An industry veteran for eighteen years, Naresh Wadhwa joined Cisco India in
January 1998 as a sales manager, and was responsible for driving Cisco's
Enterprise, Commercial and IT Services business. He successfully managed and
grew the business four-fold and laid a strong foundation for Cisco's success in
the Indian market. Wadhwa, president and country manager, India and Saarc,
Cisco, who loves challenges like any other CEO in the world, is driven by the
ability to contribute-not only to the business but also to team and the company.
He feels humility is an important trait that all leaders must possess. Excerpts
How do you start your day?
I am an early riser, and generally I start my day by doing light exercises.
I get up to catch up with news and recent happenings-I check emails, browse the
Internet, and read morning news. When I'm at home, I try and spend as much time
as possible with my children. To get more time with my children, I try and drop
them to school whenever I am not traveling.
What does life mean to you?
My approach toward life is embodied by the following quote from the Bhagavad
Gita:
'Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana'-'Do your duty and don't expect
any benefits out of it'. I believe in doing the right thing and letting life
take its course.
I don't believe in taking shortcuts in life-taking shortcuts might accelerate
one's growth in the short term, but it might also be the cause of one's fall
from grace, just as quickly.
What kind of food appeals to you?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for me. I usually have a
heavy breakfast and a heavy dinner, but go easy on lunch. I cannot resist junk
food! Whenever I can, I indulge in food from roadside stalls that Mumbai is
famous for!
How difficult is it to be a CEO?
While it is not a cakewalk, it is made easy if one has a supportive
ecosystem. It is especially a pleasure if one is surrounded by people who share
similar goals. Collaboration makes things fun when people work toward a common
cause. And when one is working with friends, it makes the journey and overall
experience much more enjoyable and rewarding.
How do you define leadership?
A collaborative and participative leadership style is very important to
garner the best and drive the team toward a common goal and vision. A leader
should have the ability to choose the right people and match them with the right
roles. The ability to disrupt and break away from the norm, with a clear vision,
is also integral to an organization's success in today's dynamic business
environment.
While leadership is not about decision-making alone, active involvement of
the team in the decision-making process improves the understanding of the issues
involved, by those who run the business.
How do you define yourself as an individual, entrepreneur, and a family
man?
As an individual, I am ambitious; with the right appetite for risk. I
evaluate my risks at every step. But, at the same time, I realize the importance
of building a solid foundation. I am conscious of achieving my goals within the
timeframe, but still do so on the basis of a strong foundation.
As an entrepreneur, I like the excitement that comes with any kind of
startup, whether it is a new business venture, a function, or a new role. I
excel at setting up new ventures and giving them the necessary momentum to take
them to the next level. For this, I do depend on my team, which helps me achieve
this and also help push the envelope higher every time.
My family is a source of immense motivation for me and brings me the much
needed stability in the face of constant change and evolution. Given my hectic
travel schedule, I get to spend very less time with my family than I would like
to. But, as much as possible, I try to spend weekends with my family.
I value time spent with family members as opposed to socializing. I am very
conscious about providing the right kind of environment to my kids so that they
can imbibe the right culture and values.
What's your vision for the country?
India is at the cusp of growth and innovation across industry sectors,
verticals, and the momentum of this growth will be sustained in the foreseeable
future. Cisco is looking forward to playing a key role in this growth
trajectory. The current environment in India has the excitement that heralds new
beginnings and provides immense opportunities to transform and create for the
future.
At Cisco, we are very happy to be amid this boom and if we do our job right,
then someday when I retire, I shall be very proud to reflect on the
infrastructure that we have helped build in this country.
What drives you in your business life?
The ability to contribute-not only to the business but also to the team and
the company-drives me. I am quite self motivated. I believe in constantly
raising the bar and taking the game to the next level. I love challenges; the
opportunity to learn and add value constantly motivates me. I love the fact that
I can learn something new every day and open new doors to exciting opportunities
for my company and me.
What main challenges have you faced in the past five years?
