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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Sunny Jain: Brooklyn-based dhol player celebrating diversity through Red Baraat

(March 16, 2024) Each year, as the spirit of Holi permeates in springtime, life is a whirlwind of activity for Indian American dhol player Sunny Jain and his band, Red Baraat, as they embark on their annual ‘Festival of Color’ tour. 'This is how we do it. Bhangra Boom gonna make you go dhoom dhoom. We're starting in Philadelphia next week and heading to NYC, DC, Boston, SF, San Diego, and more this March! Come dance with us,' shared Red Baraat on its social media handles. The band has been celebrating Holi for the last 12 years, and this year, their 13-city Holi tour is already sold out. [caption id="attachment_50069" align="aligncenter" width="815"] Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption] Conceived by dhol player, drummer and Indo jazz composer Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is a one-of-its-kind band that has drawn worldwide acclaim for merging the energy-soaked Indian bhangra with powerful rhythms of hip-hop, jazz, and rock. “Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with

“Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with elan.

Red Baraat

Founded in 2008, Red Baraat has performed across the globe including prestigious venues like the White House, London Olympics, Padma Lakshmi’s Blossom Ball, TED, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Luxembourg Philharmonic, and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD festivals (Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UK).

“Red Baraat comes from the Indian brass band tradition, but it’s not just trying to replicate that sound,” Sunny said in an interview. “It’s more like a South Asian-American experience with a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and rock with a massive amount of energy,” he added.

The band has seen the crowd go berserk with excitement from the stages of festivals like the Quebec City Summer Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Madison World Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, SXSW Music Festival, Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), Molde Jazz Festival (Norway) and Chicago Folks & Roots Festival, GlobalFEST, and Montreal Jazz Festival amongst others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmw41CY1Fo&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=2

Sunny Jain – soaking the world in the energy of Bhangra

Indian origin Sunny Jain is popular as one of the foremost South Asian-American jazz musicians, making an innovative blend of the cultural sounds of north Indian music, jazz, and various other musical influences. His albums have garnered global praise. Currently serving as the 2023-24 artist in residence at Wesleyan University, he is diligently working on his inaugural music theatrical production, 'Love Force'.

The dhol player has authored two instructional drum books, ‘The Total Jazz Drummer’ and ‘Drum Atlas: India’, both published by Alfred Publishing. With a career spanning close to three decades, Sunny has received numerous accolades. In 2007, he became the first artist endorser for India's oldest and largest musical manufacturer, Bina Music.

Sunny had also played dhol in the first Indian Broadway show, ‘Bombay Dreams’ in 2004, and made his Hollywood debut playing dhol in the movie The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Isabella Rossellini.

[caption id="attachment_50070" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian Musicians | Sunny Jain | Global Indian Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption]

In 2002, he was honoured as the Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center, which led to extensive tours throughout West Africa.

“If we can unite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to partake in the exuberance of life through the universal language of music, then life is much sweeter,” Sunny remarked in an interview.

Illustrious musical associations

While being actively engaged with Red Baraat, Sunny was also the drummer for the acclaimed Sufi rock band Junoon for several years, performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2007, Srinagar University in Kashmir in 2009, and the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2009. During the time, he had also recorded the single ‘Open Your Eyes’ with Peter Gabriel.

Sunny Jain is currently associated as band leader and drummer of ‘Wild Wild East’. Their first album was released in 2019 by Smithsonian Folkways. The musical group had made headlines with its outstanding performance at the renowned Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The band recently performed at Tiny Desk Concert for NPR in 2024.

Man of milestones

Sunny has received grants for his compositions and performances from various organizations such as the Aaron Copland Music Fund, Chamber Music America, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and GlobalFEST. He was also honoured with the Arts International Award in early years of his career, which supported his jazz group, 'Sunny Jain Collective', during tours in India.

