How many of you would be utterly SURPRISED if you come to know that Monte Carlo Fashions Ltd (MC) is headquartered in LUDHIANA? Almost all. Why? Because MC has created a brand that is sophisticated, premium and definitely looks “foreign”. It doesn’t feel like an Indian brand. Why so? Be it the fabric, quality, stores, garments, and physical evidence, everything is classy!
One of the finest corporate leaders of India: Shri Sachit Jain
Last week, Milepost team visited Shri Sachit Jain from VARDHAMAN GROUP Here are excerpts from the interview.
He is an Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi graduate and a gold medalist from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He went to Stanford University for Finance and did his OPM program from Harvard University. Today he heads Vardhaman Special Steels as the MD.
Milepost (MP): It's a hot topic. What’s the ideal working hours for an employee?
SJ: Depends on what phase of life you are in. In your youth, it is wise to toil hard. If you're married, it's important to give time to your partner. If you've kids, get involved with your family.
Milepost (MP): Strict discipline at workplace or flow of creativity?
SJ: Flow of creativity. The reason is, an employee will come up with creativity when he is valued and when he understands the vision of the company.
MP: As a part of the top management, what is your primary role?
SJ: It's Leadership. The top management’s role is to have a very clear vision and to ensure that the whole of your company is moving towards it. This requires a vibrant culture at workplace.
MP: In that case, if the top performer of your company is using 'fear' to manage his subordinates, then?
SJ: He will be asked to leave. Simple. Very recently we did that. No one is allowed to disturb the positive culture of the company.
MP: You said vision is important. What was your vision when you joined?
SJ: When I joined, we're making 50,000 tons of special steel a year. My vision was to be India’s best Special Steel manufacturer. That meant we needed to have 1 million tons of finest quality a year. Interestingly, we achieved it in 8 years’ time.
MP: A fact that very few people know about you.
SJ: I'm an early riser. I wake up at 4. Also, I go for Trekking twice a year. I go to gym for 12 hours a week.
MP: If you have to recommend something to the youth, what it would be?
SJ: Not just one thing but three things.
1. Meditate daily.
2. Exercise daily for 1 hour, at least.
3. Be grateful of what you have. Being grateful and content is very important.
MP: Given a choice, what you would become in your next birth?
SJ: A woman. Being a woman is the best blessing you can have.
MP: Why most startups fail?
SJ: I am not into startups myself. So, can't pinpoint but not having clarity in life is an issue in general. You got to know what you want in life. Only money can't be a driving force.
MP: You're a Gold Medalist. Did you enjoy the rat race?
SJ: If you win in a rat race, you are still a rat. A human life is beyond that.
