Mr. Vinayak Rajanhally
IBS Bangalore ('98)

iBasis Inc.
Regional Director

Your Family and you

I was born and brought up in a town called Davangere in Karnataka.  Having born in a business family, I had the privilege of learning the ropes of business at an early age.  I worked in our factory office during holidays and realized that techno commercial approach to world is very essential.  Did my Mechanical Engineering from University of Mysore and joined IBS to fulfill my dream of acquiring a fine blend of both perspectives.  My father is a businessman from whom I learnt analytical skills and business acumen.  My mother taught me perseverance, hard work and a strong inner self.   My wife Chandrika manages home and my two daughters well so that I can stay focused to my work and career.

Career Chart after IBS

IBS enabled me to think and do business in the way it should be.  I was placed on campus at VXL Instruments Ltd.  It was a good start and was deputed at UK as the European Sales Manager.  Got bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, returned back home and took a plunge into setting up of own venture Grand Infotech Pvt Ltd.  I consider that was the greatest experience of my life I would cherish forever.  We were successful in developing cutting edge technologies in IP Communications.  I sold the company in 2002 and decided to go bit slow in life for a while, worked for Teleglobe Inc and Computer Tel Inc as Country Manager for India. I am presently working as Regional Director for ibasis Inc, USA, world’s top international telecom carrier, managing the Indian Subcontinent region.

High Pressure Situations, balancing Family and Work and De-stressing

Strangely enough, I love working under pressure.  Positive pressure in life is very good.  That’s when we really get to know ourselves, our capabilities, strengths and weaknesses.  It is an opportunity to stretch ourselves, be innovative, get stronger, learn, perform and prove oneself.  I love challenges.  One need to invest whatever it takes to be successful – dedication, hard work intelligence, knowledge…  Pleasure in accomplishing a challenge is immense.  In this fast changing competitive world, one should try to do things different, achieve the unachieved to get noticed and be recognized.  Pressure could be a great motivation.  Life without pressure is sour.

Fortunately, I have a very understanding life partner who takes care of home and kids.  That’s a great support especially when I’m traveling.  As father, I have an important role to play and I always strive to keep up.  Weekends are spent with family.  Weekdays, I try catching up with my kids at least for some time, either playing, telling them a story or simple plain chatting.  I firmly believe in good old cultural values and try my best to inculcate them in my children.  Being a good human being comes first than good academics.  Knowledge coupled with humanity makes a man’s life worth it.

Short breaks with family either to a movie, restaurant or to a nearby resort is fun.  I go late night out with my buddies to get as younger as my good old boyhood days.  I do exercise and go on long walks, which not only de-stress but help me stay healthy.  As a couch potato watching TV gives me short and quick boot up. 

Positive Outlook, Grit, Determination and Social Responsibility

One needs to be always positive in life.  Ups or downs, come what may.  One should keep working hard with grit, determination and complete involvement.  “Never Say Die” is the mantra of life.  Sometimes things don’t go as planned.  Seldom works at the first go.  One needs to learn from failures and try overcoming them.  Attitude is what makes a man successful.  One needs to understand how things work in practical world and boldly face it to win. 

Though I’ve read biographies of many successful people, I’ve always considered my late grandfather as my ideal.  May be I’ve seen him closely and have understood him well.  He was not well educated, but built successful business with his pragmatic approach to life.  Academics are fine but one needs to have the ground wisdom and vision.  The most inspiring to me was his philosophy of not just making money, but to give back and fulfill social responsibility.  He was not only known as a successful businessman, but as a noble donor.  He built hospitals, schools, colleges, hostels, for the poor and needy.  His service was then recognized by the King of Mysore and was honoured with the title of “Dharmaratnakara”.  The happiness in giving to a worthy cause is always more than earning.

The Future of Telecom

Future of Telecom sector is bright in India.  Look at the incredible revolution it has made in the past 10 years.   People must communicate and it has become a basic need today.  Present teledensity in India is still under 15%.  There is a huge untapped population to be explored.  Majority Indians still live in rural areas.  Future growth lies in Wireless and Mobile telephony.  With usage rates going down, more and more people are able to use the services in a cost efficient manner.  Convergence will lead the show.  Telecom players would be offering bundle of services on the same access – voice, data, internet, entertainment, etc., Mobile device will emerge as a powerful device in the coming days.        

Bonding & Friends

As the first IBS batch, we were a bit lost out in the initial years of making our careers.  I started a Yahoo Group few years back and we were reconnected.  We keep exchanging mails about latest happenings, personal developments, humor, etc.; we also keep meeting informally in small groups whenever we get a chance.  The bonding is still strong and we aspire to grow it further.

Advice to juniors

Be Positive in life.  Take life as it comes and play your best shot always.  Never give up.  Failures are the best learning opportunities.  Develop the ability to spot the unobvious and try to create a difference.  Value creation is the eternal winning formula.  Stay smart and have a balance between academics and the real world.  Set your goals without which life is uninteresting.  Believe in what you do and do what you want to.