Business Goa January 2018

JANUARY 2018

VOL 4 ISSUE 1 panaji goa

RNI No.: goaeng/2015/59955

Postal license no.: G-2/RNP/Monthly/Goa-19/2018-20

goa’s only business magazine

industry dossier

SS Marine Enterprise

Dream Sketchers starting young

‘It’s All About Paper goan brand

CA Vinesh Pikale Interview

focus

employ 80% goans

Samira Sheth lady power

Dr Astrid Monteiro

CHIEF Minister’s Lib-Day Speech

professional dossier

creative capsule

Bridging the software divide How Salil Talauliker went on to build a buzzing software development company in Goa with business sourced from USA. Creative Capsule, on a robust growth path, looks to double its numbers in revenue as well as people

News Views Articles Interviews Profiles Focus Analysis Opinions Events Features

contents Cover Story 14

How Salil Talauliker went on to build Creative Capsule, a buzzing software development company in Goa with business sourced from USA.

Focus Goa 20

The Chief Minister’s Liberation Day speech touched issues of employment for Goa, road-safety, plastic ban and development

Starting Young 22

14

Dream Sketchers is a young and innovative marketing communications outfit

Enterprise 24

Siddharth Satardekar gained experience and technical know-how in the marine business, before he took the leap of faith as an entrepreneur

Social Venture 26 36

28

38

Sevarat is Goa’s only dedicated senior care service providing timely, reliable and professional services to meet the needs of the elderly

Interview 28

In conversation with CA. Vinesh Pikale, Chairman of the Goa Branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Goan Brand 30

Miriam and Malaika have unleashed their creativity through their entrepreneurial venture, ‘It’s All About Paper’

Real Estate 35

22

24 60

26

Gera announces the launch of River of Joy Goa’s first ChildCentricTM Homes at Kadamba

Professional Dossier 36

Dr. Astrid Monteiro brings in her artistic and aesthetic skills to make a difference in the dental profession

Lady Power 38

Samira Sheth is making waves in the art world of Goa

30 COLUMNS

Bon Appétit 60

New menu unveiled at Spice It; and ‘The Great Indian Street Food Festival’ at Nandan Vegetarian Restaurant

46 People Tree

51 Antarprerna

48 Beyond Classroom

52 Corporate Citizen

Jaisingh Maganlal embodied the spirit of enterprise, social connect and being a people’s man, all at once says Kishore Shah

Dr Pradeep Salgaonkar opines that the key indicator while evaluating business performance is customer feedback

50 HR Mantra

R N Misra analyses the various parameters by which HR can up their ante

06 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Nandini Vaidyanathan feels that Brand Goa has already made a place in the hearts and minds of its prospects

Daniel Albuquerque believes that electronic mobility is the way forward for automobiles

08 Editorial 10 Corpo Scan 32 Campus 34 Book Shelf 34 BG Crossword 40 Biz Bytes 42 Accolades 44 Business Connect 54 Curtain Raiser 57 Events 62 Goa Buzz 66 Newsmakers 66 BG Quiz

editorial

January 2018 Editor & Publisher

Harshvardhan Bhatkuly Co-Publisher & Group Head

Urvija Bhatkuly

Advisory Board

Datta Damodar Naik Ralph de Sousa Rajiv D’Silva Swapnil Kamat Business Head

Annalise Gouveia Reporters

Anna Fernandes Ramrai Naik Admin & Accounts

Ashok Kolvekar Sandra Dias Art Director

Govit Morajkar Distribution & Logistics

Mayur Santinezkar Pritesh Naik

Contributors in this Issue

Daniel Albuquerque Kishore Shah Nandini Vaidyanathan Dr. Pradeep Salgaonkar R N Misra

Editorial, Advertising & Administrative Office

Business Goa

409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji, 403001 Goa India Tel.: 0832-6456555, 2437822 Email: businessgoa.media@gmail.com Unsolicited material may not be returned. The opinions in columns and other stories expressed in Business Goa Industry Dossier are not necessarily that of the publishers and the Publisher/Editor shall not be held liable for any inaccuracy or otherwise.

While great care is being taken to ensure accuracy of information, the publishers are not responsible for omissions or incorrect information. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers.

IT needs action

Harshvardhan Bhatkuly

As is my habit of going through old books and magazines, I often source nuggets of wisdom, inspiration and ideas from them. One such serendipitous occasion came up the other day, when I chanced upon an interview with Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel. Of course, the gentleman is more famous for the ‘Moore’s Law’ which refers to an observation that he made in 1965. He noticed that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits had doubled every year since their invention. And they would continue to do so.

Moore believed that the kind of traction that Silicon Valley gathered for the semiconductor industry should have ideally happened in a place like Dallas, around the then tech major Texas Instruments. But it was the likes of Intel and Hewlett Packard that spawned other technology companies to make Silicon Valley, what it eventually became.

In essence, it is the activity around one or two game-changing business entities that create a hub for a sector.

Goa is making the right noises as it pitches its bid in the IT and startup space.

You will also be pleasantly surprised that the number of ‘serious’ small and medium IT operators in the state are well above 100. Not a bad number for the size of India’s smallest state.

The beautiful thing about IT is that it makes geographical and logistical factors non issues. The business is about ideas, people and clean technology. To create a robust IT hub in Goa is not quite rocket science, so to speak.

On close interactions with IT gurus in Goa, many feel that waiting for government policies would not really deliver the state from the challenges that IT stakeholders face. The biggest of which is the speed of action. That ‘time and tide wait for no man’ must have been coined with the IT industry in mind.

There have been multiple attempts over the last two decades to make “Goa an IT destination.” It is a matter of deep anguish that

the state has hardly been able to make a go with its intent.

As late as 2015, the government of the day had affirmed to make Goa an information technology hub, envisaging to set up two IT parks in the state in the next three to five years. The driver of this idea was to provide employment opportunities, within Goa, to the nearly 2,000 professionals in the IT sector who scout for jobs annually. Clearly, the lack of job opportunities in the state, force these youngsters to seek employ in Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and other IT-centric cities.

Two IT parks, one in Chimbel; and the other at Tuem, were shortlisted. Ironically, there was local opposition at Chimbel, which is more known for its gargantuan slum, than anything else.

The setting up of Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) for the Electronic System Design manufacturing (ESDM) at Tuem, over an area of around 4,00,000 sq.mts under the EMC scheme of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, could be quite a game-changer, if the administration wishes to pursue its IT agenda in the right spirit.

Some recent insights across the nation are quite fascinating: Maharashtra has approved a State Innovation and Start-Up Policy, targeting an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the start-up space by 2022 and creating 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. The policy aims to help establish 10,000 start-ups in five years.

SoftBank is planning to invest its new 100 billion USD technology fund in market leaders in each market segment in India as it seeks to begin its third round of investments.

US-based e-commerce giant, Amazon, has invested about 1 billion USD in its Indian arm so far in 2017, taking its total investment in its business in India to USD 2.7 billion.

These numbers are telling. There are opporunities galore. Goa should make a pitch for its IT prospects

Printed, published and owned by Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly and printed at Printek Printers and Published at 409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji - Goa 403001. Editor: Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly

08 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

CorpoScan

@businessgoa

New guidelines for units outside industrial estates The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has approved a 10-point guideline for units located outside the area of industrial estates while issuing ‘consent to establish’ under the Air and Water Acts in the state.

The guidelines state that all activities must be carried out in an enclosed shed with suitable acoustic material to control noise.

The guidelines also state that no activities must be carried outside the premises of the shop or unit, placed restriction on working hours to between 8am and 1pm and 3pm and 6pm and mandated that the units remain closed on Sundays and festival holidays.

Noise generating equipment and machines

cannot be operated simultaneously and scrap should not be accumulated near the premises, but should be disposed off on a weekly basis and the aesthetics and cleanliness of the place be maintained, the guidelines state. A board official said that washing centres will have to provide an oil and grease trap for the water disposal line prior to its disposal in a soak pit.

Glass cutting units with etching facilities which are located within a society or in a residential area will have to provide an exhaust at least one metre above the roof/ terrace, with due permission from the society/ residences.

They will also have to make suitable provisions for the capture of fumes and dust

GSPCB stops coal handling at MPT

The Goa State Pollution Control, Board (GSPCB) has suspended the operation of coal handling facilities of M/s South West Port Ltd (SWPL) at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) with immediate effect.

The Board, in its meeting held recently, revoked the consent to operate granted to SWPL for being involved in excess coal handling.

However, SWPL has been granted 15 days period by the Board to transport the existing cargo lying at the two berths.

Chairman of GSPCB Ganesh Shetgaonkar told reporters after the meeting that the Board has revoked the consent to operate granted to SWPL, as it was found to have operated in violation of the conditions laid down in the consent to operate.

The Board decided that the consent order dated July21, 2017 issued by the Board to SWPL under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, and

under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, stands cancelled/ revoked with immediate effect.

It was further stated that as in the absence of valid consent to operate under the Air Act and the Water Act, SWPL cannot continue operation. It was further said that the Board in exercise of the power vested in it under Section 31 (A) of the Air Act and under Section 33 (A) of the Water Act had directed the management of M/s SWPL to suspend the handling of coking coal/ coke at berth nos 5A and 6A at MPT except to handle/ transport the existing cargo at berths within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.

The GSPCB has directed MPT to ensure that after the expiry of the 15 days period, SWPL is not permitted to handle any cargo particularly coking coal/coke at the berth numbers 5A and 6A The Board had issued

10 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Doctors in Goa join nationwide strike Several doctors in Goa joined the nationwide strike called for by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently, in protest of the tabling of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill in Parliament in its present form. The strike was called off after the central government sent the bill to the standing committee.

IMA Goa observed a ‘black day’ and staged a protest at Azad Maidan, Panaji. Later, a delegation led by IMA Goa president Dr Ajay Pednekar, met Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and submitted a memorandum registering the Association’s protest of the Bill.

Former IMA President Dr Shekhar Salkar, said IMA Goa has 1,300 members, of which 700 are attached to private health care institutes.

“Most did not practice till 3pm, but all emergency services were attended to,” he said. According to the

doctors, the Bill, in its present form, is undemocratic, antipoor, non- representative and anti-federal in character. In its memorandum, IMA Goa, alleged the proposed Bill was backed by private medical colleges; and if it came into effect, it would pave the way for widespread corruption and would increase the costs of medical education and healthcare astronomically.

The Bill proposes to remove all regulations currently required to begin a medical college. Also, any private medical college will be able to raise its own undergraduate and postgraduate seats. “The government will have a say only in 40% of the seats in private colleges,” the IMA’s statement read.

The Association is also opposed to the provision permitting representation to only five states at the National Medical Commission (NMC) at any given point in time

Entries for King Momo at Carnaval 2018 open on Department of Tourism website Goa is gearing up for the much- awaited festival of the year – Carnaval 2018, which will kick start from February 10 and keep up the excitement among people till February 13, 2018.

It is this time of the year when the state expresses joy and celebrates the annual state festival with much fervor and excitement.

Goa Tourism along with the Carnaval committee has sought entries from large hearted, jolly, fun-loving Goans with their entries for King Momo for the State festival, Goa Carnaval 2018.

The King Momo takes centrestage during the four days of Carnaval celebrated across Goa. Entries are invited from aspiring candidates with their full-size photograph, and a close up photograph along with name, address, contact details and a brief profile.

The entry form can be downloaded from DOT website i.e www.goatourism. gov.in The last day of submission is Jan 25, 2018. The King Momo for Carnaval 2018 is 30 January 2018

a show-cause notice dated November 30, 2017 to South West Port Ltd to show cause as to why the renewed consent to operate order dated July 21, 2017, granted by the Board to the unit, for handling of

coking coal/ coal, limestone and steel slabs, should not be revoked for handling excess amount of coking coal in violation of the conditions as contained in the said consent to operate Order

CorpoScan

@businessgoa

State Budget on 22nd February

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed that the state cabinet has decided to recommend its decision to Governor Mridula Sinha for holding a 22-day budget session of the state legislative assembly, from February 19 to March 21.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister informed that the customary annual address of the Governor to the House would be delivered on February 19, while the budget would be tabled in the House on February 22.

“Furthermore, two days are reserved for discussion on Governor’s speech, three days for discussion on the general budget, and 15 days for discussion on demands,” he added, pointing out that the Fridays have been reserved for discussion on demands pertaining to minor departments, following the discussion on Private Members Bills.

It was also informed that the government is yet

to decide on the bills to be introduced in the state legislative assembly, during the budget session.

Speaking further, the Chief Minister said that although the government has already started the budgetary exercise three months ago, the related specific meetings would begin from January 24.

“The next budget is always an ongoing organic exercise for the government,” he observed, mentioning that more details about the budget cannot be revealed, as it is a confidential document.

Parrikar, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said that no government has provided respite to the public through various budgets as much as his government has.

“The data shows that more than Rs 70 crore to Rs 80 crore goes back to the people through various social welfare schemes, every month,” he added, noting that more than 80 per cent families in the state receive benefits from these social welfare schemes, in one way or the other

Goa spends only 4.8% of its total allocated budget under the Smart City Plan for Panaji Goa could spend only 4.8 per total allocation under the cent of the total allocation Smart City plan for Panaji has made under the Smart City been Rs 6,200 crore. However, Plan for Panaji, which was works worth only Rs 295 selected under the crore have either As per the Smart City Mission been completed or records made by the Union available by under progress.

Ministry of Urban the Ministry The state Development. government has of Urban This makes the Development, already formed state capital stand the total Imagine Panaji at 15th position at allocation under Smart City performance front the smart city Development Ltd. among several cities plan for Panaji a special purpose of the country. In has been Rs vehicle, to bring in 2015, Panaji was 6,200 crore. the Panaji, Smart selected under the However, works City road map worth only Rs Smart City Mission aims at 295 crore have which along with other either been transforming the cities of the country. completed or state capital into a As per the under progress Smart City. records made

According to the available by the Ministry, the information available on 12 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Benefits of GST now visible in Goa: CM

Informing the press that department added, pointing positive trend is being out, “So also cooked food witnessed among the Goan (served in the casinos is entrepreneurs as regards charged at the rate of 5 per payment of the Goods and cent without Input Tax Credit services Tax (GST), Chief and liquor at the rate of 22 Minister Manohar Parrikar percent under the Value said that till date, Goa has Added Tax.” already received an amount of The department also said Rs 103 crore from the Union that necessary action would Finance Ministry towards be initiated against the casinos compensation for the state’s if their bills are found to be losses in the new taxation issued without mentioning system and another Rs 85 GST. crore would arrive within “As regards the claim next two months. that bills are issued without The GST regime came mentioning GST, if such into existence in the country instances are brought to from July 1, 2017. the notice, necessary action Meanwhile, the against the casinos shall be Department of Commercial initiated,” a press release from Taxes has said that the state the department said. casinos have paid an amount Speaking further, of Rs 40.11 crore to the Parrikar, who also holds government, this fiscal year, the Finance portfolio said till December 2017, towards that the GST has stabilized the state Goods and Services in Goa, and the benefits of Tax, in cash, after deducting the new taxation system the input tax credit available are now becoming visible to them, which was not in the state. Incidentally, available to them under the the state government had earlier Entertainment Tax. taken a lenient view of any The Chief Minister stated lapses and violations in the this is the net amount and implementation of the GST if the deducted amount is by local traders, during the considered then the total initial 3-4 months, and did amount could touch Rs 50 not consider them as serious crore. offences The department further said that from July 1, 2017, the said Entertainment Tax is subsumed and “GST has all the transactions stabilized in Goa, and the on casinos are liable to GST. “The benefits of the new taxation casino entry fee system are now is charged as well as sale of playing becoming visible in the state” chips are liable Manohar Parrikar for 28 per cent Chief Minister GST, comprising 14 percent central GST and 14 per cent state GST,” the the website of Smart City Mission, Jharkhand tops the list for work under progress / completed with spending of Rs 2716 crore (182.4 per cent) as against its allocation of Rs 1489 crore.

Gujarat comes second in

the list followed by Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

States like Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland have not under taken a single project till date under the project

CoverStory

creative capsule

Bridging the software divide

How Salil Talauliker went on to build a buzzing software development company in Goa with business sourced from USA. Creative Capsule, on a robust growth path, looks to double its numbers in revenue as well as people

14 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

www.businessgoa.in

T

he year 2000 was a fairytale one for those pursuing technology education in the United States. Top tech firms would make a beeline to hire the best graduating students from their campuses. Needless to mention, top dollar would be on offer for deserving talent.

All this reversed in one year. Come 2001, the dot com bubble burst. 9/11 happened; and the information technology trajectory, so far on the upswing, went into a sudden shock. Many careers were left hanging dry. Many dreams were smashed to smithereens.

Salil Talauliker found himself waking up to a rude shock in such circumstances.

Pursuing his Masters in Computer Science from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, his prospects to find employment in the United States seemed grim.

Upon completing his B.E. in Electronics from Fr.Agnel, Bandra (Mumbai), he had left for the US to pursue his Masters. As he could not secure employment, Salil enrolled for a Ph.D. research program. His research on ‘internet traffic prioritization’ was funded by National Science Foundation under the aegis of the US Department of Homeland Security. Salil had two career options before him – either to be employed in the defence sector; or to teach. He tried a small stint of teaching for a semester. With no passion for teaching, Salil was restless. On what seemed like a mixture of hopelessness, confusion and fight against circumstances, he teamed up with Julia Terenjuk to start Creative Capsule – “to give myself a job.”

However, a new set of challenges awaited Salil, as he was wading through choppy waters in the entrepreneurial domain.

“We started Creative Capsule, a software development company in Kansas City, Missouri, which

The GoMeals app for Sanofi Aventis proved to be rainmaker for Creative Capsule

The dotcom burst and 9/11 had changed the employment dynamics in the United States.

