Mukesh Aghi

“I had the distinct privilege of working for Dr. Mukesh Aghi, while serving in IBM India (Tata Information Systems Limited at the time), during the period 1996 to 1999. During the time, I had an opportunity to work in 2 different assignments - the first in the role of Management Development, and the latter in the role of General Mgr. General Business Mkt. Both roles allowed me the opportunity to recieve direct mentorship and day to day guidance on the finer nuances of setting up and managing a successful (albeit complex ) Busiiness Operation in a country as geographically diverse as India. As Dr. Aghi's Mgt. Development Manager, I learned that not all Mgt. development needs to happen in the classroom. No, he insisted that any development/training inputs for his direct reports would have to be designed as outward-bound type adventure cum learning activities. This resulted in some of the most creative and rewarding training sessions that were conducted in remote, off-the-beaten path locales such as Pune (Mahabaleshwar), Lonavala (Khadakvasala), the bed of the Sacred Ganges River at Hrishikesh, and near the Foothills of the Himalayas. The teams were exposed to learning under gruelling mental and physical challenges such as Climbing, White Water Rafting, Canoeing, Rappelling and forced march Hiking. No one complained at the time and to day, each one of us who were a part of his team have achieved our own individual successes and professional milestones! Needless to say, the 3 years that I served on his team, were underscored by Dr. Aghi's relentless focus towards ensuring we met all our individual goals - whether they were marketing , sales or personal goals - in turn highlighting his own extremely successful tenure as President of the IBM India venture. Dr. Aghi has the unique balance of outstanding intellectual, strategic and hard-core market place 'smarts' and skills, with a seamless ability to create deep and meaningful business and personal relationships, on a foundation of mutual trust and maturity. In addition, another significant learning under Dr. Aghi's tutelage has been the importance of building and maintaining one's own physical and mental health. He was an incredible example, with his unwavering ability to wake up at 4:00 a.m each day and proceed to run a gruelling 10 kilometers - regardless of whether he was at home or on the road (he typically toured 25 days a month at the time). I remain committed to this discipline to this day - I try to run at least 5 kms a day for 5 days a week, thank you Dr. Aghi! In summary, I am what I am today for the opportunity to learn under Dr. Aghi's mentorship and guidance. I am humbled by how much he has achieved both as a professional as well as a human being and hold him in the highest esteem. I wish him the very best in all his future endevours, Richard Francis IBM Canada Limited, Integrated Technology Delivery Security & Risk Management”

“Mukesh is one of the best Corporate Leaders I have known. A true professional but also a compassionate human being, his greatest quality is not to judge anybody. He is serene under the severest of duress with enormous capacity to draw performance from his team. I have learnt and respected him tremendously and would like to see him grow from strength to strength. He still has a lot to contribute and he would have established something unique before he hangs his boots. I will always cherish his sense of evenness and justice.”