Global IndianstoryVimal Kapur appointed CEO of Honeywell

Vimal Kapur appointed CEO of Honeywell

Written by: Darshana Ramdev

(March 16, 2023) In September 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged the growing number of Indian-origin CEOs taking over major global firms. India, with 58 CEOs of top tier companies, is second only to the US, according to the S&P top 500 companies list. This elite tribe has only increased, with one more addition made to the list on March 15 – Honeywell veteran Vimal Kapur has been named CEO of the multinational conglomerate. “Honeywell is playing a major role in making the world a better place, and I am both proud and humbled to take on the CEO role of this great company,” the Global Indian said, after the announcement was made.

Vimal Kapur is Honeywell’s new Indian-origin CEO.

Expanding operations in India

The world is bullish on India, and Kapur, who was at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2023, told CNBC’s Shereen Bhan on the sidelines that the conglomerate was looking to expand its operations here. “Our businesses are more resource intensive.. We have raised up to hire more people and I think in the context of India, our base is very large. So as India grows, we are set up for growth. We will just lift up our game, to grow with India.”

“Kapur brings 34 years of deep knowledge about our businesses, end markets and customer needs. His ability to drive our key sustainability and digitalisation strategic initiatives, along with his advancements of our world-class operating system – Honeywell Accelerator – throughout the organisation, gives him an outstanding platform to drive performance for our shareholders,” Adamzczyk said, when the announcement was made.

From Patiala to Houston

Born in India in 1966, not much is known about Kapur’s early life. He did, however, graduate with a degree in electronics engineering, with a specialisation in instrumentation, from the Patiala Institute of Engineering in Punjab, and joined Honeywell in 1989. In his 34 year association with the company, he has served in key leadership roles across the business, heading various verticals including Performance Materials and Technologies, Honeywell Building Technologies and Honeywell Process Solutions.

In 2018, Kapur took over Honeywell Building Technologies, leading the business through a period of change, instilling an intense operational and customer focus. This was during the first wave of smart buildings, which are characterised by connected and energy-efficient systems.

Smart buildings: Leading the way

As the demand for smart buildings grew, firms like Honeywell Building Technologies played a key role in their growth story,. with Kapur at the helm. Things had changed dramatically from the 1970s, when buildings and those who designed them did not consider comfort and energy-efficiency as important parameters. These issues were first broughtinto the spotlight when the advent of digital technologies. Building systems were given an overhaul – they were modified, recreated, connected and automated to digitize and aggregate data. “This was the firs step towards making building smart,” Kapur said in 2020, back when he was the President and CEO at Honeywell Building Technologies. “Now, there is an opportunity to make buildings even smarter and take them to the next level.”

One major transition was involving the building’s occupants as key stakeholders to the process, giving them a say in design, development and operations. “Machine Learning, predictive maintenance technologies and other such advancements are making building maintenace a lot smarter,” Kapur told Construction Week. With people becoming more aware of the perils of climate change, the demand for green buildings also grew – “Honeywell has always concentrated on meeting these needs in the industry,” he said. As the President and CEO of HOneywell Materials and Technologies, Kapur guided the vertical through an oil and gas downturn, helping the company return stronger than ever before..

Kapur was named President and COO in July 2022 and has been leading the creation of solutions to help customers drive sustainability transformations and accelerate their digital transformation. One year prior, in 2021, he was named the President and CEO of PMT, based in Houston. He took the mantle from another Indian, Rajeev Gautam, who retired on August 13, 2021, ending a 43-year career with Honeywell. “Throughout Vimal’s more than three decades with Honeywell, he has proved his outstanding leadership capabilities and deep knowledge of our end markets,” Adamczyk, who was the Chairman and CEO of Honeywell at the time, said about the appointments.

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Published on 16, Mar 2023

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Meet Aditya Mehta, the first Indian para-cyclist to win a medal at the Asian Paralympics

(September 30, 2023) At age 24, Aditya Mehta narrowly dodged death but ended up losing his leg after being run over by a bus. The road to recovery was long, hard and painful for the budding entrepreneur. People who visited him would pity him, leaving him even more frustrated. But his indomitable will wouldn’t allow him to go down. Aditya pulled himself together, took to para-cycling with a prosthetic leg and went on to become India’s first para-cyclist to bag a medal at the Asian Paralympics. “So far, I have cycled 40,000 kms and won two silver medals at Asian Championship. My goal now is to coach youngsters get medals for India in Paralympic Games,” smiles Aditya Mehta, in conversation with Global Indian. Mehta headed the contingent in the para-cycling world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, recently. “As a coach, it was a fulfilling experience as three of my trainees created history by qualifying for Paralympics 2024,” says Aditya of the event. It was the first time that Sports Authority of India (SAI) supported the para-cyclist contingent in a world championship. [caption id="attachment_45521" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Aditya Mehta[/caption] Teething troubles Born in Hyderabad, Aditya grew up in a joint family, along with 18 first

ttps://stage.globalindian.com//wp-content/uploads/2023/09/aditya-CARD-.png" alt="" width="524" height="350" /> Aditya Mehta[/caption]