[caption id="attachment_50068" align="aligncenter" width="807"] Red Baraat's Festival of Colors at the Bowery Ballroom in 2019 | Photo credit: Sachyn Mital.[/caption]

Much recently, in 2022, Sunny played alongside drumming legends Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Giovanni Hidalgo in Planet Drum's first show in 15 years. In 2023, he served as the music producer for Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding, The Musical' based on the director’s widely acclaimed 2001 movie.

A few years back he had donned the hat of the musical director for the OBIE award-winning show, 'The Jungle', and had directed music for Lincoln Center’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.

ALSO READ | Charu Suri: The Indian pianist and composer making jazz raga popular globally

Merging innovation with heritage

“My parents were immigrants – I was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. where I had a healthy dose of a little bit of everything – Bollywood classics from the 50s through the 80s, devotional songs of Jainism through both my parents, and then some Hindustani classical. I was getting all the Western music, like Casey Kasem’s Top 40, from my two older siblings,” Jain shared in an interview.

He went on to study jazz, and was inspired by greats like Elvin Jones and Max Roach but chose to create his own music by blending jazz with South Asian tunes. People loved his innovative music and Sunny started making a name for himself with packed night-club performances that eventually led to prestigious collaborations and assignments.

Later, in the 'Sunny Jain Collective', he explored how Indian classical music could influence jazz, working with artists like Rez Abbasi and Samita Sinha. With 'Tongues in Trees', a trio including Sinha and Grey Mcmurray, he combined indie-pop with Indian rhythms. Alongside Pakistani musician Ali Sethi, Jain formed Resident Alien, focusing on the theme of migration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9oQIqYObug&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=14

Giving back

Sunny Jain has always tried to merge his music with purpose. At the beginning of his career, through his project, ‘Taboo’, he had addressed social justice issues affecting the South Asian community, drawing from ancient poetry to tackle modern problems like sexual identity and domestic violence.

During his association with the band ‘Junoon’, he had used musical performances to raise awareness and funds supporting flood victims of Pakistan and Pakistani refugees in the Swat Valley.

During the pandemic the dhol player and jazz composer had released ‘Phoenix Rise’, a collaborative album featuring over 50 artists, along with a 72-page book promoting social justice.

Follow Sunny Jain on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
Follow Red Baraat on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

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Simmarpal Singh: From Peanut Prince of Argentina to agribusiness leader in India

(October 21, 2024) As a young boy growing up in Durgapur in West Bengal, Simmarpal Singh would often find himself glued to the television, watching Diego Maradona and his teammates create magic on the soccer field. But little did Simmarpal know that he would one day make a name for himself in Argentina — not in the world of football, but in the fields of peanuts, where he would eventually earn the title, the 'Peanut Prince of Argentina.' By the time Simmarpal arrived in Argentina in 2005, he was already an experienced agricultural expert, having worked in Africa with the Singapore-based Olam International. His mission in Argentina was clear: buy peanuts for Olam's global operations. What wasn't clear at the time was that Singh would soon spearhead one of the most successful agricultural ventures in the country, forever leaving his mark not only on Argentina's peanut industry but also on the broader landscape of agricultural innovation. "Initiated the farm to factory peanuts business and in a five-year span, scaled it up to 39K hectares by diversifying into other crops like soybean, corn, alubias, rice farming and manufacturing through four processing plants," Singh wrote on his LinkedIn. [caption id="attachment_58157" align="aligncenter" width="369"]

igncenter" width="369"] Simmarpal Singh | Global Indian Simmarpal Singh[/caption]

India-Africa-Latin America

Born in a Sikh family, Simmarpal finished his schooling at St Xavier's School in Durgapur before graduating in B.Sc Agriculture Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. Passionate about agriculture, he later enrolled himself at the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat. After working with the National Dairy Development Board and Amul, he joined Olam in Mozambique as a branch manager. This was the beginning for his global journey which later took him to Ivory Coast and Ghana before foraying into Argentina as country head.

