Tag: Tech magazine India

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.

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.

Haruto Iwata | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

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

Haruto: Aspiring leaders should learn the art of Managing – Managing People, managing organization – They should have the ability to Create change for society, people, and organization by taking up challenges – They should possess a challenging spirit

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

Haruto: Adaption of New technology and having a Neverstop attitude towards whatever you do and believe in.

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

Haruto:  “Never put passion in front of principle even if you win. You will lose”

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

Haruto: It’s not difficult to maintain balance – Important thing is to Focus – Focus on what you are doing – While you are working focus should be work, while you are off work you should focus on what you Love – I work from 9 –5,30 –focusing on work, while I play golf and do photography – My focus is enjoyment – Change of mind as per the situation is the mantra for maintaining work –Life balance

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

Haruto: Staying calm and not to panic in the toughest situation – One should do proper future planning, Keeping Check and measure what you are doing – Stay cool – This pandemic situation will pass too.

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

Haruto: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and most important – Email Apps for communication

Ex:  What is your technology detox like?

Haruto: My Fujifilm XT4 Mirrorless camera and my Fujifilm lenses are my Technology Detox.

Ex: Fujifilm Instax cameras are a classic tribute to the olden days. What’s next in the same essence?

Haruto: The secret sauce in Fujifilm’s recipe is the instant camera, which the selfie generation seems to have taken to with pleasure. The fact that Fujifilm’s instant camera range starts at around Rs 4,000 in India, and the bright colors they’re available in, makes its Instax line a popular gift for tweens and teens. – Our range of Instax cameras brings back the nostalgia feeling among people. This has been doing well as the consumers today are always looking for something new. Also, sharing printed photographs has been gaining a lot of interest among consumers. Don’t Just Take, Give too.

Sanmeet Kochhar | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Sanmeet: Always speak your mind. Don’t change the narrative to suit the audience.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Sanmeet: Multicultural collaboration and communication

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

 Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Sanmeet: A century is not Enough

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Sanmeet: A person who wants to lead the orchestra must turn their back to the crowd

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Sanmeet: It’s totally up to the individual

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Sanmeet: Whatever be the situation, there’s always a way out. You just need to find it.

Ex:  Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Sanmeet: Microsoft Teams, Google Keep, Digital Wellbeing, fitness apps

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Sanmeet: Listening to the radio on my Nokia 5310 Xpress music

Ex: Which smartphone category would you like to focus on next and why?
Sanmeet:  5G smartphones

Ex: What are your plans to bring high-end specs to the mid-segment smartphone range?
Sanmeet: Nokia phones have always democratized technology for our fans. Starting with our design, which looks and feels premium no matter the budget; or experiences such as AI imaging, that we quickly democratized to our mid and budget segment; or the Google Assistant button and our signature 2-day battery life that we promise across our smartphone range.

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

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.

Vikram Mehra | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Vikram: Innovation comes from Anthropology and not Technology

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

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth?
Vikram: Ability to take a risk, which is possible only when fear of failure vanishes

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Vikram: Life

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Vikram:  1. Ruk Jana Nahin, Tu Kahin Haar Ke.
2. Kanton pe chal ke, milenge saaye bahar ke.

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Vikram: Make your passion your work, and suddenly you don’t have to balance between the two

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Vikram: Self-driven people contribute irrespective of whether their bosses are hovering over them or not

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

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Vikram: Travel with no access to emails and messages

Ex: What’s coming next from Saregama?
Vikram: 1. Carvaan Karaoke for everyone stuck at home
2. Carvaan Kids for all bachchas who are stuck in front of screens
3. 50 new songs in Gujarati and Bhojpuri
4. Movies: Bahut Hua Samman, Comedy Couple, Zombivali

Ex: How do you see the industry shaping up in the post COVID world?
Vikram: People will spend more time at home, thus pushing entertainment consumption through the roof!

Anupam Mittal | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Anupam: I believe there are a lot of truths out there waiting to be discovered. Even if most people deny this, there are indeed many things that we are yet to know and yet to figure out. The truths that we believe to be true, aren’t necessarily true. Historically speaking, we always have a perspective of many historical events. But as they say, history is a narrative of the victorious. So it is quite possible that the historical events we know today could simply be propaganda.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Anupam: The most important one is, you have to lead by example. Surprisingly, I have seen this more in India than abroad. A lot of times we start assuming that the rules that apply to us may not apply to others. I feel that is a big shortcoming. For
youngsters, it is important to understand that the rules that apply to others, apply to them as well. Secondly, leadership has to be about learning. It should not be about dictating. Leadership is about being humble and vulnerable and accepting that just because you are in a leadership position, you are not invulnerable.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Anupam: There was a book that I read in 1995 called 2020 Vision by Stanley Davis and Bill Davidson. If you read through that book, it gives you a systematic approach to the way things happen in the contemporary world. Everything written in that book has unfolded verbatim. So I find that quite fascinating and I keep revisiting it frequently.

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by?
Anupam: There are many quotes that I follow since all of them point out to a different aspect of life. While it is difficult to pinpoint a single one that I adore the most, there is one by Roosevelt that goes, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of
deeds could have done them better.” I also draw a lot of lessons from the Gita.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic especially, with dependency on apps and the digital medium increasing drastically?
Anupam: The biggest thing that I am most amazed by, is our adaptability. The way we have adapted to the new way of life, new technologies and whatnot have really surprised me. To me, it is a deeper statement about the human spirit and our need to conquer everything that is thrown our way. So I think that is the biggest lesson for me in the pandemic.

Ex: Shaadi.com must have seen an influx of activity on the platform in the lockdown, what was the key trend that you noticed during this phase?
Anupam: Unfortunately, finding a life partner in India is seen as a very high-pressure situation. The way matchmaking or marriage works in India is completely different from how it works in the West. All our intent is to take away the pressure that is created by Indians during this phase. We saw a huge upsurge in engagements and marriages during this lockdown period. When people logged on to shaadi.com, they realised it is not just a matrimonial site, but a platform for planned marriages and lifetime commitments. So that worked significantly in our favour.

Devita Saraf | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Devita: It is a wonderful world.

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

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

Ex:  One book you keep coming back to?
Devita: The Prince – Niccolo Machiavelli

Ex:  Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Devita:  “The height of intelligence is the ability to conceal it.” – Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Ex:  How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Devita: For bosses, work is life

Ex:  What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Devita: Looking internally at the state of affairs

Ex:  Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Devita: Our latest, video conferencing product, Meeting by Vu

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Devita: Connecting with people

Ex: What’s coming next from VU?
Devita: A range of products focusing on consumers’ workstyles

Ex: How has the ban on imports affected VU? Are you planning to start manufacturing India in a full-fledged manner?
Devita: Yes it has affected us, and yes, we plan to manufacture locally

Ex: What inspired you to enter the conference special segment?
Devita: When we make new products, we don’t just look at the hardware or the competition. We look at the consumers and see how we can make their lifestyle better. We realized there is a huge demand for a new category that we call “work style.” So we began work a year ago, focussed on making televisions and screens a major part of productivity. After the lockdown happened, it was evident that people had to run their businesses without going anywhere. So we researched some more, came up with our own proprietary hardware, and launched a new company called “Meeting by VU.” That’s how we landed in this segment.

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