Teething troubles

Born in Hyderabad, Aditya grew up in a joint family, along with 18 first cousins. He hated studies, argued with his parents and often got in trouble at home and in school for his reckless behaviour. “I was a difficult child. When I was in the fifth grade, I failed in my Telugu exam, and was very scared of my father. I stole my mother’s earrings, sold them for some money and travelled all the way to Goa. Then I called up my parents to come pick me up,” recalls the most accomplished para-cyclist in the country who gave up schooling when he was in class 9. Eventually, Aditya realised that he was looked upon as a failure. “Everyone had a terrible opinion of me, especially in the family. It hurt.”

By the time he turned 16, he decided to prove himself and wanted to start a textile business with a few friends. His family didn’t support the idea. “I knew my father didn’t trust me,” says Aditya, who then started travelling from town-to-town selling garments. Slowly, his family began to take note of his perseverance. “My grandfather and my mother eventually supported me with minimal funding” says Aditya. One year later, he turned the modest Rs 30,000 investment into a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore. Unfortunately, his rough patch wasn’t over – he found out that some friends had been siphoning off crores from the company account. Aditya started from scratch again and set up a successful business exporting garments. By the age of 22, Aditya was financially independent and his family was happy.

Tragedy Strikes

Aditya’s life changed after his return from a business trip to Hong Kong in August 2017. “I left home on my bike to meet my stockist. Suddenly, a bus hit my bike twice from the rear. I fell down, got dragged for almost 300 metres. The bus crushed my right leg,” he recalls.

Aditya lay motionless on the road. “Strangely, no one came forward to help me. I regained consciousness and dragged myself away from the bus. The pain was excruciating.” A store-owner who knew Aditya happened to pass by and took him to the hospital. His parents were shattered.

Once the treatment began, doctors amputated Aditya’s leg above the knee. “Every alternate day, the wound would be dressed without pain killers. I would scream in agony,” says Aditya, who was on bed rest for nearly two months thereafter.

As he began recovering, the entrepreneur tried hard to keep his dream alive and expand his business. One year after the accident, he left for South Africa on a business meeting. “My leg would bleed every single day of the trip and I would have to change the dressing frequently,” says the 40-year-old.

Confronted with the reality of the situation, he finally had to accept that moving around wasn’t easy any more. “With a heavy heart, I closed down the business.”

Fighting back

Aditya returned to India and tried a prosthetic leg. It took him about seven months to learn to walk with it. “I would fall down often. Several times, out of sheer frustration, I would just lie on the floor. I hated that situation,” he says.

His father helped him see things from a different perspective. “He would tell me that I needed to think like a child. Children don’t complain when they try learning to walk. When they fall, they just get up again. These words really helped me. My parents supported me through everything,” smiles Aditya.

Eventually, he began walking up to a kilometre. Slowly, he increased it to five and then 10 kms. Thereafter, he started swimming and joined an academy in Pune. Around that time, he came across a hoarding of local cycling club. “The picture I saw on it was a glaring reminder of my limitations. I started to reminisce about the days in school when I had the best cycle in class. The thought that I couldn’t ride anymore was too hard to bear.”

One day, Aditya borrowed his cousin’s cycle and made an attempt to ride with one leg. “My father supported me and said I should give it a shot.” I rode for about a kilometre after falling five times. Every fall made me stronger and I just kept going,” he says. Aditya decided then that he would be a professional cyclist. He trained hard, pushing through all the discomfort.

Almost six years later, he rode from London to Paris and climbed 9000 feet. He then cycled solo from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 2013. His name entered the Limca Book of Records not once, but twice. “I become the first amputee cyclist to complete a 100 km ride in 5.5 hours. Now, I can even do it in 4-4.5 hours. Hitting this record was a turning point in my life. I knew that I could do everything I wanted to,” says Aditya, who won two silver medals at Asian championship.

