Proust Questionnaire: Ravichandran Venkataraman, GBS, HP

Ravichandran Venkataraman is the winner of this year’s SSON "People’s Choice" Contribution to Industry, Thought Leadership Award for Asia, which was announced in Singapore last week, at Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Asia. What makes HP's work stand apart? Q: What has your favorite job been to date and why? A: Sales and Marketing of Banking Services. The job allowed me to meet customers daily and innovate based on market situations. Q: Who do you look up to in business and why? A: Not one person, but many – I try and draw strengths from many. Q: What has been your greatest achievement? A: Recognized as a responsible, capable and honest leader who has made a positive difference to few in their lives. Q: What is your greatest regret? A: Do not regret anything – we all make mistakes. I am a human being and have made many mistakes… I treat these as learnings and stepping stones to something better in life. Q: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? A: Learn music and continue singing when my voice started cracking, instead of stopping. Q: Which developments have had the biggest impact on your markets? A: Knowledge of English language, Internet/Intranet, currency, differential savings rate, working rules, and pay scales. Q: What looks like the biggest potential for you right now? A: Creating a global workplace that creates professional opportunities across the world – no country has survived at the cost of others. Q: What are your concerns regarding emerging competition (geographic, technical, inhouse)? A: Ability of leadership to recognize challenges as these emerge. Leadership needs to wear a wide-angle lens and be able to ascertain what could emerge as a challenge. Q: What is your favorite occupation? A: Being a musician Q: In 10 years’ time - how do you see your current operation being run? A: I will be out of Operations. Hopefully, it will be much smaller due to large-scale automation. Q: What’s the best thing about using an external sourcing consultant? A: A different perspective. An outside-in view. Possibly brings better credibility to the table. Q: What’s the worst thing about using an external sourcing consultant? A: May not know the internal workings and politics of an organization. May not understand the priorities. Q: Which management books do you read? A: Mainly experiences of inspirational corporate leaders – Jack Welsh, Nandan Nilekani, etc. Q: Who are your favorite writers? A: Robert Ludlum and Enid Blyton Q: What car do you drive and what should you be driving? A: Toyota and Maruti-Suzuki. I should be driving a bicycle – it is a good form of exercise, does not pollute, and takes you back to basics. Q: What's your favorite 10-minute dish that you cook yourself? A: Vegetable Paratha Rolls Q: Tell us a behavioral trait we should expect of you. A: Speaking honestly and from the heart. Q: Reveal one weird thing we don't know about you A: I like eating fruits along with their seeds. Q: What one question would you put to your peers? A: Have you made a positive difference to someone? Q: Which historical figure do you most identify with? A: Alexander the Great – He led from the front, was a wonderful friend, was a doctor and treated his wounded soldiers, and he admired courage in his opponents. Q: If your job requires a lot of traveling - what is your favorite journey? A: I like traveling to any place where I can identify with the people and strike a chord with them. Recently, I was in Poland. It was one of my best visits. The people I met were just amazing – warm and simple. Q: If your job requires a lot of traveling - what do you miss most about home? A: Family and home-cooked food. Q: What is the quality you most like in men? A: Ready to take on accountability. Q: What is the quality you most like in women? A: Mentally strong. Q: What would you like your legacy to be? A: An environment (at work and home) that (i) encourages people to speak openly and honestly; (ii) brings out bold, energetic, and inclusive leaders; and (iii) focuses on the customer and communities. [inlinead]

Proust Questionnaire: Ravichandran Venkataraman, GBS, HP

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