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Tag: Selfie with RK

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Jaskaran Singh Kapany, Vice President, Marketing at Paytm

    Selfie with RK | Jaskaran Singh Kapany, Paytm

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    It is extremely difficult to get Jaskaran Singh Kapany for a meeting. He works extremely hard and his time is blocked days in advance. However, this time he was offered an interesting session of rapid fire questions and he gave in easily. He’s both funny and serious at the same time and his mind is always ticking. I began by asking him

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Self-Belief. If you believe in yourself, nothing can come in the way of you getting what you want. Sounds simplistic. But it works.

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Impatience. I wish could be a better listener. I tend to expect people to get to the point sooner.

    Favourite CEO?

    Steve Jobs. Legendary product passion. Stellar foresight. Brutal execution. All these are killer qualities in a leader.

    Hardwork or luck?

    Hardwork. Always. Luck is boring and doesn’t work. Plus, I have never been lucky!

    How would you like to live your life all over again?

    I wouldn’t. I am happy as I am and that’s an honest answer

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like  to play you?

    Al Pacino for sure! He keeps it real, understated but delivers an emphatic punch when it matters and would play me well

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    3.63 he answers dead pan

    Four words that describe you?

    Die-hard Optimist. Driven.  Fair. Funny.

    What are your superpowers?

    I can multi-task a serious quantity of work, with precision. Be it at work or home. Or both!

    How often do you destress?

    I learnt this very early in life –  life goes on, come what may.  So stress shouldn’t be given too much importance. It just adds an unwanted unproductive dimension to ones life. I find switching off easy. Spending time with Ira, our young daughter, is the best way for me to unwind.

    Dream job?

    Anything that would pay me for travelling the world 10 months out of 12. On second thoughts, I’d do it for free.

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US dollars to change something what would it be?

    Try and improve the apathy we show towards fellow beings.  I mean, just today there was a story about a father having to carry his 12-year-old son on his shoulders to three different hospitals in broad daylight and not making it. How this can happen in this day and age flummoxes me.

    Rate RK as an interviewer.

    Wily

     

    Rahul Kishore

    Rahul Kishore is an entrepreneur-turned-media professional-turned-media entrepreneur. And he’s pretty professional. If he’s not posting messages on Facebook, he’s messaging posts on Facebook. He plays badminton in the morning, gyms and swims and loves sinful shakes twice a day. Once married, always shy, is a father of two and a husband of one. Lives in Delhi. Is Managing Director, Taurus Infomedia

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Deepti Dang, Chief Marketing Officer – Printers, HP

    Selfie with RK: Week #7 | Deepti Dang, CMO – Printers, HP

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    I’ve known Deepti Dang, Chief Marketing Officer for Printers at HP for over 10 years. I’ve always found her feisty, funny, fiery and famous. I count her as one of my good friends. When I first got into the advertising industry, she was among the first ones to put her hand up to help me find my feet. Last year, when I launched my own company she called and asked if she could be of any help. I asked for her help and she was good to her word. The thing I like about her is that though she will help, she always keep the interest of her employers first. A rare quality. As she straddles her job in India, and her worldwide project in the US simultaneously, she somehow managed to find time to meet me for half an hour. I began by asking her…

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Springing back to life every morning. Edginess, madness, fun excites me. I thrive on madness. Life is challenging, like a rollercoaster and that gives me a high. Something like having five Tequila shots. Twenty men challenge everything I say… I thrive on it.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Emotion. Traffic bugs me, people with BO in the lift, people talking negatively about people who are not wealthy enough, people being derogatory towards family members.

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Shripad Nadkarni from Coke India, I enjoyed working with him. Learnt a lot. He always called a spade a spade, had the guts to take on something non-conventional and find a way to make it succeed. I try to duplicate that as well.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    No luck. At all. Pure hardwork. I have learnt from my bosses two critical things: What to do and what not to do. The latter is more important, I learnt that very fast.

     

    How would you like to live your life all over again?

    You know, in my teens the three things I wanted to be, was a pilot, Kiran Bedi, and Indira Gandhi. IG was sheer power and I was mesmerised by the way she conducted herself. I would want to go back and be any one of those three.

