Executing an entrepreneurship idea

Updated on: Monday, October 31, 2011

“The main problem I faced while trying to get my team together was in trying to convince professionals joining my company,” said Suhas Gopinath, CEO Globals Inc, also known to have been the youngest CEO starting his company at the age of 14. “Considering I was about half their age, I did not want them to feel that they would work under me but that I would be working with them,” he said sharing interesting anecdotes from his career, and how he struggled to gain the respect being just a school student at that time.

His words inspired 600-strong student audience on the first day of the Youth to Business meet organised by AIESEC (Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales), Chennai.

Venkatesh Iyer, Founder of Goli Vada Pav, shared his experience in overcoming various hurdles he faced setting up the company.

This was followed by a talk on the ‘ideal idea' by R Balakrishnan (IAS).

Kiruba Shankar, MD, Business Blogging, gave a session on the significance of networking in today's Internet-centric world. With a 11-point strategy, Mr. Shankar was able to bring the fundamentals of networking to the understanding of the audience, stressing how it was important to form a global network — something AIESEC as an organisation offers students.

Pawan Agarwal, CEO, Mumbai Dabbawalas Education Center, spoke on the Mumbai Dabbawallas and their commitment to the service of the customer.

On the second day, about 150 corporates and 100 students handpicked from day-one participated. It began with a panel discussion on handling human resource in a company focusing on corporate values and carrying the right attitude to work. The students raised a number of pertinent questions.

N.K. Ranganath, CEO Grundfos Pumps, made a presentation on branding, covering main points, including identification of customers, their need and its delivery. Nagaraj Prasadh of Polaris gave a talk on ‘The Power of One' on how every individual has the power to make a change.

The conclave helped students and corporates interact with one another and share ideas. The large student participation was an indication of the zeal of the youth to move out of their comfort zone and try something new in the world of entrepreneurship and business.

Abhimanyu Arora

Team Leader, National Accounts, Corporate sector, AIESEC Chennai

Executing an entrepreneurship idea

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