The most challenging experience at the Asian championship in Delhi was when his artificial leg came out and got stuck in the pokes of the front wheel just days ahead of the championship. “I had a bad fall and got injured. Despite that, I went ahead and participated. I won the silver medal.”

Aditya Mehta Foundation

After his wins, Aditya decided to support para athletes. In 2013, he launched Aditya Mehta Foundation. The aim was to help people like him win medals.

His foundation has helped more than 100 para-athletes. Help was also extended to about a 1,000 soldiers from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), all of which are India’s paramilitary forces. “In all, we have trained nearly 7,000 people in 28 forms of para sports who have won 229 medals in different championships so far. All of them inspire me everyday.”

In 2020, Aditya and para-cyclists from the BSF went on a 3,801 km long cycling expedition in India, covering 35 cities in 41 days. His foundation raises funds through various events, scouts talent from among the disabled population in the country, trains and funds them to grow in sports.

Fitness

While Aditya has taken up coaching for para-cyclists in a big way, he sticks to his fitness schedule. “Nutrition and conditioning are essential and I follow them religiously,” informs the ace para-cyclist, who is up at 4 am everyday to start training. He trains for almost five days a week and makes it a point to hit the gym in between.

Future plans

Aditya is presently busy coaching. “We are training hard for the Paralympics 2024 in France. I’m also training the children who were identified at the grassroots level for various state, national and international competitions.”

Aditya loves taking long cycle rides whenever he get time. “My top hobby is cycling,” says the para-cyclist, who says his biggest inspiration is his father. “I am able to live confidently today because of my parents. Coming from a business family, where the goal is just to earn money, I am able to do my bit for my extended family (his trainees) due to my parents support,” he adds.

You can follow Aditya's work on his website.

Tesher: Indo-Canadian artist putting South Asian music on world map

(December 13, 2022) "I can officially say that I exist in MCU," exclaimed Tesher in excitement. You know you have arrived as an artist when Marvel Cinematic Universe features your song in one of its series. And that's exactly what happened to Indian-origin Canadian artist Tesher who found his popular song Jalebi Baby in episode two of Ms Marvel. "In 2019, I was remixing Marvel theme music on YouTube. 3 years later, my music is in episode 2 of Ms Marvel. It's no secret I'm a big Marvel fan so being Kamala Khan's mental thirsting soundtrack is an absolute dream come true for me," he wrote on Instagram. In just four years, Tesher has become a global name, thanks to his quirky mashups and dope originals. The 29-year-old is making waves in the international music circuit with his singles and remixes. So much so that global artists are now queuing up to collaborate with the Punjabi boy. His remixes are nothing short of international music for a global party that everyone is invited to. With each song, he breaks the mould by repurposing numbers and combining them with witty lyricism. But what makes Tesher a celebrated name is his love

what makes Tesher a celebrated name is his love for Indian music, which he beautifully fuses with international hip-hop to create a perfect blend.

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"It feels like any time an Indian origin person was able to make it big in music, they would have to be either here or there. Like, you either have to make one kind of music, like AR Rahman, or go to the other side like Jay Sean. That is also fine but in this new world, I am envisioning to make music which works in both worlds, like Shakira," he told Hindustan Times, adding, "It's high time for South Asian artistes to be known as multi-dimensional artistes, not just for making Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil or Telugu. They can also make English music, or put it all together."

For someone who started making music at the age of 11, Tesher wanted to draw from his Indian roots. "My Indian identity is so core to who I am that it will always be a part of my music in some small or a big way, depending on the song," he told the daily. Global Indian turns the spotlight on the Indo-Canadian artist who is transcending boundaries with his music.

[caption id="attachment_32656" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Artist | Global Indian | Tesher Tesher is an Indo-Canadian artist[/caption]

A DJ who became a YouTube star

Born Hitesh Kumar, into a Punjabi family living in Canada, Tesher was raised in Saskatchewan. His Punjabi heritage and upbringing had a deep influence on him in his early years as he always found himself drawn to Bollywood, bhangra music and Western hip-hop playing at his home. That's when his interest in music started to bloom, and by the age of six, he began making mashups by fusing Bollywood with hip-hop songs. He soon started tagging along with his father, who was a videographer by profession, to South Asian weddings and functions. At one such wedding, the clients inquired about DJ services from his father, to which he replied that his son likes computers and music. At 15, Tesher's journey as a DJ began.

