For Vrajesh Shelat, maintaining Reliance Communications’ (RCOM) leadership position in the Indian telecom market is the topmost priority. “The main challenge before me is to ensure profitable and sustainable growth in a highly competitive market,” he says.
As head of RCOM’s data business, Shelat’s areas of responsibility include two of the company’s major business streams: Wireless Data Business, and Devices and Roaming Business.
Commenting on expected trends in the sector, Shelat says, “The Indian telecom sector will continue on a high-growth trajectory. I expect that this new wave of growth will come with the use of wireless internet access. RCOM is the leading service provider in this segment. We have seen tremendous growth so far, and are geared to meet future growth requirements.”
Shelat believes in adopting an empowering approach when it comes to meeting deadlines. “I feel one must lead from the front and empower and enable the entire team to deliver results. Before the project is undertaken, one must clearly define what is expected, and step in wherever necessary.”
Besides his management style, he also relies on certain professional strengths to complete the tasks at hand. He says, “I count my analytical mind, composed nature and patience as strengths. These have helped me manage every possible professional situation.”
He is equally candid about his weaknesses. “A major weakness is taking too much on my plate. I always end up fighting for time when this happens,” he says.
Shelat has no favourites when it comes to picking his most memorable assignment. He says, “I have enjoyed all the assignments I have undertaken so far and have been fortunate enough to have been involved in very interesting and exciting projects throughout my career.”
Shelat brings to his current assignment several years of experience, including 10 years at Reliance Industries in venture capital and then at RCOM. Prior to his stint at Reliance, he worked as a business process consultant with US-based Telcordia Technologies, where he was involved in helping a range of telecom companies re-engineer their existing business processes.
A civil engineering graduate from Gujarat University, Shelat also has an MBA in finance and operations from New York State University.
When not busy meeting deadlines or tackling daily challenges, he spends time with his wife Shefali and sons Om and Arjun. He enjoys reading books and watching movies.