     

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    Deepti thinks for a while, runs her fingers through her mane, and says: Sushmita Sen… I love the fact that she did what she wanted to do in her real life not her reel life. I relate to her on a personal level. She would definitely be me.

     

    On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?

    9.9, she says with a yelp of laughter. The 0.1 is missing because I’m scared of my parents! I’m absolutely weird. My team consists of weird people too who are a little off-centre. We gel together well and create magic.

     

    Four words that describe you?

    Fun, happy, hyper, emotional.

     

    What did you not get to include in your CV?

    On a serious note, an IIM Ahmedabad degree. Having spent 12 years in the corporate world, everyone seems to look for one. On a funny note, madness quotient – MQ. I wish there was a section on your CV which asked what is your madness quotient? I routinely ask this question when I interview someone.

     

    What are your superpowers?

    Can sell anything to anyone. I remember many years ago, I was at a party and was asked by a renowned CEO to sell him a fire extinguisher. I did. In all of three minutes. He offered me a job. I accepted.

     

    How often do you destress?

    I hit Levo spa pretty often to cool down. My main de-stresser, however, my niece has moved to San Francisco so I will have to find a way to meet her now.

     

    Dream job?

    I’d love to own cafes. Many of them. All over India. You can be a partner, she says with a smile.

     

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US  dollars to change something what would it be?

    Sad as it may sound, Men and women today are not treated as equals. Men have to learn to accept that women are in no way any less than any of them. I would focus my energies and this money to empower women and give them confidence that they can go out and achieve anything in the world.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer?

    I was going to say 9, but your generosity and the way you have guided me on a couple of occasions in the rapidfire, giving me the right advice on how to position myself, I would now give you a 9.9

     

    Rahul Kishore is an entrepreneur-turned-media professional-turned-media entrepreneur. And he’s pretty professional. If he’s not posting messages on Facebook, he’s messaging posts on Facebook. He plays badminton in the morning, gyms and swims and loves sinful shakes twice a day. Once married, always shy, is father of two and a husband of one. Lives in Delhi. Is Managing Director, Taurus Infomedia

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Rajat Uppal, the National Marketing Head of Red FM

    Selfie with RK: Week #5 | Rajat Uppal, National Marketing Head, Red FM

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    Rajat Uppal, the 20-something national marketing head of Red FM, is a pretty boy. Actually, he’s 37! He pretty much leads the Gurugram yuppie life with wife and kid and Harley and BMW in tow. He’s quite easy to chat with and words flow out naturally. I met him over a leisurely cup of chai which he ordered from downstairs as the coffee maker had conked out. I began by asking him

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Being crazy, he never thinks like normal. He’s like an outcast in his family, he’s never been curbed and likes to speak his mind freely.

    Biggest weakness.

    This is also a weakness, society expects you to conform and because you are different people view you differently. Society in general wants conformists.

    Hardwork or luck?

    Hardwork and luck. I was a backbencher in school and always playing on the sports field. I was decent in studies but typically only worked before the exams. Had I worked harder I would’ve scored much higher. My sister and parents were constantly after my life to pull me home but I would be enjoying on various sportsfields. I was never a books person.

    Fav CEO?

    Steve Jobs. Again he was a non-conformist who questioned everything

    How would you like to live your life again?

    Rajat laughs loudly. I would like to be born in a family of 500 crores, study in an Ivy League college, have fast cars and big bikes at home. I would still d o a lot of work, but I would not needed to work.

    If a movie was  to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    For once during the interview he actually thinks. The characters, the boys and girls in Rang De Basanti, non-conformists who don’t give a damn are him. Question society. Then maybe Leo Dicaprio. Look at the first movie he ever made and look where he is now. One would’ve expected him to be a chocolate boy hero but look at him evolve into the actor he is today.

    On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?

    7. I could very well go to my boss and tell her, that I want to ride my bike tomorrow so I won’t be in to work. Instead of saying I’m sick and I can’t make it.

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    Ivy League education

    Describe yourself in four words.

