Interview
Get Inspired
Datamatics
Meet Rahul Kanodia, a man for all seasons. He hails from a family where there was a lot of emphasis on academics. No wonder that there are more than a whopping 14 doctoral degrees in his family! Yet, he claims that there was no formal pressure on him to perform in school! The only pressure that he ever faced as a child was that of exams – like most children do…
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ahul's lifestyle has always been simple and fancy-free. He has a younger brother and two sisters. Rahul did his schooling from Jamnabai Narsee School, as it was more amenable and a lot less strict than Bombay Scottish (the school that almost everyone else in his family has been to!).
on a plane back to India.
Rahul Kanodia
Managing Director, Datamatics Limited Vice Chairman & CEO, Datamatics Technologies Limited
Immediately on completing his graduation, Rahul joined Datamatics as a trainee programmer. "I worked here for three years then I went to the US In school, he was an avid sportsperson and to work for the UN," shares Rahul. played and excelled in basketball, football and athletic field events. Rahul later Since everyone in his family had a completed his graduation in Commerce from MBA degree, Rahul too was lured. HR College at Churchgate. "Even when I did not know what an MBA was – I wanted to do it!" While most of his family members from the says Rahul. However, one required previous generation studied engineering, 16 years of prior education to do a Rahul reckoned that studying commerce Masters program in the US. That is made more sense from a business when Rahul did his second perspective. bachelors' degree, in Science with focus on IT Solutions in Business
On return, he chose to be away from the mainstream operations of Datamatics, i.e. software, and worked with domestic operations in DITL. Then he moved to Corporate Functions in SEEPZ. Rahul wanted to build his own unique style of leadership. Rahul met Priyadarshini (whom he later married) the very same day that he landed in India.
Environment. The course focused on IT but from a business perspective rather than a technical one.
"My sisters tricked me into going out with them to a New Year's Party (which was anyways stage managed!) That is where I met Priya. Soon after that, my father This was a four-year program but wanted to know if I had liked her!" the bright Rahul Kanodia quips Rahul. completed it in one-and-a-half years. Rahul then did his Masters Rahul, young & ambitious, was not from Columbia University – in favour of marriage at that majoring in Business Strategy and time…but he soon realized that Marketing, & with a minor in good businessmen could also be Turnaround Management and good husbands & fathers. Rahul Mergers & Acquisitions. While he met Priya a couple of times and was in New York, Rahul started eventually they tied the knot. Priya Datamatics America in 1992. The did her schooling at Villa Teresa and very day Rahul graduated, he was then attended Sydenham.
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Interview She also did her diploma in Business Administration from NM College. Today, Priya looks after the family and manages the family investment portfolio. The couple is blessed with two sons, Vikramaditya & Anantveer. "I like short names and Priya likes long names, and that explains why our children have names that can be broken into two. I feel that they have powerful names," opines Rahul. Both children attend Bombay Scottish. "We are very consciously and proactively trying to expose our children to the various facets of life such as taking them on holidays to different locations, never back to the same location. We try to expose them to all kinds of art forms – they take part in plays, dancing, drawing, singing, playing the Santoor. On the sports front, they do horse riding, swimming, tennis, cricket, basketball, football, chess – the idea is to expose them to different forms of sports, be it intellectual or physical. However, they focus on Santoor & tennis. Both boys do well in academics, but we ensure that there is no pressure on them," elucidates Rahul.
The Buzz@DL team had a tête-à- to the hilt. tête with the man himself, Datamatics is a company with a excerpts: global vision. Comment. Datamatics has a new Mission. What was the main idea behind We have global employees working this? What really is the ethos of for us & we have global customers; we are truly not dominated by one the new Mission Statement? nation or one culture. Customer satisfaction is really the key to success for any business. It The only prevailing culture is that of is a paramount component; we winning, that of excellence, and that are here because of our of customer satisfaction. Today we customers. Customer service is are more global than we were in the predominating and everyone has past. to internalize the phenomena & the philosophy of servicing the We have operations in UK & US. We have had operations in Japan. We customer. have also employed local people in And, good service of customers is these countries. We have had possible only from excellence. If Germans, Americans, Australians one does not focus on excellence, and the British working for us. one cannot service the customer
Datamatics
What do you think does the future hold for Datamatics? We are growing at a good pace. Future growth will come more from alliances and partnerships. We recently formed a joint venture with Cybercom. These JVs will enhance the speed and rate of growth. Apart from that, the organic growth will continue anyways.
I urge you to continually update yourselves on emerging skills and technologies, so critical in our line of business... PAGES 1 2 3
Upclose & Personal Idea of leadership A leader is a person who can stand as an icon for others, show them the path and carry people. A leader must be able to draw the best from people, leverage their strengths and their capabilities. Lead them and give them opportunities where they can perform. It is really about collective performance and not about individual performance.
Best motivational tool Appreciation, recognition and empowerment. When people realize that they are valued and their contribution has meaning, people look forward to making a contribution. They can also define their own destiny.
Idea of success Achieve your goals and then surpass your goals. Surpassing your goals is a bigger success. Each individual has to define his or
Hobbies My work is my hobby. I also try and spend as much time as possible with my family. I like swimming, horseriding, meditation, reading
her goal and surpassing it.
work
towards business journals.
oriented
books
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Datamatics
Favourite food Definitely Indian. I love to travel all different experiences. If I really had over the world and try all kinds of to choose then there are threeplaces that made me say wow. exotic cuisines. They are Rome, Paris and When I am traveling I have only the Switzerland. local food there as long as it is vegetarian. Priya loves Chinese Message to all Datamaticians and likes trying different cuisines.` Make winning a habit. Favourite holiday destination There is no favourite holiday destination, as I like to travel to different locations each time to get
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