Akshay Tandon - Try and Explore Different Spheres and Not Worry About the Short-Term Consequences (Director Strategy & Growth - Snapdeal)

A belief I live by is “There is no place for mediocrity in today’s world”. I believe in being proactive and sharing my thoughts without worrying about what others think. My ability to speak my mind and share new ideas, coupled with hard work and a burning fire to succeed has helped me pave my path.

Tell us about your background, journey, and upbringing.

I come from a simple-middle-class family, born and brought up in Delhi. My father joined the family business, which deals in automobiles, to continue the 50-year-old legacy. My mother has been a homemaker who raised two boys, now men. 

I have been lucky to get the love of my grandparents during my growing years. During my school years, I was consistently an all-rounder, fairing amongst the Top 3 in class, while being involved in sports. 

Post this period, I joined the University of Delhi where I completed my graduation in the field of Statistics. This opened up a completely different world for me, the benefit of which I realized later in life. I started my career with S&P Capital IQ and later joined Mercer where I was exposed to the world of Actuarial Sciences.

Further, I pursued my post-graduation - MBA from a premier institute in India and am currently working at Snapdeal, helping grow their business and reach every corner of the country.

Sports have shaped my personality and continue to play an important role in my life. My dream is to play for Manchester United. I started a football club called “Pandara Park FC” along with a few like-minded passionate souls and continue to pursue this passion.

Being a part of the start-up ecosystem for the past 6+ years, I have generated a keen interest in Angel Investing. I also enjoy reading about whiskies and scotches.

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How did you rise to the highest echelons and what are your future plans?

A belief I live by is “There is no place for mediocrity in today’s world”. I believe in being proactive and sharing my thoughts without worrying about what others think. My ability to speak my mind and share new ideas, coupled with hard work and a burning fire to succeed has helped me pave my path. 

Over time, I have realized that I get most excited through the process of identifying and solving problems. My future plan is to continue growing in the internet industry. I am currently exploring a new and exciting opportunity in the South East Asian market and look forward to making my mark in the global e-commerce space.

What does your typical workday look like?

I start my day with a hit of caffeine while scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, and news apps. Currently, at work, I wear multiple hats. I lead the P&L of a business function and am also part of central initiatives directed towards growth. 

I have a team with whom I engage regularly and spend my time between meetings with company leadership, vendors, and customers. In the evenings, I normally go for a run and end the day by watching some content on OTT.

Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?

I have a staunch belief in entrepreneurship and feel with the current inflow of funds in India coupled with the growing number of amazing start-up ideas, the attitude of getting your hands dirty and learning on the go will be something to look forward to. 

On the other hand, if you want to work for MNCs or legacy companies, formal education makes a lot of difference in where and how you start (initial 5-7 years of your experience).

How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?

I find it difficult to understand why people lie on their resumes as it is easily identifiable during the interview process. I feel one of the most things for anyone to be successful in life is, to be honest to themselves, and lying on the resume makes it look like you don’t believe in yourself and aren’t confident.

How has covid changed things at your workplace & which of these changes do you intend to make permanently?

It was a huge change for us, moving to a completely virtual environment and required us to rethink how to stay connected as a team with each other as well maintain relationships and engage with our vendors.

We were one of the industries which had the responsibility of delivering/serving customers with not only daily needs but also covid requirement products (masks, sanitizers, oximeters, etc.). 

So, we had to put in some extra hours but it was completely worth it. This move to a virtual world has resulted in more flexibility in time and place of work.

However, the power of physical and face-to-face connections can’t be replaced. Going forward, a hybrid setup could be something that organizations could adapt to reap the benefits of both worlds.

                          

What advice do you have for those starting their career and those who are eyeing the top job?

There couldn’t be a better time to start your career as there are plenty of choices and options for one to choose from depending on their interest. In this age with glass ceilings’ breaking and new industries emerging, my advice would be to try and explore different spheres and not worry about the short-term consequences.

For those eyeing the top jobs, build a personal brand for yourself that differentiates you and focuses on your strengths.

Which is your favorite book/show and why?

In recent times, I found Shoe Dog and Open to be great inspiring reads and in line with my philosophy of continuing to chase ones’ dreams.

A show I really enjoy watching is Shark Tank and hope to present a pitch to the sharks in the future.