QUARTERLY MAGAZINE August 2024 Vol 16
QUARTERLY MAGAZINE August 2024 Vol 16
IN CONVERSATION
I am from Mumbai and spent my childhood here in the Western Suburbs. Over the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of working in three distinguished organisations. My career began in the manufacturing sector with Cummins India, where I dedicated five years before deciding to pursue an MBA to further my professional growth. After my MBA, I transitioned to consulting with McKinsey & Company, engaging in diverse sectors such as Power, Steel, Cement, and Oil & Gas, primarily within India. After seven enriching years of consulting, which involved extensive travel, I joined Tata Power in Mumbai. My decade-long tenure at Tata Power saw me evolve from Corporate Strategy roles to leading the T&D business in Mumbai and eventually heading the Delhi Power Distribution business. Joining KEC RPG at this pivotal juncture presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Energy Transition in India and beyond.
“Given that we spend 8-10 hours daily at work and associate with an organisation for several years, it is crucial to ensure happiness during this time.”
Having been with the organisation for about a month, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The warmth and hospitality extended by my colleagues in India and internationally, as well as within the Group, have greatly facilitated my adaptation to the new environment. Meeting clients has underscored the excellent reputation and trust that KEC commands. I am eager to collaborate with our teams to further enhance our reputation and track record.
It is hard to choose among the values – Respect, Integrity, Passion, Openness and Courage. However, if I must select one, it would be Respect. This value encompasses our interactions with colleagues, customers, vendor partners, society, and the contract workforce, reflecting the essence of our daily engagements.
The most exhilarating aspect of my work is collaborating with individuals and teams from diverse backgrounds, functions, and perspectives. The EPC sector’s dynamic nature, where we build assets and leverage technology, digital tools, and innovation to enhance our operations, is particularly exciting.
My leadership style and philosophy are adaptive, contingent on the situation and the individuals involved. Creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their experiences—good, bad, and ugly—without fear of judgment, has been a cornerstone of my approach.
My wife Shilpa and I cherish our weekends, spending quality time with our daughter, supporting her education, and imparting unsolicited wisdom on various topics. I am an avid sports enthusiast, particularly enjoying cricket (especially Test matches), tennis, and football. I also play tennis and table tennis in our community. Additionally, I value my eight hours of sleep, daily neighbourhood walks, and indulging in OTT shows and movies with my family.
Given that we spend 8-10 hours daily at work and associate with an organisation for several years, it is crucial to ensure happiness during this time. The KEC purpose statement—Transforming lives by building sustainable world-class infrastructure—resonates with our daily work and the impact we can make as individuals. This, coupled with our interactions, forms the bedrock of enhancing the “Happiness Quotient” within the organisation.
By 2030, I envision KEC and RPG Group companies achieving multifaceted growth, excelling in financial performance, customer relationships, sustainability, safety, people engagement, and societal relationships. I also look forward to witnessing my colleagues’ professional growth. On a personal note, I aspire to be seven years wiser and fitter than I am today.
