“The pandemic has really highlighted the resilience and ability of the best entrepreneurs”
When the virus first arrived, we were incredibly concerned. Our company SFC Capital has a portfolio of about 200 companies; and so, March and April were worrying months. Were investors going to stop investing? Would our company survive? But it soon became clear that the problems were going to be focused on certain sectors, namely travel and hospitality, while big opportunities were opening up for companies involved in other businesses, such as delivery and remote working. Some of our portfolio companies had a very tough time; but some thrived, and a dozen or so witnessed their revenues shoot through the roof – including a flower delivery business, a company that makes kits to upgrade pushbikes to electric, and a sustainable packaging company that transitioned to producing recyclable PPE. Before the virus, they were supplying paper straws to McDonald’s, so their story is a good example of innovation. The pandemic has really highlighted the resilience and ability of the best entrepreneurs. So far, we have not lost a company, some have flourished, while others have hunkered down and waited.
Good entrepreneurs can pretty much survive a nuclear war – they will be able to pivot, transition, rally their team, adapt. They are people-centric, which is hugely important. When we assess companies to invest in, we always look at how the CEOs and leaders interact with their employees, how they behave together in the bunker, so to speak. Are they all pushing in the same direction? The virus has stoked a kind of war-time spirit and the best entrepreneurs are making sure their companies are coming out the other side stronger.
As an early stage investor, at SFC Capital we use a marking matrix to guide us, 50% of which scrutinizes the CEO, leaders, co-founders, and team of each company. How do they come across; how do they behave? Have they got their finger on the pulse? If there is only one founder, they are really up against it from day one; it’s a negative in many ways, but we certainly do not exclude them. Sole founders need to be seriously good for us to invest in them. We are looking for that real spark. We do psychometric testing, we have lots of discussions with them, we see how they respond to our questions on due diligence, and we do a deep dive on each company. If we do decide to invest, later when we are considering whether to reinvest, we re-evaluate them, check their resilience and perseverance, have they built a good team? These are important factors to consider.
“Good entrepreneurs can pretty much survive a nuclear war – they will be able to pivot, transition, rally their team, adapt”
“The virus has stoked a kind of war-time spirit and the best entrepreneurs are making sure their companies are coming out the other side stronger”
Quite often, we are presented with a brilliant idea but the team is lacking. I would rather have a great team with an average idea than an average team with a great idea. A great team will forge something even during the toughest times. One of SFC capital’s first investments was an identity verification company called Onfido. When we invested, they had no revenue, the product wasn’t really there, but the team was so exceptional that we knew it was going to be something special. The company is now worth more than £350 million. It is all about the people.
Remarkably, during the pandemic, valuations have not gone down. People generally tend to overvalue their businesses – how can a company with zero revenue, that is three months old, be worth £2 million? We see crazy valuations like this all the time. I do believe that the pandemic is potentially a good thing for entrepreneurship. We are going to see a lot of people out of work when the furlough scheme in the UK comes to an end. There should be no shortage of startups. The UK is a very entrepreneurial country; but it also probably means we will see some people who should not be entrepreneurs trying their luck coming to the market and demanding corporate salaries.
For budding entrepreneurs in the times of Covid, and even generally, I would advise:
Ø If you don’t have a co-founder, get one. It is extremely difficult going it alone. If you find someone who is compatible with your vision it takes a great deal of pressure off.
Ø Take time to work out a detailed plan and don’t rush things. Be clear when you talk to your potential investors – don’t assume they know anything. Investors tend to be generalists, so you need to be clear.
Ø Don’t overvalue your company. High valuations can destroy companies for so many reasons, not least because it will take so long to source enough investment that you run the risk of someone stealing your idea in the meantime.
I attended a Girls’ Grammar School and studied all three sciences – Physics, Chemistry and Biology – but, when I was 16, the new ‘comprehensive System’ in England affected my education, and I found myself in a huge mixed-gender school, the merger of three separate local schools, and the only girl in an Advanced Level Physics class. My first experience of STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) just being for the boys!
Having said that, I think as I chose Biomedical Sciences as a profession, I was not particularly affected throughout my career by stereotypes, especially as Hematology my specialist discipline, had many females. The Biochemistry departments seemed to have more male staff, who I assume were attracted by the huge complex autoanalyzers. I had to work across multiple pathology disciplines for the out-of-hours emergency service though, so did get to operate those as well.
Along with established laboratory posts, I undertook a number of ‘locum’ positions, e.g., in Brussels – for SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) on a global clinical trial; the Orkney Islands; and hospitals in and around London.
When I returned to university in my 30s, to study to become a Science Teacher, I deliberately took all the Physics modules available, because I knew that I would always be employed if I could offer Physics. I taught all three Sciences from 11 to 16 years, and to Sixth Form – Biology ‘A’ Level, Health and Social Care, and Advanced Vocational Certificate in Education Mechanics – and relished this, as much of it is Math, which I enjoy.
The British Council state that a STEM workforce is crucial to India’s economic development and social welfare, but that women are underrepresented in STEM careers. “Although women constitute 40 percent of science undergraduates in India, only a fraction move into successful academic careers and even fewer reach top positions in research and administration. This results in a loss of talented workforce.’’ Having said this, only 24 percent of the STEM workforce in the UK consists of women, though this is predicted to rise to 29 percent by 2030.