In what seemed like a mixture of hopelessness, confusion and fight against circumstances, Salil Talauliker teamed up with Julia Terenjuk to start Creative Capsule – to give himself a job is pretty much like how Goa is. Personal contacts and networks are a huge factor to get your foot in the door. And here we were – two unknown, non-Americans trying to break into the corporate world with no testimonials, personal contacts or any body of work to show,” says Salil.

The biggest challenge was the fact that Salil and Julia were immigrants in the United States, who at best could have landed jobs. Julia, who hailed from Estonia, came to the US on a basketball scholarship.

The duo approached three law firms, who told them to drop the idea of operating their company and look for

jobs instead, due to strict visa restrictions on immigrants running a business. “Of course, you could start a business in the US on investor immigrant visa. But you had to have 1 million USD as capital to do so. I questioned the lawyers that if I had that money, why would I be trying to set up this company,” laughs Salil. However, another small law office looked at their position and with proper legal advice, managed to address the visa requirements and Creative Capsule was in business.

Salil, who was in-charge of the technology part of Creative Capsule, got down to work on his Dell PC – which still has a place of pride in his home “for sentimental reasons.”

Their first big break came in 2004, with Hallmark Cards, Inc. – a private, family-owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Hallmark International controlled 88 different subsidiaries and franchisees across the globe. All these units would submit their account statements to the parent office in good ol’ Excel sheets. It was a humongous

exercise, involving many man hours to scan through each of those reports, leaving the top management very little scope to point out discrepancies and inspect areas of concern. Creative Capsule created custom software which compiled the entire database of the subsidiary and franchisee network; automated the process of accounting; and created a structure where year-on-year results could be viewed at a click of the mouse. Discrepancies could be identified and investigated into. “In short, we brought down the time of involvement into a file from 3 hours to just 8 seconds. That too by creating a parity structure to match 44 international currencies,” says Salil with pride.

All along, Salil was drafting in the services of friends who freelanced or did contract jobs, while the company had only one employee on record.

The new challenge that emerged, ironically as work began to pour in, was attracting and retaining talent. The other was Salil’s role change from turning into a business owner from

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 15

CoverStory

@businessgoa

Top and Below: Apps for Abbot Pharma

being a coder-programmer. A four-member team, Creative Capsule could not attract talent because the hopefuls obviously and rightly chose the big technology outfits located in Kansas City. “Very often, someone was on the verge of joining us, and called in to say that s/he was joining so-and-so big company. This was happening too frequently for our comfort. We had to look outside Kansas City to fulfill our commitments to our clients. In late 2008, we began looking informally for offshore developers,” says Salil.

This was also the time when smart phones were already touted as the ‘next big thing’ after Apple’s iPhones had become a rage across the globe.

Two things came together.

First, a loosely formed ‘offshore work force’ began taking shape in far flung Goa, under the supervision of Gautam Gosavi (who became employee number one in the Goa unit of Creative Capsule, and continues to be a lead member of the management team). The second was a requirement from pharma major Sanofi Aventis to create a smartphone application

In early 2009, two things came together for Creative Capsule. First, a loosely formed ‘offshore work force’ began taking shape in far flung Goa; and second was a requirement from pharma major Sanofi Aventis to create a smartphone app for its diabetes drug Lantus

16 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

for the users of its insulin drug Lantus. What resulted was a hugely successful app ‘GoMeals’. A first for the pharma industry, this app helped users track food (calorie) intake and also measure how many calories you burned. And eventually interfaced a glucose meter to count one’s blood-sugar levels.

Till date, GoMeals has been downloaded over 1.5 million times on iOS (Apple iPhone) and Android platforms. The

interesting bit is that most of this work happened from a modest apartment owned

by Salil’s father in Borda, Margao, which was Creative Capsule’s first office in Goa. Starting in Goa, was a leap of faith for Salil, as he was being dissuaded by friends who did not feel that Goa was ‘right place’ for a software and technology services company to thrive. There was Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad. But Salil saw it differently. His primary reason may have been for the comfort that Goa offered – his father and sister Kalpita Timble (who is herself a Director in Creative Capsule India) lived in Goa. “Goa seemed to be a good place to fail from! If we tried and failed, the cost of failure would be less in Goa,” were Salil’s thought. But the success of GoMeals spurred on more business. Creative Capsule team was tasked with another app for kidney affected patients, again for Sanofi Aventis customers and more apps for pharma majors like Abbott, Pfizer, Teva, Genzyme followed. “The Goa team comprised of guys who did software development and would coordinate via video conferencing and Skype with the team in the US,” says Salil.

CoverStory From project driven work, Creative Capsule entered the domain of Staff Augmentation in 2011 – by adding to the already existing technology staff of their clients; or by being their complete technology arm. The idea was to provide dedicated employees and quality workforce who could stay on the page with the ‘right communication,’ as this exercise had a lot to do with bridging the communication gap between clients based in the USA and their technology partners working from Goa. This was a tough decision to execute, because the company was phasing out their 30 ‘well paying’ clients to retain just one – that was Brightree, a healthcare billing software company. Salil’s role as the business development head was getting a heads up with clients like PeopleAdmin (education evaluation for teachers); Alkermes (niche pharma company based in Boston); Bungii (a startup for cargo pickups); and Aratana (animal healthcare). Creative Capsule’s Goa team has also worked for Microsoft, no less, for developing part of the Office 365 apps.

This whole transition took a good 4-5 years to develop into the structure that Creative Capsule has become today – a 120+ strong people based out of Verna Industrial Estate.

When Creative Capsule started its Goa operations, the biggest challenge before Salil was having a parity of communication with clients sitting in the United States, speaking a different English than what is spoken here in Goa. The other challenges, that still persist, are that of bandwidth and availability of reliable infrastructure such as electricity and office space. “Back in the US my friends laugh when I tell them that the cost of bandwidth in Goa is more

@businessgoa

The Kidney APPetite app for Sanofi Aventis

than our cost of rent,” says Salil, who feels that Goa should get its infrastructure sorted to continue growing IT and software industry in Goa. There is continued high demand for IT services and Goa should capitalize on potential, it is a clean and sustainable industry with great tax revenue potential for Goa. Salil also adds that most of his efforts at Creative Capsule have been to create a congenial work culture.

“Sometimes people tell me

18 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

that I spoil my team by being too easy with them. I tell them that I am creating a working atmosphere in pretty much the way, I would have liked to be treated by my employers.” Notwithstanding this, Creative Capsule has been fastidious with its team members on two counts – one, to follow best practices of writing quality code efficiently, irrespective of the experience a team member has; and two, to remove any communication gap that may come up with the client – “Our clients are overwhelmed with our service. Our team always

“Our clients are overwhelmed with our service. Our team always works as an extension to our client’s office. We are not order-takers; we’re strategic partners to our clients. It is the way we have built Creative Capsule”

Salil talauliker

Chief Technology Officer, Creative Capsule

works as an extension to our client’s office. We are not order-takers; we’re strategic partners to our clients. It is the way we have built Creative Capsule,” says Salil with pride.

Considering his decision to start operations in Goa, one of the best things that he has done, Salil says, “The work ethic in Goa is outstanding.

Loyalty to employer is also great. Of course, we make sure that we demonstrate our value for the team. In an industry which has attrition rates of around 19% (especially in the larger metros), we are happy to say that Creative Capsule is at a fourth of the industry average.

As Creative Capsule readies to move its operations to a new building in the Verna Industrial Estate, the company hopes to be a 450-strong team in two years with more business coming their way, and penetrating the market in Europe.

Another excellent contribution of Creative Capsule is that it has been able to attract Goan software developers who had left the state in search of greener pastures in Bengaluru, Pune and other software hubs, back to the state. “If the much lamented brain drain has to be reversed, the state should make it easy for small software companies to work from Goa. We need not look at the Wipros and Infosyses of the world to hire 5000 plus people every year. Goa’s software graduates can find meaningful employment with mid-size companies like ours. All we need is ease of establishing and growing a business without the red tape and bureaucratic hassles and government support for local software companies,” he says.

For a company established to “give himself a job,” Salil Talauliker has not done too badly for himself… and for the software ecosystem in Goa

FocusGoa

www.businessgoa.in

Industries employing 80% Goans to benefit: Manohar Parrikar

The Chief Minister’s Liberation Day speech touched issues of employment, road-safety and plastic ban

R

eleasing the state Industrial Policy on the occasion of the state’s 56th Liberation Day, Chief Minister reaffirmed his endorsement to the mantra of ‘Goenkarponn’.

The Industrial Policy has a provision to provide incentives to those industries which employ 80 per cent Goans on their rolls.

“The industrial policy, which I have approved, will provide benefits to the firms employing 80 per cent of the total manpower from Goa. They will benefit from affirmative action and positive discrimination,” said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while speaking at the state function held in Panaji.

He said that despite having employment opportunities in the state, unemployment has been a major challenge for the government.

“There are often questions raised in the Assembly with regards to employment, Goans want employment of a particular nature, either they want to be employed in the government sector or want to sit in an office, they don’t want to take up field jobs,” he lamented.

Commenting that Goan youth shy away from physical work and dignity of labour, Parrikar said, “To address this issue, the government will work out a plan and find ways to deal with it. We will also focus on skill development initiatives which will enable us to overcome this problem to some extent,” he added.

Raising grave concern over the rising deaths in road accidents, Parrikar vowed to reduce the number of road accidents and has set a target to bring down road accident deaths by 50 percent in the next

“The industrial policy, which I have approved, will provide benefits to the firms employing 80 per cent of the total manpower from Goa. They will benefit from affirmative action and positive discrimination”

manohar parrikar Chief Minister, Goa

one to two years.

He said that lack of discipline while driving, error in road engineering and lack of fear of being caught while violating traffic-related laws are the top three causes which leads to road accidents in Goa. He said that around 300 people were killed on the roads last year while 2,000 are left with serious injuries wherein they spend months in hospitals for treatment.

“We have decided to prepare a roadmap to curtail the number of road accidents taking onboard some NGOs. I expect that during the coming year, the plan would be put in action thereby reducing the road accidents and deaths to 150,” Parrikar said.

“The target is to make zero accidents and deaths on the road,” he added.

Parrikar announced that from May 30, 2018, there will be a total ban on plastic, however, initially to begin with plastic carry bags will be banned and later the ban will be extended on other plastic items.

“From May 30 next year, there will be

a complete ban on plastic. We are making this announcement in advance so that all those who have made it as their economic activity, should not complain at the last moment,” he said.

Stating that Swacch Bharat Nital Goem programme is on the priority list of the state government, Parrikar appealed to people to help in making Goa garbagefree by next Goa Liberation Day. “The initiative to make Goa garbagefree has already begun. The Solid Waste Management Corporation is in place and state has set up state-of-the-art garbage treatment plant at Saligao along with that three more plants will be set up in coming days,” he said.

The Chief Minister also affirmed that the laws required to make Goa a garbagefree state would be notified by January 26 coming year. And from 27, they will be implemented and special enforcement squads will be formed to penalize violators.

Parrikar informed that he has given his approval to enhance the grants to panchayats for garbage collection adding Goa’s economy is also dependent on cleanliness. Parrikar said, “Our economy is dependent on the tourism of the state.

If we want the tourist to come back, we should keep our touristic places clean.”

He further said that approximately Rs 25,000-30,000 crore would be spent on infrastructural works in next five years.

“A convention centre, upgradation of existing schools and three more garbage plants would be set up in the state, along with the construction of bridges across Zuari and Mandovi rivers will also be completed,” he said

21 mining leases get 3-month nod from Pollution Control Board The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has granted 21 mining leases consent to operate till March 2018 on the condition that air ambient qualities (AAQ) would be monitored three times a week.

The Board has also unanimously decided to drop show-cause notices issued to 23 mining leases with environmental clearance (EC) under the 1994 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

notification.

Of the 21 mining leases, 17 have ECs under the 1994 EIA notification. 12 mining leases were operational in the state and around 7 million tonne of iron ore have been extracted in the state during the current mining season.

Board members noted that though the ambient air quality parameters were within limits for the period January to December 2017, mining units did not comply

20 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

with plan of action with regards to short-term and medium–term measures, as directed by the board.

“It was decided to grant conditional consent to these mining units with a limit of three months to comply with the plan of action and submit a bank guarantee.,” the Board said.

Two mining companies have been allowed to extract additional iron ore as per the distribution done by the

mines department.

The Board has also agreed to drop the showcause notices issued to 23 mining leases with EC under the 1994 EIA notification.

These mining leases were issued show-cause notices for rejection of application/ revocation of consent. After the board’s legal advisor stated that the notification did not pertain to these mining units, the board agreed to drop the show-cause notices

StartingYoung

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Dream Sketchers

Building a creative hub

Prayag Quenim, Anish Divekar and Ankit Talaulikar want to grow in the creative space

SKETCHING DREAMS: L to R: Prayag Quenim, Anish Divekar and Ankit Talaulikar

G

By ANNA FERNANDES

rowing businesses have little time to fret over marketing. So whether a business needs coaching or additional help executing whole or parts of a marketing initiative, Dream Sketchers, a media and marketing communications company, is here to help – to take care of your business while you focus on other critical elements of your company.

It all started when three friends decided to pool in their respective skills and create something that would simply promote creativity and help businesses.

With Anish Divekar executing the accounts, financial and legal aspects of the company, Ankit Talaulikar as the marketing and business head, and Prayag Quenim acting as the creative and driving force with a vision to take the company to the heights of success, a force to be reckoned with was created. Dream Sketchers

was conceptualized in the late 2016 in a recently-renovated room in Prayag’s home standing as an office.

“At that point of time, social media was picking up in the state. I think we were one of the first few companies catering to social media to enter into the Goan market.

The market in Goa, in fact, was and still is relatively new to social media. It is not something that a business would directly relate to sales.

Our biggest task in this regard lies in educating the clients on why these platforms are important,” says Ankit.

Dream Sketchers was thus instrumental in pioneering the social media revolution in Goa. Social media marketing has soared in the recent past and nobody can deny the importance of such marketing and communication agencies today. From starting with just one client, namely Voltaire, a restaurant serving Goan fare based in North Goa, Dream Sketchers has witnessed

22 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

social media marketing to brochures, and from printing to delivery, to organizing blogger meets and coordinating advertisements, Dream Sketchers handles it all. Dream Sketchers is now striving to expand into brand merchandising as well.

It is a commonly known fact that while business persons know that creativity in design is effective and necessary; for some reason, they don’t personally feel it is worth paying for. In the midst of this notion, Dream Sketchers emphasizes on the need to value creativity. The major focus of the company is an utmost emphasis on creativity and quality above all else. “We strive to provide you with the highest standards available in all our services.

We take pride and care in the fact that we will never compromise on quality and

With the right balance between caution and spontaneity; security and experimentation; and practicality and innovation; Dream Sketchers continues to strategically help businesses with all their marketing needs unprecedented growth since, and has undoubtedly helped its diverse clientele in making profits with the services that they have offered.

Every business starts out with a dream, Dream Sketchers’ goal is to help these businesses achieve these dreams. Much more than just a Social Media Agency, however, Dream Sketchers prefers identifying themselves as a ‘creative hub’, offering complete design and development solutions along with marketing and PR services, all under one roof.

As the brand name suggests, Dream Sketchers sketches your dreams into reality, by being the onestop solution for each and every marketing requirement of their clients. From

creativity. At the same time, our clients need to be able to see the value of such creative services,” says Ankit.

Possessing all the right expertise to translate this passion into success, the partners, Prayag, Ankit, and Anish and the rest of the team are today, the stalwarts of marketing, priding themselves in supporting their extensive client base in their marketing requirements.

Based on the objectives of the particular client, Dream Sketchers formulates a marketing plan that will not only give them the required attention in the digital space, but also help them grow their business extensively.

It has been quite a journey for the passionate trio, one that has led to a

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success that shows no signs of slowing. The company has managed to evade challenges by simply proceeding with caution. With the right balance between caution and spontaneity, security and experimentation, and practicality and innovation, Dream Sketchers continues to strategically help businesses with all their marketing needs.

Dream Sketchers consists of a small team of vibrant and creative 20somethings, each bringing a targeted, mindful and inspired approach to every project.

Dream Sketchers collaborate with their clients to craft innovative initiatives that dramatically increase brand awareness and drive sales.

The company portrays an extremely liberal exterior; but a strong corporate framework at its base ensures that all the machinations of the company run smoothly. In Ankit’s own

Creatives for Voltaire and Vision Dempo

words: “We have a passionate team, who are well aware of their responsibilities. They don’t need to be spoonfed as such. At our office, there are no designations or ranks. We all form equally important members of a team,

geared towards adding value to businesses.”

As a business unit, Dream Sketchers is a product of the joint experiences, knowledge and past decisions of each of its members. “This company is us. The company is our designers. The company is our team. We’ve all been here for quite some time.

We’ve got our experience, we’ve done courses. Dream

Sketchers is not just a one year old company, it is as old as we all are combined. Because what is a company, without us? It’s nothing,” says Prayag, candidly.

As for the future, Dream Sketchers has lofty plans in the pipeline. “We started in our state – giving our best here. In the near future, we would like to expand to other cities that will continually challenge us to be better” www.businessgoa.in

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 23

Enterprise

S

iddharth Satardekar studied engineering at Goa Engineering College and read for his MBA at the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Belgium. Taking keen interest in financial management and strategic management and majoring in Entrepreneurship, he aspired to become an entrepreneur ever since. But having come back to Goa, he took up Business Development and Marketing jobs in engineering companies – first at Kineco in Pilerne; and later at Timblo Drydocks at Xelvona, where he was in-charge of the FRP boat building division. “I gained tremendous knowledge and experience in the marine sector, while working at Timblo Drydocks. This gave me the confidence to start my own marine business. As a child, I had a huge interest in watersports but access was restricted. This navigated my decision to enter the marine business with an aim to make watersports accessible to Goa and India at large,” he says.

Siddharth took a plunge into entrepreneurship in 2010 and started S S Marine. The enterprise deals with boats, yachts and speedboats and is the exclusive dealer for US based manufacturers Rinker and Nautique. They also represent Rodman, which is a reputed yacht maker from Spain; and French watersports brand, BIC Sports.