For someone who just started with mixing Bollywood and hip-hop, Tesher found a perfect balance between his South Asian roots and the Western world. Soon he began experimenting with R&B, house, salsa music and pop as an extension of his personality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTmKrwFu7wg

In a conversation with Urban Asian, he said, "My music reflects who I am, and who I am is a Canadian-born Indian who’s managed to balance the Western culture I grew up in with my South Asian heritage. I am the blend of two cultures, and so is my music. If I didn’t incorporate sounds and influences from both sides of the world, it wouldn’t be me."

What began as a mere hobby for this self-taught musician would soon turn him into an international music artist. But Tesher was yet to discover this. Oblivious to what fate had in store for him, Tesher began studying the music landscape on MTV and radio to understand where he could fit in his talent. That's when YouTube came to his rescue.

He started putting his mashups on the internet, as a sort of his preparatory ground for what was about to happen. From country remixes to Bollywood and bhangra mashups, every composition of Tesher made its way to YouTube. One mashup caught the fancy of Sony Music India who asked the composer for an official Bhangra remix of Kar Gayi Chull from the 2016 film Kapoor and Sons. A year later, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt performed to his remix at Miss India 2017, and Tesher was blown away by the fact that his music was making it big in India. "It was definitely cool but interesting; I was an average guy living in Canada, making music on the side, but on the other side of the world, a superstar Bollywood actress is dancing to my music, It's honestly two worlds - it's so surreal," he told Strand Magazine.

The gamechanging viral song

Known to have an ear for groundbreaking mashups, Tesher cooked up a storm by bringing together the least expected combinations, AR Rahman and Travis Scott, for instance, and Govinda and Drake. This very uncanny taste in music earned Tesher fame and recognition when his 2019 remix Old Town Road vs Ramta Jogi went viral on TikTok, leading his audience to discover his earlier discography. The song with all its quirks put Tesher on the global map.

[caption id="attachment_32657" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Tesher | Global Indian | Artist Tesher became a household name with Jalebi Baby[/caption]

"That experience taught me to put more faith in the audience. I almost didn't put that mix out to begin with because I thought it wasn't good. Now it has become a reason why so many people have discovered me and my music," Tesher added.

A global star

A year later, Tesher was armed with yet another chartbuster up his sleeve when he launched Young Shahrukh. An original rap song performed to the beats of one of Bollywood's popular songs Bole Chudiya, the single erupted on the music scene with a bang. Such was the craze that Sony Music India picked the single, thus giving Tesher's debut the perfect launchpad. The single claimed the Number 1 spot on BBC Radio Official Asian Music Chart in the UK and reached Number 4 on Billboard's Top Thriller Global Chart.

Tesher found the pulse of his audience, but the singer-composer knew he wanted to blow their minds with his next song, and that's exactly what he did when he came up with Jalebi Baby, his second single in 2020. The song which amassed over 100 million streams also topped the Shazam charts in over 25 countries. The success of the song across the globe prompted Tesher to take it mainstream, and that's when American singer Jason Derulo came on board for the remix of Jalebi Baby. With bhangra beats and jalebi, Tesher was keen to keep the song unapologetically Indian.

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A post shared by Tesher (@tesherrrr)

"From day one, my biggest goal was always to bring South Asian sounds into the mainstream in a way that could push our culture forward and spotlight us authentically, free from stereotypes and overused tropes. Something that celebrated us and that we all could be proud of," added the artist who received a nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Having tasted the success and recognition, Tesher is now gearing up to make more original music and even work with Bollywood in the future. The Indo-Canadian musician is a perfect example that music transcends boundaries and the world is always waiting for good tunes and interesting mashups.

Follow Tesher on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 6 min

Meet Dr Mukesh Aghi: A significant pillar of the US-India ties

(May 14, 2023) “This year, United States became India's largest trading partner with trade nearing near the $200 billion mark,” shared a happy Dr Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in one of his social media posts last week. Since the inception of USISPF in 2017, Dr Aghi has played a pivotal role, working with business and government leaders in the US and India to promote trade and strengthen ties between the two countries. “It's a remarkable achievement but more can be done, as the Indian government sets policies and executes new schemes to improve and enhance the business environment in India, thereby creating a stronger environment to create more foreign investors,” the business leader added. A recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2021 for his outstanding contributions to the Indian diaspora, through promoting economic ties between India and the US, Dr Aghi has immense love for his native country. Although he was born in India, Dr Aghi has lived around the world to study and work. With a distinguished career spanning both the private and public setors, Dr Aghi has held senior leadership positions in companies like IBM (Singapore and India), Steria (France), and L&T

r Aghi has immense love for his native country. Although he was born in India, Dr Aghi has lived around the world to study and work. With a distinguished career spanning both the private and public setors, Dr Aghi has held senior leadership positions in companies like IBM (Singapore and India), Steria (France), and L&T Infotech (USA).

Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian

As the President and CEO of the nonprofit organization USISPF, Dr. Aghi has been a vocal advocate for the interests of the Indian American community. He has pushed for policies that benefit Indian companies operating in the United States and has been a strong proponent of initiatives that promote education, innovation, and entrepreneurship among the Indian diasporas.

The Global Indian has been recognized for his leadership and contributions through various awards and accolades, including the JRD Tata Leadership Award. He was recognized by the New York-based Esquire Magazine as a Global Leader. For his extensive philanthropic work, he received the prestigious ‘Ellis Island Medal of Honor’ in America in 2018.

Taking US-India strategic partnership forward

“I believe that the US-India relationship is the most important relationship of the 21st century. This has been stated by President Obama, President Trump and President Biden,” Dr Aghi remarked in a chat show conducted by Business World during his recent visit to India.

His non-profit, USISPF serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration between businesses, government officials, and thought leaders from India and USA.

Established with the goal of enhancing bilateral trade and investment ties, fostering economic growth, and advancing shared interests and values between the two countries, USISPF focuses on various sectors including technology, energy, healthcare, defense, education, and agriculture. “India's demographic dividend, (now as the world's largest populous country) and tech talent, and the robustness of the American tech economy enable a synergy in the tech space,” Dr Aghi remarked in a social media post emphasizing how both countries complement each other.

[caption id="attachment_38609" align="aligncenter" width="443"] Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian Dr Mukesh Aghi with US President, Joe Biden[/caption]

The organisation acts as a forum for stakeholders to exchange ideas, address challenges, and explore opportunities for economic cooperation. It also organizes high-level meetings, conferences, and events that bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and influencers to discuss key issues and promote business partnerships.

USISPF also provides research and analysis on important economic and policy issues affecting the U.S.-India relationship. It produces reports and publications that offer insights and recommendations to policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders.

Utilizing India’s potential

In his recent conversation with Business World Dr Aghi said, “India has tremendous resources to build AI, while the US has fantastic algorithms on the AI side. If we merge those algorithms with the data of 1.4 billion people, we can come up with fantastic solutions that will be a win-win. However, it is important for policymakers on both sides to sit down and discuss how they can establish certain fences around AI so that it does not become a threat to society.”

Fully invested in his purpose of leveraging the high potential of US-India partnership, he remarked that the time is ripe to enhance the two countries’ collaboration in the space sector, and work towards enhancing supply chain resiliency, ‘a focus for Prime Minister Modi and President Biden ahead of the Quad Leadership meeting’.

Expressing his joy, he added, “India is now becoming a hotbed of innovation which is going to the rest of the world. We have over 326 space startups in India, and they are doing fantastic innovation.”

[caption id="attachment_38610" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian Dr Mukesh Aghi in a meeting with PM Modi[/caption]

At the top of his game

Climbing peaks whether as a business leader or as a mountaineer is the Indian-origin leader’s core competency. While Dr Aghi served as chief executive and member of the board at L&T Infotech, he played a key role in tripling the company’s valuation. He expanded the business on a global level, led the company’s commercial growth strategy, established its global services function, and built the global sales leadership team preparing the organization for an IPO.

During his time as CEO at Steria, a European digital services and software development company, Dr Aghi successfully spearheaded the merging of Xansa and Steria into a more than $2 billion business. He managed P&L, sales strategies, service delivery, strategic partnerships, a global workforce of over 6,000 people, and the top 50 global accounts of the organisation. The business leader also directed the building of innovation labs and business solutions and liaised with the World Economic Forum and lobby groups in India and Europe during his time at Steria.

As the general manager of outsourcing in Asia-Pacific and President of India at IBM, Dr Aghi tripled the company’s revenue in three years and grew the market share, gross margins, and caliber of talent. He helped set up the IBM Lab in India and registered multiple patents from it.

Fluent in many international languages, as well as an avid marathon and mountaineering enthusiast, the business leader has competed in more than 27 international marathons and climbed some of the highest peaks in North America and Europe.

[caption id="attachment_38612" align="aligncenter" width="815"] Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian Dr Mukesh Aghi with Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal[/caption]

Reaping growth

Dr Aghi is the founding-CEO of Universitas 21 Global, which went on to become one of the world's largest e-learning joint ventures, hailed by global educational bodies as a premier online institution. He was responsible for Building the company from the ground up and spearheading strategies for all aspects.. He also led the board of corporate and academic leaders.