    Energetic, Passionate, Persistent, Non-Conformist.

    What’s your superpower?

    I have a gut about people and decisions that I take, for the business and in my personal life.\ I can’t explain why I do what I do sometimes but it always works.

    How often do you de-stress?

    Four times a week with a single malt. I gym and do a lot of cardio, listen to a lot of music and go riding on my Harley on weekends.

    Something that never worked for you?

    Plain Jane logic never works for me. You have to be driven by your heart.

    What’s your dream job?

    CEO of any big company.

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US and asked you to change the world how would you do it?

    I’m a non-believer in religion. I believe in one god and I would educate people to seek him only and not waste too much time on religion.

    Rate RK as an interviewer on a scale of 1-10

    11

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing at UBL

    Selfie with RK: Week #4 | Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing, UBL

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    I have known Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing at UBL  for 44 years. On the human front, not much has changed. He continues to be as charming, friendly, warm and generous as he was then. Professionally of course he has evolved. It is not easy being surrounded by Kingfisher girls and keep your sanity. To me, he will always be the Kingfisher man. I began by asking him…

     

    What is your biggest strength?

    People skill. I get along famously with people, I’m great at getting them to work together and building consensus.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Can’t stand lies and hypocrisy he says with a smile. I hate politicking at work and at a personal level. I let too many things bother me, I’m a bit of a control freak actually.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    Definitely hard work! I am the most unlucky person around. Almost everything comes to me five years later!

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Jack Dorsey of Twitter. He’s a guy with his heart in the right place, is empathetic and doesn’t shy away from saying it like it is.

     

    How would you like to live your life again?

    Exactly the same way. Life only gets better as I get older, I’ve been a late bloomer. The 40s were brilliant and my 50s are even better. I’m like Beethoven’s symphony, slowly building up to a crescendo.

     

    If a movie was to be made about you, who would you like to play you?

    Samar thought for a very long time on this one. The guy who plays me would have to be as smart as me. Leonardo DiCaprio… he can play anything.

     

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    About 7-9 at home and 2 at work. Normal is boring. I like meeting interesting people who have another side to them.

     

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    Game warden in Africa. I applied when I was 20 for the WWF in Africa. I was refused because I wasn’t a local.

     

    Describe yourself in four words.

    Altruististic, Sportsman, Philosopher,  Thinker.

     

    What’s your Superpower, Samar?

    Perception. I can sense anything before it happens almost!

     

    How often do you de-stress?

    I hit the gym everyday, I listen to a lot of music. Since I travel a hell of a  lot  it feels good to be back home always. I like to hear my family in the background somewhere and that relaxes me. SAmars famil,y consists of a wife and a daughter.

     

    Dream Job?

    Teaching, at any business school or university. I’d make a good teacher…

     

    If Bill Gates gives you 10 million US, how would you use it to improve the world?

    I would educate women. Encourage the girl child, it would have a cascading effect on the birth rate. Infant mortality would reduce. Empower women, build more toilets for them.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer.

    You asked the toughest questions I’ve ever had to answer. Some of them have been quite brilliant I would therefore rate you a 9/10.

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Mahesh Kanchan, Director – Marketing at Carlsberg

    Selfie with RK: Week #3 | Mahesh Kanchan, Marketing Director @ Carlsberg

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    The one thing that strikes you about Mahesh Kanchan, Director – Marketing at Carlsberg is his approachability and warmth. He thinks before he answers and pretty much sizes every googly you might throw at him. In his office in Gurugram , I began by asking him:

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Turning around ailing brands into powerful ones and ensuring that I kick the backside of the Number 1 brand.  Take on a Number 3 brand and propel it to Number 1.  Hershey’s took on Cadbury, Calsberg took on Kingfisher… stuff like that!

    Biggest weakness?
    I just cannot deal with failure. I never change for the sake of changing. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

    Hardwork or luck?
    99% perspiration.  Your bosses are good to you if you work hard. In Unilever most people stay for a two-year tenure, so it’s easy to have a boss who’s good to you.

    Favourite CEO?
    Ratan Tata, he has a large conglomerate in India and he was the first CEO to acquire marquee companies globally like a JLR.