When Simmarpal Singh first arrived in Argentina, Olam International had been operating primarily as a trader and processor. The peanut business was well-established, and dominated by long-standing local relationships and contracts. Singh quickly realised that buying peanuts from established farmers, who were already tied to other companies, would be a challenge. But where others saw an obstacle, Singh saw an opportunity. Rather than relying solely on sourcing from local farmers, Singh proposed a bold new idea: Why not start farming the peanuts themselves?

[caption id="attachment_58161" align="aligncenter" width="323"] Simmarpal Singh | Global Indian Simmarpal Singh in Argentina[/caption]

It was an ambitious plan, especially for a company like Olam that had never ventured into large-scale farming before. But Singh’s agricultural background gave him the expertise and confidence to push the project forward. He started small, leasing 700 hectares of land to test the waters. The pilot was a success, and in just a few years, Singh had scaled up the operation to a staggering 39,000 hectares, transforming Olam into a major player in Argentina’s peanut industry. Simmarpal began from scratch, learning large-scale farming in Argentina, which was Olam's first foray into raw crop farming. The company now cultivates 40,000 hectares of crops in various provinces of Argentina, and is one of the top seven peanut players in the country.

This rapid growth earned him the title “Peanut Prince of Argentina,” a nickname given by India's ambassador to Argentina, Rengaraj Viswanathan, in 2009. In a blog post, Viswanathan affectionately called Singh a “handsome maharaja,” noting how his turban made him stand out in Argentine social circles. Singh's friendly nature quickly made him popular with the locals, who were curious about Sikhism and even wanted to wear turbans like his. However, it was Singh’s expertise in agriculture, more than his charm, that truly solidified his legacy in the country.

Global Vision for Agriculture

Singh’s success in Argentina was not just about peanuts. Under his leadership, Olam International diversified its operations to include soybeans, corn, and rice farming, along with processing plants. “Understanding large-scale farming was the challenge since Argentina was the first country where Olam made a foray into raw crop farming,” the Global Indian explained in an interview. “Everything had to be started from zero.”

Argentina, with its fertile lands and favourable climate, was a natural fit for agricultural expansion. As the world's second-largest exporter of peanuts, the country offered immense growth potential, and Singh was determined to make the most of it. His work not only boosted Olam’s profits but also helped modernise Argentina’s agricultural sector, bringing in new technologies and farming practices like setting up processes and risk mitigation mechanisms in rainfed and irrigated farming systems that improved efficiency and productivity.

Singh’s vision for agriculture was global in scope. Having worked in Africa, India, and Latin America, he saw firsthand the potential for technological advancements to revolutionise the sector. "It's only in the last few years that we’ve begun seeing technological advancements in India in this sector to increase productivity,” he noted. “Today there is a new technology that focuses on things like soil testing, satellite imagery, and pre-harvest stages. It’s still a work in progress.”

For Simmarpal Singh, agriculture was about more than just profits; it was about sustainability and adaptation. As debates about organic versus chemical farming raged on, Singh remained pragmatic. “With the way the population is growing, agriculture is all about extracting more and more from the same area of farmland,” he said. “On the other hand, farmers are not going to invest time and money into organic farming if they aren’t going to get the returns.”

Life Beyond Olam: Mentorship and Innovation

After over a decade of international exposure, particularly his success in scaling Olam's peanut operations in Argentina, Singh returned to India with a wealth of global expertise. His experiences in Latin America and Africa equipped him with the tools to manage complex agricultural operations, formulate growth strategies, and navigate multicultural environments. He brought back this knowledge to India, where the agricultural landscape had its own set of challenges. He took on leadership roles at Louis Dreyfus Company (overseeing the company's $1 billion operations) and later COFCO International India, further cementing his reputation as a key player in the sector. It was in September this year that he found himself taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Terviva, an agricultural innovation company in the US.

But Singh's influence extends far beyond corporate boardrooms. Today, he mentors entrepreneurs and an investor in startups, including companies like Knocksense and Snackamor. His belief in the power of innovation drives his work with these startups, as he seeks to empower the next generation of agricultural leaders.