The company's online program became the fastest-growing online program with enrollment growing to more than 7,000 MBA students from 70 countries across the world. Five years after founding Universitas 21 Global, Dr Aghi sold the company to a private equity firm for a profit which was twelve times his investment value.

“We as individuals must decide on our own what our priority is. You must reflect ‘am I being a parasite in the world or am I being a contributor’. It's ok to create wealth but there must be a balance – a balance between accumulating the wealth and bringing change and contributing to society,” he said in a thought leadership conversation organized by Giggr.

[caption id="attachment_38615" align="aligncenter" width="779"] Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian Dr Mukesh Aghi with industrialist Shiv Nadar[/caption]

Giving back

A noted philanthropist, Dr Mukesh Aghi has been involved with several charitable organisations and supported causes related to education, healthcare and poverty alleviation. He has been at the forefront of relief efforts for issues ranging from the pandemic to the 2018 floods in Kerala. He also works with initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy and sustainability and has served as the CEO of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a non-profit organization in India that aims to bring transparency to the country’s democratic system.

He has also been involved with the Pratham Education Foundation, one of India's largest NGOs, which works to provide quality education to underprivileged children in India.

Indian CEO | Dr Mukesh Aghi | Global Indian

In 2017, Dr Aghi received the Community Leadership Award by the American India Foundation (AIF) for his philanthropic work. “Indian Americans are the most affluent and most philanthropic minority group in the US. It shows that as a community, we are not just focused on enhancing our own lives, but also the environment around us and the different cities we are staying in,” he said at a conference.

Dr. Aghi holds several degrees, including an advanced management diploma from Harvard Business School, a Ph.D. in international relations from Claremont Graduate University, California, an MBA in international marketing from Andrews University, Michigan and a BA in business administration from the Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman. Though he is based in the US, the business leader extensively travels to India for help power his country's growth.

Follow Dr Mukesh Aghi on LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 mins

Chandrika Tandon: A trailblazing musician and a global business icon

(September 9, 2023) In a world where many wear multiple hats, few individuals manage to wear them as brilliantly as the celebrated musician, Chandrika Tandon, who has made her mark not only in the realm of music but also as a global business leader. Back in 2009, she earned a Grammy nomination for the first time. And now, she is all set to release her new album, ‘Ammu’s Treasures’, on World Grandparents' Day on September 10. "Ammu’s Treasures is a curation of my memories," Chandrika said in a press release about her latest album, adding, "This music will connect with the memories of everyone who listens. It becomes a real bonding experience for families. These songs speak of faraway places, in different genres and languages, with varied arrangements, and are meant for quiet times, happy times, or any time, for any age.” As if her musical prowess wasn't impressive enough, this musician also holds the distinguished position of Chair on the Board of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The school itself bears her name as a testament to her generosity and commitment to nurturing future engineers and innovators. Beyond the Tandon School, she assumes the role of Trustee at

position of Chair on the Board of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The school itself bears her name as a testament to her generosity and commitment to nurturing future engineers and innovators. Beyond the Tandon School, she assumes the role of Trustee at New York University, cementing her presence as a significant stakeholder in the university's mission and vision. Additionally, she lends her expertise as a Trustee of NYU Langone Health, further illustrating her dedication to advancing healthcare.

The Global Indian, who is also business executive Indra Nooyi's sister, is the esteemed recipient of the Gallatin Medal, an honor bestowed upon individuals who have displayed exceptional dedication to their respective fields. The Walter Nichols Medal for leadership and integrity is another jewel in her crown, recognising her unwavering commitment to ethical conduct and visionary leadership.

A humble start

Coming from a Tamil Brahmin household, Chandrika's formative years unfolded amidst the vibrant streets of T Nagar in Madras. As a student at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, she was not only academically exceptional but also proudly bore the standard for her school in numerous competitions. "I really sang before I could speak," the musician said in an interview, adding, "Growing up, we came from a very simple family. I did thousands of chores growing up and would sing while doing those. So music was always a part of my life."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHYyVXSQCIo

But life wasn't all that easy. From a young age, Chandrika Tandon was led to believe that an early arranged marriage was her preordained destiny. Her mother, ever the planner, began collecting stainless steel utensils for her future trousseau, from the moment Chandrika Tandon was born, all in preparation for the day when she would turn sixteen. In fact, in 1973, she had to resort to a hunger strike as a bold and determined protest in her quest to gain admission to the college of her dreams, Madras Christian College.

