be introduced in budget smartphones?
Asim: We do that as a “main course” for us. Flagships are the fountainhead of the experiences we introduce. In a span of a few years, you see a lot more of the key
technologies cascading into our budget smartphones. For example, the camera tech, the display tech, and the memory tech have all percolated to the lesser-priced models.

Ex: Samsung Pay is an innovative way of payment, How long do you think until it becomes mainstream?
Asim: Since we launched Samsung Pay in 2017, its usage in the Samsung devices has been strong. We have over 10 million users of Samsung Pay and their frequency of usage is quite high. When the users understand the benefits of Samsung Pay, it becomes their go-to payment platform. It is pretty mainstream with Samsung users by now.

Sunil Nayyar | Top leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What are the learnings from the pandemic?
Sunil: Pandemic has been the most interesting journey in 25 years of my career. Everybody’s patience and mental strength were tested at home. I am really sad for everybody who has suffered, though; I feel for them. Thanks to the digital world, I was able to communicate with my team and try to give them hope, a new direction, and how we should adapt to this challenging climate.

Ex: Which is the one gadget you’re using that you wouldn’t want Sony to know about?
Sunil: I am not an ardent tech freak. I use a nice android phone, a Kindle, and of course, a laptop. However, I believe humans are the most interesting and the most complicated gadget on this planet.

Ex: Leadership mantras that you swear by?
Sunil: Ethics, integrity, and insight. I believe vision is not taught, but it is within you which you someday explore. Inclusiveness is also another prominent parameter. It is easier said than done, however, and practicing it is hard.

Ex: Which segment contributes to the biggest market for Sony India?
Sunil: Televisions needless to say contribute to almost 50-60% of the market. That is followed by audio, which is becoming bigger by the day. Lastly, digital imaging. These three comprise a significant chunk of the business as far as consumer electronics are concerned.

Ex: The PlayStation 2 was touted as the first all in one entertainment system which could also play games; do you see it returning in a new avatar with full VR support?
Sunil: A lot of changes happened to the PlayStation during this pandemic. PlayStation consoles were oversold during this time, something which I have never witnessed before. PlayStation is going to be a new culture and a new way of life going forward.

Ex: Virtual reality is gradually blending with augmented reality, what are your plans to integrate AR in your devices?
Sunil: I don’t see the television getting integrated with VR. It will still be family-oriented and will offer better displays with each update. However, I feel VR will have its own universe that is developing rapidly.

Ex: Which is the one Sony product you think that only Indians can make the best use of?
Sunil: Most Indians love most Sony products. However, I feel the most relatable product for Indians will be the TV.

Ex: Elon Musk recently spoke about a neural implant. Do you think that is the future of electronics since all gadgets are getting smaller in size?
Sunil: One thing is for sure, Sony as a corporation is working quite aggressively in the field of artificial intelligence. We have the most evolved imaging chips in the industry and Sony has a lot of patents in the segment. Sony is taking big leaps
in imaging chips, especially for the automobile segment.

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