Showing posts with label auto expo delhi. Show all posts
We are growing!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
We were a team of about eight people when I first joined my organization SPG Media (now called Ochre Media). It was cut down to five after we were acquired by iLabs group in June and renamed Ochre Media.
The first couple of months were like paid holidays where we hardly had any work to do. There was no direction or set path for us. However, after a brief lull, our company started to grow and since then it has been making some money, enough to meet our sundry expenses.
Since October, we had new people coming in our department (called BIU). It was a great feeling to be sitting on the other side of the interview table for the first time. A bit of hesitancy and fear at the sight of the first candidate, but we managed the show well. By October we had the first batch joining. One of them was Aravind, who was taken more out of sympathy than for his abilities. Of course, he is no more with our company but he carved a niche for himself.
Then another round of interviews where we selected about six candidates. They were interviewed in January and joined us directly in the new building (to which we shifted on March 01, after being wooed for long).
Now, we are in the new office with more than 50 people, about 20 of them are new. Our department has about 8 new people - some with work experience and some totally new to this technical magazine work. But it has been fun talking to them and briefing them about our products and company, and how the industry works. It has also given me a sense of confidence that I can handle a few people on my own.
I always have a feeling that new people entering an organization will help in reviewing our products and our working style. The first few days are very important and they decide the fate of the relationship between the old and the new employees. As far as I am concerned, I had given my new team members enough induction classes and I am happy with the way they have responded so far.
I am planning to start giving them some work from tomorrow and see how things unfold. The same is the case with other teams - Pharma and Healthcare.
The first couple of months were like paid holidays where we hardly had any work to do. There was no direction or set path for us. However, after a brief lull, our company started to grow and since then it has been making some money, enough to meet our sundry expenses.
Since October, we had new people coming in our department (called BIU). It was a great feeling to be sitting on the other side of the interview table for the first time. A bit of hesitancy and fear at the sight of the first candidate, but we managed the show well. By October we had the first batch joining. One of them was Aravind, who was taken more out of sympathy than for his abilities. Of course, he is no more with our company but he carved a niche for himself.
Then another round of interviews where we selected about six candidates. They were interviewed in January and joined us directly in the new building (to which we shifted on March 01, after being wooed for long).
Now, we are in the new office with more than 50 people, about 20 of them are new. Our department has about 8 new people - some with work experience and some totally new to this technical magazine work. But it has been fun talking to them and briefing them about our products and company, and how the industry works. It has also given me a sense of confidence that I can handle a few people on my own.
I always have a feeling that new people entering an organization will help in reviewing our products and our working style. The first few days are very important and they decide the fate of the relationship between the old and the new employees. As far as I am concerned, I had given my new team members enough induction classes and I am happy with the way they have responded so far.
I am planning to start giving them some work from tomorrow and see how things unfold. The same is the case with other teams - Pharma and Healthcare.
Back Home
Friday, January 18, 2008
After a taxing 10 days of Delhi tour, I am back in Hyderabad today. Especially, the last two days of the tour were really tough. The clock was ticking slowly, our (I and my colleague) energy levels were down and I was really looking forward to see my home.
On the other side, I really enjoyed the trip and my stay with my colleague. He was really a great support to me throughout the tour. I had some apprehensions about him before going to Delhi as I assumed him to be a very calm and reserved person, but luckily he had opened up after a few days and we eventually became very good friends.
Finally, everything is back to normal now.
On the other side, I really enjoyed the trip and my stay with my colleague. He was really a great support to me throughout the tour. I had some apprehensions about him before going to Delhi as I assumed him to be a very calm and reserved person, but luckily he had opened up after a few days and we eventually became very good friends.
Finally, everything is back to normal now.
The good, bad and the ugly
Monday, January 14, 2008
This is my first visit to Delhi, the capital city of India. Or should I say New Delhi, the capital of India.
I am not a regular traveller and in fact, I hate travelling. But this is trip is certainly different as our company has put up a stall at the prestigious Auto Expo 2008. So, on the 8th of January, yours truly, along with his sales head, flew to New Delhi. My personal opinion of the capital and the impression Delhi has created upon me has been mixed.
The good: The airport is huge and they are constructing another bigger one in the outskirts. The roads in New Delhi are wide as the politicians camp here. The best part is of course the Metro rail. The best transport system in India. A foolproof system that provides safety and doesn't allow commuters to travel without buying a ticket. With the commonwealth games in store, roads and flyovers are being developed at a rapid pace. The people in old Delhi are very friendly and warm. A majority of the girls here are pretty and anyone planning to set up a beauty parlor or a jeans/T-shirt store should have at least one here. That must be one reason for high crime rate. While the mammas are already fat, the daughters already carry signs of becoming future diabetic patients.
The bad: The roads in old Delhi are pathetic. Humans, animals and vehicles move beside each other in small gullis. Food is very costly and is often below your expectations ( I am talking about the veg part and my colleague has complained about the non-veg part as well). Traffic sense is similar to what we have in Hyderabad and the autowallahs are the same everywhere.
The ugly: Blueline buses are the atrocious of all buses I have seen. They are in a dilapidated state and kill at least one person every two days. The people in New Delhi can be safely called arrogant buggers. They will not help you, especially if they come to know that you are not from Delhi and answer you in a sarcastic way. Though we gave most of them back their own medicine, it is a culture which South Indians are alien to.
The funny part is that people here think that South Indians have good computer knowledge and are fast in embracing IT.
There might be some reservations to some, but frankly these are my observations of Delhi/New Delhi from whatever little I have seen.
I am not a regular traveller and in fact, I hate travelling. But this is trip is certainly different as our company has put up a stall at the prestigious Auto Expo 2008. So, on the 8th of January, yours truly, along with his sales head, flew to New Delhi. My personal opinion of the capital and the impression Delhi has created upon me has been mixed.