[caption id="attachment_44689" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Musician | Chandrika Tandon | Global Indian Chandrika with Indian PM Narendra Modi[/caption]

The musician went on to pursue a master's from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad - where she was actually one of only eight women in her batch. Her maiden professional venture led her to Citibank, thrusting her into the heart of war-torn Beirut. The city was a landscape marked by curfews, streets ablaze, and the constant threat of explosions. She vividly recalled that a movie theater she and a friend had visited was reduced to rubble the very next day.

Making the world a better place

At the tender age of 24, Chandrika Tandon embarked on her American journey, initially arriving to interview for a position at McKinsey & Company. With no American degree or green card to her name, she entered the interview room in a traditional sari and chappals, her attire completed by a borrowed coat. Not the one to give up so easily, Chandrika worked very hard at her company - eventually ascending to the esteemed position of partner at this renowned firm, making history as the first Indian-American woman to achieve this distinction. In 1992, Chandrika founded Tandon Capital Associates. Since then, she has offered her guidance to an array of esteemed clients, including but not limited to Chase Manhattan Corporation, Comerica, Unibanco (Brazil), Suncorp-Metway Ltd. (Australia), Fleet Financial Group, Bank of America, Rabobank, and ABN Amro.

[caption id="attachment_44691" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Musician | Global Indian The business woman with students at NYU[/caption]

However, running a successful business wasn't enough for Chandrika. The Indian-American has always been passionate about giving back to her community. She served as the Trustee of the American India Foundation from 2005 to 2011. The businesswoman founded the Tandon Global Clinics at the performing arts school Berklee to help Indian schoolchildren pursue music careers. In 2015, she and her husband Ranjan Tandon donated $100 million to New York University’s School of Engineering, after which the University changed the name of the institute to Tandon School of Engineering.

Musician at heart

Even while she was conquering the business world, Chandrika Tandon was always a musician. "I had a $5,000 bonus when I joined McKinsey. I had to pay my down payment for my rent. I had to pay a security deposit. I had to buy furniture. But I didn’t buy any of that, other than the down payment. I bought a Martin guitar for $1,800, and I bought a stereo system, which was the rest of the money. I had about $50 or so left for the next month. I ate rice and coriander chutney every single day that month because I didn’t have any money to eat. I had no furniture. I slept on a sheet. This is how crazy I was about music," shares the musician.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABamEVr_quo

Chandrika's musical journey took flight in 2009 with the release of her debut album, "Soul Call". It was from this album that the enchanting track "Om Namo Narayanaya" earned a Grammy nomination in the prestigious "Best Contemporary World Music Album" category.

A decade later, in 2019, this gifted musician graced the Kennedy Center, an iconic bastion of American art and culture, with an awe-inspiring performance showcasing her fourth album, "Shivoham." Over approximately 100 mesmerising minutes, Chandrika Tandon delivered 12 soul-stirring songs from the album, accompanied by a stellar ensemble of ten world-class musicians. The performance culminated in a resounding ovation from the captivated audience, an acknowledgment of the magic she had woven on stage.

[caption id="attachment_44690" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Musician | Chandrika Tandon | Global Indian Chandrika at the Kennedy Center[/caption]

"I chose to release all this music as one giant treasury for people of all ages, all over the world," the musician recently said while talking about her latest release Ammu’s Treasures, "Because I believe that exposing even very young children to an extensive palette of music will leave a long-lasting impact – just like hearing Mozart in the womb. More is indeed more."

Follow Chandrika Tandon on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Spotify, and her website

Reading Time: 6 mins

Philippa Kaye: Advancing sustainable tourism through ‘Indian Experiences’

(April 9, 2024) “I live between India and Yorkshire. Two completely different worlds. My heart lies in India, which I’ve specialised in as a destination expert since 1998, my family lives in Yorkshire, I juggle the two,” mentions entrepreneur, consultant, author and public speaker Philippa Kaye. The British national fell in love with India during her first visit and has since explored its vast expanse, including Delhi/NCR, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, Karnataka, Goa, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. As a destination consultant, Philippa has been facilitating travel to India since the past two decades, and has spearheaded the establishment of Indian divisions for multiple UK-based travel companies like Selective Asia, Unforgettable Travel and Experience Travel Group. Philippa has also lent her expertise to various hotels and Indian DMCs (Destination Management Companies). “My fervour lies in spotlighting 'A different India,' venturing beyond the conventional tourist destinations,” she tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_50611" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Phillipa Kaye[/caption] A gifted writer and author, she has penned a novel, Escape to India. “It is partly my story though I’ve never disclosed which are fact and which are fiction,” she remarks. Moreover, her website Memsahib in

n="aligncenter" width="576"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Phillipa Kaye[/caption]

A gifted writer and author, she has penned a novel, Escape to India. “It is partly my story though I’ve never disclosed which are fact and which are fiction,” she remarks. Moreover, her website Memsahib in India encapsulates her varied experiences in India. That’s not all. She has also contributed to columns in prestigious publications such as The Times of India and Mint.

