1. What have you found most challenging as a leader of a small or medium enterprise?

The most challenging thing as a leader of a small or medium enterprise is to generate business and being positive in front of everyone , though at that time you don’t have a positive mind set then also act like everything is going good.As when you start your own business you don't have portfolio of your work.You are new to this game of business.You are not aware with the client question and the most important thing why client should chose us? As other players are also in the market having experience and expertise than why us? So this is something as a business leader who have started from scratch have to go through .As if you have started your own business and you have no clients and you have certain expenses that is getting piled up with each passing day.Your subordinated people who you are hired to make the things possible ,to make them positive and give them assurance that , yes we are on the right path and things will change very soon. Being a torchbearer for your subordinates and making them positive .At the same time once your heart and mind is getting surrounded by deep darkness with each passing day.So as for me the biggest challenge was bringing business and making your team positive ,whatever negativity is going inside you ,you need to be always positive in front of your team and family.

2. How did you become a leader of an SME? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Way back I was working with a company.And trying to deliver my best at any given moment.
I was working on the profile of a business head and my responsibility was to bring the business from offshore clients, make a team and also take care of that team.So in short I was doing the same thing as a business person needs to do.
So, I realized that I have potential and if I can do it for anyone, I can do it for myself. But this was not only the reason , seriously if you have certain responsibility towards your family ,so you can’t move so easily.So this can’t be only thing there are certain factors which drives you to take hard decision.I can mention those things which drives me to leave my job and start my own business :

1. Boss bad behavior
2. Office politics
3. Wrong commitments to the employs as well as clients (most important )

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I start my day and plan things before going to sleep. What I must do tomorrow once I am in the office. Once I wake up I remind those things to me that I have planned my work for the day . So, I have to work in this way only.Also there is very less chance of my routine to get hampered.As something went wrong also or if I get distracted with something then I make sure that I increase my shift and make the things happen that I have planned last night.
Same once I go to bed, I plan the things for the next day and once I wake up, I just keep the things in my mind what I have planned for the day last night.So in a way I can say my days are much more structured 6 to 7 hours earlier before I wake up.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

Well this is something that this pandemic (Covid) taught me.Nothing stops life needs to get going always.So you need to be much more adaptable to the changes.
So a leadership lesson you need to be much more flexible and adaptable to the changes.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

I am not a person who goes through the books. Anyhow 10 years ago I completed my studies and then I got rid of books. Also I don't have that much time either in the office or at home to go through the books.But still i hear motivational things from social media.
And I also believe in the theory that ONCE THE EGG IS BROKEN FROM OUTSIDE LIFE END ONCE IT IS BROKEN FROM INSIDE LIFE STARTS.
So I believe in my own experience and journey .
Because all the education we get here does-not motivate us to become entrepreneur.So my daily journey of my life gives me strength to make decisions.

6. How do you build leadership capacity in an SME?

Action speaks louder than word.I discuss with the team on daily basis i make them aware with my thought and also take their opinion on any situation.I also appreciate them and if they have some better idea I give them opportunity to implement the things in the way they want.So communication from top to bottom is always there and taking other opinion and appreciating it is the rule i follow.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader of an SME so far?

Never lose hope .I was following up a client since last 2 years client was not entertaining me everyone said i am just wasting my time and effort on that client.But i have a hope and I continue doing the same.As everyone was like i am not focusing on other clients soon everything will be over, if this thing goes on then in few months office will get closed.But I never lose my hope and at end the client converted and till now he is our biggest client.So never give hope on any client.