Sanjeev Chachondia is a believer in the theory of karma ?? that actions shape a person, that what we do now determines our future. But while work is important, the method of working is equally crucial. Each day, Chachondia fixes the tasks he has to complete before leaving office. Focusing on small, daily targets, he feels, is an efficient way to work, no matter how big or complex the ultimate objective is.
As chief executive officer (CEO) and director of BPL Mobile Communications, Chachondia has set the target of making the company the number one service provider ?? not only in Mumbai, where it currently operates, but also in the other metros. “Our hallmark is reach and accessibility. Customer care is all about implementation. Our speed in responding to consumer queries, quality of services, processes and technologies satisfy our 3 million subscribers in Mumbai and its suburbs. We provide segment-wise services ?? prepaid, post-paid and corporate,” he says. He hopes to build on these strengths and take growth to the next level, and set new standards in quality and efficiency for the other operators to follow.
While these are ambitious growth plans, Chachondia is sure that the fabric of BPL Mobile is strong enough to support them. The best thing that the company has going for it, he feels, is the work culture, which lets employees grow both in terms of knowledge and confidence. This is vital considering the high attrition rates that the industry has to contend with. And that this is not just standard CEO speak is proved by the fact that Chachondia himself came back twice to work for BPL Mobile. “I am quite fond of BPL Mobile ?? the work culture here, the people. In my previous assignment with the company, I had a four-year stint looking after strategy, planning and broadband. It was a simply amazing experience. The period was full of learning and sharing, and led to a tremendous growth in my confidence. The exposure went beyond working on GSM, the latest technology at that time. I explored the creation of successful businesses,” recalls Chachondia.
Never one to shy away from work, Chachondia believes in always giving the best, no matter how hard the task. He is grateful to his parents for instilling in him the right values. “My parents have been my biggest source of inspiration. They effectively managed a family with the given resources, and made selfless and consistent efforts to help everyone and spread cheer all around. These have been my biggest lessons,” he says.
Ever since childhood, Chachondia has maintained a balanced approach. As a schoolboy, finishing homework and studies were followed by playing with friends. Later, while studying at the Government Engineering College, Jabalpur, for a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecom engineering and then at IIT Bombay for a master’s degree in management, his sense of purpose as well as discipline helped strike a balance between fun and studies. Though he was quite proficient as a tabletennis player and as a musician, studies always took precedence.
Getting the priorities right has helped Chachondia in a career spanning over two decades. He has worked with a number of organisations including Tata Power Broadband, Tata Teleservices Limited and the Indian Railways. Whatever the assignment, Chachondia sets himself very high targets. He always tries to put in efficient systems and train his juniors to do his job. “I like to make myself redundant in any job in a span of two to three years. I try to groom juniors to take on the baton. Looking back, I am glad that in all my assignments, someone from my team has replaced me and carried on the culture of learning, sharing and growth,” he says.
A combination of being hands-on and delegating work has also worked well for him. He believes that strong processes are needed so that less time is spent on daily firefighting. According to Chachondia, quick decision-making, coaching juniors and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field are the qualities of a good leader.
“In these 22 years of work life, every assignment has been unique and has offered its share of excitement, learning and joy on completion,” he says. He picks his stint with the Indian Railways as the most interesting phase in his career. There, he says, his communication skills and tact were put to the test as he was assigned a huge team which was diverse in terms of education, experience, culture and motivation levels. “An interesting challenge for me was to keep the staff motivated to perform. Fixed increments and a seniority-based promotion system were hardly an incentive. Also, any change in the way of the team’s functioning directly impacted the safety and punctuality of train operations,” he explains. Interestingly, Chachondia attributes his success in managing the team to the people skills he picked up during his college days.
His most satisfying assignment was planning and implementing safety systems like automatic warning in the Mumbai division of the Indian Railways, as it led to increased safety and prevention of train collisions.
Now, however, Chachondia is the quintessential telecom professional. He explains how the communications revolution has impacted people’s lives. “From a time when we called a destination through fixed telephony, we have moved to establish direct contact with people, no matter where they are, thanks to the mobile phone. Voice was an intrusive form of communication, but text messaging and mobile mailing have come as some non-intrusive options. Ringback tones, FM radio on the mobile and music downloads are changing the face of the music industry just as built-in cameras have changed digital photography. Next-generation mobile technologies like high speed packet access and Wi-Max are options that will completely redefine communications with video calling, mobile commerce as well as infotainment.”
Going ahead, he feels that the challenge lies in building a telecom sector that creates value for all shareholders, employees, customers, partners and the nation. “The telecom sector often gets driven by a valuation hype, which distorts the direction and affects the sector’s march towards profitable and sustainable growth,” he says. He stresses on the need for a long-term approach such as focusing on building world-class organisations, not only in terms of scale but also in service delivery standards. Further, he says that the government needs to provide an enabling regulatory framework and create a climate of trust and transparency to encourage investments.
It is interesting to note that a person deeply involved in a sector as competitive, evolving and modern as telecom is actually guided by age-old values such as karma. According to Chachondia, the importance being devoted to work is universal and always relevant. He was introduced to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita many years ago in Hyderabad, where he got an opportunity to hear lectures on the scripture. He is also deeply influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, such as the importance of taking immediate action and being proactive. The influence of these ideals is seen in Chachondia’s disciplined daily routine.
A wake-up call at 6.30 a.m., hot tea with a tinge of ginger, and then meditation ?? these get him started for the day. The 40-minute ride to work is used for going through books, periodicals and newspapers. Once in the office, emails and official papers take precedence, followed by operational and business reviews. The second half of the day is generally reserved for interactions and meetings, with customers, employees or partners. Sometimes, field visits are also needed and it is quite common for Chachondia to arrive back home as late as 9 p.m.
“In spite of my busy schedule, my family is very supportive and has taken kindly to the long working hours, sometimes with no breaks. My wife has totally supported me in my endeavours. I can say that my wife deserves the credit for whatever I am today,” he says. He is also proud of his young daughter who, like her father, has learnt the importance of focusing on the larger aspects of life and not just the material pleasures.
Back home after the day’s grind, Chachondia likes to have a peaceful dinner with his wife and take a 30-minute walk. On weekends, he listens to music, plays the keyboard and catches up with friends and relatives. “Shopping and the occasional family outing are also happily accommodated,” he says.
Chachondia counts himself lucky to be working in the fast growing Indian telecom sector, where over 8 million subscribers are being added each month. His enthusiasm about work is quite evident, and he admits that telecom is not just his job, it is his passion: “I live and breathe in the world of telecom, and literally so, considering all the radiowaves in the air!”