Rich experiences

In the course of two-and-half decades of her association with India, she has enriched her life and developed lasting relationships.

“I have ridden priceless Marwari horses, been invited to royal weddings, been threatened by the local mafia, trekked mountains, rafted white water, been wined and dined by Maharajas, slept out under the stars, driven vintage cars, got caught up in Holi and ended up with hair dyed a permanent shade of green,” she remarks. “Best of all, I have got to know its people and discovered that in India, anything is possible,” the entrepreneur and author mentions.

[caption id="attachment_50601" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with ladies in Rajasthan[/caption]

Promoting India through ‘Indian Experiences’

Motivated by love for the diversity and richness of the country, Philippa founded Indian Experiences, a consultancy firm in the realm of the Indian travel trade. The firm helps travel companies to showcase the real India helping them discover more offbeat destinations. It promotes experiences beyond normal sightseeing in mainstream destinations and helps to tailor the services to client demographics.

“We represent experienced providers and specialist, regional and niche travel companies in India with a focus on ethical and sustainable travel,” adds Philippa.

Indian Experiences particularly focuses on empowering women and rural population and actively promotes small companies who are specialists in their fields. The firm believes in the ethos of sustainable tourism. In the process, it creates memorable and sustainable travel experiences by crafting unique itineraries for tourists with the goal of making them return for more such Indian experiences.

[caption id="attachment_50602" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with ladies in Ladakh[/caption]

“Indian Experiences is now in the process of rebuilding itself post Covid” remarks Philippa. Before the pandemic, the firm had an office in India but now it’s working through associate offices. It has also forayed into tourism in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

India from a British eye

Philippa describes her experiences in her beloved country as “frustrating, illogical, often hilarious, humbling, surreal, but never, ever dull.”

The most challenging part for her is dealing with the bureaucracy. “It is always a challenge, particularly with setting up a business and bank account and also, as I learnt to my detriment, being able to find a good CA who you can trust,” she tells. “Things take longer over here and in business discussions, there’s a lot more nuance than we use in the UK.”

It all started when…

Philippa visited India for the first time in 1998 and explored Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as a part of a six-week recce project for her job – which was for a travel company. After completing her task, she returned to the UK, prepared the brochure and launched the India campaign for the company.

Till date, Kerala and Tamil Nadu hold a special place in her heart – the states that she has visited multiple times since her maiden trip. A strong advocate of meaningful human connections, she still prefers to travel these states with the same driver who she had hired on her first trip to South India.

[caption id="attachment_50603" align="aligncenter" width="829"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with her dad in India[/caption]

Philippa is happily single but has a loving family staying in the UK. “My brother, sister-in-law, nephews and nieces have all been to India. I also brought my dad over for his first trip when he was 80,” she shares with joy.

Escape to India

Her love for the country led her to write the novel - Escape to India - based on a true story about living in the jungles of central India, and running a safari lodge in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

For Philippa and the protagonist in the book, life in India is ‘extraordinary and exhausting, fascinating and unfathomable but always thought provoking’. “Simple daily tasks that we from first world countries take for granted, can become expeditions in India. The most mundane activity can cause endless causes for frustration or amusement. Life in India has tested me, more than occasionally, but amused me endlessly, perhaps that's just me,” mentions the author.

[caption id="attachment_50605" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye[/caption]

She is in the process of writing three guidebooks on an alternative India. “I am on the lookout for a publisher,” she says.

Giving back

Philippa’s consultancy has supported various NGOs in the country by working with them and encouraging tourists to visit the place. It also offers them free marketing and social media strategies to improve their visibility.

The selection of travel partners by Philippa's firm has always been based on their dedication to supporting local communities. While she is in the process of rebuilding the reach of Indian Experiences, the ethos of sustainable tourism and giving back to the community is not being compromised. “I am focusing on steering it in the right direction,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_50608" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye in Rajasthan[/caption]

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Reading Time: 5 mins