Prologue
November 2013
Indian Entrepreneurship - Journey of a young and promising businessman
Scaling up the scratch and thriving it into a product - that says it all about the man. Arnav Singh Raizada (31), CEO of Raizada Entrepreneurs (RE), is known to be the man on mission, his hands itching to gather the amount of scratch and make the best profit from it. He is grabbing every opportunity to expand the roots of his family business in new dimensions, risking the hard work and success of his fathers and forefathers of six and a half decades, and adding another wing to their business with ease.
RE laid its stones in the year 1950 with Mr. Rajbeer Singh Raizada expanded his culinary skills, acquiring his first hotel on the suburban of Punjab and by the end of 1975, became the India's leading hoteling industry in and around the state. In 1980, his successor opted to expand the roots for the first time, by focusing on steel manufactory industry and years followed by with RE building its empire in various sectors like electronic appliances, hardware and software solutions, machinery manufactories, fashion hub and health care's to name a few in around the country.
However, the strategic redirection of RE had taken place by the end of millennium. In 2001, Mr. Arjun Singh Raizada (58), the chairman, started RE's new venture in the construction field, tackling the challenge of having green buildings, with constructing their head-office of twenty-five floors - one of the very first buildings in India of its kind.
Graduated from Harvard, Arnav Singh Raizada joined his father in their family business six years ago and acquired in the short span what none of his ancestors had in the journey of RE. He had started two more ventures successfully. His first venture, Ananya Raizada Corporation (ARC), in the loving memory of his late mother, turned him into a business investor while the second one, Ananya Raizada Solutions (ARS), provides technical solutions for the system securities. He is also the youngest CEO in RE. Business run in his blood.
This interview was conducted at Mr. Raizada's pent-house, located on the thirtieth floor in Navi Mumbai by the senior editor of Indian Entrepreneurship, Mrs. Arora.
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IT: How does it feel to be CEO, a first in your family?
ASR: It is something I've been trying to prepare myself from a very young age. Being elder, I've known all my life that I'll be the one to shoulder the responsibilities of RE. So it is more or less the same... working my best for our business in every way possible. The only difference is, however, being a CEO, I need to look after my own behavior in work place, need a sophistication that I lack before.
IT: What is the pivotal incident that motivated you to start ARC?
ASR: I prefer the term "vision". ARC has been in my mind as long as I could remember. The earliest memory was when my mother pointed out at one of the art galleries she used to visit as a kid and stated that she would do anything to encourage the owner and artist to continue with the paintings. That created a vision. It drove me in a restless journey of ideas and forced me to see its completion. The thought stuck in me, as how, if given a chance, I'd have done what she wanted to do regarding the artist. It ended up thinking about every business that is running with lower profit levels.
ARC finds out such businesses and helps them acquire its lost glory and some more. We invest the capital and everything that needed our attention in order to turn it into a successful one again.
IT: The ARS is a different one.
ASR: Every sector is alike in a way. They need a vision, and articulate it until you see its completion. I see and treat both my ventures alike. They are my sweat and blood, if I need to be dramatic. ARS is more of technological field while ARC is of financial management. It is more of a challenge when I started ASR. I needed to go back to meeting people in that field to have basic knowledge about the systems and its security problems. It was a rough path and strangely, I realized I've no idea of computers more than I thought I wouldn't. Offering solutions to something I don't know needs to educate myself in it first while with ARC, it came to me naturally.
IT: What is the key, or the mindset that helped you to have the success?
ASR: Commitment and dedication. These are two keys for a satisfying result in whatever I do. I take time to decide on things. Once I decide, there's no turning back and I commit myself to it with passion. I do whatever it takes to be that and I worship my work. Be it carrying on my family's business, or starting up my own ventures, I do them with dedication.
As Christopher Morley says, "there is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way". I'm just doing it in my own way.
IT: Is there a time that is least favorite as being an entrepreneur?
ASR: When you love what you're doing, I don't think one feels in that way. no, I never felt the need to get away from my work and as long as I don't feel such need, I'm happy.
IT: How do you differ yourself from an entrepreneur and businessman?
ASR: An entrepreneur is someone who starts a venture and a businessman inherits from his ancestors. These are two different jobs I'm having at the moment. I work as an employee for my family's business, thriving to give my best in order to climb further to have a better position. And when it comes to my ventures, I work as a slave.
IT: How do these roles affects your relationships with family and friends?
ASR: Professional and personal life are two aspects and I try not to mix them, balancing them as much as I could. There are times when work forces me to stay away from family and there are times when family comes first. It all need is to know your priorities and to set them accordingly. I travel a lot and I try to have these travelling plans on weekdays. There has been a family ritual - dinner on Fridays is a family event and no matter what, we'll gather for it, unless something really unavoidable comes up our way.
IT: If not an entrepreneur, then what would it be?
ASR: I don't think I'll be anything other than an entrepreneur. I don't know anything but this. But yeah, if ever I decide to step aside from this path, I'll end up managing an art gallery.
IT: How is it you want people to remember you and your company?
ASR: RE has become an integral part in present day life and there is no better way to remember it than it already is. And I don't think I can compete with RE or my father's for that matter. Moreover, I never thought about that. There's a long way to go and many things to achieve. All I know is, I need to make a difference for myself. I want them see me as a successful entrepreneur, and not as a successor.
IT: There is a rumor that you've finally found your woman?
ASR: No. Not yet.
IT: Your father stated his wish regarding your wedding with your childhood friend?