“The British Council state that a STEM workforce is crucial to India’s economic development and social welfare, but that women are underrepresented in STEM careers”
“Science graduates have been – and will continue to be – at the forefront of tackling many of the world’s greatest challenges, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change”
According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80 percent of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of Maths and Science skills, and females will need to take up these opportunities.
Science graduates have been – and will continue to be – at the forefront of tackling many of the world’s greatest challenges, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change. Careers are varied, and those in current demand globally include Audiologist, Biochemical Engineer, Climatologist, Computer Systems Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist, Data Scientist, Dental Hygienist, Doctor (Medical), Endocrinologist, Forensic Science Technician, Genetic Counsellor, Hematologist, Information Security Analyst, Math Teacher, Nanosystems Engineer, Occupational Therapist, Patent Lawyer, Robotics Technician, Statistician, Surgeon, Veterinarian, Virtual World Creator, Wind Energy Engineer, and many more.
Certainly, I have no regrets about the choices I have made. I have always received a good salary, been respected in an interesting job role of value to society, which has also sometimes allowed me to travel.
Entrepreneurship is the foundation on which the future of business will be built. With the fractures in manufacturing and supply chain, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an immediate opportunity to start businesses with innovative models and solutions, and those having services or products that fill our current challenges and needs. Among established small businesses, which are the backbone of our communities, many are struggling to regain their footing during this challenging and unprecedented time. If we approach the future of business with a new outlook, discarding what we knew to be true about the past, creating what will be true about the future, businesses will transform, going from a position of vulnerability to a position of strength.
When businesses are enduring difficult times, either due to internal or external catalysts, we must all have a distinctive approach to confronting these challenges and crafting customized solutions. While many businesses are looking at the situation from a linear standpoint (“How can I take what you already have and just tweak it to find a solution?”), businesses who approach the challenges using an out-of-the-box thought-process will be the ones shaping the future. When revitalizing business plans, innovating models, or helping a distressed business to recover and accelerate, focus not only on ways to do it differently, but create a unique roadmap for your company, measuring these changes through integration and implementation, so that you can quantify the impact to your stakeholders, customers and employees. Businesses should not simply improve or solve a problem in their operations; they MUST find ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors, carving a unique niche for themselves in an overcrowded marketspace. This not only increases profitability, but it generates value, impact, consumer confidence and profitability.
While this is a very disruptive time for business, disruption leads to transformation. As businesses around the world are channeling large portions of their budgets into cybersecurity and making sure their employees have access to technology and connectivity while working remotely, and as physical office space sits empty, we are embracing this as our new way-forward. Even when this pandemic stabilizes and it is safe to go back to “normal”, it will be far too costly and inefficient to put things back the way they once were. We can’t go back to normal when normal was clearly the problem. KPIs are up, overhead is down…welcome to the new norm.
Many business experts are advising clients to pull in their sails, but I fully disagree! You are missing a phenomenal opportunity! This is the time when fortunes will be made, and fortunes will be lost. While many businesses will sit back licking their wounds, waiting to see how the dust will settle, those who are proactive, examining the gaps that are appearing, and formulating unique solutions will be the ones leading the pack into our transformational future. There is a way back “in” for every business and industry. Finding it, however, requires us to step out of the cattle chute of “business as it’s always been done”, and begin to look at our businesses through fresh eyes, understanding that it may require us to scrap much of our existing model in favor of innovation and change. When adversity becomes a chapter in the handbook of our business, remember that you are the author of the story. You determine what happens next. Whether the story ends or continues depends on your willingness to step out of your comfort zone, being brave enough to disrupt your existing model, and lead the way in a new direction. The beauty in writing each chapter of our lives is that we can take the eraser to the words and redo them any time. Life is never written with a Sharpie. If you make a mess of today, forgive yourself and start fresh with the sunrise.
“While this is a very disruptive time for business, disruption leads to transformation”
“This is the time when fortunes will be made, and fortunes will be lost.”
During COVID-19, we witnessed the breakdown of our global governments at many levels. As businesses, we count on our governmental policies to be our beacon in the night. One of our biggest lessons-learned during the pandemic is that we must take responsibility for our own circumstances. We’ve allowed ourselves to get too comfortable in the somewhat erroneous belief that our government will be able to come to our rescue in times of economic downturn, natural disaster or, clearly, pandemic. Perhaps we are learning a hard lesson about our role in our systemic recovery and resiliency. As we re-evaluate our strategies, implementing new mechanisms and policies which will transform our operations, we must establish contingencies for the fractures which have appeared – and continue to appear, in our supply chains, operations, distribution and services. It would not be unreasonable to use the past few months as the measure by which we reshape our strategy, ensuring that we weigh each catalyst and consequence to formulate flexible and adaptable plans for our new enterprise models.
2020 was about as predictable as the path of a Kansas cyclone. Not long after stepping into this new decade, as we all know, the world was blindsided with an unexpected reality – COVID-19. We went from commuting 90 minutes to/from the suburbs to commuting 30 seconds to our home office, which, for many folks, was/is the kitchen table, serving the dual purpose of conference room and classroom. Schools morphed into computer screens, airports became parking lots, and an elbow bump became the new handshake. We were gearing up for March madness, only to be shocked with an unexpected ‘madness’ in March. Four months ago, the education of our children was a daily routine – mindless clockwork. What time they get on and off the school bus; their spring sports schedules; SAT and ACT testing dates…all written in marker on our calendars. Why write it in pencil? These expectations and benchmarks were as predictable as the solstice – rigid, routine, unalterable.
