Almost immediately after joining Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL), K.V. Ramachandra was thrown into the deep end. He was given the ?daunting? task of ensuring that the company, a predominantly CDMA player, gained acceptance in the GSM-dominated mobile space.
?Over the past three and a half years, the key challenge has been to establish a sales and distribution ecosystem in a crowded marketplace. SSTL was the tenth (or maybe even eleventh or twelfth) player to enter most circles. Moreover, the availability of CDMA-based devices was extremely limited, which required us to invest in devices in a big way,? he comments.
The company?s efforts to make a place for itself in the market paid off. ?Today, SSTL is a firmly entrenched brand and we have managed to net a fair number of users,? he says. ?In fact, we have achieved a leadership position in several circles by offering compelling and innovative propositions. For example, our high speed data products have caught on, as have our smartphones.? That said, he realises that a lot more ground has to be covered. ?I consider being a part of the SSTL team that built the business from scratch, and launched and managed its data business to take it to a leading position in the market as important milestones. However, the best is yet to come,? he says.
In his current position, Ramachandra?s primary area of focus is to manage the corporate sales and distribution functions. ?The key task before me is to build sustainable go-to-market systems,? he says. ?Therefore, my team and I are involved in building systems and processes that support the business and enhance employee capabilities. I also manage key relationships and channels for SSTL?s data business.?
Hailing from a family of academics and scientists, Ramachandra says he was the ?odd one? who chose not to tread the well-worn family career path. ?I opted for a managerial degree and pursued this ambition whole-heartedly. At the same time, a career in sports also interested me as I was a keen sportsman. However, work pressures and various injuries did not permit me to pursue that interest,? he says. He also received training in music, but had to give it up. ?I hope I get the opportunity to pursue it again,? he says.
Ramachandra?s leisure time is usually spent playing golf, listening to music, watching movies, travelling, cooking or socialising. ?I enjoy listening to Hindi music of the 1970s and 1980s,? he says. ?Also, cooking for the family is a weekend stress-buster and we often travel together as a family. Our last trip was to Bali and Jakarta. I also enjoy collecting masks, Buddha and Ganesha sculptures, and cookbooks.?
