"Never Quit, Come what may". There will be failures and setbacks along your journey. But never fall backwards. Only jump forward always. Always Hope against Hope. Miracles will happen.
Tell us about your background, journey and upbringing.
I was born in Thrissur, the Cultural Capital of Kerala in a middle-class Catholic family. I'm the eldest among three brothers. My father is a retired Civil Engineer. My mother is a housewife. I got an interest in Engineering from my father who had a great passion for his work.
He used to describe so vividly how his day went in creating something innovative and impactful. He also instilled in us the importance of maintaining one's integrity and honesty, no matter what distractions you might have. We were also encouraged to be curious and straightforward in all our actions. My mother instilled in us the joy of reading and writing journals.
I still remember the books which I used to be gifted on my birthdays. It must be surprising to hear that she still gives me a book on my birthdays. Engineering was thus, for me a culmination of the innovative mindset fostered by my father and the creativity motivated through my mother. With these cues, I set my goal to be an Engineer in a premier institute.
I tried the IIT JEE but was unsuccessful. I could land up with an Electrical Engineering seat at NIT, Jamshedpur, one of the earliest and renowned colleges established by Shri. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1960s. Life in an NIT is like living in a miniature India, with a terrific amalgamation of culture and languages, such that you instantly forget your state affiliations and grow as an 'INDIAN'. How else would a South Indian pick speaking in Hindi in a week's time in a dialect which can put several North Indians to shame?
This NIT experience set the tone for making my character and adaptability which helped to take on a variety of roles and responsibilities in the industry at various parts of the country and deal with diverse cultures of the regions.
How did you rise to the highest echelons in your career?
I didn't have much of a plan when I joined BALCO, Korba in July 2004. Matter of fact, I felt I might get lost in this fast and dynamic industrial domain. But I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors like Mr Pramod Suri (Whole Time Director, BALCO) and Mr J. Ramaswamy (Chief Reduction) who made my transition to the industry smooth and full of learning.
It was them who instilled in me the courage and willingness to learn/unlearn quickly as per the requirement of the business. This attribute helped me to weather all kinds of storms along the way and take up challenging assignments with some of the biggest names of the Indian Market.
What does your typical workday look like?
I start my day at 5:30 AM sharp. As an occupational hazard, I wake up and check my mobile, first thing in the morning for daily reports from the departments and check the daily dashboard for the major shutdowns/events planned for the day. I then go for a brisk walk for 30 mins to get my batteries charged for a hectic day ahead.
My wife and I have our tea together and discuss the latest news in the paper and the internet. I get ready for work and push out by 8:30 AM sharp (Work starts at 9:00 AM) after a family breakfast. The moment I reach the plant, I ring up my Department Heads and get their feedback on what went well and what could have been better the previous day.
At 9:30 sharp, I have a morning meeting with Department Heads which goes till 10:15, where we discuss the objectives of the day and specifically try to bring out improvement opportunities.
10:30 to 12:30 is devoted to connecting with customers and acting upon their feedback. 12:30 to 1:30 is lunchtime with colleagues at the canteen. This is quality time to socialize with the Team and maintain a personal rapport with them. 1:30 to 3:30 is spent with the Logistics and Marketing Teams, which is very important in keeping the financials of the Unit strong.
I utilize the final 2 hours from 3:30 to 5:30 for meeting with team members, mitigating grievances, sitting with HR for designing motivational initiatives and doing something innovative and creative for the unit.
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It seems onboarding, even in 2021, is a long-drawn-out process behind the scenes. How do you envision this changing in the future?
On-boarding is very important. Its importance is not going to diminish in any manner. On the contrary, companies need to be more adept in designing Onboarding programs so that new joiners can adapt better and can easily take off in the company atmosphere.
Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?
No. I beg to differ from that point of view. I feel formal education is very much required in society to bridge the economic inequality. With formal education, any person can get multiple options to express themselves and take up the occupation of their choice.
What is the best piece of advice you would like to give to those who want to rise in their careers in the corporate world?
My advice is encapsulated in the following sentence. " Never Quit, Come what may". There will be failures and setbacks along your journey. But never fall backwards. Only jump forward always. Always Hope against Hope. Miracles will happen.
How are things changing in your domain, what role will data and information play in the future?
There is a huge disruption happening in the Manufacturing and Engineering domains. There are a number of Hi-Tech systems like AI, Machine Learning and BlockChain getting a firm foothold in the industry. Gone are the days, when Engineers used to troubleshoot stuff going to the machines.
Now, Robots are being taught to solve complex problems in hazardous work conditions by a mere compilation of code. The future is scary but at the same time exciting. My gut feeling is that these intelligent machines won't be taking away our jobs. Rather, there will be unlimited opportunities for people to upskill themselves and improve their employability.
Which is your favourite book and why?
"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell is my favourite book. It emphasizes the importance of social connectivity and our society's feelings about success. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities – and who have had strength and presence of mind to seize them. This sentence somehow sums up everything about this wonderful book.
Brief Bio:
Over 17 years of experience in Projects, Maintenance and Operations in the Manufacturing sector. Proficient in project management, designing, commercial negotiations, procurement, business excellence, cost reduction, contract management, and vendor management.
Managed annual spend-base of Rs 700 Crs. Graduated as Electrical Engineer from NIT, Jamshedpur (2003). Adept at managing comprehensive review and analysis of organizational and functional operations, performing HAZOP analysis, and developing strategies and solutions that achieve the Company’s larger goals. Subject Matter Expert on Electrical Safety specializing in LOTOTO implementation.
Interviewed by - Vanshika Jain
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