ASR: Fathers are bound to wish their son's wedding and find every eligible bachelorette as a potential bride. You should ask my father about it. As of now, I haven't found any woman with whom I feel to share my life with.
IT: A piece of advice for young and upcoming entrepreneurs?
ASR: Be honest to self and be open. Reach people in your organization. Listen to their ideas, value them and if worth, and execute them. Talk to them in general. Make yourself available to your people. Have as many interactive session and informal gatherings as you can. Be a team. Treat them as an equal.
IT: It is nice talking to you, ASR. Indian Entrepreneurship wishes you a great success in your ventures.
ASR: Thank you for your support and wish you all the success.
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Pushing the magazine aside, she closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts together. The aroma of coffee wafted from the mug she was clutching did nothing to calm her nerves. The past few months had been tiresome with shocking discoveries and she wasn't ready to accept the changes that seemed to be inevitable in her life. She liked it to be planned. She liked to be prepared for things. And now, as she stared around the coffee shop that spelled luxury and royalty, she couldn't help but wish to go back to times where she knew nothing would snatch her peace.
Her gaze fell on the cover page of the magazine. In a navy shirt and a dark waist coat, he was there, Arnav Singh Raizada, smiling. She couldn't remember one instance where she met him and he turned her life upside down. He forced her to come back to India, the place she left when she was merely five. And the month that she stayed in Delhi, she spent her days in trying to digest the discoveries and by gaining as much knowledge about the man and RE she could. And again, it wasn't difficult as there seems to be no website without the mention of it. It irked her, to know that she was about to join in RE, work for him. But she was left with no option.
She reached out for the magazine and turned it upside down, so that she wouldn't be facing the man. He bit her lower lip as the last memories of her Dadima rushed back. If her Dadima wasn't sick, she wouldn't be shifted to India. And she definitely wouldn't be joining RE.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, she raised her head to find an elder man smiling down at her as he seated opposite her. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting." She heard him, his voice low and friendly as his eyes smiled at her affectionately.
"That's okay, Mr. Raizada." She replied politely, glad her voice didn't give away the whirlpool of emotions she was feeling inside her. "I'm sorry for delaying the meeting for the past month."
Arjun Singh Raizada smiled in return and she couldn't help but smile back. The man had charm, she mused, just the way her Dadima said he would. She watched him as he placed his order before turning to face her, his eyes smiling all the while. "So Khushi, how are you coping with new environment?" He enquired what seemed to be a safe start.
Khushi took a deep breath. She didn't want to be rude but she didn't want to hide around the bush. She was here to find some answers and stammering doesn't help achieving it. "I'm fine, Mr. Raizada. I'm trying my best to adjust here. It would have been much easier if I decided to come on my own and not for Dadima who insisted I should."
His smile dropped for a second it was hard to notice it otherwise if not for her watching him closely. She knew she conveyed her message and hoped he would tell what she needed to know and not back off the way her family seemed to do. "I understand your plight." He replied finally, taking off his glasses and pressed the bridge of his nose. "It is hard, I know, to travel across the world for things unknown to you and settle onto something that isn't in your plan. But Khushi, you have to trust your elders. No one will force you to do something you aren't comfortable with."
"No one will force me?" She asked, shaking her head unbelievingly. "Dadima wanted me to join RE and my parents are with her. They say that I need to give a chance to myself and see if I can actually fit in your company. I don't understand why they are so adamant in it. I mean, coming back is okay but suggesting where I need to work? I'm sorry I don't want to be rude, Mr. Raizada, but this is the first time my family wanted me to follow their decision rather than letting me find out where I want to work just because you happened to be Dad's friend. Come on, Uncle. I don't feel like I'm being offered because I deserved to be a part of your company but because the relationship you share with Dad."
"Khushi," he called out her name so softly that it surprised her to have a person shower such affection on her, lest the person she hadn't known existed in her twenty-five years of life. "I assure you that the reason for offering you a job is because of your talent and not the friendship I have with Shashi. You're graduated from Stanford, Khushi. I know you'll be useful to my company. And you're working for Arnav because I think you'll be the best person to work with for his upcoming project. I only take the best for RE, Khushi. There is no personal in this. This is absolutely professional."
Khushi lowered her head at the sincerity in the elder man's words. She knew he was right. His company was known for its best employees and there was no doubt they chose with utmost care. Yet, the suddenness of the shifting and her Dadima wanting her to join in a company where people were their acquaintance with the family had been a shock that she wouldn't accept it in a blink. But, as she heard the man, she felt the heaviness in her heart weighing down at the reassurance. After all, she had her degree in MBA from a prestigious university and she would find a job with much ease even in a city she was new to.
When she looked at him, he was smiling at her knowingly. She watched as he pulled out a file and placed it in front of her. "Go through the clauses, Khushi. It has a copy on brief of what you'll be expecting to work. If you're convinced that it is about your talent and not about our friendship, you can join RE. There's no force, as promised. This is my card with personal number," he continued, placing a card on the file, "call me when you decided. There will be an official interview, of course, if you insist." He added the last part in a friendly way with a wink.
Khushi laughed along with him as she picked up the file and card, along with the magazine she was reading. "Of course, I insist everything to be professional, Mr. Raizada."
"You can call me Arjun." He replied softly. "When we're not in office, we're related, Khushi."
The first thought was to reject but something stopped her. Instead, Khushi smiled with a nod as looked at each other. "Okay," she said finally, extending her hand for a shake, "hi Arjun. I'm Khushi."
"Hi Khushi," Arjun replied and both burst into laughter, as she felt comfortable with the elder man by the end of their meeting.
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