    How would you like to live your life again?
    No regrets I would want to do exactly what I did this time around.

    If a movie was to be made about your life who would you want to play you?
    He instantly replies Irrfan Khan. I ask why? No façade. He doesn’t play irrfan… he gets into the character. What you see is what you get. There is no Irrfan Khan style like all the other Khans, he moulds himself into the character.

    On a  scale of 1-10, how weird are you?
    Five-ish, I’m normal. I could be weird around my friends and family though

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?
    Heading a  company at a young age and global exposure.

    Describe yourself in four words?
    Approachable, risk-taking, action… no debate, team player.

    What’s your superpower?
    Being calm in the most high pressure situations.

    How often do you destress?
    Every weekend with my kids aged 6 and 10. With them and their friends as well. The kids drive the agenda, I  follow. He plays with them, watches movies and ofcourse there is always a chilled glass of Carlsberg at hand, he says with a smile.

    Something that has never worked for you?
    Entrepreneurship. I think about it, but haven’t attempted  it as yet!

    Dream job?
    Unilever CEO in India

    Rate me as an interviewer
    Well, 8, since you managed to get so much out of me in such a short time.

     

  • In Week #2 of the new season of extremely personal questions posed by Rahul Kishore, he gets the very affable Himanshu Dahiya, Head of Media, Digital and Research at Maruti Suzuki to talk like few others have in the past.

    Selfie with RK: Week #2 | Himanshu Dahiya, Media Head @ Maruti

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    It is extremely tough to get to meet Himanshu Dahiya, Head of Media, Digital and Research at Maruti Suzuki. Not only does he keep a low profile, he’s also very hardworking and Maruti takes a lot of mileage out of him. I finally got to meet him in his showroom on the ground floor of his huge office building in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj. Over a hot cup of coffee I began by asking him…

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Analytical , being  creative and I’m extremely fond of brand-building. His previous stints have been with HM and Honda.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness?

    I get into too much detailing. May seem a chore but that’s the way I’m built. I’m extremely conscious of the money I spend and always want maximum bang for the buck.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    Completely hardwork. It’s all perspiration. My bosses have been good to me generally speaking but there have been a few exceptions. I have worked extremely hard…

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Though it’s competition, but it’s got to be Anand Mahindra, he says with a smile. I find him extremely savvy and suave. He’s fully focussed, very active on social media and digitally inclined. What I really admire is that somehow he seems to find a lot of time and money for social causes.

     

    How would you like to live your life again?

    He thinks for a while then he says as a football player. I’ve played at the school level and it’s a game that always fascinates me. Ronaldo is my favourite. I like the glamorous life of the footballers and the money they make.

     

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    Aamir Khan. He’s meticulous, is a method actor and can spot nuances in my character that even I may not have noticed. As you might have guessed, he’s my favourite actor.

     

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    My family would rate that an 8. I have two kids 15 and 9 and this question would seem better directed at them. Life is a great teacher and I try to appear normal at work. And work is a large part of my day.

     

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    An IIM degree would have been handy even an international  one. I do go to IIM Lucknow for courses but it’s not the same thing.

     

    Describe yourself in 4 words.

    Hardworking, Attention to detail, Innovative, Creative

     

    What is your area of interest?

    Sports. Im passionate about it and I’m very fond of music.

     

    How often do you destress?

    Not as much as I should be… he says with a wry smile. I listen to rock music in English, in Hindi music I do the full range. Guru Dutt, Dev Anand are eternal favourites.

     

    Dream job?

    I would love to work in a sports club like a Chelsea or a Real Madrid and enjoy what I love to watch.

     

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million dollars and asked you to change the world what would be your big idea?

    He thinks long and hard, looks at me as if searching for answers. And then says: I would like to empower poor kids, educate them, teach them about sanitation and health and offer them opportunities to secure their futures by creating jobs for them. This remains a #1 cause for worry in India. I believe in his sincerity.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer?

    He smiles, since you’ve managed to extract so much from me and your questions have been excellent I would say 10/10. I nod in agreement.