Managing change was one of the biggest challenges that I have faced. One of
the challenges for me was when I moved from a sales background in India to a
completely non-sales role in Hong Kong four years ago. The experience was a
tremendous learning experience for me. Another challenge was to apply this
learning in an environment alien to me, and one that was full of cultural
diversity.
But I believe where there is a challenge, there exists an opportunity. So I
accepted the tough role of heading North Asia which again proved to be a massive
learning exercise for me as it involved a role over which I did not have direct
control.
The second challenge in the last five years was when I took over the
marketing function. From directly managing a team of 50-60 people, I had to make
the transition to have teams from almost thirteen countries having a dotted line
reporting to me. I then realized the importance of people management. Only
people who possess this understanding have the ability to execute their vision.
Who's your role model?
I wouldn't say I have any one role model as I try to learn some positive
qualities and strengths from different individuals. Everyday, I learn something
new from my peers and leaders who I come across either directly or indirectly. A
key influence in my life was my father, who instilled values of focus,
perseverance, and humility in me. These values have held me in good stead
through my life and career.
John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco, has demonstrated and continues to
demonstrate great leadership. Not only is he an evangelist for radical change in
the world of technology, he also possesses the vision and charisma of a true
leader.
What do you want to do for India?
Cisco is at a stage where we can contribute a lot to inclusive growth, by
use of technology. We are experiencing tremendous growth across sectors and
segments-whether it is rural connectivity, providing affordable infrastructure,
or services to as many people as possible. Cisco as a company would like to
contribute to this nation-building exercise.
Is there anything that you miss in life?
I miss my parents, who have been responsible for my success; they are not
around to guide me and take pleasure in my success.
I also miss spending more time with kids and family. I try to spend as much
quality time with my family as possible and try to take active part in my kids'
development. I definitely try to attend parent-teacher meetings.
I also miss going out on vacations and taking time off. It is a question of
work-life balance. The ability to go out and spend time has reduced over time. I
would not say it has gone down completely, but this is what I miss.
How do you spend your evenings?
Watching movies is my passion. I usually spend my evenings watching TV,
listening to music and sometimes going out for long walks.
What's your favorite tourist destination?
My ideal holiday destination would be a quite place tucked far away from the
madding crowd. I love to spend time at jungle resorts-Jim Corbett National Park,
Ranthambore National Park in India, and safari parks in Kenya.
I also enjoy soaking up the history and revel in the heritage of certain
European destinations.
What are you reading at present?
I am reading Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and
Warriors Shaped Globalization by Nayan Chanda.
The subject of globalization has always interested me and from my
professional standpoint, it is very relevant to me today. For us at Cisco,
globalization is not just about India, China, or emerging markets; it is really
about networked economies and the development of world-class talent in all
markets and offering new technologies, perspectives and advantages to customers
across the world. This book is helping me gain a more informed and holistic
picture about the patterns and movements that define globalization.
Which technology has attracted you the most?
With so many technologies affecting various aspect of our life, it is not
any one technology but the convergence of technologies that I think will add
value to our life.
What do you like the most at Cisco?
I have spent over ten years at Cisco. The remarkable thing about the company
is that despite being a market leader, Cisco retains a startup culture where
there is a continuous sense of excitement and feeling of ownership among its
employees.
Workplace flexibility is encouraged, values and guidelines bind employees,
and rigid policies are not imposed. Cisco gives me the freedom and ability to
lead, transform and contribute not only to the business but also to my team and
the company. I find myself constantly raising the bar at Cisco. There is a sense
of achievement and a new avenue explored at the end of the day.
What will be your advice to your people for improving their contribution?
Learn to collaborate and take risks. Believe in your ability to transform
your vision into reality.
Is people management a key issue for you? How do you tackle it?
Good people-management skill is an asset that determines and defines
leadership. It is an art that one has to learn because no two people are alike;
everybody thinks, talks and behaves differently. The ability to connect with
people and contribute to their lives as they grow in the organization is very
important. Getting people to contribute into a broader vision and giving them a
sense of purpose is an art.
Baburajan K
baburajank@cybermedia.co.in
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