Anupkumar Daulatram Gawdi believes that the learning process is an ongoing one. ?I am eager to learn any new skill that presents itself, be it business acumen from my seniors in the industry or how to play video games from my 10-year-old son.?
This approach is reflected in his career graph as well. Gawdi brings to the table several years of work experience spanning diverse industries. He started his career in accountancy in 1998 with a publication house. Two years later, he moved to GTL and worked in the budgets department. Thereafter, he was given the responsibility of managing the finances of GTL?s Saudi Arabia operations. He later returned to India to take charge of the company?s commercial functions and then moved up the ladder to become the divisional finance controller of the company?s network engineering division. In 2008, he became head of GTL?s pre-sales function, where he was responsible for developing the techno-commercial function across the company?s subsidiaries.
Today, as regional director of GTL?s SAARC division, a position he took over in 2009, he is responsible for business development, market strategy, human resource development, financial analysis, etc. He has a wide canvas to work on. ?Developing a sustainable business model for each country in the SAARC region is the most challenging task before me,? he says. ?Each country?s telecom industry has evolved at a different pace. For example, the markets in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have progressed to the second stage while those in Afghanistan and Myanmar have just started their journey in developing the telecom sector. Moreover, each country has its own set of challenges. The demands of customers and the way one responds to them are different in each of the markets.?
Gawdi follows a consultative style of management. He says, ?I am a firm believer in teamwork and try to maintain a friendly environment and encourage my team members to contribute in a positive manner.? While this has proved to be a key strength, he is aware of his weakness too. ?I tend to get impatient at times,? he says candidly.
Interestingly, Gawdi says his definition of success is achieving a right mix between one?s professional and personal lives. ?This principle of my life has not changed so far and hopefully, never will,? he says. One way in which he achieves this is by devoting his weekends exclusively to his family. ?That apart,? he says, ?I enjoy watching television and listening to old Kishore Kumar numbers.?
