Country Head of SoftBank India addresses one-year MBA students at IIMB on ‘The Next Growth Opportunity for Indian Entrepreneurs’
1 OCTOBER, 2021: Students of the Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) at IIM Bangalore got lessons in entrepreneurship from Manoj Kohli, Country Head of SoftBank India, who spoke on ‘The Next Growth Opportunity for Indian Entrepreneurs’, at the EPGP Seminar Series, held on 29th. September.
“First, you must have a great idea that captures the market opportunity. From this idea, you must develop a focussed product/service that best meets your target customers’ needs. Third, use all the latest technology available to deliver your product or service. Next, arrive at a viable and profitable business model. The fifth step is to build an admirable brand, with the right brand positioning and messaging fit. Once you have this, then go for funding. With the cost of money being at the cheapest-ever levels globally, the right approach will get you the funding you need. And last, but not the least, cultivate LTC (Leadership, Talent and Culture) - great leadership, high performing talent and a culture that supports open mindedness, flexibility, and a passion to perform.”
Manoj Kohli heads SoftBank India, which has 20+ leading portfolio companies, including India’s fastest growing startups such as OLA, OYO, Paytm, Lenskart, PolicyBazaar, Grofers, Delhivery, InMobi, FirstCry, Swiggy, Unacademy, to name a few.
Commencing his talk with observations on “the rapid progress India has made over the past decade, being poised to show its real potential as the growth engine of the future”, he listed improvements in digital penetration, e-governance, policy-led investments in manufacturing, and rapid improvements in payments infrastructure as factors accelerating India’s growth.
‘The 4H approach’
Remarking on the value of failure in teaching the real lessons in leadership and life, he also shared a ‘4H personal framework’ if one wants to keep growing as a leader - Honesty, Hard work, Humility, and Hunger to win.
As India is seeking to become more self-reliant, there is greater emphasis on MSMEs’ business performance, he said, pointing out that Indian MSMEs must have a great USP, aggressively adopt digitalization and work towards becoming a part of the formal and organized sector.
“If you want to become an entrepreneur, you must understand the real impact of geopolitics and macroeconomics,” he said to students. “Manufacturing and agriculture sectors must be modernised at a much quicker pace. As technology penetration is accelerating across the country, there are lots of under-explored opportunity spaces for start-ups,” he added.
Country Head of SoftBank India addresses one-year MBA students at IIMB on ‘The Next Growth Opportunity for Indian Entrepreneurs’
1 OCTOBER, 2021: Students of the Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) at IIM Bangalore got lessons in entrepreneurship from Manoj Kohli, Country Head of SoftBank India, who spoke on ‘The Next Growth Opportunity for Indian Entrepreneurs’, at the EPGP Seminar Series, held on 29th. September.
“First, you must have a great idea that captures the market opportunity. From this idea, you must develop a focussed product/service that best meets your target customers’ needs. Third, use all the latest technology available to deliver your product or service. Next, arrive at a viable and profitable business model. The fifth step is to build an admirable brand, with the right brand positioning and messaging fit. Once you have this, then go for funding. With the cost of money being at the cheapest-ever levels globally, the right approach will get you the funding you need. And last, but not the least, cultivate LTC (Leadership, Talent and Culture) - great leadership, high performing talent and a culture that supports open mindedness, flexibility, and a passion to perform.”
Manoj Kohli heads SoftBank India, which has 20+ leading portfolio companies, including India’s fastest growing startups such as OLA, OYO, Paytm, Lenskart, PolicyBazaar, Grofers, Delhivery, InMobi, FirstCry, Swiggy, Unacademy, to name a few.
Commencing his talk with observations on “the rapid progress India has made over the past decade, being poised to show its real potential as the growth engine of the future”, he listed improvements in digital penetration, e-governance, policy-led investments in manufacturing, and rapid improvements in payments infrastructure as factors accelerating India’s growth.
‘The 4H approach’
Remarking on the value of failure in teaching the real lessons in leadership and life, he also shared a ‘4H personal framework’ if one wants to keep growing as a leader - Honesty, Hard work, Humility, and Hunger to win.
As India is seeking to become more self-reliant, there is greater emphasis on MSMEs’ business performance, he said, pointing out that Indian MSMEs must have a great USP, aggressively adopt digitalization and work towards becoming a part of the formal and organized sector.
“If you want to become an entrepreneur, you must understand the real impact of geopolitics and macroeconomics,” he said to students. “Manufacturing and agriculture sectors must be modernised at a much quicker pace. As technology penetration is accelerating across the country, there are lots of under-explored opportunity spaces for start-ups,” he added.