Entrepreneurship, in the first year of operation, was smooth sailing, as S S Marine bagged the business to run the feeder service to the newly launched Casino Carnival.

“This allowed the business the critical volume in terms of turnover; and I could win the confidence of our bankers to seek overdraft facilities,” says Siddharth, who took up anything in the marine sector to keep the billing register going; this also included taking up sub-dealerships for companies in other Indian states, as their representative in Goa.

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S S MARINE

Riding the wave

Siddharth Satardekar gained experience and technical know-how in the marine business, before he took the leap of faith as an entrepreneur

Siddharth took a plunge into entrepreneurship in 2010 and started S S Marine. The enterprise deals with boats, yachts and speedboats and has in its bag international dealerships

CAPTAIN OF HIS SHIP: Siddharth Satardekar

But as the entrepreneurial journey got going, the real challenges of business took over his time and attention.

“I had started with a capital of less than 10 lakhs, which

24 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

included my savings and a sum that I had borrowed from my mother. In the initial days, we were more into marine services and did not stock much goods. But

once our dealerships started, there were funds blocked in stocks and cash-flow issues mounted. I remember, for one whole year, I had maxed out my credit card limit and was

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paying only the minimum payable amount every month!

Of course, these experiences make one tougher and more mature with tasks like cashflow management. But it is important to have the backing of your family in trying times,” he says.

Having forecast that he would find his business anchored well within 4 years of starting out, the import duty hike on boats from 10% to 25%, and overall duty increase from 27% to 48%, proved to be a real challenge. “We would regularly participate in boat shows to showcase our range of products. This import duty rise was so counterproductive, that the boat shows just stopped. Even the super rich, who like to own yachts, have curbed their spends.

Siddharth’s answer to these challenges was to introduce a new product every year – within and outside the

marine sector. Two years ago, he stared dealing with road safety products; and also took up engineering jobs for jetties. S S Marine positioned itself to take up technically challenging projects, to remain insulated against the drop in demand for boats.

S S Marine banks on online and word-of-mouth marketing to push their brands in the market. Participating in boat shows was also one of their marketing tools. Over the years, the firm has bagged business from the armed forces, government agencies and retail customers.

Talking about the market in Goa, Siddharth feels that watersports is a booming area. “A few marinas would have provided a huge boost to the marine sector; besides creating employment for 10 to 15 thousand people,” he says. The market in Goa is too focused on the beach watersports and the

backwaters have yet to be explored, he opines.

The business in Goa forms just 20% of his turnover. Lack of infrastructure is a major concern for the growth of the marine business in the state, he feels.

The increase in taxation from 5% VAT to 28% GST has also been a huge challenge in recent times to the business.

But being a gritty entrepreneur that he is, Siddharth sees growth prospects in bigger boats. “I want to remain in the niche sector. We are also looking at entering the manufacturing space – with a foreign tieup, wherein technological edge and world class finish would go into building quality products,” he says.

Looking at exports in the near future, Siddharth stays ahead of the odds and has been able to ride the wave of his entrepreneurial dream

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JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 25

SocialVenture

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“Our secret is what we are intrinsically made of. At the core we are extremally committed to the cause.

This is a cause really close to my heart”

Rohini Gonsalves

Making a difference to the elderly

By ANNA FERNANDES

W

ith today’s advancements in health care, people are living considerably longer lives than previous generations. While that’s welcoming news to most, it does bring attention to the increasing challenges that seniors and their families face in making choices to find what best fits their needs later in life. On one hand, there is an increase in life expectancy, but at the other end of the spectrum, with families becoming largely nuclear and children moving all over the world, many seniors who may not be very active or mobile, face loneliness and care giving issues. It can be agonizing for family members to watch a senior loved one struggle with daily activities that they used to find easy, and the situation becomes even more challenging, knowing that their busy schedules and career priorities inhibits them from giving them the care

they need. Hiring a qualified caregiver becomes a necessity.

But finding someone you can trust with the safety of your elderly loved ones can often be quite a difficult task.

It wasn’t until her own mother became ill that Rohini Gonsalves, a marketing professional, realized the immense need to have a senior care service. It was then that she pledged to become the advocate, the expert, the resource for all families who had to face this issue. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales and business development, the vivacious and enterprising Rohini, quit her well established job in the telecom sector in Mumbai, and chose to walk on an unconventional path. “While the marketing industry was vibrant and exciting, it got monotonous, and stressful. I wanted to start my own business – to be an entrepreneur who makes a difference.”

Noticing a potent market

26 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Sevarat is Goa’s only dedicated senior care service providing timely, reliable and professional services to meet the needs of the elderly in the senior care sector, Rohini began researching the various avenues and business opportunities in this area. As she delved further into the subject, she learnt more. The needs of seniors were extremely nuanced, and there wasn’t any service available in Goa that could fulfil them. Explaining the immediate demand in the senior care sector, Rohini says: “The social setup has changed over the years. We no longer have joint families, we don’t have community living; we don’t care about our neighbours. With migration, nuclear families are becoming the norm, and the elderly are mostly left to fend for themselves. There isn’t any support system; there is no backup when it comes to emergencies. Our elderly loved ones have needs that no one is willing to serve.”

The statistics are daunting when it comes to home care for the greying population.

In Goa, with 11% of the population consisting of seniors and an absence of a dedicated senior care service, Rohini discovered a niche segment to support the increasing demand for senior care giving and support services. She discovered what Goa needed was a wholesome service which looked at every aspect of senior care.

Launched on the 1st of January, 2016, Sevarat is Goa’s only dedicated senior care service providing timely, reliable and professional services to meet every single need of the elderly within their own homes. Sevarat provides a range of services that holistically cater to the challenges that senior citizens face every day. Their services include everything pertaining to senior care whether it is diagnostics, outdoor assistance, home care, home nursing, palliative care, physiotherapy, counselling, prescription

drugs, surgical, health care, orthopaedic products, and 24x7 emergency support.

Consistent with what Sevarat stands for, that is, “being in service”, the service indeed goes the extra mile in serving their clients.

Sevarat’s vision is to be a brand to be reckoned with in the senior-care sector. This year, Sevarat completes two years of being in operation.

By being transparent in their operations, honest with their shortcomings, and bringing reliability with every single resource, Sevarat has consolidated its position in Goa as a brand synonymous with senior care. “Our secret is what we are intrinsically made of. At the core, this is a cause really close to my heart. And from the very first employee, I have made it a point to make sure that they feel as passionately as I do. It’s not just a job, it’s more than that.” The Sevarat team presently consists of 40 rigorously-trained individuals, each passionately committed to the cause.

Starting out on her own came with several challenges, each of which Rohini dealt with head on. Living all her life in Belgaum, Mumbai and other states in India, the market in Goa was extremely new to her. Getting acquainted with Goa in terms of the market was quite a challenge in the initial stages of the startup.

“In the beginning, everything was based on trial-and-error; we were all groping in the dark. Always being prepared for the worst outcome is what eventually helped us tackle every obstacle standing in our way.”

Stating that a majority of their clients come from referrals, Rohini adds that their main focus is on clients with children residing abroad.

Sevarat leaves no stone unturned in caring for the elderly, with dedicated senior care specialists to help them

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with their well-being and ensure that their family gets regular and clear updates on them.

Over the course of two years, Sevarat has celebrated several milestones, including qualifying at the Kaun Banega Udyogpati competition held by the Center for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA) and being shortlisted on the Chief Minister’s Startup Championship 2017; but the biggest rewards have come in terms of customer appreciation by both the elderly and their extended family members, all of whom are aware of the issues that go in taking care of their elders and are highly grateful for it. “Our clients are extremely elderly, some of whom have passed away while being in our care. In those final moments, being surrounded by family and loved ones, it’s really soul-stirring when they call out to your staff to

Rohini with her team at Sevarat

Noticing a potent market in the senior care sector, Rohini began researching the various avenues and business opportunities in this area. As she delved further into the subject, she learnt more. The needs of seniors were extremely nuanced, and there wasn’t any service available in Goa that could fulfil them thank. There’s nothing more rewarding or humbling than that. Moreover, the gratitude shown to us by the children of our clients who remain extremely thankful that their parents are in good and safe hands is also a validation of our efforts.”

Her advice to young entrepreneurs – especially those who wish to do something that makes a difference, is: “Start something that you cannot afford to give up on. It’s never going to be easy having your own enterprise, there are

always going to be challenges, more often than not, you will face more lows than highs.

There will be moments when you will be tempted to give up.

But knowing that the cause is so much greater than who you are, will keep you going, and striving on.”

When her brand was still in its nascent stage, the encouragement she received from friends and family who believed in her ability to stride on this proverbial road less travelled, was tremendous, all of whom believed that if anyone was going to take on such a mission, it could only be Rohini.

Driven by the cause, the passion and emotion that Rohini initially started out with has indeed increased manifold and become more altruistic over the course of her entrepreneurial journey.

Rohini, today, is indeed making a difference

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 27

InterView

In conversation with CA. Vinesh Pikale, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Goa Branch

the last few months?

This year has been all about dealing with change. Our energies have been focussed on keeping our members abreast of changes in law and delivering quality professional services in these new areas.

How do you see the new GST regime in the perspective of contributing towards the state kitty?

From a purely mathematical perspective, GST is a destination based tax and therefore it is likely that the new GST regime will contribute to the state kitty positively. Additionally, the GST portion of services will also add to the kitty unlike earlier instances, where only 42% was the state share. However, the impact of input credit refunds to Exporters would impact

protect innocent investors and depositers from being duped, we work with both indirect and direct tax departments for information dissemination and to help achieve better compliance. At the time of the GST launch, the Goa Branch on its own, and also together with the Department of Commercial Taxes, set up GST help centres where free consultation was provided. Another very innovative initiative is the Branch’s participation in the EDC GST Entrepreneurs scheme.

Members of the Goa branch will be the resource personnel for training GST professional who can then provide services in this sphere.

You lead an organisation with a young team in a profession with lots of senior practitioners.

“GST is a destination based tax. The new GST regime will contribute to the state kitty positively” Vinesh Pikale

CA Vinesh Pikale is a Chartered Accountant in practise and a partner at R. K. Pikale & Co providing services in business advisory, capital and debt structuring, valuations, due diligence, FEMA, taxation and assurance. He has more than a decade of experience including a stint with Deloitte. A graduate of commerce with a specialisation in Financial Accounting, Audit and Taxation he also holds a diploma in Information Systems Audit.

He has a profound interest in the entrepreneurial ecosystem particularly for technology start-ups. He is the Chairman of the Goa Branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

How do you see ICAI Goa supporting your clients in times of a new wave of fiscal laws and compliance matters?

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) at the national level and the Goa Branch of ICAI at the state level play a very active role in equipping members of trade, industry and commerce in tackling challenges presented by changes in law and tackling consequent compliance. This happens both directly and indirectly. One, by virtue of a host of seminars, conferences and workshops that the Branch conducts through the year which helps better understanding of the law and ways to deal with the change. Secondly, through our members who, through Continuing Professional Education (CPE), are equipped to provide their clients with the required level of handholding and professional expertise. In both these ways, we help clients comply with, adapt to and grow with the change.

What new initiatives have you taken up over 28 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

this negatively since the quantum of inputs now available is higher. However, cess levied under GST will also help meet any unlikely shortfall in revenue targets.

The greater advantage of GST in terms of revenue will be felt over the midterm since it will plug leaks and allow for proper information flow. This will definitely boost the state’s and the nation’s revenues.

Are you collaborating with the government on any projects of public interest?

The ICAI at the national level plays a very proactive and vibrant role in nation building. This ranges from inputs and feedbacks for legislations to even accounting and MIS for PSUs and Government bodies. At the state level too, the Branch has been contributing to the Government’s efforts. For example, we conduct investor awareness campaigns under the Investor Education and Protection Fund, we provide feedback and inputs at the State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) which is formed to

How do you manage this ‘generation gap’?

The CA fraternity in the state is a very cohesive set of professionals. We have active participation from our members for programs, events and initiatives that we undertake at the Branch. This is possible because of the energy and the zeal that the Committee has and equally because we are fortunate to have seniors in the profession whom we can reach out to at any time for guidance and assistance.

Thus, fortuitously for us, the “generation gap” has never been a hurdle.

What new projects are you looking to work on in the near future?

For the coming year, the biggest activity is going to be the setting up of the new Branch premises at Kadamba plateau. This building will give us the ability to provide a greater spectrum of services to our members and CA students. This year, we had CSR activities at the Branch wherein we reached out to underprivileged students to provide them with education aids; we ran an E-waste collection and disposal drive; Swacch Bharat awareness campaign; Blood donation drive; and tree plantation drive. Other than the activities mentioned above, we have the regular member and student focussed activities at the Branch. We would like to scale up the participation in these programs and other similar areas. On the professional front, we have in the pipeline, an expert

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post qualification front, we work towards organising maximum programs with top professionals from across the country to practical orientation and genuine practise support to young professionals.

Vinesh Pikale with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at an event hosted by ICAI Goa Branch

level GST certification course planned and other similar post qualification courses for members.

How is ICAI Goa helping budding CA aspirants in their career choices and finding a place in the profession?

Our efforts in this respect are via a two pronged strategy – pre qualification and post qualification. In the pre qualification sphere, we work at providing CA

“This year, the biggest activity is going to be the setting up of the new Branch premises at Kadamba plateau. This building will give us the ability to provide a greater spectrum of services to our members and CA students” students maximum exposure via national level programs, industrial visits and also conducting courses which endow students with the requisite IT expertise and necessary soft skills. We have at least one seminar a month for aspiring CAs. Last month,

we hosted a two-day national program with participation of over 300 students from 10 cities. These sorts of events provide opportunity to our students to present papers and meet, interact and network with others from across the country. On the

What regulatory changes would you advocate and advise the state to undertake?

Our Chief Minister is already committed to taking Goa to the Top 3 in the ease of business rankings. That will see a significant step in making the state attractive for enterprise investment. Single window, expeditious clearances and unambiguous rule driven laws should be made the norm.

Simultaneously, we have to work on doing away with excessive legislation.

Legislation should be oriented towards encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship www.businessgoa.in

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 29

GoanBrand

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it’s all about paper

Handcrafted from the heart

Miriam and Malaika have unleashed their creativity through their entrepreneurial venture, ‘It’s All About Paper

Morning bloom glass cannister

By ANNA FERNANDES

C

reative concepts have a humble beginning – the journey starts with doodles that are fashioned with love into an artistic creation. It’s All About Paper, a true creation of passion and creativity, is a design studio that stands as a haven for all craft enthusiasts.

What started out as fun little hobby turned into a full-blown entrepreneurial venture for the two creative sisters Miriam and Malaika, armed with their only raw material – paper.

The idea metamorphosed into a full-blown brand and label, offering more than just paper. Today, the design studio caters in products ranging from home décor to lifestyle, wedding invitations to branding and designing lifestyle products, invitations for other events, stationery, party accessories, branding solutions, and more. All products are meticulously created by the duo and their passionate team.

Well established in their own professional fields, art and craft has always been a passion and hobby for Miriam and Malaika, right from their childhood days. Both being creatively inclined, decided to put together their skills of art and craft together, and thus conceptualized their design studio – ‘It’s All About Paper’ in 2014.

Malaika Gracias e Miranda is a physiotherapist by profession. Being in

Crochet birdhouse

the medical field, Malaika believes that crafting adds joy and colour to her day, and her passion has only grown.

Crafting some beautiful creations and products such as mix media scrapbooks, creative albums, and more.

With two private clinics in Goa, and the doting mother of two, Savanah and Seanan, Malaika is now juggling her time between her clinic, her family and the design venture.

“I have been lucky and blessed for the support I get from my parents in bringing up my kids; and that helps me in managing my work. Being a crafter and creative freak is like letting the artwork speak and I am so comfortable doing it,” she says.

For Miriam Gracias, art has always been her world. An

Well established in their own professional fields, art and craft has always been a passion and hobby for Miriam and Malaika, right from their childhood days.

Both being creatively inclined, decided to put together their skills of art and craft together, and thus started their design studio in 2014

30 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Santa goody bags

applied artist and freelancing marketing-communications specialist, Miriam graduated from Goa College of Fine Arts. She started her career as a graphic designer and copy writer and has worked at various advertising agencies.

She has been a part of the creative team during the launch of Carl Zeiss brand in India and has handled branding, advertising and communications for a number of high-profile clients. She now freelances for hospitality and lifestyle brands. True to the tagline, ‘handcrafted from the heart’, each and every item produced at It’s All About Paper, stands as a true testament of their creativity, heart and energy poured into it. “We are looking at things that make you feel cozy and

good, slow down and take it easy. Instead of having traditional expressions like wall art, we provide options to hang a few chopping boards with messages on timeworn patinas. One could also grab the ‘Goan Gozali’ our trending wall hangings and placemats with famous Konkani quotes. These are perfect conversation starters and create a great sense of nostalgia. Ditch the factorymade flowers and add few springs of daffodils, roses and more. We also design unique and distinct invitations and stationery. Since the invitation is your guests’ first peek into your wedding day. It reflects your personalities and hints to the style of your wedding.

We take special efforts to make your stationery personalized and distinct,” says Miriam.

Tu r n i n g your passion into a fullfledged business is no easy task. For Miriam an d

Malaika Gracias e Miranda and Miriam Gracias

www.businessgoa.in

Jewellery/Utility hanging board

Malaika, finance acted as a major challenge. Having to invest all their earnings to start this new venture might have seemed like quite a risk then, but today with success at their fingertips, it has indeed been worth it. Often asked, why she quit her corporate job to create something entirely new and unconventional from scratch, Miriam say, “It was always my dream to have my own design studio. But I also loved my job and it was

‘La dame de fer’ keepsake 2 drawers

very hard for me to think of quitting. In fact, the thought came to my mind many times, but I conveniently ignored it.