Progress doesn’t stop because of a challenge, in fact, challenges are the catalysts for progress. It is said that the Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of stones, it ended because of PROGRESS. We aspire to more sophisticated medical care. We find ways to use technology to automate and innovate. We create processes and operations to make our businesses competitive and relevant. As parents, we strive to enable our children to progress beyond us in terms of quality of life and success. Progress implies forward motion. Why then, in the face of COVID-19 and the challenges we are facing in our businesses, would we want to go BACK to the way things were? Why would we want to regress into the past – a past that was clearly laden with systemic fragility, catastrophic failures in governmental policy, supply gain inefficiencies and gaps, and ineffective plans for the management of risk. We can’t go back to normal because ‘normal’ was the problem.
“One of our biggest lessons-learned during the pandemic is that we must take responsibility for our own circumstances”
“Progress doesn’t stop because of a challenge, in fact, challenges are the catalysts for progress”
There is no magic formula which will determine how we emerge from the challenges of 2020; however, we need to look at this new year with a different mindset. Instead of letting 2021 shape us, we must shape 2021. Our success or failure is not predestined, arbitrary or accidental. We cannot attach blame or pass away the accountability. Too often, business owners or leaders fall into the ‘victim trap’, believing the there’s nothing they can do except lick their wounds and ride out the storm. However, to emerge from unprecedented and challenging times in a position of strength, flying as lead-bird, you cannot waste one minute ‘waiting it out’. While large multi-nationals have the internal teams or the access and resources to engage the large consulting firms for guidance and direction, buoyancy, weathering this storm and the subsequent recovery is much more challenging for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Small business owners bear the brunt of responsibility, carrying the weight of continuity, feeling the greatest impact from unexpected setbacks, closures and/or lapses in the supply chain. Small business owners are often required to step into all roles and positions within the company, meeting KPIs for the entire operational force. Being frugal with resources, doing more with less, and shouldering the uncertainty are, too often, the burden – and the survival strategy deployed by struggling small business owners. With the right tools and perspective, however, coupled with the courage to ‘reinvent’ in the face of adversity and challenge, small business owners have the singular opportunity to distinguish themselves, moving ahead of the pack of competitors, shaping themselves to be the vanguards of the future.
Accelerating our business depends on our ability to understand the need to re-strategize, then being courageous enough swerve off the pathway, recognizing that we have the power to pioneer a way-forward for others to follow. This is the motivation that will keep us driving ahead. But it all begins by making a commitment to persevere in the face of adversity and the determination to find the right key that will fit the lock of our new future.
In a relatively short time-span, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed education in ways that we could not have imagined possible in such a time frame. From preschoolers to undergraduates, students of all ages have had to get used to seeing their teachers on a screen – attending virtual classrooms, submitting projects online and even taking tests online.
Online classes have been a part of our reality for roughly three decades now, making learning accessible to a greater number of people than ever before. With improvements in technology and connectivity, the market for online learning has grown phenomenally in the last few years. No longer limited only to higher education, it was gradually being incorporated into curriculum universally. As advances in online learning techniques made online feedback and assessments a reality, online learning became a two-way dialogue rather than a static, didactic method of teaching; and when the pandemic struck, it became a necessity almost instantly.
Teachers and students have had to adapt and quickly learn to take online classes effectively and efficiently. The learning curve has been steep for everyone involved, but the upside is too great to ignore – education would be at a standstill if technology had not progressed enough to enable online classes.
There are some challenging aspects of learning online; and here we have compiled is a list of things to help improve your experience.
Maintain a routine, as you would for regular classes – wake up on time, have breakfast and shower before you settle down to attend your classes. Treat your online class as any regular in-person class, as far as possible.
Be on time, or preferably early – Plan ahead and familiarize yourself with the software tools that will be used for your online classes beforehand. Learn how to mute your audio and control your camera, how to raise your hand or signal to indicate you wish to speak, how to send a private message; these are part of basic etiquette for online sessions of any kind.
Be mindful of what others can see and hear – ensure that the background is appropriate in case your camera is switched on during the class. Make sure that others in the vicinity are aware that you are attending a live class.
Create a dedicated study area – This can help you focus on your studies when it’s time for class and help disconnect when it’s not. Try to choose a quiet spot with minimum external distractions. Make sure it’s not too comfortable (like a bed or cushy sofa). Keep your books and stationary at hand; stay organized to avoid wasting time while the class is on.
Take notes – You may think that all the information is available online and you can skip this; however, the purpose of taking notes is not merely to record the class, but to put the material in your own words, thereby boosting retention and comprehension.
Avoid multi-tasking – distractions and switching between tasks can cause mistakes, it tires you out and hampers proper retention. It can be tempting to get some other work done while listening to your lecture, but that’s likely to backfire. Research shows that focusing on one activity at a time increases productivity.
Make a note of deadlines and test dates; check your email regularly to stay aware of any possible changes in the schedule for classes, projects or tests. It’s easy to miss things when you are at home if you do not have a daily reminder to check your messages.
Be prepared for connectivity issues – Try to optimize your internet connection; hard wiring to your router is the best option. If you are on WiFi, sit as close to the router as possible. Do not panic if you lose your internet connection. You can also keep your smartphone as a backup.