The good: The airport is huge and they are constructing another bigger one in the outskirts. The roads in New Delhi are wide as the politicians camp here. The best part is of course the Metro rail. The best transport system in India. A foolproof system that provides safety and doesn't allow commuters to travel without buying a ticket. With the commonwealth games in store, roads and flyovers are being developed at a rapid pace. The people in old Delhi are very friendly and warm. A majority of the girls here are pretty and anyone planning to set up a beauty parlor or a jeans/T-shirt store should have at least one here. That must be one reason for high crime rate. While the mammas are already fat, the daughters already carry signs of becoming future diabetic patients.
The bad: The roads in old Delhi are pathetic. Humans, animals and vehicles move beside each other in small gullis. Food is very costly and is often below your expectations ( I am talking about the veg part and my colleague has complained about the non-veg part as well). Traffic sense is similar to what we have in Hyderabad and the autowallahs are the same everywhere.
The ugly: Blueline buses are the atrocious of all buses I have seen. They are in a dilapidated state and kill at least one person every two days. The people in New Delhi can be safely called arrogant buggers. They will not help you, especially if they come to know that you are not from Delhi and answer you in a sarcastic way. Though we gave most of them back their own medicine, it is a culture which South Indians are alien to.
The funny part is that people here think that South Indians have good computer knowledge and are fast in embracing IT.
There might be some reservations to some, but frankly these are my observations of Delhi/New Delhi from whatever little I have seen.
Being at the launch
Thursday, January 10, 2008
It's a dream being at the world's largest automotive expo and walk amidst a wide range of cars manufactured by natives and multinationals. The best of so far has been the launch ceremony of Tata's Nano.
The hype the car has managed to create ensured that a mammoth gathering was there at the Tata Hall. It is like the first day show of a Rajinikanth or Chiranjeevi movie. People flocked the Tata hall 2 hours before the ceremony.
Amidst a lot of expectations, discussions and debates, at 11:00 am, we had Ratan Tata appearing on the giant screen and giving a small speech supported by some awesome graphics and brilliant music. Mr.Tata first took on the critics of Nano and finally said he has delivered what he promised.
Minutes later, he came on the stage driving the most awaited car which was appreciated by loud cheers. He got out of a silver color Nano with a sense of accomplishment. People stood on their chairs to have a glimpse of the small car ignoring the repeated appeals and expletives of people sitting at the back. He said that Nano is smaller than Maruti 800 in terms of size but has more inside space than Maruti 800, which is quite remarkable. I personally feel Maruti 800 has the worst seating space. There was a big round of applause when Mr. Tata announced that the car will be available at the promised Rs.1,00,000 with the dealer despite increased cost of raw materials. It will cost about 1.30 lac on road in Delhi. Further, the car also satisfies Euro IV and Bharath III emission norms. This is a very big achievement.
Everyone went berserk when the gates were thrown open for the press to have a closer look at the most exciting four wheeler in the recent past.
At the other end of the excitement, there is this debate going on whether this car should be out given the kind of infrastructure India has and the increasing pollution in metros.
Personally, I feel the car looks good on surface, but a closer look has changed my opinion a bit. The car lacks the factor that makes you look at it for long. Again, to be frank, I have seen this car after seeing the Volvo c70, BMW 3 and 6 series and Audi products which might have made me write this way. Moreover, it is just a one lakh car and Ratan has delivered more than what we expected.
On the whole, the launch is one thing I will not forget in my life. Though the launch had no glittering lights or pretty girls, which most car manufacturers had, Nano has definitely pulled the best crowd of the exhibition.
Finally, this should have been a concept car without any mass production.
The hype the car has managed to create ensured that a mammoth gathering was there at the Tata Hall. It is like the first day show of a Rajinikanth or Chiranjeevi movie. People flocked the Tata hall 2 hours before the ceremony.
Amidst a lot of expectations, discussions and debates, at 11:00 am, we had Ratan Tata appearing on the giant screen and giving a small speech supported by some awesome graphics and brilliant music. Mr.Tata first took on the critics of Nano and finally said he has delivered what he promised.
Minutes later, he came on the stage driving the most awaited car which was appreciated by loud cheers. He got out of a silver color Nano with a sense of accomplishment. People stood on their chairs to have a glimpse of the small car ignoring the repeated appeals and expletives of people sitting at the back. He said that Nano is smaller than Maruti 800 in terms of size but has more inside space than Maruti 800, which is quite remarkable. I personally feel Maruti 800 has the worst seating space. There was a big round of applause when Mr. Tata announced that the car will be available at the promised Rs.1,00,000 with the dealer despite increased cost of raw materials. It will cost about 1.30 lac on road in Delhi. Further, the car also satisfies Euro IV and Bharath III emission norms. This is a very big achievement.
Everyone went berserk when the gates were thrown open for the press to have a closer look at the most exciting four wheeler in the recent past.
At the other end of the excitement, there is this debate going on whether this car should be out given the kind of infrastructure India has and the increasing pollution in metros.
Personally, I feel the car looks good on surface, but a closer look has changed my opinion a bit. The car lacks the factor that makes you look at it for long. Again, to be frank, I have seen this car after seeing the Volvo c70, BMW 3 and 6 series and Audi products which might have made me write this way. Moreover, it is just a one lakh car and Ratan has delivered more than what we expected.
On the whole, the launch is one thing I will not forget in my life. Though the launch had no glittering lights or pretty girls, which most car manufacturers had, Nano has definitely pulled the best crowd of the exhibition.
Finally, this should have been a concept car without any mass production.