Finally, I took the plunge. It is hard to decide if you really want to give up what you love in order to achieve your dream. With the support of my husband, I could take the call.” With their willpower and dedication, Malaika and Miriam are an inspiration for many out there. “The younger generation is extremely keen

Customised invitations

in becoming entrepreneurs, but often have very little direction. We suggest you take time to understand your abilities, and do everything with passion. You should always strive to compete with your own self – to be better than what you were yesterday,” is the sisters’ advice to all future and creative entrepreneurs.

It has been a long and arduous journey for the creative duo since

the inception of their entrepreneurial venture, one that has led to a success that shows no signs of slowing down. It’s All About Paper has made its mark in Goa and the sisters are now working on the potential expansion of their brand. In a world of bland mass-production, to possess something handmade is a true luxury. Miriam and Malaika’s labour of love, It’s All About Paper, truly gives us a taste of just that

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 31

Campus

‘Lex Infinitum 2018’ hosted by V. M. Salgaocar College of Law

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The third edition of International Dispute Resolution Competition brings out the best of legal talent

L to R: John James Samuel, Dr Sandhya Ram, Roland Wislon, Dr M R K Prasad, Cyrill Shroff, Vandana Shroff, Deepti Salgaocar and Dattaraj Salgaocar

T

he curtain raiser for the ‘Third edition of International Dispute Resolution Competition ‘Lex Infinitum, 2018’ hosted by V. M. Salgaocar College of Law in association with World Mediation Organisation saw a grand inaugural in Panjim city at the hands of Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) Advocates and Solicitors along with the Guest of Honour Vandana Shroff, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Advocates and Solicitors.

Held at the Backwaters of Panjim Convention Centre, Mala, the inaugural ceremony began with a welcome note addressed to the august gathering by Dattaraj Salgaocar, President of Devi Sharvani Education Society. He emphasised the eye catching popularity of

mediation and negotiation in the business arena. An avid supporter since its inception, Salgaocar spoke about the progress of the grand event and appraised the organizers for the ripples caused of ADR among law aspirants at the global level.

Dr. M.R.K. Prasad, Prinicipal of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, in his address, expressed his desire for a healthy participation of law students in future editions of Lex Infinitum. WMO representative, Roland Wilson speaking about VMSCL-

Cyrill Shroff

Cyrill Shroff mentioned Greek legends who introduced the art of negotiation and the origins of mediation amongst humankind and its progress through the ages. He encouraged the crowd of budding lawyers to reap benefits of the resources to gain maximum knowledge and expand the horizons of mediation in the country

Advertise with the Voice of Business in Goa Call Annalise Gouveia on 0832-6456555 or 2437822 or Email: businessgoa.media@gmail.com

32 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

WMO partnership proposed to look forward to future editions of Lex Infinitum together.

President of the Lex Infinitum 2018, John James Samuel introduced and explained the concept of the event after which the dignitaries unveiled the winner’s trophies to be bagged by the awardees.

Upon declaration of Lex Infinitum open by Cyril Shroff, the audience released a large swarm of blue and green balloons, keeping in consonance with the theme

of Lex Infinitum colours as a symbolic gesture of inaugurating the event.

Cyril Shroff expressed his view on litigation and mediation as modes of dispute resolution and their working methodology in different cases. While making a mention of the Greek legends who introduced the art of negotiation and the origins of mediation amongst humankind and its progress through the ages, he encouraged the crowd of budding lawyers, affiliated mediation experts and scholars to reap benefits of the resources to gain maximum knowledge and expand the horizons of mediation in the country.

The formal function concluded by vote of thanks proposed by Director of Lex Infinitum, Dr. Sandhya Ram

Campus

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International Conference on Data Management and Data Science hosted by Goa University Over 300 researchers from all over the world participated in a major international conference on Data Management and Data Science hosted by Goa University on 11 January, 2018.

Almost 40 high quality peer reviewed research papers, around 10 demo papers, four tutorials by experts, a separate industry track to focus on innovations in industry, and young researchers forum provided an exposure of the latest advances in Data Science and Management at the COMAD 2018 and IKDD CoDS 2018.

Department of Computer Science & Technology, Goa University in collaboration with Association of

BookShelf

Computing Machinery (ACM) India organized these two prestigious conferences COMAD 2018 and IKDD CoDS 2018 at International Centre Goa (ICG) from 11-13 January 2018. International Conference on Management of Data (COMAD) is being organized in India for the last two decades and is one of the premier international database conference hosted in India by Division II of Computer Society of India.

Inside the world of call centres

Conference on Data Science (CoDS) is yet another premier conference organized by ACM-IKDD and is in its fifth edition.

From the last year, both these conferences are jointly held and share two common days of events.

Both these are very prestigious conferences were sponsored by major IT companies like Google, TCS, Microsoft, IBM, American Express, Adobe, Oracle, Myntra and Nvidia. Apart from conference papers and industry sessions, there were tutorials, young researchers’ symposium and stalls put

by sponsors. This high value annual conference is primarily organized by Pan IIT, IIITs and IISc Bangalore and regularly attended by research scholars and industry personnel. Last year the conference was held at IIT Madras. In 2005, Goa University had organized COMAD 2005 in Goa. This year, as a special case, the conference organizers made a provision whereby local students, faculty and personnel from IT Startup companies could attend the conference at concessional rate and take benefit from the event held in Goa. An organizing committee under the chair of Prof. V V Kamat made all the arrangements for the conduct of these conferences

BG CROSSWORD 97

QUIZZARETM

1-800-Worlds chronicles the labour practices, life-worlds, and media atmospheres of Indian call centre workers, and locates them within the socio-political context of the new Indian middle classes 1-800-Worlds chronicles the labour practices, life-worlds, and media atmospheres of Indian call centre workers, and locates them within the socio-political context of the new Indian middle classes.

Through a thick description of the nightly and daily routines of transnational Indian call centre workers, it reads the call centre world as a set of indicators to understand changing forms of urban Indian middleclassness. Based on twentyone months of ethnographic

research in Pune, a prominent university town, this book investigates how young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 became the ideal worker population for the call centre industries. Replete with stories of subjects who work through the night, sleep during the day, and listen to foreign voices in accented tongues over transnational telephone connections, it is rooted in the simultaneous spectrality and bodily intelligibility of call centre lives

34 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Across: 1. Current Chairman of BHEL (4,5) 6. Former Miss World Aishwarya ___ (3) 7. The Mecca of cricket (5) 8. Word used in advertising – grabs instant attention (4) 9. Spoof of an original work (6) 11. The Bhopal Gas _______ (7) 13. Graduate Record Examination, in short (3) 14. Administrative division in Russia (6) Down: 1. Flag carrier airline of country referenced in 14A (8) 2. Word following Manchester, West Ham or Newcastle (6) 3. Indian wine industry pioneer (4) 4. British luxury clothing brand (8) 5. Business school based in Fontainebleau (6) 9. What the news media is also known as (5) 10.

Country with its capital in Sana’a (5) 12. Back___ - what Google was originally named (3) answers to crossword 96 Across 1. Paytm 4. Ambani 6. Royal 7. Baygon 9. Agra 10. GMC 12. BCG 13. MGP 14. Integrate Down 1.Piramal 2. Yoyo 3. Malta 5. Bragg 7. Baggit 8. Nougat 11. Crag

RealEstate

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Gera’s River of Joy

Goa’s first ChildCentricTM Homes at Kadamba Gera announces the tie-ups with Bhaichung Bhutia, Mahesh Bhupathi and Shiamak Davar world class celebrity academies for professional coaching in the field of sports, arts and personality development

(L to R) Mahesh Bhupati, Shiamak Davar, Rohit Gera and Baichung Bhutia at the launch of Gera’s River of Joy

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era Developments, with a track record of over 47 years, is one of the pioneers of the real estate industry and the creators of premium residential and commercial projects in Pune and Goa. Gera Developments celebrates the Carnival of Joy as they launch Gera’s River of Joy, Goa’s first ChildCentricTM Homes at the Kadamba Plateau.

ChildCentricTM Home ambassadors Bhaichung Bhutia, torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena, Mahesh Bhupathi, ace tennis player and the first Indian to win a Grand Slam tournament and Shiamak Davar, guru of contemporary dance in India were present at the press conference to announce the launch. Amongst the many features provided at ChildCentricTM Homes are the tie ups with world class celebrity academies for professional coaching in the field of sports, arts and personality development making learning a fun-filled experience.

Rohit Gera, Managing Director, Gera Developments said. “Our award winning concept of ChildCentricTM Homes concept has received a phenomenal response in Goa. We are humbled at having already sold 190 out of the 364 homes at Gera’s River of Joy. This record sellout of over 50% in the pre-launch phase is testimony to the fact that the concept resonates with today’s home buyer. Gera’s River of Joy is a unique brand offering that brings together the mentorship of world class talent like Mahesh Bhupathi, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Shiamak Davar in addition to Anil Kumble, Shankar Mahadevan and the Michael Phelps Swimming Academy.

Gera Developments will collaborate with these experts and their academies to set up infrastructure at the very doorstep of the residents which will provide them with options that range from dance, singing, swimming, tennis, football, cricket etc. We have left no stone unturned to provide the best in class facilities for our

customers. We believe that Gera’s River of Joy will provide children the opportunity to experience high quality coaching across a variety of fields so that children can find their passion and then have the opportunity to flourish in that area. The beauty of the concept is that the facilities are provided in the development itself.”

Targeted at working parents with young children or planning to start a family, living under a nuclear format and looking at providing their children and themselves with the best in class opportunities to learn and grow. This never before seen housing solution provides an array of opportunities minus the hassles of travel and coordination.

The GeraWorld app (currently available for customers to manage their interactions pertaining to their purchase) is being upgraded to manage the bookings of facilities and other aspects of the ChildCentric concept.

On discussing this innovative concept of ChildCentricTM homes with the stalwarts like Bhaichung Bhutia, Mahesh Bhupathi and Shiamak Davar, they expressed their joy, admiration and support for this initiative. Their keen desire to be a part of such a development has led to their academies beings set up at Gera’s River of Joy. Bhaichung Bhutia said, “I have been travelling non-stop across the country to create awareness among young kids about football and the importance of grassroots level coaching. With BBFS – it gives me a good platform to interact with kids and give them an opportunity to learn from trained professionals with excellent infrastructure – something which we missed while growing up. Also, it is imperative to bring about a change in the attitude among parents and coaches towards professional football in the country.”

Mahesh Bhupathi expressed “Gera’s ChildCentricTM Homes is an excellent way of harnessing the talent in our

country while bringing together the several variables required in making of true stars. Through this association we will be bring the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academies to the doorstep of the residents and allow for today’s parents to provide their children and themselves with an opportunity to learn and grow through the best opportunities. The world class infrastructure by Gera along with our world-class professional training will allow the children to nurture their talent in the convenience and safety of their homes. The association stems from the understanding that Gera and we have of today’s parents, their fast-paced lives and need to provide best of everything for their children. Both institutions share the same professional values are very passionate about providing the best opportunities for children and we hope to do something very special in this space.”

Shiamak Davar commented: “Through this association with Gera’s ChildCentricTM Homes I am bringing to its residents 30 years of experience in dance. I hope to inculcate in children a sense of confidence and build their personalities while eliminating the travel and trouble involved. Teaching dance to people around the world has been part of my journey and I am taking this further by bringing my dance classes to the doorstep of Gera’s ChildCentricTM Homes residents. I truly believe that with the right training and guidance, in collaboration with Gera’s infrastructure we will be able to create the unexpected.”

ChildCentricTM Homes will establish a new category in the real estate space and provide its residents with not only a premium home and infrastructure but also ensure safety, convenience, fun and development for the children. The concept is innovative and demonstrates the need and sign of the changing times by catering to the needs of today’s young home buyer and enabling a new way to live. A multifaceted living space that allows a child to choose and develop across art, sports, dance, music etc., is something that every parent wants to offer their child. Apart from these amenities, children will also have offerings like Vedic Math, age specific computer labs & gaming rooms, yoga, BMX, skateboarding, designated gurukul areas and personality development programs with Dale Carnegie Institute

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 35

ProfessionalDossier

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Passionate about dental care

Dr. Astrid Monteiro brings in her artistic and aesthetic skills to make a difference in the dental profession

Dr. Astrid Monteiro

W

hen I was a little girl, I boarded 3 buses, crossed a ferry and climbed a flight of steps to reach my school on a hill top, Our Lady of the Rosary High School, Dona Paula. My journey had then begun...

Not having had a calling yet, but being a sufficiently good student, I joined the Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar to pursue my Std 11 and 12 in the science stream.

While I was in the 12th standard, my mother was detected of having breast cancer and being the only girl child of three siblings, I used to frequent with her to her several visits to the doctors; and that’s when a big admiration for the medical profession and a deep desire to join the medical sciences began.

However, my scores dropped that year, only to qualify for the next best option, the Dental Sciences. So I joined Goa Dental College and Hospitals, Bambolim.

And as destiny had its plan for me, I realised that it had been a remarkable choice, as dentistry demands tremendous patience, loads of artwork, acute aesthetic 36 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

It’s a pleasure working for and with the Lotlekars.

It’s my 19th year in dental practice at Loutolim; and each year comes with a lot of gratification. Therefore, as many wonder, I travel 2 hours everyday to fulfill this commitment to the people of Loutolim

sense, precision, dedication, good interpersonal relationships, and of course business acumen – all built in one; and I qualified smartly with these basics.

In 1996, life at Goa Dental College was no small feat. One had to reach perfection to attain professionalism. But the grooming that I received prepared me to move ahead and establish my career independently in the field of oral care, a field that I am extremely proud of today.

After completing my internship at college, I was fortunate to be invited by late Dr. Suresh Mahambrey of Mapusa to intern. I observed his high spirted and gifted nature to attract patients to his

clinic. I learnt very valuable lessons from him; and to add further value to my work, I later joined two hospital services where I conducted my independent clinics – the Gomes Pereira Charitable Hospital in Divar and Dr. Dhakankar’s Hospital at Pilar. This is where I got a practical glimpse into the medical world, and learnt to understand patients better to correlate with my dental treatment. It was an amazing experience and I cherish the team work at these hospitals. It is since then, that at a young age of 22, I have had junior dental colleagues interning with me.

From here I had to relocate to Loutolim to establish another milestone – my marriage to Edward, a businessman. I decided to open a clinic at the nearby tinto in Loutolim, anticipating that the family would grow. I have three children now and we live in Porvorim but I still run the Loutolim clinic ever so enthusiastically. I have a busy and accomplishing practice of 5 hours in the mornings. We do full mouth rehabilitations with special emphasis on aesthetics with a motto of prevention rather than cure. It is a practice generated by families who have spread the essence to nearby villages.

It’s a pleasure working for and with the Lotlekars who are a respectable lot and people who generate love in return.

It’s my 19th year in Loutolim; and each year comes with a lot of gratification.

Therefore, as many wonder, I travel 2 hours everyday to fulfill this commitment to the people of Loutolim.

Yes, I do have a number of hobbies; but in the last few years I have become a bit selective and passionately pursue few of them. I spend 5 hours of the week singing soulful music along with the Goa University Choir members. My passion of reaching out and reforming people earned me a membership with the Prison Ministry of India where I spend 2 hours a week day at the reformation centre. This other aspect of my life has been a very rewarding experience.

How do I balance my home, my career and my hobbies, is what I’m always asked... My biggest challenge in life is to play the role of a woman. A wife, a mother, a daughter and a homemaker! I try to give my best shot to each, knowing well the importance of prioritizing.

Our children, Michelle, Nadine and Mark are self reliant and very promising youngsters. Edward and I strive to make them independent thinkers, exposing them to opportunities, so that they too have interesting stories to tell LOG ON TO www.businessgoa.in

LadyPower

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Samira with Sonia Weder, Alok Johri, Thomas Louis and Sonny Singh at the showing of ‘Outsiders’

For Art’s Sake Samira Sheth is making waves in the art world of Goa

S

By ANNA FERNANDES

amira Sheth is a name that needs no introduction in the art world of Goa. An avid art collector, Samira offers art consultancy, collection management, curatorial advice and exhibition management through her independent outfit, Work of Art. Samira specialises in providing in-depth knowledge of the art world and guiding clients to build and maintain contemporary Indian art collections. She works with an international network of artists, critics, galleries and auction houses to source works of the highest quality. Samira frequently writes on contemporary art for a few art publications and artist catalogues and has curated a variety of select shows in Goa and Dubai. She also enjoys writing reviews and features on a number of other passions – from travel to lifestyle.

With an immense interest in all things creative, Samira’s tryst with the art world piqued at a very young age. “I have always been drawn to words and images and used to frequent art shows around 38 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Kolkata, where I grew up, in Mumbai where I studied; and of course, in the places I travelled,” she recalls.

Samira’s journey into a career in the of arts began when straight after her postgraduation, she was offered a job at The Art News Magazine of India or Art India as it is better known. In her own words: “The magazine being a premier English language publication on contemporary art in India was a major opportunity for me and helped me find my niche – as a writer and for my particular area of interest – the visual arts. My job as Assistant Editor at Art India meant I got to spend my days talking to artists, reviewing shows and dealing with art writers, galleries, auction houses as well as collectors – basically a whole network of people in the art world. There was a major boom in the Indian art scene at the time – the late 90s-early 2000s and suddenly there was a flurry of activity.”

For Samira, it was a question of being in the right place at the right time and absorbing as much as she could about the art scene and market at the time from a

ringside seat.

Following her stint at Art India, Samira moved to Dubai, where there appeared to be a slump in the art-world.

Undeterred Samira introduced a couple of art columns for UAE based publicationsWhat’s New and the Fujairah Observer, and curating small shows with artists.

When the Dubai Art Fair was initiated, the art scene in Dubai became more active and Samira like a true art advisor, worked towards forging connections. As her network grew, art connoisseurs based in the UAE, began asking for her opinion with regards to works of art to invest in.