Have realistic expectations – With everyone thrust into this situation with no advance notice, teachers and students alike have had to learn on the job. Remember that teaching this way is most likely a new experience for your instructors as well. Be patient, and don’t panic at minor setbacks.
Get to know your teachers – If possible, introduce yourself via email. It’s nice to have a personal connection with your instructors, and if there are no in-person classes, it may be difficult for them to see you as anything but a name on a screen. Making an effort to connect with them can only be an advantage. Ask questions and speak up in class when it is appropriate to do so. In case you fall behind or need help, ask for it. Asking for help shows a genuine interest in learning, rather than simply attending and passing a class.
Connect with your fellow classmates – Get to know the other students in your class. Exchanging notes can be helpful to let you know whether others are on the same track or facing similar issues as you. Creating an online study group with other interested classmates can be useful to resolve queries and keep track of deadlines. Being in sync with classmates can prevent you from slacking off. Connecting with others also helps break monotony and reduce stress.
The world is waiting to go back to ‘normal’ and to see the end of this pandemic. But, in the meantime, there’s a lot to be thankful for in terms of technology and innovation that has allowed life and education to continue unabated.
“If an experience has the ability to give you the bliss of belonging, it is an experience worth having. This is how I feel about my journey at the University of Toronto, where I completed a combined specialist degree in French and Italian”
“Do I belong here?” is potentially the greatest question that one asks when finally deciding which university to go to, and one’s program of study. Though I personally had skipped this question and jumped ahead to the future, there was a moment in my university career when I realized that where I am is exactly where I am supposed to be. Like a bulb lighting up, showing me that everything is in place and putting on hold those pesky questions lurking in my mind about what is to come next. Those of us who have experienced university life can share that, at times, there can be a strong sense of alienation. Day-to-day uncertainty is simply a part of the process. But if an experience has the ability to give you the bliss of belonging, it is an experience worth having. This is how I feel about my journey at the University of Toronto, where I completed a combined specialist degree in French and Italian.
A little ‘off-beat’ can be said about my choice of program, but thankfully U of T offered it; and that too with a variety of courses, never making me feel like the ‘odd one out’. For me, going to U of T was a rational decision, a prestigious university that was close to home and offered a program in the direction that I eagerly wanted to pursue; French. French was something I had been learning since grade four and I fell in love with the moment I first heard the sound of it. But to say I was nervous on the first day of university might be deemed an understatement, and walking into my very first French class in first year was an experience I will never forget. We had gone a long way from repeating the names of classroom objects and the recitations of the verbs “avoir” (to have) and “être” (to be) of the younger years. As if walking into a different world, French words, sentences, and unique expressions echoed through the walls of the lecture hall as the professor spoke.
Walking into this new world was daunting and nerve-wracking, yet presented a deeply and inexplicably glorious feeling to be exploring the language in ways I had never heard of before. All the professors challenged us to transform our second or third languages into our first. The syllabi were crowded with verb tenses used commonly by the intellectuals, literature that scholars had been studying and unravelling since centuries and intricacies of the culture that were present in all their forms of art. But this was not even the entire picture of what my university career would look like! In a way, first year was designed like a map where I, as a student, belonged nowhere. Whilst fulfilling my university requirement of taking one humanities, one science and one social science course, along with other electives, and I explored courses such as Economics, Astronomy, Italian studies and even English Literature. Very different from the French degree I endeavored to attain, but this requirement and year of exploration allowed me to expand; teaching me a lot about myself. Moreover, I learned that it was not just French that I loved; it was a love of learning languages that occupied a space in my heart.
“From all the ups and downs; feeling confused to feeling nervous to feeling like you’ve had an epiphany, this was an experience I’m so glad I had”
When we finally had the opportunity to choose and apply towards our majors for the three years that were to be completed, I was at cross-roads. I had come in with somewhat of a ‘plan’, but the array of options in front of me left me lost. By chance I stumbled upon the perfect option that I was willing to risk, because I had loved my weekly three-hour Italian lectures; a combined specialist in French and Italian. This was the best decision for me, because from there onwards, I took courses in French literature from different centuries, Italian literature with a course entirely focused on Dante’s The Divine Comedy, cinema courses in both the languages, history of the languages, creative writing in Italian (which ended up being one of my more treasured courses) and the list goes on. The professors I worked with, the peers I met, the classes I attended, the exams I took all really pushed me to reach my highest potential. In four years, I accumulated knowledge worth centuries from lands entirely foreign to me.
From all the ups and downs; feeling confused to feeling nervous to feeling like you’ve had an epiphany, this was an experience I’m so glad I had. My ‘eureka’ moment happened sometime during an Italian lecture in the later years, where I could not believe that I was sitting there listening to words that I had never understood before, opening portals for me that I could never have imagined for myself. From that moment on, my university experience was heightened and the map of my career had pin points to identify destinations. In the end it can be said that – although it may take some time, finding your space and claiming your sense of belonging makes the ride smooth and worthwhile!
“Is reading an activity restricted to those who embark on a career of higher education and teaching? No, not really. While it is true that today’s digital world provides irresistible audio-visual distractions, there continues to be an explosion in publishing”
Teaching at the university for over three and a half decades, I can no longer remember a single day bereft of reading. As a graduate, I speculated about the unknown future but elected to do an MA in English Literature; to which my love for reading brought its own epiphanies and closure. At the end of five years of a specialized course in literature, I was very clear that I did not want to study law or attempt the civil services. As a career choice, I opted to teach awhile because teaching allowed me to earn a little money; but, more importantly, it let me continue with the habit of accessing university libraries, which are extraordinary spaces in a poor country like ours. I could browse and read abundantly in college libraries as a student and subsequently as a teacher. I also haunted second hand book stores and pavement stalls in different parts of Delhi, on different days of the week. My access to a varied number of books allowed me to chase ideas and concepts and read endless books of fiction, biography, poetry, non-fiction, learned essays and theories every day of the week.
