Engaged minds

Thank you for staying connected!! God bless you and your family!! As requested by many friends I am sharing in brief our journey experiences. We criss crossed self drove 2972 miles in the West Coast US covering San Francisco, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Grand Canyons, Hoover dam, Colorado River, Los Angeles-Santa Monica, Long Beach, Highway 1 - Cambria Lading, Big Sur, SFO Northern bay scenic drive, Muir woods, Mount Tamalpais and surrounding National Park, Golden Gate national park, South Lake Tahoe, San Rafael, San Jose and Fremont.  Fulva and I shared some nostalgic moments passing by Santa Cruz; the name sake Santa Cruz in Bombay is where we grew up, met and married!! On this trip we visited many national parks, natural formations, desert, snow, mountains, oceans and cliffs, man-made monuments, universities, centre of expertise (Griffith Observatory, Universal studios, SJ tech museum etc.), meeting friends, learning and having lot of fun together. Our past journeys to Australia, ...

Asian bond market issuance has been growing rapidly over past few years however competitively priced bilateral bank loans remains the elephant in the room for bond markets. As at end of June 2014, the total issuance by both corporates and governments outstanding reached US$9.5 trillion, including India, of which government bond markets stood at US$4.8 trillion. The Asian bond market is expected to grow exponentially in future with improved economic growth, infrastructure development,  regulatory, governance, and economic and social conditions in Asia. Direct investor access to government bonds in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Korea, Taiwan, China, dimsum CNH HK is now possible via direct access whilst registered with central banks and via synthetic funds. Investors also participate in the LCY bond markets through various participants of which popular access is through HSBC Asian Bond Index and the JP Morgan JACI Index. ...

Teenager (T):  I was assigned a task in which I have to address the issue of balancing the needs of a global city with that of a nation state, focusing on assessing the impact of globalization on one aspect.  The issue that I wish to investigate on is pertinent to the issue of the effect of social immobility, caused by wealth inequality on social cohesion. To gain some perspective on my area of research I would like to direct a few questions to you.  Mr X (X):   Globalisation impacts the economy, government, society, and every individual directly and indirectly! Globalisation helps free trade and capital, improves movement of human capital promotes capitalism opening up enormous opportunities for people and economies.  On the flip side, it also throws up social and economic challenges due to porous borders, liberal trade and immigration laws that allows free movement of goods, capital and people.  Globalisation also creates intense competition tha...

Whenever an organisation or system changes its vision or strategy or needs to remove the corrosion, it is often given that everything within the organization must change, adapt and sparingly destroy. Many of organisations and management often adapt a quick fix ‘surgical strategy’ across the board - hiring and firing, placing a new team and bring in new blood; destroying the existing and recreating the new. These organisations believe that the old must give way to the new. Management performance and incentive plans to achieve the desired change are also agreed based on (often exaggerated) minimum loss value in initial years and minimum profits for future years which may remain elusive!   The illusion of “surgical changes” clouds the new management from enjoying the true value of sustaining existing success that is paying for the change. Often undermined is the current capability, competitive advantage, the skills, experience and insight of the existing people, prod...

Some simple humane gestures can make others (and us) feel happy, compassionate and motivated. The goodwill and trust that is generated is infectious.  I t helps others and us succeed creates an harmonious and highly engaged environment. Some people find it difficult but it is simple; if saying is difficult, try sending a card. Smile, say cheese! Hello! Hi! Good morning everybody! How can I help you? What do you want? what are you thinking?  You can do it!!   I will do my best to support you!  I can do this for you! That was helpful!  Are you fine? Is everything fine with you and your family? Take care and get well soon. Go home take rest and see a doctor.  Family and friends first! Have fun! Apologies for the mistake! I admit that I was wrong. Excuse me ! Pardon me! Sorry to hear.....! I sympathize (empathize) with you Enjoy your weekend! Bon voyage and have a safe trip  Happy birthday! Thank you...

India today is the most dramatically striking, colorful, diverse and dynamic emerging market; people are enthusiastic, resourceful, dynamic and competitive yet they have cultural and historical affinity. India is at the cusp of development and change, change that is driven by the young and aspiring that wants to see a very good future for themselves and India. These are my  12 big lessons on doing business in India that potentially applies to all emerging markets. We do not have all the answers - so listen and listen, learn and learn, do and redo!  Remember that statistics, rumours and news can be deceiving and full of contradictions;  what you see is not what it is and what it is is not what you see. All Indians are neither poor nor uneducated; those rich are super rich, those educated are super educated, smart, well travelled. India has a rich history, culture and diversity.  Adapt, we have to learn to do things in a novel way that fits India. Indi...

Many organisation have a strong 'hierarchical culture'; corner offices and cabins are an important feature of the office layout. The culture strongly represents status, influence, power and hierarchy. I believe that the hierarchical (and closed door) culture creates artificial differences among people, an atmosphere of power play and one goal which is to get the cabin.  The cabin culture may have its merits however my professional journey into India required me to create and foster an environment of open and candid communication, build trust and team work, ensure continuous learning, confidence building, co-operation and collaboration.   With the support of my team and my manager, I decided to initiate a few actions: ·   Set-up my seat with the team in the open office space. I had made myself always available for everyone any time during the office except when I was in a meeting unless the matter was urgent. Initial reactions were not encouraging as some felt intru...