Previous Occupation: Manager, Product Development in National Stock Exchange of India Limited
Present Occupation: Vice President, Strategic Planning in Electronica Finance Limited
Sector: NBFC
Work Experience: 7 years in Strategy and Finance
Interests
Professional: Strategy and Finance
Personal: Dance, Badminton, Volleyball, Food and Travel

 

Can you tell us a little about your family background/ history?
I was born in Salem, Tamilnadu but shifted to Mumbai (then it was Bombay) when I was one year old. Did schooling and college from Mumbai after which I completed Chartered Accountancy.

My Father works for MTNL and Mother is a homemaker. I have an elder sister who is married.
My wife Dipti and I have been married for 3.5 years and we have a son Daksh who is 2.4 years old.

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards/ special projects).

After completing CA and naturally inclined towards financial market, I joined NSE (India’s largest Exchange and ranked among top exchanges in the world) in May 2005.

Three years of experience in NSE gave me an opportunity to be part of a core team that setup Power Exchange India Limited, the first institutionally promoted Power Exchange in India. Coming from a commerce background with no context of Indian Power Sector the going was meant to be tough. However, my instinct to learn and deliver made my acquaintance a fast track process. I was able to meet deadlines efficiently and handle pressure remarkably well. I was instrumental in:

• Preparation of Rules, Bye Laws and Business Rules of Exchange and getting it approved by the Regulator (CERC)
• Development of contract specification and seeking approval from CERC for launch of Spot and Forward Electricity contracts
• Handling Equity dialogues with prospective stakeholders
• Setting up Trading, Clearing & Settlement, Risk Management and Membership module
• Developing algorithm for the Spot market, the flagship products
• Setting up tradable Renewable Energy certificates market for Exchange and also helping Regulator frame the procedure.

Achievements

• NSE - Individual Best six sigma project, 2008 for Breakthrough improvement in Membership TAT - 241 to 45 days
• NSE - Assessed as an Exceptional Employee in 2007, 2008 and 2010 & Represented NSE in SAFE held in Dhaka
• PXIL – Part of four member team which set up India’s first institutionally promoted Power Exchange – PXIL
• Provided consultancy to Ministry of Power for developing end to end Energy Savings certificate mechanism in India
• Assessed as an Exceptional Employee in 2011 and 2012 for “Exemplary contribution in Strategy for PXIL”

Tell us about your profile pre-ISB, and recap your professional life after ISB, including your career progression.
Pre-ISB, being a CA I was involved mainly in Financial Services in the field of product development and process improvement. However, the desire to be in Strategy was stunted with me being only a CA.  This prompted me to go for an MBA and that too with an institute of big repute.

After ISB, I got a recruited in an NBFC in Strategic Planning and so far the going is pretty satisfactory.

Describe your fondest memory at ISB.
All events from Orientation week till Graduation are memorable. However, the fondest memory is that of our Orientation week talent night where my 1.5 year old son performed for our section and won us the talent night. Post that, I came to be known as my son’s dad than a student in ISB.

In your personal life, how have you changed post-ISB? Do you see yourself doing something differently because you went to ISB? What has left a lasting impression?
Experience with ISB has given me two major things in life – discipline in work and time management which were evidently missing pre-ISB. With these two virtues, I am better equipped to handle the corporate world smilingly. The long hours put in ISB gladly has left a lasting impression since it has proved to me that no amount of work is a great deal.

How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
ISB has contributed immensely in my career growth. From being a Manager with no confidence in handling Strategy to becoming a Vice President in Strategic Planning, I have travelled miles.

If you have to sum up ISB in one word?
Awesome.

What was the main highlight of your  programme at the ISB?
Strategy courses in ISB with the case study approach and the amazing line-up of Faculty were the main highlight of the programme in ISB.

Word of advice for the current class?
It may sound clichéd but don’t treat ISB as a glorified job portal. It is upon the student community to make use of the curriculum, facilities and faculty provided.  The onus is on students to identify their passion and strength and walk towards their individual goals.  ISB will act as a catalyst for that.

What was your favourite course/ class at ISB and why?
Competitive Strategy by Prof. Kale.

Was there anyone during your time at ISB who acted as a mentor for you? Tell us a little about this relationship and why it was valuable.
Not anyone in particular. This role was played by my wife and my 2 year old kid who have been inspiring me to strive forward.

What are the areas in which you can contribute to ISB?

• Resume Review for Students
• Part of Admission Committee
• Placement from the organization that I am in
• Projects in the form of ELP’s

What do you enjoy most about your current career position?  
It is much more relaxed than the ISB life.

What is the next new thing in the industry or vertical you are working in? Any trends that you can see?
Lending to SME’s and Microfinance will see a boom and then we will see India grow in manufacturing.  This will follow the trend of liberalization within.

© 2013 Indian School of Business, Disclaimer.