I cannot say that I started off as an extraordinary teacher from my first day at the job since that did not happen. Initially, I was frozen with terror at the thought of speaking for over forty minutes. I wrote out lectures copiously and practiced them in front of mirrors for weeks before my fear could thaw out and I could lecture to a class full of young people. In the initial teaching year, it was a huge effort to stay one step ahead of my class. While I was stimulated and excited by the ideas and concepts that found their way in discussions, I remained apprehensive about not having read enough to further my arguments. I planned to continue to read and teach and learn along the way, till something more exciting turned up and presented itself as the true vocation.
I discovered innumerable books that had been written which I had never heard of and the possibility that I might never finish reading most of them began to slowly dawn upon me. Despite a reasonable reading habit from early years at school and diligent supplementary readings thereafter, I realized that one lifetime is seldom enough to read all the books that exist in any language; and as more people accessed writing and publishing, the numbers of books outside prescribed syllabi grew in geometrical proportions on an everyday basis. I discovered eventually that reading was the only consistent skill set I had at my disposal. Therefore, my vocation was after all about absorbing, analyzing and discussing the books that I read and their contexts.
Is reading an activity restricted to those who embark on a career of higher education and teaching? No, not really. While it is true that today’s digital world provides irresistible audio-visual distractions, there continues to be an explosion in publishing. The printed book continues to have its day, despite its e-competitors, although free access to books and libraries remains a hurdle.
“Turning to the printed page, leafing through literature, poetry, and written narratives; people have been looking for answers, for understanding, for connections, and perhaps for solace and reassurance that they no longer find in the monotonous, fear-filled, socially distanced and sanitized worlds that they inhabit”
It is first and foremost a privilege to be able to read. Languages and scripts are the most valuable tools that human civilizations have devised. Humans use language all the time, for a whole number of different activities. Language is needed to identify and classify and name things in the world for us to function at the most basic level. Languages have evolved around a huge range of references. Languages inform, disseminate, instruct and entertain; and at the optimum levels give us both literature and poetry, written in innumerable languages all over the world. Literature and poetry, vehicles of the human imagination also contain in portable form: stories, myths, chronicles, dramas and histories that have been handed down in different cultures for a very long time. The written word holds clues and secrets about the human past that are readily unlocked for every curious reader, keen to learn. Yet, despite the generous nature of the book, to take down a real book from a shelf and read it at an unhurried pace has become one of the less-chosen options for twenty-first century neophytes.
At the peak of this technological age, when the world and its aunt were cruising along on mono-lingual global expressways, Covid-19 struck, and brought the entire world to a halt. A humungous pandemic, unpredictable and uncontrollable, continues to keep the world as we knew it in abeyance. It has been a continuous dark night and devoid of all manner of quick fixes; with the result that everyone who can read has gone back to doing so. Turning to the printed page, leafing through literature, poetry, and written narratives; people have been looking for answers, for understanding, for connections, and perhaps for solace and reassurance that they no longer find in the monotonous, fear-filled, socially distanced and sanitized worlds that they inhabit.
A few decades ago, in the last quarter of the previous century, most of us gleaned valuable inputs about the world we lived in and its varied cultures through the books we read. Without really planning any of it, we have been returned to the same space. It is time for us to listen and learn all over again, if we are to make sense of our lives and make our world humane again. What better way to do this than by listening quietly to the voices that confide in us in many languages, speaking of their deepest feelings and fears and sharing their secret hopes and dreams; voices of older human ancestors who lived through difficult times and wisely wrote them down, providing us with innumerable word repositories. It is this treasure trove – guarded by sentinels from an older time, providing glimpses into ancient history, wars, pandemics and mass destruction – that allows us to hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
Is it difficult to imagine that a boy battling intellectual disorder would make a mark in golf? Well, there is an interesting story to tell.
My name is Ranveer Singh Saini. I am a 20-year-old special needs golfer, a Gold and Silver Medalist in the Special Olympics, World Games.
But this is not how I started!
I was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. My childhood was full of odds and hurdles – numerous interventions, therapies, special education, occupational therapy, speech stimulation, sensory diet, calming medicines. These were part of my daily routine. A report chart that indicated slow progress! My world was limited to my parents, my caretakers, a few close friends and my siblings.
One day my parents took me to the golf course, and that was it. It was as if golf was drawing me towards it. I started accompanying my parents to the golf course every single day and started taking it as a challenge. As a game of concentration, accuracy, body and mind control, golf seemed to be the last game which my therapists and special educators suggested. However, overcoming all stumbling blocks, I started training under the National Coach Mr. Anitya Chand and began practicing and pursuing golf with a professional perspective.
Finally one day, that turned out to be life-changing! The Asia Pacific Golf Masters, Macau, 2013 – the mega event that opened new pathways in my life. Being the only special needs golfer from India, I was representing the hope of millions at the Asia Pacific Golf Masters, Macau, 2013. And today I humbly admit that I didn’t let my nation down. And then, there was no looking back.
