Proust Questionnaire: Ravichandran Venkataraman, GBS, HP

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.

Click here to see the original article or follow this link "interviews" to read more