For Samira, a defining moment as an art collector precipitated with her very first buy – two works by Jitish Kallat, upcoming at the time, who went on to become an internationally recognized artist. Samira’s collected works were later sourced by India’s first auction house Bowrings for their very first auction in Mumbai. “That experience gave me the confidence to trust my eye and my judgement and continue to collect and buy what I like.” This confidence is one of the many reasons why Samira continues to stand out in the art world.

Samira was also instrumental in conceptualizing an art portal – www. anartexchange.com one of India’s first online contemporary art portals working towards promoting a cross-cultural understanding of art through dialogue and exchange. “At the time I was asked to be on the Art Advisory team at www. breathearts.com, an online art gallery with which I continue to be involved,” she says. It was at this time that Samira started gaining recognition as an experienced and refined art consultant.

Art aficionados began flocking to her

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for her expert advice and recommendations on all art related matters.

Spending the last eight years in Goa, Samira has forged a name for herself in the art world. Speaking about the eclectic and inspiring art scene in Goa, she says, “The artists here are so talented and it amazes me how most of them are so true to their creative selves – pursuing their own instincts and expression instead of just market diktats that one gets tired of seeing in the metros.” In Samira’s opinion, the only caveat arises with regard to the lack of exposure within the Goan market. Samira continues to work towards helping Goan artists find more visibility, better marketing and a larger platform of exposure.

Samira has also curated a number of exhibitions around Goa. These include ‘Taking Form’, a solo exhibition of

Devi Prasad Rao’s work at the Sunaparanta Centre for the Arts, and ‘Fables of Design’, a show of Sonny Singh’s work for The Cube. She has also held a few select art events for the Goa Park Hyatt Resort & Spa (including one with Subodh Kerkar, founder of MOG). Samira’s recent show titled ‘She’ was held at the Cube Gallery in Moira.

‘She’ is an act of subversion against patriarchal power and a celebration of the creative feminine spirit that finds free expression across diverse media. The show featured 8 Goa-based women artists working in diverse media, ranging from charcoal and acrylic to installation and video art – Verodina De Souza, Liesl Cotta De Souza, Chaitali Morajkar, Shilpa Nasnolkar, Fernanda De Melo, Katharina Kakar, Kausalya Gadekar and Soumitrimayee Paital. The show made a big

splash drawing a full house of viewers from diverse walks of life.

In addition to keep pace with the growing phenomenon of creative people moving to Goa from around the world, Samira curated the recently held ‘Outsiders’ held at The Cube, which featured four artists from outside Goa – Sonia Weder, Sonny Singh, Alok Johri and Thomas Louis.

The show presented works in installation, painting, ceramics and assemblage.

Other recent shows include curating ‘Monsoon Clutter’ – a solo exhibition of the wellknown Goan artist Yolanda De Sousa and a group show ‘The Yearning Eye’ – an exhibition by eight Goan artists – Xavier and Jacinta Lobo, Francis and Verodina De Sousa, Querozito and Liesl De Souza, Suhas Shilker and Yolanda De Sousa for the Art

Chamber Gallery.

Samira credits her success in Goa to the state’s atmosphere of openness and cultural diversity that continues to inspire her. “I pursue an unusual career – there are very few female art curators in Goa and I thoroughly enjoy what I do.

I like to talk to artists and see where their images come from and in life too – I am firmly of the belief that everyone should pursue their creative calling whichever way they want. There are so many brilliant artists in Goa and they are not always articulate or able to convey the power and beauty of their work to a wider audience. I hope that in some small way I can help in being a bridge between an artist and the audience and through my efforts at writing and curating, garner an artist the appreciation he/she is deserving of,” says Samira

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JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 39

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The Black Sheep Bistro awarded by Condé Nast Traveller The Black Sheep Bistro has made it to the Top 50 list at the first-ever Condé Nast Traveller and Himalayan Sparkling Top Restaurant Awards 2017. Presented by multi-media luxury travel brand Condé Nast Traveller and Himalayan Sparkling, India’s premium natural mineral water brand, Top Restaurant Awards 2017 is India’s definitive list of the country’s 50 finest premium restaurants, as decided by a jury of renowned tastemakers, none of whom own/co-own a restaurant in India. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP were the process advisors and official tabulators for the Top Restaurant Awards, ensuring that the process was fair and the list authoritative and

(L to R) Prahlad Sukhtankar of The Black Sheep Bistro with Divia Thani and Alex Kuruvilla of Condé Nast Traveller

credible. Hosted by hospitality sector veterans Rahul Akerkar and AD Singh, and supported

by Singleton Selections, the glittering event took place at The Lodhi Delhi on 19th December and witnessed the presence of some of the most prominent names in

the hospitality industry along with food writers, critics, influencers, and opinion makers from the city’s swish set.

The Black Sheep Bistro has gained quite an impressive reputation and following since its opening in 2013. Proudly Goan owned and operated, the Black Sheep Bistro is one of the city’s premier modern and social restaurants, delivering delicious cuisine, great wines and innovative cocktails in a fun and welcoming atmosphere for its guests.

Frequented by locals as

well as tourists, the BSB has made its mark in the wine and dining scene in Goa. “Our product is not the food. Our product is the experience”.

The soothing background music, laid back, elegant environment paired with the honest and approachable disposition reflected in the hosts and staff, make it the kind of place you can’t help but feel at ease in.

“It’s indeed a proud moment to represent Goa on a national level.” says Prahlad Sukhtankar. The BSB team is extremely elated and humbled for the appreciation and accolades won this season, crediting their gratitude to the patrons, who they’ve endeavoured to delight, since inception

Kubota, the world’s top mini excavator launched in Goa Kubota, the world’s number one mini excavators was launched in Goa. DCS Techno Services Private Limited is a premier dealer for Kubota’s Mini Excavator for the states of Telangana, Maharashtra and Goa. As part of the launch, DCS Techno Services Private Limited have undertaken road shows and demos in various parts of Goa and have received a very good response.

Kubota launched its first model of mini excavator in 1974, completing more than 40 years of experience in the construction machinery business.

Kubota mini excavators are manufactured to meet high class safety standards and create new benchmarks of performance.

Kubota is also renowned for the amenities, advanced features and have occupied the topmost position in the market share in the world for the last 16 years.

Abhay Kasbekar, Joint Managing Director, DCS Techno Services Private Limited says, “After the successful launch of Kubota’s Mini Excavator in Kerala,

we are happy to launch the machines in Goa. Our machines are well equipped and would cater to the requirement of the Goa market. Goa is an important market for us.”

Kasbekar adds, “Kubota Mini Excavator is known for its durability and stability. It will be a value for money to our customers in terms of good returns with low downtime and less maintenance cost.

We have also ensured that our customers get our best attention in terms of customer support experience and timely service from our technical experts. It is a perfect machine which can withstand work load in rugged condition.”

Kubota, mini excavators are made in Japan and are ideal for small works of municipalities, panchayats as well as agriculture and plantations, industrial and urban construction pipe laying and land cleaning, drainage and road maintenance.

Kubota is offering immense avenues for the agricultural sector to

40 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

infrastructural industry.

Due to the features and performance showcased in recent past the miniexcavator is becoming more and more preferred common and decisive equipment for irrigation, farm land reclamation, land clearing.

Furthermore, with more infrastructure investment in road construction, tunnelling, water and sewage pipelining and housing projects; there will be credible rise in the demand for mini excavators.

Kubota Mini Excavator has three models, namely U15-3, U30-6 and U50-5S. It is a revolutionary product for Indian market as it is capable to handle any job with utmost success and ease. With a much more powerful bucket digging force, it can tackle demanding jobs in a variety of conditions.

With a very silent engine, it is extremely convenient in areas where noise pollution is prohibited. Apart from these improvements, Kubota’s important salient features are zero tail swing, HMS hydraulic system, auto idling engine, effortless travel system, better fuel efficiency, electronically controlled fuel system and safety

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Kineco Kaman celebrates 5 years in Goa Aerospace and defence manufacturer, Kineco Kaman Composites India Private Limited has announced exciting plans to expand operations in Goa. The announcement was made during the celebrations to mark 5 successful years of business in Goa. Kineco Kaman celebrated In picture from left to right: (L-R) Shekhar Sardessai, Neal J Keating and Jim Larwood its 5th Anniversary by 1) Mr. Aditya Reddy - Chairman Kineco Limited honouring its2) Mr. keyShekhar customers, Sardessai - Executive Vice Managingof Director remarked Shekhar Sardessai, ‘Make inChairman India’ and initiative the Mr. Neal J Keating - Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kaman Corporation suppliers and3) associates who Chairman and Managing Government. During 4) Mr. Jim Larwood - PresidentIndian Kaman Corporation contributed to its success.

Director of Kineco Kaman. this period, the company has The company which is To commemorate the also achieved various global based at the Pilerne Industrial occasion, the company certifications namely AS9100 Estate in North Goa is a joint announced it has decided Rev.C, NADCAP, ISO 14001 venture between Goa based to adopt and financially & OHSAS 18001 besides Kineco Limited (Kineco) and support ‘Hamara School’ a other customer specific Kaman Aerospace Group, project, whose mission is to certifications.

Inc. (Kaman), a subsidiary of transform the lives of street “While we have come Kaman Corporation (NYSE: children through education, a long way in achieving KAMN) of USA. Over the skill development and access success over the last 5 years, last five years, the company to opportunities.

I believe that we have only has made its mark in the Coinciding with its 5th scratched the surface, given Indian aeropsace and defence anniversary, the company the potential that exists in the industry by supporting the also laid the foundation Indian aerospace industry,”

stone for expansion of its manufacturing facility at Pilerne involving an investment of Rs.18 crores which has already been approved by Goa Investment Promotion Board.

The expanded facilities are expected to be operational by the 3rd quarter of 2018 and will more than double the company’s production capacity and create employment opportunities for around 100 people.

“I strongly believe that Kineco Kaman with an early mover advantage has built a strong foundation which will go a long way in supporting its growth ambitions and in the process contribute to the economic and employment goals of the State of Goa and India,” stated Neal Keating, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kaman Corporation

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 41

Accolades

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CM praises Nana Bandekar for his exemplary role in leading Goan industry

(L-R) Rajkumar Kamat, Sandip Bhandare, Anil Counto, Shrinivas Dempo, Manohar Parrikar, Narayan Bandekar, Shripad Naik, Atrey Sawant, Desh Prabhudessai and Paresh Joshi

S

tating that the industrialist Narayan Bandekar had deep understanding of the issues taken up by him during his tenure as the President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, praised Narayan Bandekar for his stellar role in developing the Goan industry, Parrikar, said that Narayan Bandekar’s biggest contribution as the industry leader was in presenting problems faced by the local unit owners to the government

in a succinct manner. “It is because of his thorough understanding of the issues and quick grasp,” said the Chief Minister, during a late evening felicitation function of the industrialist.

He also said that Narayan Bandekar also needs to be commended for getting together varied segments of local industry and giving them equal representation in the GCCI. “I wish him healthy life ahead,” he said, as Narayan Bandekar celebrated his 75th

birthday on December 7.

The felicitation function was co-hosted by GCCI, the CII-Goa, GSIA, CREDAIGoa chapter, and was widely attended by heads of Goan business houses, local entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Narayan Bandekar, besides being an enterprising and highly successful businessman with interests in mining, pharma, light engineering, construction and hospitality etc, is also known to be a philanthropist

and a lover of art and culture.

“Narayan Bandekar being a second generation businessman has expanded his business not only in India but also worldwide,” pointed out the chairman of Dempo Group of Companies Shrinivas Dempo.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Counto, chairman of Alcon Counto Group, said that many successful entrepreneurs have received financial support from the industrialist during times of need

Desserts N More awarded at India 5000 Best MSME Awards 2017

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ainty Delights, a division of Geno Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd. that retails under the brand Desserts N More has been awarded at India 5000 Best MSME Awards 2017.

India5000.com is the research group is part of Benchmark Trust, which is creating a platform by doing research and recognition for 5000 best MSME in quality output. India’s Biggest Business Awards and National level recognition.

5000 awards to be awarded to the MSME and individual contributors in the sectors.

The awards selection process follows a research methodology.

Entries and nominations

(L-R) Dr Sagar Salgaocar, Dilip Salgaocar and Pallavi Salgaocar 42 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

are shortlisted and judged by TQV as the process reviewer, a jury panel comprising eminent personalities from various Industries Desserts N More is a premier Bakery chain of Goa retailing cakes, pastries, cookies and breads.

It has four self operated outlets at Caculo Mall, Mall de Goa, Mapusa City and factory outlet at Tivim Industrial Estate. Besides its self operated outlets, it also sells its bakery products through other retail outlets and supermarkets across Goa. Desserts N More is specially known for its customised designer cakes and wide variety of desserts

BusinessConnect

@businessgoa

Learning is Earning

Mahesh Pai with the Masterminds Group at Cidade de Goa

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By ANNA FERNANDES

brand name to reckon with in the financial and business sector of Goa, is none other than Mahesh Pai. After working as an employee of a reputed automobile dealership, a personal financial setback pushed him towards a journey leading to setting up his own financial advisory firm tailored to offering services exclusively to business entrepreneurs and professionals. Great success followed, and Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub was born.

Today, with several accolades to his name, including being acknowledged as a top performer of LIC of India; being awarded ‘The Rising Leader of the Year (Financial Consultant)’ 2017; as well as being awarded the Business Goa Award for Corporate Excellence 2016 for the ‘Best Services Company of the Year’ – Mahesh Pai’s is a success story like no other. And one that shows no signs of slowing down. On October 2017, adding to his achievements, Mahesh Pai was honoured with national choice award for “Excellence in Financial Services for the year 2017” at the National Level at Hotel Radisson, Delhi. The award was presented to him by gorgeous Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub offers an unrivalled

range of financial products and services, including loans, insurance, mutual funds, and other services, designed with the main purpose of consistently reaching and often surpassing clients’ expectations. The services provided span across three broad categories – portfolio management, loans and business development consultancy.

The last of the three is a new business vertical, all set to take your business to the next level with expert tools and winning strategies.

We have all seen examples of unstoppable companies that suddenly hit the wall.

Most high-growth businesses stare down periods when growth unexpectedly slows down or stops altogether.

The reality behind many of these cases is that periodic slowdowns are inevitable, even if the company is fundamentally solid. This is where Mahesh Pai’s Business Consultancy comes into the picture. Through judicious pruning and the exploration of new business models, growth slow-downs are minimized, and organizations are trained towards a better chance at long-term growth.

Being in operation for two and a half years now, this first-ofits-kind business consulting c o m p a n y has been instrumental in helping

44 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub’s new vertical Business Consultancy has one goal – your business success!

... and at Goa Marriott Resort

big businesses grow exponentially in profits, breaking all their past records in a professional way, making them grow personally and financially. “Our business is helping you grow your business,” says Mahesh Pai, whose company spans big names in the corporate sector as well as major builders, engineers, architects, doctors and so on.

Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub primarily believes that knowledge is power. In Pai’s own words, “Learning is earning. If you want to double your success, you need to triple your knowledge.” All businesses require to have access to an extensive pool of knowledge – whether this is their understanding of customers’ needs and the business environment, or the skills and experience of staff. The way a business gathers, shares and exploits this knowledge can be central to its ability to develop successfully. According to Pai, the main challenge businesses face today that curbs t h e i r

potential to grow, is harnessing this knowledge in a coherent and productive way.

At Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub, after a highly meticulous selection process, a thorough diagnosis is performed to identify those existing areas of the business in question, that need to be improved or strengthened. The oneyear course commences with a face-to-face meeting scheduled. Accordingly, a step-by-step action plan of exactly what needs to be done is worked out. Pai strives to ensure that each step is fully implemented by the client with tangible, positive results.

Apart from the personalized course, Pai also conducts group meetings with all clients known as the Mastermind Knowledge Group. These business-overbreakfast meetings serve as a safe space for businessowners and entrepreneurs to talk about their experiences and personal business growth. The main purpose of the group is to share business ideas and knowledge in a supportive and collaborative group of like-minded business people in a well-structured,

“Learning is earning. If you want to double your success, you need to triple your knowledge.

All businesses require to have access to an extensive pool of knowledge” Mahesh Pai

@businessgoa

yet fun meeting. The oneyear course takes on a holistic approach in providing endto-end strategic and growth oriented solutions to their clientele. The course provides a thorough consultancy in all aspects, such as complete office administration; selection, training and retention of staff; delegation of work; systems for recovery of money; handling of HNI clients and more. By pairing local knowledge with Pai’s global expertise, companies in Goa are trained to successfully tackle their greatest challenges as well as cope with new and emerging issues that impact business such as demonetization, GST, and Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) and the like.

The course also offers training in skills such as time management and personality development, and other skills that are essential in today’s

highly competitive scenario; and can be applied to any kind of business. Keeping up with the latest developments in financial service, Pai reveals that he spends considerable resources on training and development programmes, in both India as well as abroad, on matters of financial planning and wealth management, retirement solutions to the HNI segment, risk management, business development and many more.

As a consultant, Pai bridges the gap between theory and practice. Everything taught in the course, is practically and personally implemented by him. As a one-stop solution to all business and financial requirements, the new vertical’s areas of expertise focus on helping each client evaluate the ways in which their success can be enhanced. With the guidance of the company,

a solid business foundation is established, which is subsequently instrumental in closing performance gaps, improving processes and ultimately helping the business reach its full potential. The one-year course comprises of twelve highlypersonalized management training sessions, with each client. Through this kind of interactive consulting, faceto-face meetings, seminars, staff workshops and events, clients learn and develop the skills and strategies, used by many of the world’s most successful businesses. Unlike other financial advisory firms, Mahesh Pai’s Financial Hub helps you create the future you want for your business and for yourself. Pai also emphasizes on drawing a balance between one’s professional life and personal life with spirituality. According to him, spirituality and profitability

go hand-in-hand. Bringing ethics and spiritual values into the workplace can lead to increased productivity and profitability as well as employee retention, customer loyalty, and brand reputation.