Winner of five gold medals at the Asia Pacific Golf Masters, Macau – my victory featured as a record in the Limca Book of Records for four consecutive years (2013-2016). I was bestowed with one of the ten People of the Year 2016 award by Limca Book of Records and was awarded ‘Sportsperson of the year 2015’ by Sports Illustrated India.
As a Senior Lecturer at the Kelley School of business, Indiana University, Tatiana Kolovou teaches Business communication and Cross Cultural Communication to undergrads and MBA students. Tatiana is a professional speaker, trainer and LinkedIn Author, having authored 16 courses in the LinkedIn library, including the best-selling Communication Tips, which has over 2 million views. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Tatiana has been based in the US for the last 35 years.
We had a great opportunity to talk with Tatiana about the importance of first impressions and how one can work on improving their communication skills.
Q1. From a professional standpoint, how important is a good ‘first impression’?
A1. It is critical. Our brain subconsciously makes a decision if someone is a friend or an enemy, it’s a kind of primal reflex that we have. Even if we meet someone on the street who we are not going to see again – we quickly decide. First impressions are formed in milliseconds, not even one second or three seconds; and we know this from published research on social cognition. So we must be quite mindful in the contexts where we want to be aware of what impression we make. Mind you, we are not always cognisant of first impressions we make when we meet someone in the market, grocery store, bookstore, or on the street; but if it is in the business world, when we are meeting someone for the first time we may want to influence that more and must be mindful to that effect.
Q2. What are the crucial aspects that determine the impression we make on others?
A2. Research on social cognition tells us that there are two dimensions – the first is likeability; the concept of warmth, deciding if someone is a friend or not, and we make that decision first. But, we then also decide if we trust the person enough to want to be on their team or to listen to what they say – that is the competence aspect. So, there are two components – warmth and competence. This study was first done at Harvard by Amy Cuddy and her research team. And even though we weigh both components, we first decide on warmth and then proceed with competence. These are crucial aspects of that first impression. For instance, in the context of a day care service where we take children, we want for the teachers to be not only very well organized and for the place to be clean, but we want the teachers first to greet our children and be warm with them. But then, we also want to trust that our children will learn. So that’s a good example of warmth and competence. The same stands for someone starting a presentation in a meeting – we want them (even though they may get right to the point) to make an effort to be welcoming at least, or to show warmth before the meeting begins, because we make decisions based on that. Since I also teach cross cultural communication, I would have to add here, that this depends on the context.
Q3. What factors help to build trust when the aim is to influence others or sway their opinion?
A3. To build trust you have to have a comparatively longer-standing relationship. Perhaps more than one or two interactions, or you have to have back and forth in a working / professional relationship. Building trust again depends on the context. Many times people trust you before they even know you, because you may be associated with an organization they trust. If it’s a famous consulting company or firm that is a known brand, one assumes that this person is trustworthy and should get a chance, as opposed to someone unknown. But in a context where you’re working with someone, you look at many different aspects of how trust is influenced – for example, the person’s reputation or what we call their ‘brand’.
There are certain behaviours that build trust. Does the person follow through? Do they keep their word? Do they have a network that can be useful to you? Do they bring together a good argument? Do they have their facts right? And, most importantly I would say, for people to influence others and sway their opinion, they have to be looking out for that other person. So if I’m trying to convince someone that they should do something, I should say, ‘this is good for you’; I have to focus on the person and what’s in it for them. I need to know them and what they want, and what they value. A very important part of trust-building is understanding your counterpart and what is a win for them as well. This takes us back to relationships – showing warmth and connecting with others at their level. So, knowing your context and knowing your audience to create that connection is an important factor.
Q4. What are the non-verbal aspects of communication that one can work on to improve their presence? Which specific non-verbal communication has the most impact?
A4. Presence definitely is based on non-verbals. Just one face-to-face interaction carries over ten thousand non-verbals; because non-verbals include intonation in the voice, use of space, how you stand, where you sit, what you’re wearing, how you gesture, and facial expressions. You can imagine that all of this is important. In a business setting or a meeting ‘how you show up’ would be quite significant, and that involves literally – your aura – your energy that you bring with you; how you stand and how you walk into a room, or how you sit in a chair. That’s how you show up.
Next, eye contact – I would say out of all non-verbal communications this comes first. Not just constant eye contact, but respectful and flexible, because in some cultures looking straight in someone’s eyes does not have the meaning it would in others, and we need to be sensitive to that. A lot of what we communicate is with our eye contact.
In the business setting, another critical non-verbal is a firm or confident handshake (I’m referring to the pre-Covid era of course). A handshake communicates confidence and ease between the person who is initiating it and the person receiving it. And then gestures and facial expressions are obviously significant. Dress and everything that involves dress – how a person carries themselves. For instance, if you see a person wearing a very expensive or well-tailored suit, but if they are not comfortable or confident in their stance – that sends a message. The same way, sometimes women wear heels higher than they are comfortable in. This can make them feel awkward, not comfortable in their own skin. So however you dress, you should be mindful to communicate a comfortable, for you, message. You want to be comfortable, and you want that to be part of what carries your brand. There is a really good book called ‘Power Cues’ by Nick Morgan, which discusses this in detail.
Q5. What is an effective method to improve speaking skills?
