In today’s episode we talk about the changes in technology in the past 25 years, learnings from the pandemic & what are the upcoming launches that Lloyd is planning, with the CEO of Lloyd himself, Mr. Shashi Arora.
Tag: Tech Talk
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.
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.
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.
Rahul Agarwal | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Rahul: Call a spade a spade. Do straight talk and don’t dance around the point
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth?
Rahul: There are 2 elements here. A battle hard mindset to gain share from the current market and growing the market itself. Challenging the current assumptions & continuously innovating while keeping customer preferences in mind can help
the latter. We have launched a range of new initiatives during COVID times to help PC customers – these include offering free service to all PC brands, virtual digital demos, launching the PC Pal website to provide brand-agnostic product recommendations for buyers, Lenovo on wheels to take stores to our customer doorstep, to name a few.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Rahul: The art of thinking clearly by Rolf Dobelli. And “ fooled by Randomness” by Nassib Taleb The first one calls out different biases and how to consciously counter them. It has definitely made me more self-aware and conscious as a leader.
The second one is about interpreting data, trends and making correct conclusions
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Rahul: -Don’t worry about the things that you can’t influence
– Trust is the oxygen we all need, but it cannot be blind and needs to be earned
-Being too busy in meetings is one of the biggest corporate scams
-You and only you control how u spend time and on what
-“ I don’t know” and “ I made a mistake “ are rare gems in our world
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Rahul: – You can never be too prepared for future
– If u have a choice, take a positive view than a negative. We initially thought the PC market may crash but that didn’t happen
– Protecting the mind from disease is much more important than protecting the body
– Your true character comes out when one is put in an unprecedented situation.
Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Rahul: My Thinkpad. It never let me down in the last 20years. And of course the Moto phone
Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Rahul: In today’s progressive age, one cannot really take a break from technology. I don’t feel the need to do this but wish that I would check my phone less often
Ex: Any plans for introducing a comprehensive gaming chair?
Rahul: No, we don’t have such plans.
Ex: What changes do you see in consumer buying?
Rahul: The pandemic and lockdown have increased the overall adoption of laptops due to work-from-home and learn-from-home needs. Consumers are treating it as an essential device, given the growing need for virtual communication. Indian middle-class families are also beginning to investing in more than one laptop per family, to meet their children’s growing dependency on remote learning methods. While buying laptops or any other product, consumers also continue to follow physical distancing norms and prefer buying everything online. At Lenovo, we keep these consumer preferences in mind, and we have introduced a completely ‘contactless purchase’ model that allows a virtual salesperson’s assistance, online payment, and zero-contact home delivery of the device.
Nikhil Arora | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Nikhil: The fact that I believe that focus on holistic wellness not only belongs in the workplace but should also be an actively tracked parameter like other enablers of productivity and excellence. More than disagreement, I would say that most people don’t directly connect wellness with bigger wins or better growth in the workplace.
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Nikhil: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a lot of shifts for businesses; for example, we all talk about how businesses were forced to speed up their adoption of digital. This need for agility and the ability to operate in constraints will continue through the recovery period.
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth
Nikhil: In today’s post-crisis scenario, it would be a corporate purpose. We saw many examples of businesses that pivoted from their usual business models or offerings to continue serving their customers during the lockdown. What remained the same was their focus on customer needs and the purpose to impact their customers for good. For example, in India, we introduced GoDaddy Academy, offering free online courses to web professionals as well as MSMEs and entrepreneurs to help speed up digital adoption.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Nikhil: The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey; and Good to Great by Jim Collins
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Nikhil: I am very inspired by billionaire investor John Doerr’s quote about the best business leaders being missionary first, before being mercenary.
Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Nikhil: I use the Garmin app extensively for my training; it helps track my workouts, achievements, and key parameters like heart rate, sleep, and stress.
Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Nikhil: My usual escape from technology overload is getting involved in any new form of physical activity. I truly believe sports and fitness is an important facet of my physical and mental wellbeing, especially amidst these unprecedented times. Besides giving me the much-needed break from work, it helps me right-zone and
refocus my mind, while enabling me to constantly push the boundaries of what has been achieved before. Due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown, I started indoor cycling and have been doing more of that lately.
Ex: Apart from Domain, which other website services are planning to provide?
Nikhil: GoDaddy provides a full suite of integrated online products and solutions to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, run, and grow their business online. We offer everything from domain to hosting, website building, professional email, and website security, to help our customers along the way. In addition to this, our award-winning, 24×7 customer care is a major differentiator for GoDaddy. In India, GoDaddy Customer Support is free of charge and offers support in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu, besides in English.
Ex: What are some of your signature security measures to protect data?
Nikhil: At GoDaddy, we are committed to the complete security and privacy of our customers’ data across geographies. Our business is built on helping small businesses and entrepreneurs make a name for themselves online – not selling their data to other companies. GoDaddy security products allow our customers to protect themselves as well as their users’ data. We offer security products and services including SSL certificates and Website Security and Backup, for businesses to protect the assets of their customers in a simple, cost-effective way.
Ali Rizvi | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Ali: In our world, where change is the only constant, I personally feel that ‘Nothing is permanent’. Everything is constantly changing and evolving around us. Be it science, technology, society, human evolution, nothing stays the same. We are
always seeing new mutations and generations with each passing day.
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Ali: An aspiring leader should not only have the effect to keep their management and work in sync, but one should also have the Ability to Listen as well. Good listening skills and the perfect amount of humbleness can be the answer to a lot of tricky situations.
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth?
Ali: I believe that Hard work and persistence is the only way to reach the top. There are no shortcuts in life to success.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Ali: The book is called Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim which gives a whole different perspective on how to compete in the market today with a more challenging and innovative approach.
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple)
Ali: This quote is one true quote I believe in with all my heart: “Integrity is the quality needed to succeed in business – John Maxwell”.
Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Ali: Work-Life Balance seems like a big obstacle for many. But It’s not if you really want a balance. It’s something you need to do to keep a healthy life be it professionally or your personal life.
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Ali: These past few months have been really tough for everyone. I am extremely grateful for all the things around me that have made my life comfortable and I have been able to sustain the pandemic from the comfort of my house.
Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Ali: Since the pandemic has forced us to find alternative ways of working out from indoors, I have been hooked onto the Cult Fit App, religiously following their workout regime, and has helped me keep an active workout schedule at home.
Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Ali: My technology detox is definitely, No Internet, all gadgets off, and quality time with self and family.
Ex: How extensive is your data on offline navigation?
Ali: Garmin offers a robust satellite navigation system to its users, which means internet data is not required. Thus the cost of navigation is zero. We offer Navigation features to Outdoor expedition, Golf, Marine, cycling & automotive ensuring they get the best and accurate navigation results.
Ex: Apart from wearables, is there any personal electronic accessory that you would like to delve into?
Ali: To me Self Driving cars & Gesture Control Technology is quite interesting and this is something I would like to get my hands on.
Leadership Series | Anupam Mittal – CEO, People Group
In the latest episode of Leadership Series, we got into a very deep & insightful conversation with the Founder & CEO of People Group which operates the biggest platforms like Shaadi.com, Makaan.com & a few more. This conversation inspired us and will surely inspire you too.
In Conversation with Ms. Devita Saraf – Chairman & CEO of The VU Group
We talked about the idea behind the transition from lifestyle products to work style products & the response on their new launch of Meetings by VU.