Besides his interest in all things finance, Pai generously partakes in philanthropic works by making large donations towards a variety of social causes, and providing basic necessities to old-age homes, orphanages and the like. Crediting his success to the blessings showered upon him, Pai discloses that his secret is simply beginning everyday with gratitude.

With a 100% success rate standing as proof, choosing a trusted, knowledgeable, and positive business and financial advisor, like Mahesh Pai, could indeed be a very prudent and important investment decision a business can make

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 45

people tree / kishore m shah

Cheers 2018, as Jayu Kaka would say

Jaisingh Maganlal embodied the spirit of enterprise, social connect and being a people’s man, all at one go

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very human life oscillates between two most important variables – ‘Hope and End’. The Almighty has given all of us a brief period of life, rather I may call it as an opportunity; and in this life span, we are also blessed with some magical experiences from people around us, these spiritual people, knowingly or unknowingly, brush us with their magical touch. Hence, it is important for us to deeply understand such experiences; and record them, as they serve as a permanent learning for the next generation. I had one such experience that made a deep impression on me. It was in 1990 July that I was engaged to Dr. Hemangini; and it was my maiden trip to Goa to meet my prospective in-laws. Although I was assured about my pick up from bus stand, I was also given the address which had a bold landmark “Near Magson’s Supercentre, Campal” When we reached La-Campala colony, I was introduced to a very energetic personality Late Shri. Jaisingh Maganlal, founder of the Magson’s empire. He was busy chatting up several customers right at the doorsteps of Magson’s; and the moment he saw me, he hugged me and gave a big, strong pat on my back. With glitter in his eyes, fun, full of contagious positive energy, we bonded instantly. I called him “Jayu Kaka.”

Later, I was thrilled to know that he was popularly referred to by the same name by one and all. I stayed for few days in Goa, but there was always an urge to walk that lane; and the moment he saw me he waved and called not only me but several others by their first name. I was overawed with his memory and instant recall. He was so genuine in his conversation that I wondered if people could replicate even a small percentage of it back in their homes, offices, or businesses; it would create wonders.

There was also an instant connect with the Maganlal family, and my all time favourite Smt. Hasuben (Late Jaisingh Maganlal’s wife) – whenever we met, we would just flow into conversations and everything was so natural. When I shifted my work to Goa, there was an equal passionate relatedness with Nitinbhai, Kiritbhai and to me Maganlals had become very much like my own relatives.

I was so fascinated by the people first approach of Jayu Kaka, that I would not pass any opportunity to meet him or to 46 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Jaisingh Maganlal was a humane entrepreneur, who knew the magical balance between tasks and relationships know more about him. His presence was like a leadership / management session and lesson. The Maganlal family came to Goa from Mozambique and built a business empire from scratch. They also gave back to society in equal measures.

Interestingly, Jayu Kaka did not limit his business potential to revenue model, for he was a true visionary. He built a socio-economic business model and contributed in establishing schools, several charity projects in an era where corporate social responsibility was unheard of.

To me, Jayu kaka was an adventurous personality, always open to new ideas, ready to challenge traditional approaches – be it in business or society. His was ageless; and something which is worth mentioning is his ability to phase out from day-to-day management of his business subtly, when his sons started the traction, and expanded the business.

However, he continued to value add in his maverick and unique way by being literally close to customers!

His stamina to wait at the footsteps of his own mega store was a epitome of his humbleness, how much he loved his business and customers and he would just not greet but also give a helping hand to customers who would leave the

supercentre with more than a hand-full.

His smile and pat was so powerful that it could instantly destroy anyone’s lethargy.

Jayu Kaka would stand out of the store and inspire one and all – when he could easily afford the luxury of resting in a posh cabin or simply retiring.

Sometimes when he would not be at his store, I would feel down, I could not figure out whether I genuinely had the need to buy things at Magsons or I had the urge to have a brief chat with him.

Jaisingh Maganlal was a humane entrepreneur, who knew the magical balance between tasks and relationships.

It was because of him that I could build on the concept of “Close to customer”. I have shared about him and his magical managerial skills in several of my workshops in India and abroad. Few years back, Goa saw the mushrooming of several super centres, sweet marts but the genius of Jaisingh Maganlal had already transcended in his sons and today “Mithai Mandir” and “Magsons super centre”, “Hymart” continue to stay ahead of competitors.

I can remember very few business leaders who were omnipresent in their operations. The one I remember vividly is late Suman Mulgaonkar the driving force of Telco, Pune, who used to meet all

www.businessgoa.in

his employees once a week in his open jeep. Much later, this was management jargonised it as MBWA (Management By Walking Around).

Mulgaonkar’s indigenous practice integrated the organization and bought required proximity to customers, both internal and external.

I remember somewhere in 2015 probably it was November, Diwali time, Harshavardhan Bhatkuly in his editorial wrote “I have been a great admirer of Jaisingh Maganlal, father of Kirit and founder of the Magsons Supercentre. He served as a Trustee of the school which I attended. As a child, I would often wonder, how this man had so much positive energy. He would laugh and pat you and lift your spirits – and would often say “cheers” – the sound of which you would otherwise

hear only when adults clinked glasses with colourful liquid in them.

You can understand my amazement when I pass by his store everyday and I see Mr Maganlal still at the doorstep of his supercentre. Laughing and patting his customers and saying “cheers.” He is at an age when most people I know would recoil themselves into their forced retirements.

But not Mr Maganlal! His energy for his business is so infectious, that you have to make a purchase at his superstore. In fact, here is an endorsement that there is no better mascot and brand ambassador for your business, than you yourself.

His respect and bonding with his customers is worth emulating.”

As we enter the new year, it is a festive time to take new resolutions and here is a opportunity to not only

make one but also in a way to pay our tribute to this great ‘people entrepreneur’ by practicing few of his leadership lessons listed below which he demonstrated energetically and consistently right at the footsteps of his business establishment.

1. Management by walking around.

2. Be a part... be apart.

3. Close to customers.

4. Great success always starts with small acts.

5. Energy, Excitement and Engagement.

6. Adventurous, creative yet humble 7. Socio-economic focus for business development.

8. The art of giving and contributing.

9. Challenge the myths / assumptions.

10. Dream Big It is indeed an arduous task for me to walk down the street of Magson’s super centre

now, knowing that I will never ever see/meet Jayu kaka, but death does not mark the end of life, may be in physical form it might be, but I am sure we will all experience Jayu Kaka’s presence, hear him, feel him... get energised... because the valuable experiences he has left for all of us are worth preaching, practicing and sharing, as we enter 2018 and many more years to come, such that they become inspiration for us and others, leading all of us to prosperity.

Let us welcome 2018 in the spirited of joie de vivre that Jayu Kaka espoused, only to ensure that the journey of life is not one of frustration, depression but rather of infinite hope and fun. As he would say, “Cheers!”

The writer is an organisational development and talent analytics consultant. He is also the founder sponsor of Goa CSR Awards. He is the recipient of Limca Book of Records and Business Goa Award. Email: shahkishorem@gmail.com

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 47

beyond classroom / dr. pradeep b salgaonkar

Customer’s Role in Business Performance Measurement The columnist believes that any business performance analysis cannot exclude the role of a customer

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he last article, carried in December 2017 issue of Business Goa, dealt with importance of Business Performance Measurement (BPM) and different approaches for BPM, whereby Balanced Score Card (BSC) approach was suggested as the most comprehensive and reliable approach for BPM. The insant article will focus in detail on the importance and role of customers in BPM process.

Of the four areas involved in the balanced score card approach viz., financial performance, business processes, customers, and knowledge and learning, the third one i.e. Customer’s role becomes all the more important because this is the only area over which organizations don’t have enough control and is most difficult to manage. As we know, customer is the external force, the reason why businesses exists, and customer behaviour is very dynamic, making it all the more difficult to control and measure. All other areas involved are well within control of the organization.

Thus, to get a fair and holistic measurement of businesses’ performance, the measurement of two areas pertaining to customer (A) Customers’ feedback and how they feel about the organization, and, (B) Customer data i.e. the various numbers pertaining to customers, numbers pertaining to customer service and data pertaining to internal customers are critical, in so far as the role of customers is concerned in BPM. A. Customer Data Know your customer: Knowing maximum about your customers makes the journey easy for any business.

For effective BPM, collecting data on following aspects is very useful: (a) Number of customers – the current number of customers, the increase or decrease in number of customers over a period, number of customers lost, number of customers gained and number of customers retained. (b) Frequency of purchase – number of visitations, how often purchases were done. (c) Size of the basket – the volume of purchases done, whether increased or decreased (d) share of wallet – amount spent with your business vis a vis competitor’s business, increase or decrease in amount spent (e) Rate of acquiring new customers,

number of referrals.

Customer service: Customer service is the cementing material for bonding and engaging customers with the business. It is best measured through: (a) Measurement of customer satisfaction levels – best done through customer satisfaction surveys. The increase or decrease of satisfaction scores conveys the level of customer service and the overall business performance. (b) Loyalty scores – number of customers retained and their level of loyalty, (c) Number of customers willing to recommend, (d) Average waiting time, (e) Average time for response to queries (f) Customer complaints – Ignored complaints is a lost opportunity to satisfy and retain a customer. It is useful to measure total number of customer complaints in a period, increase or decrease in number of complaints, number of complaints resolved successfully, number of customers lost after complaint, number of customers retained after redressal, average complaint redressal time, nature of complaints etc.

Internal customers: The internal customers – your employees, are a crucial aspect of the BPM process. It is essential to measure following aspects pertaining to employees; (a) Employee productivity – timely employee performance evaluation vis a vis the Key Result Area (KRA) and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) stated in advance is essential to gauge quality of work and employee productivity. (b) Employee satisfaction – satisfied employees deliver satisfactory service leading to satisfied customers, hence higher the number of satisfied employees, better it is for the organisation. (c) Employee turnover – the frequency of employees leaving and fresh recruitment. (d) Employee attendance records – number of times employees fall short of requirement. (e) Willingness of employees to talk about the business – they are the true brand ambassadors of business, and having more number of such employees is a boon.

B. Customer feedback Every business exists because there is a customer for its products and services offered, and every business strives, in its own belief and style, to meet customers’

requirements. So is your business and your beliefs and actions. And you are happy because you believe that you are doing your best to satisfy and retain your customers, unaware of what do the customers feel about your actions and your business. Are they happy?

Disappointed? Dissatisfied? What do they expect? You are not aware of these realities and hence there is huge gap between your understanding of what customers want, what you are offering and actually what the customers want. Thus, customer feedback is essential to bridge this gap. The more you know about your customers, what they think about your business and offerings, their needs and wants, the easier it will be to handle with ease and satisfaction these customers.

Getting a first-hand feedback about customer’s opinion on your business will help to reset your business policies and actions and align business strategies to fit their needs more accurately. Without proper customer feedback in hand, and a proper feedback mechanism in place, you are running the business like a blind folded man walking on a street, and you need to be exceptionally lucky to reach your goal.

Importance of customer feedback: Customer feedback is important because of various reasons; (a) Customer feedback helps improve products and services by providing useful information in form of various suggestions, opinions, underlying expectations, unstated desires etc. that are gathered in the feedback process. (b) Collecting feedback shows that you value customer’s opinions and this in turn acts as a motivator for customers to stay and do more business. Harvard Business Review conducted a research in which they surveyed one group of customers and ignored the other. After a year it was observed that customers who were surveyed were more profitable and satisfied than the customers who were not surveyed. (c) Customer feedback helps to improve service delivery, customer engagement and creating best personalized experience for customers. (d) Customer feedback is a reliable source of information to other customers.

Customers, in general, believe and rely more on the experiences and opinions of other customers than the advertisements

The writer is a professor of marketing, corporate trainer and founder, SALDOTS Academy; and Chairman, Goa Management Association.Email: pradeepsalgaonkar@gmail.com 48 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

@businessgoa

or sales persons.

However, some businesses collect customer feedback as a customary requirement, may be because the business policies warrant the same. The feedback lies on the website or in files un-attended, the problems aggravating continuously and the business losing customers one by one. Narrated below are two simple anecdotes of customer experience with reputed service organization and negative feedback given to the business gone unheard.

The delivery damage: (reproduced as available on website) Product 1 “Very frustrating and disgusting experience with delivery. We badly wanted the product before 19 November 2017, as my daughter was travelling on 20 Nov out of Goa and she wanted this product. The scheduled delivery date was 18 Nov, hence the product was ordered.

The parcel had reached courier outlet in Goa on 15 Nov, but till 21 Nov there was no attempt made to deliver the parcel. I called several times the ‘only’ toll free contact number provided to check status of the parcel, And it showed status as ‘the parcel is on way’. There was absolutely

no other way to contact anyone for the status of the parcel. Such undue delay is disgusting and it’s shameful for AAA* to claim they provide excellent service.

Make communication easy. Improve delivery. Give value to customer. Or close shop.”

customer feedback and use it seriously for your benefit. Collecting feedback for the sake of collecting, or because the policies warrant, and not using it or taking action on the feedback may further aggravate the existing problem, hence be proactive and act in the right direction.

Product 2 “Very frustrating and pathetic service coming from AAA* in terms of delivery.

Very sad. very bad. behaviour of delivery people is very rude. Promised date of delivery was 20th Nov, 2017. However on 21st November, without even calling me or anyone coming to my place I get sms saying ‘Delivery attempted’. How pathetic. The outlet manager (name deleted)* is very casual and rude.

Undue delay in delivery. Improve delivery. Improve customer service.

Improve value to customers. OR CLOSE SHOP. Let competitors do business. Most unreliable in terms of Delivery.” (*Names changed) These above customers confirm to me that there has been no reply or intimation till date of any action taken from the organization reported above, indicating that they do not care for customer feedback. It makes better sense to collect

Conclusion A holistic approach to BPM with adequate importance to collecting customer data from time to time and accurately capturing customer feedback will enable the business to check on its performance. Your business may have the best plan, the best implementation according to your beliefs, but without customer feedback and knowledge of other customer related data, proceeding ahead as per plans might be futile, taking the business nowhere. Check your actions with your plan taking into consideration customers’ feedback and data obtained from customers. Based on the customer data analysis, take corrective action to set newer policies, product and service improvements, and the overall business strategy to succeed read your digital copy on>

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 49

HR MANTRA / R N Misra

How HR organizations can pack the skills to succeed The writer analyses the various parameters by which HR can up their ante

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he bottom line to the new Bersin research is pretty simple: it shows that many HR organizations still lack the skills they need to succeed in 2011.

The study, which included surveys and interviews with more than 720 global organizations, found that overall spending levels, organization structure, and team size have far less impact on business performance than the skills of the HR professionals themselves.

“This research clearly shows that the days of bloated HR organizations focused on administrative tasks are over,” said Josh Bersin, chief executive officer and president of Bersin & Associates.

“Lean, technology-enabled, well-trained HR teams are able to take advantage of modern talent practices and partner with business leaders to drive impact.”

The research also makes the case that the decades-old “HR generalist” model is no longer effective unless the HR generalists are highly trained and connected to senior business leaders.

That sounds like a contradiction to me, but the study also points out that the key HR competencies that drive results today are familiarity with integrated talent management, understanding of workforce planning, and comfort with social networking and HR technology.

Top 10 HR Best Practices What I found most compelling in the survey was the list of the Top 10 HR Best Practices that produced the highest impact ratings out of all of the 140 HR practices and features that Bersin evaluated. See if you agree that this is a list that makes a lot of sense: 1.

Structured governance and business case development (HR impact opportunity: 39%). From Bersin: “Building a business case requires a clear understanding of the business or businesses that HR serves, as well as working relationships with all business leaders. HR can achieve both by involving business leaders in the planning processes and governance. This involvement also helps to ensure business alignment and, as a result of that alignment, business buy-in and support.”

2. Developing advanced workforce planning capabilities (HR impact opportunity: 28%). From Bersin: “Highimpact HR organizations incorporate

sophisticated forecasting and workforce analytics into their processes. This enables them to translate companywide talent, business data and external workforce segment data into workable insights that they can use and share with business leaders.”

3.

Implementing the “right” HR philosophies (HR impact opportunity: 27%). From Bersin: “High-impact HR organizations tend to commit themselves to creating work environments that enable employees to thrive both as individuals and as contributors to business success. They strive to create positive employee environments, and clearly communicate these expectations in the HR philosophy and mission. The most effective philosophies focus on fostering innovation and collaboration, or creating the best place to work, while the least effective philosophies focus narrowly on efficiency or cost-cutting efforts.”

4.

Reducing administrative work for HR business partners (HR impact opportunity: 25%). From Bersin: “Many HR functions have a role that is a liaison between the HR function and business leaders. The specifics of this role vary widely. High-impact HR organizations use it to advise senior business leaders, focusing on decision support, workforce planning, leadership development and executive coaching. By enlisting the right person, HR can improve its credibility across the enterprise, improve working relationships with business leaders, cultivate mutual understanding and gain influence. When this role is implemented poorly, with more focus on administrative duties and taking orders, our research found that it can actually reduce an HR function’s ability to work effectively and efficiently.

5.

Implementing flexible HR organization design (HR impact

opportunity: 20%).

From Bersin: “High-impact HR organizations are flexible and agile.

Like earthquakeproof buildings, they are structured to allow adaptive movement if the ground shifts. No overall HR structural model (centralized, decentralized or a combination of the two) in itself emerged as a predictor of HR success. But certain structural features do lend themselves to areas of excellence. One feature that we found to be universally valuable was flexibility.

Fancy organization charts and designs are fine – provided that you also have a culture which recognizes the need to adapt structurally when business needs and challenges change, as well as an HR staff that is capable of making those changes.”

6.

Improving employee-facing HR systems (HR impact opportunity — 19%). From Bersin: “The most significant contributions to the overall effectiveness of an HR function come from community-building and selfservice elements. Knowledge-sharing portals, web-based recruitment tools and management dashboards let various HR stakeholders and clients find what they need when they need it. HR functions with user-friendly client systems are regarded as twice as effective and efficient as functions that do not invest in this advantage.”

