Thank you to the 1646 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions! I hope reading 7 Questions with
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Deepak Kedia
helps you in your leadership.
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Jonno
Deepak Kedia
Name: Deepak Kedia
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Organisation: MarketsandMarkets Research Private Limited
A strategic, trusted and technology savvy finance leader having multi-cultural and multi-industry experience across international markets in high tech industries - Information Technology (B2B), mission critical and consumer centric communication solutions (B2B, B2B2C).
Diverse experience in leading, influencing and supporting business strategies, growth and outcomes, M&A (mergers & acquisitions) strategies, pricing strategies, decision making through financial analytics, cost leverage and efficiency, building, coaching, and mentoring world class finance and operations team
1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?
The biggest challenge as a leader is how to upskill the organization to align with break-neck speed of changes in today's dynamic world. Any change is difficult for the organization as while change is constant, general human tendency is to be in comfort zone of constant rather than embracing changes.
2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?
Leadership is not only about managing people reporting to you. Leadership is about how a leader understands the entire eco-system and aligns every individual to common vision and mission and then delivers the results. My leadership journey started in my first job wherein I had huge responsibility of ensuring accurate external financial reporting to shareholders, investors and media.
Since I was thrown in the sea to learn and then deliver results, it made me the leader what I am today. It was baptism my fire, however looking back I would not have it any other way.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
My day starts at 5am with prayers, exercise and meditation. I get to work before most people start their work so that I can plan my day. After I finish my work, I love spending time with my son and then with my wife. I read for 15 minutes before I go to sleep. No matter how busy I am, I prefer eating on time and going to bed on time to keep myself free of any health issue. I strongly believe that health is the biggest wealth an individual should create in their life. Rest everything is transitory. During weekends, I engage myself in any sports or learning a new hobby.
4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?
I keep telling myself that as a leader, treat everybody equally. Treat others exactly the way you want to be treated. It works wonders
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
How to influence people and win friends by Dale Carnegie. The book taught me the value of smile and empathy. I have been gifted with a serious demeanour making people believe that I am not approachable. However, with smile and soft and yet confident body language I learnt how to attract people. The book also taught me how not to compromise my values and yet able to deal with strong individuals.
6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?
Treat everybody equally and in the same manner as you would like to treated.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?
There are times when every leader has to make tough decisions. It is during those times when a leaders courage and civility is tested. In one such incident wherein I had to lay-off significant part of the organization, I not only had to keep a jovial demeanour however also ensure that I give respect and value to the people leaving the organization. It was personally a very tough time for me to see some of my friends leave the organization, however civility played a big role in managing the tense and stressful situation