His impact is also felt in India, where he is a member of the National Council for Agriculture Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Sustainable Agriculture Task Force of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). His work in these organizations reflects his commitment to advancing agriculture in his home country, where he believes there is still much-untapped potential.

The Legacy of the Peanut Prince

For the Sikh community in Argentina, Singh is a symbol of success and cultural pride. Sikhs have been living in Argentina since the 1930s when they first arrived to work in British sugar mills. While the community has remained small—around 300 families—Singh’s prominence has brought newfound attention to their contributions. As one of the most prominent Indians in the country, Singh has bridged the cultural gap between Argentina and India, helping to foster greater understanding and appreciation for Sikhism.

"Being a Sikh, people wanted to speak to me, ask me about my turban and Sikhism. They were quite inquisitive," he added. It was in 2018 that Sikh faith was officially recognised in Argentina, with one Gurudwara in the country based in Rosario de la Frontera in the town of Salta.

Reflecting on his journey, Singh remains humble. “Everything just fell into place,” he said in an interview. “I wanted to go to IIT or Civils. None of those panned out, but life took its own turns. I just went along with the flow and managed to maximise the opportunities that came my way.”

Simmarpal Singh’s journey from a small town in West Bengal to becoming the "Peanut Prince of Argentina" is a story of determination, adaptability, and seizing opportunities. His contributions to Argentina’s agriculture have left a lasting impact, and his success has made him a figure of pride for the Indian diaspora. As Singh continues to shape the agricultural sector and mentor future entrepreneurs, his story stands as a reminder of how far one can go by staying open to new challenges and pushing boundaries.

Follow Simmarpal Singh on LinkedIn

Frank Islam: The Indian American visionary is bridging worlds through philanthropy, leadership and influence

(March 2, 2024) A few years ago, prominent Indian American investor Frank Islam, donated $2 million to his alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University. An ace philanthropist, Islam and his wife Debbie established the Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation in 2007 and have transformed millions of lives with their initiatives. Frank is the chairman, CEO, and founder of FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG). He has served on numerous boards and advisory councils supporting the arts, higher education, and civic engagement, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore Center for the Arts, UN Foundation's Global Leadership Council, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, the U.S. Institute of Peace, American University; Johns Hopkins University, George Mason University; and the University of Maryland Smith School of Business among others. Frank is also the founding chairman of Potomac Charities. In 2022, he was appointed as a member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars by President Joe Biden. A series of striking images featuring Frank Islam alongside prominent world figures such as Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, Narendra Modi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton open the documentary narrating Frank’s multifaceted life. The journey of the investor who is also a

en.

A series of striking images featuring Frank Islam alongside prominent world figures such as Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, Narendra Modi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton open the documentary narrating Frank’s multifaceted life. The journey of the investor who is also a philanthropist, civic and thought leader, author, TV host, political activist, and art connoisseur, immediately captivates viewers' attention.

His powerful words, serving as the background voiceover in the documentary, draw the audience further into his compelling story:

My story can only happen in America, not anywhere else. I was not born with a silver spoon. I grew up in a middle-class family. I always had the desire, joy, and discipline to take risks and become an entrepreneur. I always believe that if you work hard, if you try to aim high you will be successful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmNwExatdnI&t=244s

From Azamgarh to America

Frank's journey began in a quaint village in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Born in 1953 as Fakhrul Islam, he hailed from a religious family of modest means. After completing his high school education in Varanasi, he went on to study at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), an alma mater that he holds in high esteem and fondly refers to as ‘a great influence in his life, his story, and his journey.

During his time at AMU, Frank developed a deep appreciation for education, viewing it as a transformative force that not only provided knowledge and skills but also instilled dignity and hope. His love for education motivated him to go to the United States, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from the University of Colorado in Boulder. There, he also got his name Frank from one of his professors.

From the dusty streets of Azamgarh to Aligarh to America, I crossed the ocean to realize and to achieve and to attain the American dream.