7. Measuring both HR operational and business metrics (HR impact opportunity: 19%). From Bersin: “Measurement strategies in high-impact HR organizations have evolved to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and business alignment. Such strategies incorporate both operational measures by which to manage the HR function and strategic people measures to support crucial business decisions.”

8.

Developing internal HR skills (HR impact opportunity: 13%). From Bersin: “As they focus on programs to develop employees company-wide, HR organizations often neglect the development of their own team members.

This is a mistake. The world of HR

The writer is a visiting faculty to many B-Schools. He is a professional trainer in many PSUs and private sector industries. Email: rnmisra@tatasteel.com 50 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

antarprerna / nandini vaidyanathan

How do you rebrand a brand called Goa?

The writer feels that Brand Goa has already made a place in the hearts and minds of its prospects

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n my previous column, I wrapped up by saying “A brand is not created by the marketer. It is created by the customer.”

By means of how he sees it, things he associates with it, emotions it invokes in his breast. Surf will only invoke ‘samajdhari’-ness’ (sensibility) even if it is over 40 years since Lalitaji pointed it out, even as she vaulted from Alyque Padamsee’s head on to our newspapers and television screens. Her crisp white saree was meant to defy spatial and temporal sensibilities of the average detergent consumer – Nirma’s Hema, Rekha, Jaya aur Sushma, notwithstanding.

So what is brand Goa? How does the customer see it?

Beaches. Alcohol. Casino. Sea food.

Hot white chicks with legs that go on and on. Drugs.

What does the customer associate with it?

Untold, unchecked, unlimited freedom of spirit.

What emotions does it invoke in his breast?

A pumping rush. A throbbing anticipation. A mind-blowing fix.

Never-before, never-again experience.

Can’t-get-enough-but too-good-to-last happiness.

So what’s wrong with this kind of branding, you ask? It seems like every marketer’s dream script, right?

For some reason, every one, and his aunt in Goa is trying to change the image of Goa. To what, I don’t know. But I do know to anything but what Goa is to its ardent customer. People talk about policing the beaches. People talk about restricting vending of alcohol in select locations. People talk about sending the casinos packing. People talk about serving dal makhani instead of ambot tik.

People talk about sending the gorgeous

Russians and the Israeli girls back to their parents. People talk.

I have only one question to all these talking people. What man, you want to make Goa like Rameshwaram?

The thought itself is sacrilegious.

Almost like saying Vegas will stop being Sin City. And will be rebranded as the Vatican.

You get my drift? Why can’t we rebrand Goa as the original brand? Levis even to this day remains a cowboy brand.

Diesel says smart may have the brains but stupid has the balls. Nike urges you to just do it, day in and day out. And KFC looks good, finger-lickin’ good, guys, capiche?

So why can’t we go back to rebranding Goa as before? And celebrate its freedom of spirit? Instead of bottling it as coconut feni for baptism?

If the locals have a problem with it, put them into a walled city, a la Jerusalem. Or even Aihole. Let them say their collective Hail Marys and multiply within.

Facetiousness apart, why would anyone want to mess with a super brand like Goa? And by mess I mean the following: So what if Goa does not have internet?

The gods of Goa - and not particularly in any order – Neptune (sea), Bacchus (food and wine) and Hades (gambling) are not really the browsing kind and they certainly don’t expect their devotees to vanish to the land of fantasy when so much is available right there, right then!

So what if it’s not a great business hub or a start-up valley? Do you know anyone in your network who visits Goa for buying machinery or developing VR software?

So what if there are drugs, gambling and other activities which for some reason are frowned upon? By the way who frowns upon them? Not the guys who

control the exchequer. Not the tourists.

Not even the locals who make hay even when the sun doesn’t shine. My guess is the only ones who frown are those who, for whatever reason, have not been the beneficiary of this tourist largesse. You know, sour grapes and all that. And they don’t matter.

So what if the foreigners sell Iyengar yoga to Indian tourists, that too in chaste Russian? Yoga may have originated here, but we all know it became a global brand thanks to Westerners who found an impeccable way to arouse their kundalini and that of the dormant Indians’!

So what if susegad continues to be the raison d’etre by which every true-blue Goan lives for and dies for? If it wasn’t this Portugese word, it would have been another Konkoni word! That is no reason to go about opening IITs and IIMs in a state where there is no land available for such nefarious activities!

So back to my question. If brand goa ain’t broke, why fix it? And that too in such a humpty-dumpty way where firstly, it doesn’t look anything like the original brand and secondly, where it looks like something it was never meant to be?

All of you and your aunts, leave Goa be. If you want to rebrand it go back to the basics. In the customer’s mind, Goa is the following.

Beaches. Alcohol. Casino. Sea food.

Hot white chicks with legs that go on and on. Drugs.

Untold, unchecked, unlimited freedom of spirit.

A pumping rush. A throbbing anticipation. A mind-blowing fix.

Never-before, never-again experience.

Can’t-get-enough-but too-good-to-last happiness.

That’s brand Goa. Don’t mess with it

The writer mentors entrepreneurs and teaches entrepreneurship. She is the author of Entrepedia, the best-selling book on how to start your own business in India. She is also the Managing Editor of the monthly digital magazine for entrepreneurs, Chatterpillar. Email: nandini@carmaconnect.in

solutions is constantly changing. Highimpact HR organizations must invest the time and money needed to ensure team members’ competence grows in such disciplines as change management and relationship management. Efforts must also focus on developing team members’ business acumen, industry knowledge and command of current best practices in all areas of talent management, as well as the use of social networking tools and

other HR technology.”

9. Improving line manager capabilities (HR impact opportunity: 10%). From Bersin: “A common pitfall for many HR functions is the attempt to meet the needs of every stakeholder directly, thereby spreading limited HR resources very thinly. High-impact HR functions have prioritized the focus of their HR resources on building the capabilities of their line managers. This decision

allows them to work in partnership with their line managers, versus trying to work around line managers who may be incompetent or ill-prepared.

10. Outsourcing HR services strategically (HR impact opportunity: 10%). From Bersin: “High-impact HR organizations use outsourcing to enable their internal teams to focus on things that cannot be outsourced, such as building business continued on page 57

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 51

corporate citizen / Daniel Albuquerque

Ev Mobility: The top trend of 2018

The author is a writer with Oxford University Press and a published author

The writer believes that electronic mobility is the way forward for automobiles

I

f I were to assert that Elon Musk – the multifaceted engineer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Tesla, the ultra-modern car firm – is synonymous with the Electric Car, probably those who consider themselves as smart youngsters would agree with me. They would scarcely believe if I told them that the first Electric Vehicle (EV) was produced 148 years ago, way back in 1880!

Amid a plethora of trends predicted for 2018, EV mobility (Electronic Mobility) seems to emerge as one of the topmost. AI (Artificial Intelligence), AR (Augmented Reality), Real-Time Social Media, SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) – those technology experts required to educate and guide both industry and clients – Crypto Currencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Etherum, Zcash, Dash, etc., Blockchain, the software platform for digital assets and several others are well in competition and seem to push each other out on almost weekly basis.

With India taking a significant policy decision EV could be a front-runner as trendsetter.

The Government of India has an ‘Electric Vehicle Mission 2030’ which is sometimes known as Automotive Mission Plan (AMP). The vision is to be among the top three of the world in engineering, manufacturing and exporting of EVs. Accordingly, NITI Aayog, India’s policy making agency, wants to devise such policies that could leapfrog India to manufacture EVs, develop battery and storage solutions, build infrastructure for recharge and other allied services.

NITI Ayog along with Rocky Mountain Institute of the US conducted a joint research on ‘Transformative Mobility Solutions’ in February, 2017. It proposed new comprehensive paradigm to achieve the mission. Firstly, it consists of a shared system that integrates mobility service with inter-operable data. Secondly, it is about building an electric ecosystem of shared infrastructure consisting of mobility oriented development and vehicle grid integration. Thirdly, the most important, it consists in actual manufacturing and supplying of EVs. If this is achieved then it would mean 67% energy efficiency and 37% cut in carbon emissions. The research showed that India has the entire wherewithal of leapfrog opportunity for EV. The Indian motor vehicle

52 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Elon Musk

manufacturing companies are taking the government initiatives seriously.

Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Motors are already producing e-cars.

Maruti-Suzuki, India’s market leader is already selling hybrid cars. There are over a dozen companies which produce e-motorcycles and scooters. Tata Motors, Goldstone (Himachal Pradesh) and Ashok Leyland have already produced buses, trucks, mini-trucks, semi-trailers, tractors and rickshaws functioning on the roads; however, scaling up is what is needed. Now the government is not going to hesitate and has already set the date that after 2030 only EVs will be sold and all the production of internal combustion vehicles will be stopped. Thus the warning for both the manufacturers and the buyers is well served.

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art there is a painting of Benjamin Franklin, drawing electricity from the sky. He was not only one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, but also one of the greatest scientists that the world has ever seen. He discovered battery in 1748!

Then why did the world adopt fossil fuels which have only caused environmental disaster through global warming?

The crux of the matter is electricity stored in a battery, the technology of which remained underdeveloped whereas the internal combustion engine which was discovered much later, 1791, advanced due to the easy and cheap availability of fossil fuels and rapidly developing technology. India has over 200 million vehicles and spends very close to five lakh crores in import of crude oil. In today’s scenario of the development renewable energy resources, such a situation needs rectification with the use of new energy and its storage technologies. The new global economics demonstrates that EVs produced in large scale would be much cheaper than the dwindling oil deposits and price volatility due to geopolitical reasons.

People dream of endless source of energy so that they could drive their cars for free. There are many such free

sources but harnessing them is the problem. Other than the sun, hydrogen is also un-harnessed. However, now it is certain that EV challenge can be met with evolving battery technology and its charging infrastructure. This is one area where India can wrest market leadership.

Lithium-ion Batteries (LiBs) are being planned by top battery manufacturing firms and with government’s policy push, these batteries, which are otherwise costly would be cost effective as scaling up of manufacturing is undertaken. In the similar fashion, the infrastructure required for recharge could be another opportunity for entrepreneurs.

Now the question is whether India can seize the opportunity. The answer is in the affirmative. The Government of India has already placed a huge order with the Indian EV manufacturers. The only other state that has taken similar steps is Karnataka. Rest of the states in India are not on the scene; and that includes Goa. The relevance of EV vehicles to Goa can never be underestimated. A tourist state that attracts almost seven times more tourists than its own population should see EVs as a boon. With adequate timely planning, policy, budgeting and implementation the government of Goa could revolutionize mobility both to locals as well as tourists. It would be an essential part of making the entire state as integral part of smart city project.

With a complete coverage of the state with public EVs, the personal passenger vehicles such as four wheelers and two wheelers may be rendered redundant.

The cost effectiveness of EVs could even cover the last-mile mobility.

The employment opportunities from building infrastructure, maintenance, dealerships, recharge facilities, battery swaps and several other areas would further strengthen the economy of the state. With this, it does not take rocket science to realize that our cities and towns would emerge as No-Motor-Zones (NOMOZOs). The need to broaden roads and acquisition of scarce land for that purpose would be annulled.

As I began with Elon Musk, so do I wish to conclude with his quote: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favour.”

EV is the most important in mobility and attempting our best to promote it is only going to take us to a better future

CurtainRaiser

@businessgoa

Linc Tower Run

Goa’s Super-Duper Stair-Climbing Race Navy Wives team at Linc Tower Run 2017

Prakash Jalan of Linc with a winner

R

unning up a seemingly endless flight of steps in a stairwell can feel strange. It can also feel exhilarating. It’s an intense but enjoyable cardio workout.

Tower running, a stair climbing sport, is becoming established in Goa. Over the past four years, the iconic Linc Tower Run has been held in EDC’s Patto Plaza, the business district of Panaji.

On Sunday 28 January 2018, the fifth edition of the race will be run. It involves running up 840 steps over five buildings, from Gera Imperium ll to Dempo Trade Center. Those interested can register online at www.towerrunning.in.

The Linc Tower Run, Goa 2018 has three formats. In the Individual Run, participants run up the stairs of all five buildings. Only the time required to climb up is counted. Competitors have up to three minutes to climb down each building, either using the stairs or the lift.

There are three age categories: Student (18 years and under), Open (19 to 44 years) and Veteran (45 years and up), with men’s and women’s prizes in each.

In the Team Challenge, a team of five runners takes on the course, each running up and down one building before passing the baton to the next.

Three team categories – Student, Group and Corporate – have mixed teams of men and women.

The Vertical Sprint is designed for the non-athlete; participants run up and down just one seven-storied building – Gera’s Imperium II. There are no age groups. Prizes are for men and women.

As a sport, Tower Running is unique.

All you need is regular running gear.

Event organiser Kim Sabir offers some basic advice: “It’s all about pacing – start off with a fast walk and then run up the stairs as steadily as you can. Try to climb two steps at a time; it halves the distance.”

Competitors set off at 3-second

54 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

intervals, so there is little bumping into each other. Stair climbing is largely a solitary, if physically demanding pastime, with little to look at. It requires no training, and can be done by anybody.

But at a highly competitive level, one’s

“It’s all about pacing – start off with a fast walk and then run up the stairs as steadily as you can. Try to climb two steps at a time; it halves the distance” Kim Sabir

Organiser, Linc Tower Run

heart pounds, lungs feel like they are bursting, legs burn as one ascends... At intense levels, it is an extreme sport.

The race starts with a run of about 50 metres along the road to Gera’s Imperium II. With cheering crowds and flashing cameras, the start is exhilarating. But once in the stairwell, the runners are alone.

Then, there’s only the sound of their feet pounding and their hearts pumping. A staggered start ensures that there is no crowd of runners blocking the staircase.

The runners are timed electronically, by state-of-the-art RFID systems.

All safety factors are taken care of.

Water stations are outside each building.

There are medics to keep a watchful eye.

Race crews on the top floor time the runners to calculate only the climbing up time. Sportspersons value the health benefits of the sport. They find it good for building up core strength. The high intensity complements aerobic sports like marathons and cycling.

Tower Running provides a fullbody high-intensity workout with an emphasis on the lower body. It not only builds endurance; pulling oneself up against gravity – including pulling on handrails delivers real benefits. Good runners typically finish the race in 9 to 11 minutes. The record time stands at a remarkable 8 mins and 38 seconds, from the 2016 Linc Tower Run. Timings in the team event can be as little as 7 minutes.

Tower Running is the fastest growing global urban sport today. This extreme urban sport has grown exponentially; hundreds of thousands of average citizens and elite athletes participate in over 1,000 tower run races in over a hundred countries each year. The Towerrunning World Association governs the sport.

It rates events leading up to world championships on a points system. In 2014, the association recognised the Goa

www.businessgoa.in Participants at Linc Tower Run 2017

Tower Run, placing India on the global map of Tower Running.

Outside, the promenade wears a festive atmosphere with a ‘Fitness’ theme. Stalls of health foods, fresh juices, fitness professionals, etc, line the pavements. It all starts off with a professionally conducted mass warm up. In between each race is a short performance, with Zumba, followed by KravMaga and more. A Tug of War is held for corporate teams. A wonderful time is had by all.

Over 500 runners from the armed forces, police, corporates, students teams, and general citizens will compete.

Participants will come from Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and elsewhere. The Linc Tower Run has placed Goa indelibly on the international map of Tower Running along with over a hundred other countries.

To be a part of the excitement, register online at www.towerrunning.in

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 55

CurtainRaiser

Goa Biz Fest 2018 to be held between Feb 8-10 T

he third edition of the popular Goa Biz Fest (GBF) 2018 will be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium at Bambolim between February 8-10, 2018.

The event which will be held over three days for the first time hopes to attract a total of 5,000 people.

Jointly organised by the Business Network International (BNI) Goa Region and Goa Entrepreneurs Mentoring Services (GEMS) Trust and supported by the Government of Goa, the GBF will focus on four key verticals namely, Biz Expo, Knowledge Summit, Career cum Job Fair and a Startup Conclave.

Addressing media persons, Rajkumar Kamat, executive director, GBF said that the event has been curated to enhance the state government’s efforts to boost the economy and to develop the spirit of entrepreneurship among Goan youth, both key objectives of BNI and GEMS. According to Kamat, the Biz Expo at the GBF will see over 100 stalls which will feature sectors such as construction and architecture, tourism and agro products and emerging technologies and start-ups among others.

Likewise the Knowledge Summit at GBF will focus on areas such as emerging technologies, construction and tourism, clean, safe and secure Goa, besides clean, green and smart cities. If that is not all, subject experts will also educate the participants on opportunities for startups and business beyond boundaries. Kamat informed that the icing on the cake would be an interview with Goa chief minister, 56 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

GEMS Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards The ‘GEMS Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards’ will be presented to deserving young business entrepreneurs in Goa in the following categories, 1) GEMS Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Male), 2) GEMS Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Female), 3) Prashant Shinde award for employment generation (Male or Female). 4) Rural Entrepreneurs and 5) Special Recognition Interested candidates should be below the age of 40 and must apply before January 20, 2018 at www. gemsgoa.org Manohar Parrikar, who will share his government’s vision for Goa by 2022.

Another highlight of the GBF will be the job and career fair which will bring unemployed youth and final year college students face to face with human resource executives from various companies.“This will provide the youth a golden opportunity to present their credentials and explore varied job opportunities,” Kamat said.

Dr Pramod Sawant, Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly and Chief Mentor, GBF who spoke on the

The third edition of Goa Biz Fest, which will be held over three days for the first time, hopes to attract a total of 5,000 people

occasion, said that the event had the full support of the Goa government. “The Goa Biz Fest has the potential to become as important as the IFFI event in Goa,” Sawant said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Vinay Verma, Chairman, GBF organising committee said that the ‘Startup Conclave’ at GBF will hand-hold budding entrepreneurs and help them formulate their business ideas and provide them with a road map for success. “This will be achieved through ideation and softskill training workshops and advice on funding options. The conclave will also see the presentation of the GEMS Young Entrepreneur of the Year award,” Verma said.