A5. It takes practice. In his book ‘Outliers’ Malcom Gladwell talks about 10,000-hour activities, the idea that people can become experts in any subject in 10,000 hours. I would say speaking takes more than that, as a non-native English speaker it’s definitely taken me more than that. But if there’s one thing to improve your speaking skills, its practice – practice, practice, practice. And possibly, put yourself in situations where you have to speak with conviction, where you have to get attention. My daughter, for instance, is a second year college student, and she is at home because of Covid and is attending university online. Because she felt quite secluded, I recommended that she volunteer with the girls’ swimming team for the local high school. We had a long conversation about how speaking in coaching – standing on the deck and calling out commands, needing to get attention from others and being comfortable hearing your voice – that is a fantastic practice opportunity to improve one’s speaking skills. So, try to put yourself in situations where you have to do a lot of practice. Practice impromptu speaking; there are several apps to help with this. One is called ‘LikeSo’ and it is in the app store. Another one that I really appreciate because it’s very innovative and progressive is called ORAI – Oratory Artificial Intelligence. You can practice impromptu speeches and keep improving your scores, and you can do this privately.
Q6. How has the current scenario post-Covid, with most official work taking place online, impacted business communication?
A6. Reflecting back to your question on first impressions – remember that even before Covid, our first impressions quite often are made with the picture that we post on our LinkedIn profile; or the intonation of our voice in our outgoing voicemail; or the tone and respect that we show in an email that we send out. So, first impressions are not always face-to-face. And in a the post-Covid, or Covid world we live in now, our first impressions are carried by our background and in our lighting, in the position of our camera, in all the ways that we are able to affect or show energy that comes across in a camera. I believe that post-Covid, we are still going to carry on a lot of business virtually, because it’s cheaper and more efficient. So it’s going to be very important that our communication maintains a certain level of crispness and impact. Being attentive to details and being able to carry our brand positively is extremely important. For more on this topic, see reference #4 in the latest LinkedIn Trends for 2021.
Q7. In your personal experience, what are the innate qualities of good leaders and effective communicators?
A7. Number one is awareness. Be aware how you come across. Get feedback from others. Some of the best feedback that I’ve received is feedback that I wasn’t expecting. But I do ask – what did you think of me when you first met me? How did this come across? You need to ask questions of people you can trust. Have some awareness of how you show up and how you come across and then see if you can influence it.
Good leaders and communicators understand their audience and they come prepared; they don’t bring a cookie-cutter approach to everything. Once they know who their audience is and what they need, they change their style, they adapt. Mind you, this does not mean that they are being manipulative or inauthentic. They are showing flexibility, they are not rigid.
Good leaders and communicators build trust first and they have a network that can help most. Remember, building a network is not something you do when you need a job or you need something. Having a network is the ability to pick up the phone and ask somebody (who may be living thousands of miles away) to do you a favour; and, because of the energy and goodwill that you’ve invested in the relationship, things happen. So, good leaders and communicators have that.
Good leaders and communicators function with a strong sense of integrity in everything they do. They function with integrity even when no one is looking. With trustworthiness and definite competence they will get the job done, they will get it done right and detailed as if they own it, even if they may not. And they do it with a level of care, and relationship and with best intent for everyone involved.
I stepped into Interior Design with a rosy picture of beautiful things and beautiful homes, but very early in my career I discovered that to be a successful interior designer, many more skill sets are required, it’s not just about design…
I was lucky to have had the opportunity to design the luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’; that said, I realize now that I was quite young at the time and did not at first realize the intensity of the project. Overnight, I had to start interacting with ministers, bureaucrats, government and railway employees and the media! I also discovered what government red tape was all about. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that this project would not be easy, but in spite of that I was not ready for what hit me! The project had to be designed and executed in a span of five to six months. The train was booked to run on a specific date. There was no grace period, no buffer days. Still, in spite of all the constraints, we came out hugely successful. This project taught me discipline, how to multitask and work round the clock for high pressure projects. That same year, ‘Palace on Wheels’ was nominated as one of the best three trains in the world. Soon after this project, we designed another luxury train for Gujarat – ‘The Royal Orient’, which was an even more challenging project than the first.
During this time I often felt that I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I soon discovered that there was still more to come. ‘The law of attraction’ seemed to be doing its job! I enjoyed a good challenge so it seemed that’s what the universe had in store for me.
The next project that came my way was in the deep interiors of the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. My client was a wildlife enthusiast, but because he was based in London I was left to handle the project on my own. I was the only woman on site, having to guide a workforce of three hundred men for six months, tucked away in the interiors of the jungles of Kanha.
A construction site is very different to a resort in the jungle. Resorts are well maintained so that you don’t accidentally trip over wild life! With all the digging we undertook, we had hundreds of tiny scorpions crawling around every day. The land was infested by scorpions! Snakes, including kraits and cobras, abounded; and the cherry on the cake was our very own ‘in-house’ python, which lived motionlessly on our 27 acre site!
This is just a sneak peek into some of the challenges that one comes across in this industry – but the rewards are tremendous! The learning experiences are amazing. Walking through the narrow lanes of quaint towns and exploring all the craft and culture of this country are experiences that cannot be matched. I met many amazing people, all through these challenges. I met karigars (artisans), contractors, consultants, environmentalists, conservationists and artists. I was blessed with fabulous supporting clients; clients who, in fact, taught me about the importance of being a responsible designer.
