Previous Occupation: CEO, Sahney Insulation Group ( This group had a technical and financial collaboration with Kirkwood Inc. USA and  JVs with Hitachi Chemicals, Japan and Isovolta AG, Austria. This group is a world leader in mica based electrical insulations and its customers include General Electric – US, Canada and Mexico, BHEL, SUZLON, etc.)
Present Occupation: Principal, PE Practice, NV Capital Services LLP
Sector: Investment Advisory
Work Experience: 24 years
Interests – Professional/Personal: Transformational Leadership, Teaching, Counseling

Tell us about yourself and recap your professional life after the ISB including your career progression

I started my career as a Quality Analyst in a Steel making company near Mumbai; I was content in delving in the fascinating world of material science and investigate root causes of quality problems. I wanted to be Mr. Sherlock Homes solving crimes (creep / fatigue / fracture) on steel products. I was not interested in studying management though I had cracked the CAT twice in a row! But the destiny had something else in store – my budding career in Metallurgy was cut short by a bad road accident requiring protracted recovery. So instead of recuperating at home in misery, I thought of studying at IIM-A.
 
Three months in a wheel chair, another two months with crutches and a walking stick – the physical pain etc. didn’t exactly equip me to deal with the academic pressure at IIM-A and thanks mainly to some fabulous friends I made there that I could clear my first year. The course left me more confused - it was clear I would not go back to the steel shop but I was not yet ready to look at `non-technical’ careers (selling soaps?). So I entered the fuzzy world of `techno-economic’ consultancy which added to my then very limited knowledge on the industrial expansion in India but more importantly brought me in close contact with many entrepreneurs in India. Three years of consultancy bored me but also presented me an opportunity to lead a Greenfield high tech venture at Nashik. Next ten years was a topsy-turvy journey I thoroughly enjoyed. The organization grew multifold in new geographies and is today a world leader in its field and I grew as a person. It was time for me to move on….. I was not happy doing repetitive work and was also frustrated by my inability to understand the global trends and the larger picture.
 
ISB provided me the opportunity to take a break and take stock of what I have achieved in my career and think of ways in which it can be put to use in the new India – growing differently than the five year planned economy we studied at IIM-A back in time. The company of young enquiring minds, distinguished teachers, world class infrastructure and freedom to begin a new future helped me take a different path.

Now five years into investment advisory career, I have learnt (and continue to learn) a few things on Private Equity that I try and share with the young aspirants.

What was your key take-away from the ISB?

If I have to summarize in few words – it is all about collaborative learning, unlike competitive learning in other famed management schools. The more one understands this, the more he/ she can get from the ISB experience.

How do you think the ISB has contributed to your career growth?

The ISB allowed me the opportunity to discover my potential through interaction with a diverse and talented pool of smart people in a non-judgmental way

What is your vision for the School?

My vision is that the ISB should become a leading provider of bright young entrepreneurs with a social vision of all inclusive growth in India. I also want the ISB to be a preferred place for original management research relevant to the current times in this part of the world.

What are the strengths that the School can leverage upon and areas it can improve?

The school can leverage – increased alum participation, tying up with a lot of venture capital organisations, multi-fold increase in industry-research projects and an unwavering culture of excellence

How do you think alums can associate with the School or alum’s role in building the School?

The School can create multiple platforms for alums to continue to share and learn – it’s a two way street!

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