Tech Talk Online Archives

Sameer Bhatia | Top Leaders In Tec & Auto

The newly announced solutions today include the 100% open source-based software CORTX™: the collaborative open-source CORTX™ Community; and the open, flexible reference architecture deployed as converged infrastructure Live Drive™ Rack, powered by CORTX.

Ex: What is your target audience in the Indian market for Seagate’s video surveillance products?
Sameer: With safety and security being the prime concern of individuals and organizations, surveillance systems in India are becoming an indispensable part of the country’s endeavor for a secured environment for its people. The rising need for advanced security, India’s smart cities agenda, growing IT infrastructure, increasing IT spending, surging need for video analytics and remote monitoring are the trends that have been driving the video surveillance market in India.

Ex: How significant has your role been in the foundation of a smart city?
Sameer: Seagate is continuously working towards innovations in data management space that can help transcend Smart Cities from vision and conceptual phase to reality. We are helping put data to work to help cities in their quest for comprehensive data systems.

Ex: How long do you think till the need for offline data saving is eliminated?
Sameer: Managing the storage of data is among the top 5 challenges highlighted in the Rethink Data report to exploit the potential of the data collected by enterprises. Modern-day technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the growth of edge computing, edge data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with consumer demand has led to data proliferation. This has led to the development of the concept of Data Sprawl. Defined by the Rethink Data report as the percentage by which the datasphere increases over time, data sprawl describes the spread of the growing data through various configurations—from endpoints through edge to cloud. Data sprawl also describes how business data is scattered. This distribution won’t change significantly over the next two years, indicating that enterprise storage environments will remain dispersed and complex for the foreseeable future. Enterprises will have an ever-increasing need to manage this scattered data wherever it exists.

Ex: Can you describe in brief Seagate’s marketing strategies for India?
Sameer: We connect with our customers and partners in the markets through the Seagate Insider partner program. This year, we will continue to focus on providing comprehensive training sessions and seminars as well as working on co-marketing initiatives to better identify evolving opportunities in the changing norms currently.

Ex: What are some opportunities emerging for Seagate keeping in mind the new normal?
Sameer: Over the years, there has been a surge globally in data creation and consumption – a trend that is helping us grow. Also, with an increase in the
number of connected devices in the new normal, there has been exceptional growth in the creation and consumption of data. In India too, we have been seeing strong demand growth in enterprise data management and also video surveillance.

Ex: What steps is Seagate taking for customer’s data protection?
Sameer: Improving data security is the most important factor driving the changes to how organizations manage central storage needs. Awareness about data preservation is another challenge that needs to be overcome to protect organizational information. Recurring data backup helps in keeping the data secure throughout and provides easy access to the information as and when it is required.

Ex: Apart from storage and surveillance devices, will Seagate like to venture into a completely new segment?
Sameer: In the recently concluded, Seagate’s first annual Datasphere event, we introduced revolutionary open-source object storage software, a reference architecture powered by it, and a corresponding developer community. All three additions have been developed to manage the massive surge and sprawl of unstructured enterprise data.

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.

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.

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

Sajjan Kumar | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Sajjan: I believe to achieve anything one should have and take out time for oneself and family. It is imperative to do things that help one revive and start fresh.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Sajjan: The ability to learn new things, change & constantly evolve with time Importance of each team member and keeping them motivated to perform

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)?
Sajjan: “What is now proved was once only imagined.” – William Blake “There’s a way to do it better – find it.” – Thomas A. Edison

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Sajjan: The time of crisis has historically also been an opportunity for change. As the world continues to fight and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic which has unsettled lives, livelihoods, and businesses worldwide, the outbreak has accentuated people in becoming more resilient and sharing their personal experiences through various mediums. In unprecedented times like these, we must think about ways to reinvent and renovate the current ways of operating efficiently.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Sajjan: Smartwatch, Health apps, and Meeting organizer apps.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Sajjan: I particularly look forward to the weekend as it gives me a chance to rejuvenate myself from the routine that usually involves the usage of technology to a great extent. I start my days with brisk walking and jogging. It helps me avoid screen-time. If it’s a long weekend I prefer going to wildlife parks and sanctuaries with family, to get close to nature and explore my passion for photography too.

Ex: If you would like to make a category-specific camera, which category would you opt for and why?
Sajjan: As an imaging brand we have to meet the expectations of various professionals through our innovative product range (Cameras and Lenses). Apart from professionals such as Wedding, Wildlife, Fashion, Nature photographers one segment which has emerged in the last few years and growing at a brisk pace due to high video consumption and SNS penetrations is “Content Creators”. As we continue to stay indoors, people are relying on different methods to stay creative and communicate their art to the world. This has in turn given rise to a new set of business models, creating a plethora of opportunities. Although we have introduced a range of offerings for this category, including the latest innovation – The Mirrorless Z50 & Z 5 with the range of NIKKOR Z lenses. We will continue to offer more to creators and enthusiasts who desire to elevate their artistic aspirations.

Vishal Gondal | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: Knowing you, how are your marathon runs going, we somehow feel your passion for fitness and running must have instigated the birth of Goqii?

Vishal: Yes , certainly now I am practising headstand and handstand now and getting good at it, running is always there but missing marathons now and that can certainly wait.

Ex: Has the lockdown been a blessing in disguise with uptick in the app downloads with the fitness wave sweeping across the country?

Vishal: Yes we have seen a 300% rise in our downloads and revenues also and because travel costs are reduced by team, so it’s going to be an interesting year.

Ex: How much revenue does the smart wearable vs the fitness coaching and consulting business share amongst each other?

Vishal: It’s a joint plan, we believe in the complete ecosystem.

Ex: Is WFH better or working in the office?

Vishal: WFH is not an option now, but when meetings are in person you get 100%
mindshare, another issue is that people mute and switch the video off and play video games at times!

Ex: Book/s that you read, and re-read?

Vishal: Bhagwad Gita

Ex: What are the productivity apps or technology that you use?

Vishal: I have hacks like I use my morning time for important decisions and have not been having breakfast, just coffee with ghee and wearing red shoes and red t-shirt. This saves me a lot of time thinking about what to wear and what to eat etc. So normally by the time people reach office they are already exhausted.

Ex: What do you read of the pandemic and how it will change humanity and the environment in the years ahead?

Vishal: 95% of people will come back to their previous self, human beings are lazy and social animals. But the important thing is how organizations change, like after 9/11 airport security was beefed up everywhere. Whether the government takes care of health care and provides more in that department is yet to be seen.

Ex: What’s your ultimate vision for Goqii in the next 5 to 10 years?

Vishal: To be the largest healthcare company in the country. Healthcare as such is flawed and it’s more of “sick care”. The challenge is to make people fit and healthy with healthy habits so that we progress towards a healthier nation.

Ex: Akshay Kumar signing up for GOQii is a big bold step? How much of that has helped Goqii?

Vishal: Before signing him up, we researched for a while. Baba Ramdev and Akshay Kumar came out on top of whom people have trust and listen to. Baba Ramdev was out of our league, of course, so we went to Akshay and deduced that our visions are the same. He is a vegetarian and is an example of idealistic living, early waking up, etc, which marries well with GOQii. So, as a brand, we are totally wired in together and it’s a great compliment!