The biggest strength of RPG is the collective power of its people

In Conversation with Rajat Bhargava, CEO – Speciality Sector & Head-Group Transformation

A significant part of my formative years, including my schooling till the higher secondary, was spent in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. After completing higher secondary, I moved to IIT – Delhi to pursue an engineering degree in Computer Science. Subsequently, after graduating, I polished my software engineering skills with a Noida-based organisation. The stint as a fresh engineer helped me prepare better to pursue a management qualification, which I secured from IIM-Ahmedabad in 1997. Subsequently, I bagged a job at McKinsey & Company, with whom I was associated for 16 years. Hero Moto Corp, one of our clients, beckoned me in 2013, and after working there for 7+ years, I joined RPG Group earlier this year.

Having spent most of my life in and around the capital city, I have always considered myself Delhi-bred. Apart from my hometown and Delhi-NCR, I have lived for a couple of years in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Life has now brought me to Mumbai, and I look forward to living in the 'Maximum city'.

2. What attracted you to the RPG Group?

There are several reasons, the primary being my stimulating role. My role, which I refer to as an 'inverted L' , allows me to work on both the vertical (the various businesses) and the horizontal (innovation, digital, and strategy) aspects of the business. The platform allows me to make a substantial difference to the Group’s diverse companies, a lucrative incentive.

Also, as I delved deeper into the culture during the selection process, I got an inclusive feeling. I experienced a sense of warmth in my different interactions with everyone, from the RPGian on the floor to the Chairman himself. I remember watching the Hello Happiness film and absorbing the depictions of the top leadership, people, and the organisation.

RPG boasts of a rich legacy, and I feel proud to be a part of it. The organisation's history and stories of the legendary 'Takeover Tycoon' Dr RP Goenka speak volumes about the Group's evolution into a diversified corporate group with a robust presence in various sectors.

3. Can you share a pivotal moment from your career

I have realised that as one moves ahead, pivotal moments shape your life at every juncture. During the final year at IIT, I had to decide between pursuing my further studies —masters or PhD. in engineering or related fields in the US, or staying back in India. Since I was pretty good in academics, I was tempted to emulate the path taken by most top academic performers —migrate to a foreign land to chase dreams and pursue higher studies. However, I stayed put and decided to continue my academic pursuits in India. It was a difficult choice and considered unconventional by many since studying overseas was considered a premium option and a must-have tag.

That decision allowed me the freedom to think beyond the engineering field and set me on a whole new path, namely management. This was a pivotal moment in my life that set the pace for all the subsequent smaller moments, culminating in a more significant outcome.

4. How was your remote onboarding experience?

I will describe it in one word – smooth! During the entire process, I could reach out to anyone for any clarifications. From sectoral to ex-com members, everyone was forthcoming and prompt. Having said that, I still missed out on in-person interactions and casual tête-à-têtes with my colleagues, especially the unplanned ones. I missed the pure thrills of suddenly bumping into your workmates in the corridors, elevator, parking lot, etc. I read a lot about innovation, and I recall a research paper that claimed that much networking takes place at such unplanned meets. These interactions drive the creative mind, leading to an innovative mindset. I have lost out on those, but then such are the times that we live in.

RPG, however, has bridged that gap to a great extent by hosting casual gatherings on virtual platforms, which I try to make the best use of.

5. What gives RPG a competitive edge in the industry?

RPG's biggest strength, undoubtedly, is the collective power of its people. When I interacted with colleagues across levels, be it the Future Leaders Board or the GMB, I could see a distinct spark in them. The zeal to challenge the status quo and contribute to the organisation is all-pervasive. The feeling of unanimity, observing standard practices across the Group, maintaining and fuelling enthusiasm through regular R&Rs and informal meetings is an outcome of the Group's Happiness agenda. It has set up a robust stage to pursue novel ideas and deliver breakthrough performances.

How we harness our collective power within the Group – right from the CoEs (Centre of Excellence) to driving the digital agenda and establishing a universe of innovation, is noteworthy. There is a golden opportunity to absorb varied perspectives that stem from cultural or industrial standpoints in a diversified conglomerate such as RPG.

On a general note, the top management has attempted to discourage corporate one-upmanship, created a friendly culture, and inspired contemporary thinking. These attributes are worth emulating for any organisation.

6. Your portfolio at RPG is highly diverse - from pharma to manufacturing, plantation and even innovation - which facet excites you the most?

One of the most exciting aspects of my roles is to pick a notion from one of the lessons or contexts and intuitively apply it to another. For instance, in RPG Life Sciences, we have medical representatives who visit doctors regularly. They get a relatively small window of opportunity to make a highly technical pitch. It could work wonders if we could customise this skill to generate communication for Raychem RPG’s specialised products. Imagine the benefits of a quick and concise chat that could furnish the stakeholders with the necessary details. It could provide great takeaways with long-term results. We can familiarise important decision-makers with highly specialised products if we can replicate the representation method adopted by our medical representatives and internalise the approach in Raychem RPG .

7. How do you perceive the concept of the innovation fest?

Inspiring Innovation – season 3 gave me a vast and vivid picture of RPG. I am still mesmerised by its brilliance! I feel proud to be part of an organisation that has drawn out the culture of innovation from various sources, learned from it, and institutionalised it successfully through a flagship event. Rarely have I seen any organisation commit itself to an innovation ethos on such a grand scale.

8. RPG bagged the headline-grabbing ET Innovation Award last year. How do you think the Group can capitalise on the same? What’s next for RPG?

The award speaks volumes about barriers broken, mindsets changed, and obstacles overcome. We have achieved it by constantly chipping away at the obstacles to unfold this exciting chapter . When it comes to innovation as a way of life, the more we think and act, the more possibilities it opens up when we are (more often than not) struck with the “what’s next” itch . While we should pause for a moment to feel proud of our achievements, we also need to brace ourselves for the road ahead and aim to further demolish the barriers to our progress.