Islam had remarked later in an interview

[caption id="attachment_49591" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam with the US President Joe Biden[/caption]

Taking life in his stride

Despite initial challenges of assimilating into American society, Frank remained grateful for the opportunities the country provided, and excelled with his hard work.

After graduating from university, Frank entered the workforce, gaining experience in various IT companies, while nurturing his ambition to become an entrepreneur. In late 1994, he founded the QSS Group, mortgaging his house to invest in his business. The transition from employee to entrepreneur was daunting at first, but he stayed positive and took the difficulties in his stride.

Under his leadership, QSS Group grew from a one-person operation into a company with more than 3,000 employees’ generating revenues of approximately $300M before its sale.

I started my business in 1994 and those were dark and desperate days of my life. I was only with $500 that I invested into this company, with no insurance, and no place to go. But I believed there was a future. Otherwise, I would’ve never started. So, I was willing to take the risk. And I always believed in taking a risk.

The Indo American visionary said in an interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwOa0U5ktmM

With decades of experience in IT, aerospace engineering services, and systems integration, Frank successfully made a mark for himself and received recognition in the form of the Ernst and Young Award, Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1999 and the U.S. Small Business Administration award in 2001.

He sold QSS Group, and established FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG) in 2007. FIIG specialises in offering growth capital to emerging companies and overseeing specialised and branded funds. Frank's investment approach revolves around pioneering strategies for value creation, often leading the way as an early investor in new economic models.

Creating a powerful network and legacy

Frank Islam has played a significant role in supporting the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden, dedicating time and raising millions in funds. As a member of Hillary Clinton’s finance committee, he personally contributed one million dollars to her campaign.

Politics has designed the landscape of America. This is how capitalism grows as democracy flourishes. And this is how you have a voice that should be heard, and therefore you have a seat on the table, which is very important.

Frank remarked in an interview

He has cultivated robust friendships with a network of leaders from not just politics but also business, education, and the arts.

[caption id="attachment_49593" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam with Barack Obama[/caption]

Matters of the heart - Norton Manor

Frank Islam hosts several charitable events at his residence, 'Norton Manor' which the Global Indian has built with love as a tribute to his adopted country. Drawing inspiration from The Elms of Newport, Rhode Island and many other iconic sites, his mansion's façade boasts grandeur. Inside, the foyer features a domed ceiling reminiscent of the Capitol Rotunda or Statuary Hall, while the hand-painted murals depict Maryland landscapes. Norton Manor’s library has an exact replica of the iconic presidential desk at the Oval office, which has even garnered appreciation from both Biden and Obama who have been for fundraisers at the house.

Situated on a sprawling 10-acre estate in Potomac, one of the richest suburbs of Washington, 'Norton Manor' has several man-made water streams, fountains, and gardens inspired by historical landmarks such as Hampton Court Palace in England and the Rose Garden at the White House. Additionally, the property includes a reflecting pool in the front. Talking about the pool Frank Islam had remarked, "I got the idea from the Presidential Palace in India. The Taj Mahal also has a beautiful reflecting pool. It is indeed very nice in the evening; you can see the reflection of the house in the pool.”

[caption id="attachment_49596" align="aligncenter" width="756"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam's mansion, Norton Manor[/caption]

Love for words – writing, speaking, and broadcasting

Frank is both a prolific writer and influential thinker. He is also the author of books: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013) and Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010). He has been actively sharing his knowledge and expertise through blogs at The Medium, and has contributed to The Huffington Post for a decade. He has also been associated as columnist for publications like Foreign Policy, The International Business Times, and Economic Times, among others. Additionally, the man with a gift of gab has hosted TV shows like the Washington Current Review on FOX 5 News and Washington Calling on South Asia Monitor (SAM).

In 2018, he founded the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship to tackle the growing deficit in civic engagement both in the United States and globally. Redefining citizenship in light of contemporary challenges and opportunities, the institute operates a website and releases a monthly newsletter.

Frank also has a YouTube channel where he hosts talks with leaders of different fields and also shares his speeches given at various business, education, and non-profit events.

