Young Entrepreneurs doing it Daddy’s way
On the Occasion of Father’s Day, BW BusinessWorld spoke to young business professionals who have come a long way to build their empire. There is always a supporting hand that is there to guide one amidst the chaos and cover the risky endeavor.
Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO of OYO Rooms
“My father expected me to always have some qualities - it was extremely important to do things the right way. He was firm that there was no shortcut to success - this helped me focus on building my company by creating value for the long-term.”
Nitin Saluja, Founder & CEO of Chaayos
“When I look back, as a kid I use to spend lot of my time with my father at his venture in Lucknow. I got my basic of business by observing him dealing with his clients. He has been one of the most hardworking person I have ever seen, he use to work 12-13 hours a day and I remember him telling me “keep working hard and get your basics right”. When I started with Chaayos in 2012, my father believed in my vision and gave me one advised ‘always be true to your clients’ and I think this one thought has helped me in taking Chaayos to 3 cities with 37 café in span of less than 5 years.”
Akshay Dhoot, Head of Technology and Innovation, Videocon
“Every boy grows up idolizing his father and aspires to be like him, and I am no different. I still remember the hours I used to spend in his office as a child. Just watching him in action was a learning experience in itself. I couldn’t have asked for a better orientation into our business. His impeccable work ethic, enviable dedication and the graceful ease with which he juggled various aspects of the business, encouraged me to imbibe those qualities as well. One of the key lessons that he has taught me, and he never fails to remind me of it at every chance he gets, is valuing the company’s human resources and managing them well. He, and now in turn I, strongly believe that you are as good as your team. It's non-negotiable to nurture and respect them.”
Raghav Chandra, co-Founder UrbanClap
“My father is my oldest and greatest friend and support pillar. I remember him helping me through my first startup—he travelled down for days to help hiring and operations, sharing the burden and stress. He always seemed to be the one I took for granted. That in itself is the greatest sense of support.
