Mr. Rajesh Sharma comes as very humble, sincere and systematic IT professional. He has a wide array of experience with best of the brands in IT sector .The perfection has been evident in a career that dates back to 1999 with GE Capital. He worked his way through by constantly delivering results on time. After two years, in 2001 he joined iGate Solutions and worked there for the next couple of years. From 2003-04, he worked as Process Manager for Core BPO as well followed by a year at Vangaurd Info Solutiuons. Since 2005 then he has been with Dell Inc and has recently been promoted as senior advisor for the business analysis of international services at Dell Inc.
Q. How would you like to describe your career journey so far?
A. The career journey so far consists of some hardships and hard work early on in the career. So far by God’s grace I am able to achieve the goals that I had set for myself. When I decided to join GE Capital in 1999, all my friends, relatives and parents had the same question, why a BPO/ Contact centre after doing MBA? The only answer I
had at time was that if the growth is provided on the basis of performance, then it doesn’t matter whether it’s a contact centre/FMCG or consumer durables.
Q. What is your role at Dell? Your KRAs & KPAs
A. To provide analytical leadership to support the American region as well as global teams. The role requires real-time engagement with the Program/Project Management teams, Technical Support Teams, Alliances Managers for Field services (DSP/DLP), Customer Care and Sales Manager/Directors and Leaders, as essential
- Be an analytical point of contact for the site team, be a guide to them on the analytical requirements
- Be able to conceptualize, lead and manage projects / programs end to end.
- Establish relationships, have regular scheduled interlocks with key stakeholders in the team.
- Drive for results on warranty cost metrics and technical metrics with a board view of business priorities at site level & regional level
- In-depth disciplinary knowledge, leverages business acumen and subject matter expertise
Q. Attrition is one major hindrance in IT/ITeS industry. What steps do you feel HRM should take to overcome this issue?
A. Attrition has been a major issue with ITeS in last decade or so. Let’s also understand the fact, that at times, the timelines provided to HRM are very stringent in terms of hiring. However, HRM should at the time of hiring identify if the candidate hired is suitable for the job, the job is of his interest and he meets the requirements for the job in terms of his educational qualification and professional experience. Also, HRM should be transparent to the candidate about the kind of requirement they (companies) have for a particular job.
Q. In hindsight, do you see an amalgamation of BPO and KPO segments in IT organisations?
A. A lot of companies are now hiring CA’s, lawyers, doctors etc for managing the business that is outsourced in emerging countries like India. This will in turn increase the demand for doctors; CA’s, lawyers etc and will definitely help the industry grow.
Q. Your co-workers rate you very highly. What is your approach when you lead a team? What is your style of leadership?
A. It’s just that you have got to be honest to yourself first and keep the business and everyone involved in it honest about the happenings. The task within a team is assigned per their strengths to ensure a best result within a minimum time. Leadership style differs according to situation, whether the time line is hard pressed or there is sufficient time line provided for a project completion.
Q. How do you remember your days at IIPM? Share some of the experience.
A. IIPM days I think were the best days, be it the Anna’s small little dhabha outside the Lodhi Colony Centre near Sai Mandir, or the lunch outing at India Habitat Centre during the first year. Then moving to the lush farm house 2nd year at Gurgaon, amazing sports activities , from TT, to pool, tennis, to badminton, to cricket to swimming pool. It was completely a different feeling. With all these facilities, there was still so much focus on studies with the best of faculty teaching us like – Dr. Malay Chaudhuri, Arindam sir, Rajita Ma’am, A. Sandeep Sir, Naveen Chamoli sir I still remember, while at IIPM, I was an avid cricket player
Q. Please share with us some basic things about your family. How do you spend time with them?
A. We are a very close knit family and we have guidance from my parents at all the junctions of our lives. I am married to Neelam who is a Behavioral Trainer by profession. We have 2 daughters – 6 year old Diza and 5 months old Keisha.
Cult wishes that he keeps on shining in the corporate sky.