[caption id="attachment_49597" align="aligncenter" width="755"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam at the inauguration ceremony of the Frank & Debbie Islam Management Complex[/caption]

Giving Back

Deeply committed to serving his homeland, with the belief that education is the key to eradicating poverty in India, particularly among Muslim minorities, Frank has established a school in Azamgarh in memory of his mother.

Through the Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation, he supports the education of numerous students from Azamgarh at AMU and facilitates job opportunities for AMU students in the United States. His financial contributions to AMU have led to the establishment of the Frank & Debbie Islam Management Complex at the university.

It is my fondest hope, and my deepest desire, to help those who are so voiceless. The conditions that they live in – especially in Azamgarh and Aligarh – break my heart. I want them to have hope, aspirations and dreams.

Frank shared in an interview

For his dedication to philanthropy in education and student support, Frank Islam received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Aligarh Muslim University in 2016, joining esteemed recipients like A.R. Rahman (2009), Dilip Kumar (2002), and the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2008).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvqK2LRBxDY

Significant accomplishments and associations

A conference room at the United States Institute of Peace is named after Frank Islam and his wife, Debbie Driesman
In September, 2013, the then U.S. President Barack Obama had appointed him to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
He has received several awards in his illustrious career - The Indus Entrepreneurs (Tie) Legends Award, Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for International Service, Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame Award, Interfaith Leadership Award, Global Leadership Award, Philanthropist of the Year Award, and the UP Ratna Award (by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, UP, India)
Frank Islam serves on the boards of non-profit organizations like TiE-DC and Strathmore Center for the Arts in Maryland, chairs the StateDemocracy Foundation, and supports the Center for American Progress, a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization in the U.S.

Follow Frank Islam on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and his Website

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Sandhya Devanathan: The VP leading Meta to “power India’s decade”

(August 30, 2024) In November 2022, as India began driving tougher regulatory policies for social media companies, Sandhya Devanathan was appointed Vice President Meta India. Only two weeks prior, the former VP, Ajit Mohan, had resigned from his post, causing a stir. Sandhya has a proven track record of scaling businesses, building exceptional and inclusive teams, driving product innovation and building strong partnerships," Meta's Chief Business Officer Marne Levine said, commenting on the appointment. This year, she was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Business 2024 by Fortune Magazine, and brings 22 years of experience in banking, payments and technology. Within one year of her appointment, Meta saw a 16% increase in global revenue, and a 69% rise in net income. AI, messaging and creator empowerment have been the focus areas for Meta in the last year. "Meta and its AI suite of products can turbocharge this transformation," Devanathan told Fortune India. Who is Sandhya Devanathan Devanathan graduated with a BTech degree from the Andhra University College of Engineering, Vishakhapatnam, in 1998, completed her MBA at the Faculty of Management Studies and attended a course in leadership from Said Business School, Oxford University. She began her career in

hool, Oxford University. She began her career in 2000, as Webmaster & Product Manager, Citibank Online, e-Business.

[caption id="attachment_32372" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta India[/caption]

With an international career spanning over two decades, Sandhya Devanathan doesn't come with the usual set of tech credentials. Instead, the graduate from the Faculty of Management Studies in New Delhi, Devanathan pivoted from banking to technology in 2015, after having spent nearly a decade at Citi and another six years with Standard Chartered Bank. In 2016, she joined Meta, going on to play a key role in building its presence in Singapore and Vietnam, apart from working on the company's e-commerce initiatives in South East Asia.

Teething troubles

She calls the move one of the hardest things she's ever done, in terms of learning how to adapt. The strict hierarchies of the banking sector gave way to a more egalitarian, empowered atmosphere, where the emphasis lay on having a "shared vision, purpose and sense of community," she wrote, in a 2020 blog post for Meta Careers. "When it came to banking, I knew the industry really well. I knew about fintech, but Meta and the digital consumer tech landscape were brand new to me. I faced a steep learning curve managing teams that function very differently from traditional companies."