Entry and participation to the threeday GBF is free. However, participants must register at www.goabizfest.com at the earliest

“The event has been curated to enhance the state government’s efforts to boost the economy and to develop the spirit of entrepreneurship among Goan youth, both key objectives of BNI and GEMS”

Rajkumar Kamat

Executive Director, Goa Biz Fest

Events Gems and Padre Conceicao College of Engineering sign mou

(L-R front row) Jervis Pereira, Andre Shackleton, Atul Naik, Manoj Patil, Ftr Anthony Castello, Dr Mahesh Parrapagodar and Niyan Marchon along with the faculty members of PCC

An MOU was signed between PCCE and GEMS (Goa Entrepreneurship Mentoring Services Trust) recently.

Manoj Patil, President, GEMS, Andre Shackleton, Chief Innovating Officer, Atul Naik, Trustee and Jervis Pereira, CEO, GEMS were present along with Fr. Anthony Castello, Director, ATEC, Dr. Mahesh Parrapagodar, Principal, Heads of Department and other staff members. The

MOU was signed between PCCE and GEMS for the purpose of creating and promoting entrepreneurial skills among students, thereby contributing towards the entrepreneurship growth in the state of Goa. Prof. Niyan Marchon, Associate Professor and TPO briefed the gathering about the objectives of the MOU and also proposed the vote of thanks. Alzira Xavier was the compere for the function

continued from page 51

How HR organizations can succeed... relationships and developing custom solutions for business managers. These organizations outsource areas that can be improved through economies of scale, or which require global coordination and expertise. What an organization outsources often depends on its level of maturity.”

Seat at the table = high expectations The research study comes out of Bersin & Associates’ new HR Practice, which was recently launched, the company says, to “address long-standing requests from HR professionals to help them build their skills, and prioritize and align their HR strategies with the business to deliver the greatest return.”

“The challenge for HR professionals today is living up to the high expectations that come with a seat at the table – expectations to drive business results through

people and culture,” said Bersin’s Harris. “Our new HR Practice and this particular body of research reveal the keys to driving impact. We are also addressing longstanding requests by our Bersin & Associates members to help them prioritize and align their HR strategies with the business to deliver the greatest return.”

I’m not sure how the HR Practice will go for Bersin, but if it performs like other parts of the Bersin organization, it should give all the other HR consultants a good run for their money.

In fact, just this list of the Top 10 best HR Practices is a great start because it clearly gets to the heart of what HR needs to be doing to add value to an organization. And if you have spent much time around HR, you know that just about everyone needs to focus a lot more on that

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 57

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 73

Events

@businessgoa

Rotary Club of Vasco Port Town’s Joy of Giving celebrations at Planet Hollywood Beach Resort

R

otary Club of Vasco Port Town started off its welfare activities for 2018 with a heart-warming “Joy of Giving” event at Planet Hollywood Beach Resort on the 6 January 2018, for the hearing impaired children of Lokvishwas Pratishthan, Ponda.

The atmosphere at the resort was gleeful when the children walked into the banquet hall, being greeted

with beautifully decorated pouches full of goodies by Mickie and Minnie (the mascots for the evening).

One would fall short of words in describing the joyful expression on these young children’s faces. The President of the club Rtn. Pranil Sardessai welcomed everyone to the event and thanked the faculty members of this institution, the donors and the contributors. He also

expressed his gratitude to the General Manager of Planet Hollywood, Anand Chatterji, for his philanthropic gesture in providing the banquet hall along with refreshments, for the event.

The project coordinator Rtn. Kavita Dialani and Rtn. Cheryl along with the other club members made sure that the event was well organised and it flew rhythmically.

In order to celebrate this

festive season with the lesser privileged ones, these children were asked to give a wish list to the club and the club collected donation by placing wish trees at 1930 Vasco, Estrela Do Mar Calangute and Planet Hollywood. Some members and donors also brought in the gifts directly, as per requests on the wish list.

Apart from gifts, magician Clifford stole the show for his little audiences. They were mesmerized by his tricks and by the humour he added to the act, which was being demonstrated to the specially-abled children by an interpreter. The children also presented a meaningful mime. It was a sight to behold when these children in their unspoken ways communicated with each other and the smile on their faces were expressive of how much fun they were having

Business Wisdom at Goa’s Biggest Book Store

Read the best of business books. From influential authors.

Thousands of titles to choose from. Come, empower yourself.

1st Floor, Ashirwad Building, 18th June Road, Panaji GOA 403001 Tel:. 0832-6647038 58 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

@businessgoa

Grand Hyatt Goa’s ‘Skyfall’ brings in the New Year with aplomb

A

t Grand Hyatt Goa, every occasion is about creating memories to last a lifetime.

Unfolding the mystery with a grand celebration, Grand Hyatt Goa hosted ‘Skyfall’, to bring in New Year 2018. With exceptional cuisine, breathtaking sets and unparalleled service, everyone at the New Year’s Eve party discovered the thrill of #LivingGrand. As all occasions at Grand Hyatt Goa, they pulled out all the

stops to make sure that the night was extravagant as ever.

Goa’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration saw participation from hotel patrons as well as international and domestic travellers, all-raising their glasses to welcome 2018 the grand way.

Designed as a gateway to an ethereal world, the event included live performances by international and local artists.

With enthralling aerial and dance acts, jaw-dropping

food and liquid bars, and the best in class services, it was a splendid night of entertainment amidst fanfare and grandeur.

Opening onto the expansive lawns of the resort, guests were surrounded by an extravagant dinner spread and impressive dessert counters.

The evening begun with a charming aerial trapeze act, followed by an electrifying dance performance by Karan Pangali and his crew.

Of course, the highlight of the event was the energetic performance by Goa’s

favourite band ‘Alcatraz’ that had everyone on the dance floor showing off some of their best moves.

As the night progressed, DJ Karan took to the stage along with Alcatraz putting up a fun and entertaining performance together, leading to the most awaited moment of the night – the countdown for 2018. As guests’ faces lit up to the fireworks show by the bay everyone welcomed a brand new year. The celebrations ended on a high with everyone dancing their way into 2018

JANUARY 2018 | Business Goa industry Dossier | 59

BonAppétit

www.businessgoa.in

Spice It, Ibis Styles Goa Calangute

New menu launch by “Spice It”

Goa’s authentic culinary style is the flavour of the season

G

Chicken Cafreal in Poi Pockets

oa is a mix of east meets west, which is not only represented through the distinct culture but also in its variety of cuisine. Setting the benchmark in a vibrant and contemporary setting, Spice It, ibis Styles Goa Calangute’s signature all-day dining restaurant, announces the launch of its exciting new menu. With this, the resort will delight foodies to savour its extensive spread of exquisite delicacies.

The new menu encompasses scrumptious appetizers ranging from Malai Til Tandoori Broccoli, Poi Pizza, Peri Peri Prawns, while the mains feature Goan Tambdi Bhaji, Maratha Spiced Chicken, Goan Fish Curry with Rice, all-time classic pastas, burgers and much more. Desserts include specialties such as Ice cream Burger, Serradura, Dodol with White Chocolate Truffle, Kokum

60 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Peri Peri Prawns

Vegetable Sandwich in Poi

Caramel Custard and others. The carte du jour comprises of true flavours and rich aroma prepared using traditional cooking techniques.

Conventional spices intermingled with well-honed expertise within the kitchens of ‘Spice It’, as handpicked regional herbs, sauces and seasonings lend a perfect culinary high.

Rahul Bhale, Executive Chef, ibis Styles Goa Calangute shares, “As the name suggests, our restaurant is known for its spicy multi-cuisine and I believe that menus should evolve to keep patrons

coming back for dishes that both delight and surprise them. We have selected diverse cooking styles with the choicest of ingredients and homemade recipes to keep up with rising trends and to bring our guests a treasure trove of culinary dishes.” Spice It is a dynamic and stylish restaurant with brightly coloured interiors and furnishings, designed to bring a smile to guests with fine modern gastronomy. It also offers a full spread breakfast which runs from 7 to 10.30 am and an extended breakfast offering till 12 noon with limited choices.

The dishes prepared by Chef Rahul and his team emphasizes on freshness and creativity, infused with different flavours and cooking styles to suit the modern day palate. Unwind and awaken your sense of culinary adventure with an array of delectable offerings

Goan Fish Curry with Rice

Goan Vegetable Masala Cones

Spice It is a dynamic and stylish restaurant with brightly coloured interiors and furnishings, designed to bring a smile to guests with fine modern gastronomy

@businessgoa

Nandan Pure Veg Restaurant, Panaji

The Great Indian Street Food Festival

Bhel Puri

The Great Indian Street Food Festival which kick-started on the 15th of January and will stay on till the 15th of February 2018

Disco Batata Vada

Vada Pao

Nandan Pure Veg Restaurant, distinctly known for its authentic Indian vegetarian fare, has put together The Great Indian Street Food Festival from 15th of January to 15th of February 2018

N

andan Pure Veg Restaurant, situated in the heart of Panjim, distinctly known for its authentic Indian veg. cuisine, put together “The Great Indian Street Food Festival which kick-started on the 15th of January and will stay on till the 15th of February ‘18.

The Festival provides the perfect platform for Goans

and tourists alike to walk in and acquaint their taste buds with India’s vibrant street food culture. It offers a selection of India’s most delectable street food such as Chaat, Vada Pav, Dabeli, Ragada Pattice, etc. including a unique spin on the average Batata Vada, playfully termed as the Disco Batata Vada; an explosion of flavor and spice. Curated

by the Head Chef and made using the finest of ingredients, guests can complement their spicy snacks with fresh juices and rich, creamy faloodas.

The usual, classy interiors of Nandan have been revamped for the festival

using vibrant colors that exemplify the true essence of India’s streets, giving walkins a veritably convincing ambiance as they dig in and enjoy lip-smacking street food in the comfort of a plush, top-notch restaurant. Street food enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice at this delightfully Desi affair, and leave stuffed to the brim indulging in their favorite Indian street fare!

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GoaBuzz

@businessgoa

T V Mohandas Pai and D Shivakumar speak at AIMA and GMA lecture on ‘Leadership in the Age of Disruption’

President of All India Management Association (AIMA), T V Mohandas Pai and CEO of Pepsico India, D Shivakumar enthralled a select audience of entrepreneurs and management practitioners in a lecture on ‘Leadership in the age of Disruption.’ Former CFO of Infosys, Pai spoke about global history of change and disruptive practices; while Shivakumar’s presentation was an eye-opener, as he shared statistics of change that has been happening on the business canvas over the last 50 years. Industrialist and AIMA Council Member Shrinivas Dempo set the tone for the discussion. Senior industrialist Narayan Bandekar was felicitated at the hands of Pai and Shivakumar, on the occasion of Bandekar’s 75th birthday. Accepting the honour, the former president of GCCI, was all praise for AIMA and Goa Management Association (GMA) for organising this ‘eye opening’ lecture. Bandekar shared his business journey with the audience.

Rekha Sethi, Director General of AIMA, Nitin Kunkolienker (President, GMA), Dr. Pradeep Salgaocar (Chairman, GMA) were also D Shivakumar part of the organising team Felicitation of Narayan Bandekar

Rekha Sethi

Nitin Kunkolienker

Harshvardhan Bhatkuly

Suvarna Bandekar

Kusumlata Pai

V B Prabhu Verlekar

Dr Pradeep Salgaonkar

Sudin Naik

Prashant Joshi

Amin Ladak

D Kumar Pillai

Dr M S Dayanand

Nitin Bandekar

Dr Krishnagopal Rajanala

Rajiv Nevgi

Roshan Bandekar

Nayna Bandekar

Roopa Bandekar

Pallavi Desai

Jaydeep Redkar

Neeraj Kapoor

Ganesh Daivajna

Gautam Verlekar

Dr Ajit Parulekar

Mahesh Pai

Rashmi Bandekar

Mahesh Prabhu

Tejashree Pai

Sanjeev Nadkarni

Shrinivas Dempo Arun Naik 62 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Raj Bhandare

Anup Prabhu Verlekar

T V Mohandas Pai

Raghuveer Vernekar

GoaBuzz

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Celebration of Sarees by Vini Keni

‘Saree Speak’ is a group on Facebook which was started by Vini Keni in April 2016; and since then has grown by leaps and bounds. It is a forum for ladies only to share their passion for handloom weaves through the medium of sarees and presently has a membership of about 20,000 from across the globe!

Members of this group have been organising meets in various cities in India and abroad, where virtual friends have been able to connect in person and further their love for the saree. The meet in Goa was held on January 6 in Panaji, where besides enthusiastic saree wearing by 140 ladies, weaves from across India were showcased on the ramp. The sudden interest in sarees through ‘Saree Speak’ and other such groups on social media, has created a resurgence of the garment amongst young wearers and a revival within the handloom industry.

‘Saree Speak’ is also on Instagram and Twitter

Nivedita Dempo

Archana Bhobe

Gaurpriya Pai Kane

Madhu Tole

Preetha Sardessai

Rajeshwari Iyer

Divya Lunia

Shefali Caculo

Seena Panicker Pereira

Lalita Kakodkar

Preeti Mahatme

Sonia Kuncalienkar

Rashna Javeri

Savitha Suri

Neelam Phatarpekar

Mita Mathur

Vini Keni

Seema Sood

Rhia Lotlikar Rai

Anita Menon

Richa Agrawal

Khushi Dawda

Deepa Rao

Geeta Gupta

Ratasha Agarwal

64 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

Sangeeta Sukerkar Rachna Khandelwal

Andrea Maganlal

Supriya Sinari

NewsMakers Adv Shubhalaxmi Naik is head of Goa State Women’s Commission

Goa Government has appointed Advocate Shubhalaxmi Naik as the Chairperson of Goa State Women’s Commission (GSWC). Women and Child Welfare Minister Vishwajeet Rane made the appointment of Adv Naik.

There are seven other members to the GSWC. Advocate Naik took over the charge of the Commission from Vidhya Shet Tanawade Adv Naik is a well known name in the legal circles of Goa. She has extensive practice and knowledge of various civil and women related matters; she has also been consultant to various banks and financial institutions for matters relating to property and due diligence

Datta Damodar Naik releases his latest book, ‘Savitri’

Savitri, written by renowned Konkani Writer and industrialist Datta Damodar Naik was released at the hands of Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, Professor of Goa University.

While speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nandkumar Kamat said that the novel will be considered as avant-garde publication in Konkani literature.

Dr. Kiran Budkuley also spoke on the occasion. She lauded the author for the powerful women character depicted in the novel.

Savitri is a story of three generations of Saraswat family spanning from pre liberation to post liberation period in Goa. Naik, a Sahitya Akademi awardee, is the Managing Director of Commonwealth Developers Pvt Ltd and New Millennium Bakers, manufacturing franchisees of Monginis in Goa

Malaika Vaz bags National Youth Award

Goa’s State Youth Award Winner Malaika Vaz has been awarded with the prestigious National Youth Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The award was presented at the 22nd National Youth Festival held in New Delhi.

Malaika Vaz is a 20-year-old National Geographic Explorer, adventure sports athlete, social entrepreneur, wildlife filmmaker and presenter. Her work has focussed on telling impactful stories about the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. Her recent short documentary along with cinematographer Nitye Sood titled “Waghoba: Provider, Destroyer, Deity” focusing on Tiger conflict in central India was screened at wildlife film festivals in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. She is currently working on a feature length investigative documentary on oceanic protection.

Malaika is supported by pioneering outdoor company Columbia Sportswear in her adventure sport and wildlife film endeavours.

Malaika is the Director for the Indo-Pak Climate Peace conference and the Project Lead for the Manta Trust in India. As of 2017, Malaika is also the Founder and Director of Untamed Planet Films, a production house creating innovative and compelling natural history content 66 | Business Goa industry Dossier | JANUARY 2018

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Subodh Kerkar to speak at The Hindu Lit for Life Festival

Artist Dr. Subodh Kerkar has been invited to speak at the The Hindu Lit for Life festival, 2018. The fest takes over the Chennai metropolis and its people with performances, conversations, discussions and workshops.

The artist would be in conversation with Tehzeeb Katari on the topic Art in Landscape: Subodh Kerkar’s Land Art. In 2010, The Hindu began its first-ever edition of this Literary Festival. The Festival has expanded its reach every year exploring fiction, non-fiction, politics, history, arts, cinema – in fact all genres that celebrate ideas. Over the course of its journey, The Hindu Lit for Life has enriched the literary space in Chennai by looking at books and beyond. The Festival reflects the spirit of our times and celebrates free speech and expression

Chandrakant Gawas conferred with Bharat Jyoti Award

Social worker and chairman of Logistics Committee of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chandrakant Krishna Gawas was conferred with the ‘Bharat Jyoti Award’

by India International Friendship Society, for his meritorious services, outstanding performances and remarkable role in the co-operative as well as social field. The award was presented to Gawas during the annual seminar of Economic Growth and National Integration held recently in New Delhi. Gawas, who is also the state executive committee member of Bharatiya Janata Party and director of The Citizen Co-operative Bank Ltd, was the only Goan nominee. He was selected by the society from more than 100 nominees from different parts of the country

103 1. What is the smallest unit of a Bitcoin, equivalent to one hundred millionth of a Bitcoin?

2. Which is the only Indian sports club to have a dedicated satellite channel, which began broadcast on Videocon D2H in October 2014?

3. Which range of hills in Kerala’s Idukki district lends its name to one of India’s most popular tea brands?

4. Which is the only commercial organisation to have won the Nobel Prize for Peace, winning it along with its founder in 2006?

5. If Golden Arches is associated with McDonald’s, which fast food chain would you associate with Red Roofs?

6. Which English language newspaper was launched in Goa on 18 February 1963?

7. Identify this entrepreneur Answers to BG Quiz 102: 1. Yes Bank 2. Spark 3. Haeir 4. Le Meridien 5. Coca Cola 6. Indian Express 7. Sunil Kant Munjal Email your entries to businessgoa.media@gmail.com First all correct entry will get 1 year’s subscription to Business Goa

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