Design and architecture can initially be overwhelming, but learning the trade slow and steady is the key. Pacing it out also makes it fun. One also has the option of branching out into one specific area of design. I know of many talented Architects and Interior Designers who have chosen to specialize in specific areas of design such as furniture design, lighting, art, landscaping, drip irrigation or providing sustainable and green options to clients. Each of these areas is very challenging, fun and economically rewarding.
My first architectural project
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that a good interior designer needs to have a clear understanding of architecture, and vice versa. I often take breaks from work and travel, and I was on one such break when I was offered a project which I could not refuse. I had no staff, so I hired a single draftsman and just the two of us went on to design what turned out to be one of my favorite projects. It was my first architectural project but it matched the standards of the best in the industry.
Some sensible choices towards design
I don’t think we, as humans, should burden the planet any further. Even ancient practices that were used to energize spaces, such as Feng-Shui and Vastu, consider cluttering the house as inauspicious. A minimalistic approach, using designs and materials that are everlasting and can be handed down generations, recycling of products, using materials that are biodegradable, nontoxic and organic and consume energy and water in a responsible manner are some simple ways to reduce the carbon footprint and build a sustainable and sensible world around us.
We all know how beauty entrepreneurs and influencers have taken the driver’s seat when it comes to captivating people’s attention with innovative contents, make-up techniques, beauty hacks, product reviews and marking tremendous impact in the world of beauty business. Beauty market is growing at a phenomenal pace in India and spreading its roots stronger every day. Men, women, girls or boys all have come to the same platform of looking glamorous and personal grooming lately has been widely accepted like never before. Large numbers of global brands are eyeing on Indian market these days and major international salon chains and cosmetic brands are making their way to Indian market rapidly. We all know beauty has a way of capturing attentions and thanks to willing and growing consumers who have educated themselves on the latest trends and fashion. The changing market conditions and international trending beauty industry bolstered the demand for highly competent beauty professionals who can take the key positions as make-up artist, Hairstylist, Trainers, bloggers, retail managers for cosmetic brands, retail beauty consultants, aviation groomers, TV/film industry, Theaters, video albums, Netflix series, freelancers, and the name doesn’t end.
The world of beauty entrepreneurs has many pathways, here are few out lines for aspiring modern-day entrepreneurs for a successful future ahead.
Importance of Professional Certification: No matter whatever key roll you pursue to be in future the utmost importance is being professionally trained from any major well stablished academy and highly experienced trainers. Creative visions are seeing things that others tend to miss; this curiosity to examine things from all the angles may lead to discover more creativity. Look for exclusively designed curriculum which offers intensive conceptual practical study and training for a make-up artistry/hair styling professional course, and emphasize on highly professional trainings. Aspirants need strong visual understanding for a creative approach, market research and definitely a lot of hard work is required. If the question is who can apply the answers would be everyone and anyone willing to stablish there career as a beauty entrepreneurs. The aim of such program is to develop make-up professional and elevate interpersonal skills so that students can adapt confidence to the changing demands in people oriented industry.
Scope of professional courses:
Major academies are providing diploma and specially designed course in two categories; one is Bridal make-up and hairstyling and second is fashion editorial make-up which includes body art, prosthetic and many more. After specialization make-up professionals work either as freelancers or in the industry of media, advertising, cosmetic retail, and entertainment industry for theaters, movies/TV series and even work for designers to create a certain look for models, fashion photographers. They can even go beyond being beauty consultant; Asst. make-up artist for a well stablished professional artist, having their own makeup studio, or being beauty bloggers, beauty trainers, celebrity make-up artist and the list goes on. Opportunities are wide spread and endless, it all depends on the aspirant’s caliber and knowledge to take the best advantage of becoming a part of this billion dollar beauty industry.
What to expect from yourself: Becoming a great make-up artist and successful in the same professional field is eventually everybody’s dream but to achieve one has to work on skill sets which comes through knowledge, exposure and practice. Practice and only practice is the only key to success therefore one should never stop practicing on skill sets such as different face shapes, skin texture, skin tones, eye shapes. Hence the more practice can only bring perfection. There are more ways of gaining experience which includes working backstage at fashion shows, assisting stablished make-up artist and collaborating with other upcoming budding professionals like stylist, photographers, designers and people in other creative fields.
As a beauty professional myself I’m always being asked one question mostly, “Why should I get a certification course when I can learn from You Tube, beauty bloggers, beauty influencers and make-up videos? Well I would like to show the bigger picture here. First thing first, there is nothing wrong if you want to be self-taught and learn from these platforms but these can only guide you to a certain level i.e. for your daily routine in make-up and skincare and an update on how to use a new product which has been recently launched in the market. Not to forget we are living in an era where the competition is tough and industry is demanding and if you are planning your way to step into the industry of beauty professionals then professional education in the stream is vital because having a certificate shows your recognition of a valid professional eventually leading to many projects, clients and opportunities in future.
Off lately I’m been asked one question which surpasses all the questions “There are so many make-up artist in the industry what will be my chance to survive and getting opportunities”. Undoubtedly the number of people opting for a career as a make-up artist has massively increased in the past few years but that doesn’t say there is no future rather it shows the future is much more brighter, market will never stop with more new immerging national and international brands marking opportunities in the beauty business which is endless moreover people adopting grooming has become a part of their lifestyle and its growing every single day. The hard work put into your craft and wise investment never goes in vain.
The famous – Estee Lauder once said- I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.
Well I would like to say here- Dream about success and eventually work for it.
