Entrepreneur On the Move

Though Atul Nishar, founder and chairman, Hexaware Technologies, has worked his way to build a multi-million dollar company, he always has one eye on the fun quotient of life, says Reema Sisodia

Right from the beginning, Atul Nishar never had any doubts that he would be an entrepreneur. "I knew I would be on my own, run my own company one day," he says. And by any reckoning, he has made it. The founder and chairman of Hexaware Technologies is today head of a company which has grown into a multi-million dollar global software services and solutions corporation with a staff strength of 3,800 employees.

The seeds of entrepreneurship were planted during his early days. "As a child, we would go to my maternal grandfather's house in Vapi, Gujarat for holidays. It was there that I received my first lessons in sales. He would send my cousin and myself with a 'tokri' (basket) full of 'chikoos' to sell them at Vapi station. We would enthusiastically do so and even make a profit. I was in the sixth standard then and the teachings of life, fair play and humility learnt at that early stage has helped build up what I could today," he says.

College was a whirl of activities, full of energy and fun. "I was part of the students' union, associations, debate clubs, secretary of the dance and music society, leader of the student welfare board," he says. And what of studies? Plenty of that too, actually.

"Oh, we were good boys, we had time for that too," he says. Apart from his graduation degree, Nishar is a Chartered Accountant (CA) by profession, and also has a degree in law from Mumbai University.

After college, initially however, he bowed to his family's wishes and did not venture into business. "We come from a family of both businessmen and professionals. My father was a doctor, who thought life as a professional was better than a businessman's because the former commanded more respect. I did start my career as a CA, ran my company for a year and a half but my work did not quite interest me. One fine day I decided to call it quits, wrote back official notes to my clients about the decision, cleared all their work and just closed it, deciding to move on further. I started Aptech Computer Education in 1984," states Nishar.

Aptech was a huge success but he decided to move on wanting to concentrate on the information technology business. Hexaware happened in 1990. "To step into the IT waters then was a challenge. India's software industry was in its very nascent stage. When I set up the company, India's IT business was below US$ 100 million and the only company known then was TCS. There was and still is a firm belief in me that I want to make a difference to companies around the globe by providing solutions to them."

And it was gamble that paid off considering the success that Hexaware is witnessing. "In the first three years we had no financial budgeting with regards to Hexaware. It ran more out of a conviction, dream and unreasonableness. For a small company to think that a large multi billion dollar company would want us to advice them was certainly a bit too much. But it happened and at present we service 35 Fortune 500 global companies. We are actually making a difference to companies," informs Nishar.

Today, he has his network spread in countries such as United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands and Singapore, with development centers in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Needless to say, a large quantum of life is spent on business travel.

"While on my business travel sojourns, along with work the one thing I do not miss out on, whether overseas or in India, is to promote and hard-sell India. I genuinely believe that India is the best holiday destination in the world," he says.

Nishar also believes that the IT revolution has led to a much better image of Indians overseas. "When I go abroad, Indian cab drivers openly admit to me that due to our software engineers, they are also looked at with respect and as an intelligent lot," he says.

Of journeys besides business trips, Nishar remembers a number of fun-filled holidays surrounded by women power, namely his wife and two daughters. "In the initial years after my marriage, my wife and myself, travelled a lot, especially to London. Then for some years work overtook but we have started going on trips again. Among the destinations we have visited are Nepal, Paris, Phuket, Bali, Florida, and the US."

But India stands out as the clear favourite for family outings, be it Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, J&K, Andaman &Nicobar or the villages of Gujarat. "My daughters and myself enjoy river rafting immensely and we have done runs both in India and Nepal. Parasailing is another activity which gives me a high," he admits.

Amidst the hurly burly of big business, evidently Nishar does not allow the fun quotient to take a back seat. Food is another aspect of travel which he greatly enjoys and says, "I love to explore international cuisine. Though I come from a family of vegetarians, I really enjoy fish and white meat. London is a great place to explore world cuisine. Since one of my daughters is based in New Jersey working for an IT consulting company, de-routing there after my business schedule is quite common with me."

When asked about his next holiday destination, he says, "Without doubt to Kashmir once again. I have some very fond memories attached with that place."