In 2020, Devanathan moved to Indonesia, where she headed Meta's gaming vertical in the A-Pac region and is the global lead for Play Forward, Meta's bid to improve diversity in gaming. Soon afterwards, the pandemic hit and the job market, Devanathan recalls, was transformed. People started onboarding remotely and she had to come to terms with the process, on being unable to establish an in-person rapport with teammates and managers.

Sandhya Devanathan

Leading in a new world

"Leading through change must start from a place of empathy," she wrote. "Everyone is going through something. Leaders must also have the humility to understand that we are constantly in learning mode because there is so much change happening around us." Reviving the old sense of light-hearted togetherness, she realised, was key, now that there were no more water-cooler gatherings and coffee-break tete-a-tetes.

Skills in demand today

The ability to deal with ambiguity, Devanathan believes, is key. Independence and the ability to adjust to change can make all the difference. Communication and collaboration, she writes, are critical, more so as people work remotely and don't often meet in person. The third skill in Devanathan's book is resilience. Variables are infinite, from employees stepping back to deal with personal challenges, to the collapse of economies. "You live in markets in Asia that are vibrant but also somewhat volatile, so having resilience is very important."

An analytical mind that can strategise and plan in an uncertain world is an essential hard skill to be at a company like Meta. "We look for people who are able to set a strong strategy but setting strategy is useless if you can't break it down into what needs to be done today and what needs to play out longer term."

Troubled waters

Devanathan takes over Meta India at a stormy time in the company's India story. With the current administration tightening regulations for big tech, there is lots to navigate. The company is pulling out all the stops to woo Indian developers and creative talent and pledged $1 million for an extended reality fellowship programme in India.

Meta's Chief Business Officer, Nick Clegg has said that the revised version of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill is "really promising." Clegg noted that India is on its way to becoming a digital superpower. India is a key market for Meta India, with over half a billion Indians using its services, forming one of the company's largest markets.

In this atmosphere, Devanathan's priorities will be on bringing business and revenue priorities to partners and clients.

Follow Sandhya Devanathan on LinkedIn

Author Jyoti Guptara is helping businesses with his storytelling skills

(July 6, 2022) When he dropped out of the school at the age of 15, many of his friends and family members thought that he was making the worst decision of his life. Many cautioned him, saying he wouldn't find any proper employment after growing up. However, today Jyoti Guptara is a celebrated story strategist, novelist and motivational speaker. Counted among the “100 Most Important Swiss” and a Novelist-in-Residence for a UN partner organisation, the author was recently awarded a Scroll of Honour for Special Services by the County of Los Angeles for philanthropy, literary achievement, and inspiring other young people. [caption id="attachment_26544" align="aligncenter" width="626"] Jyoti Guptara, author[/caption] "I always had a knack for writing, so I decided to leave school early and became a full-time writer at the age of 15. At that time, I don't think my teachers would have imagined that they would be inviting me back three years later to speak as a bestselling author," he shares, as he connects with Global Indian from Switzerland. Jyoti is one of the early architects of business storytelling in Europe. He has worked with several leading organisations, including Deutsche Telekom, SwissRe, World Vision, The Global Humanitarian Forum, Bildungsdirection Kanton

lank" rel="noopener">Global Indian from Switzerland. Jyoti is one of the early architects of business storytelling in Europe. He has worked with several leading organisations, including Deutsche Telekom, SwissRe, World Vision, The Global Humanitarian Forum, Bildungsdirection Kanton Zurich, University of St. Gallen, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the United Nations.

Born to write

Born to an English mother and Keralite father and based in Switzerland, Jyoti is a citizen of the UK as well as of Switzerland. He has a twin brother, Suresh, whom he shares a very close bond. They would do almost everything together, from falling in love with Star Wars and Chronicles of Narnia, to writing their first book, Conspiracy of Calaspia. "We had the same influences, so we loved the same stories and books growing up," shares Jyoti, adding, "So, when we were 11, we had an idea for a fantasy story. I remember, I snuck down to my parent's room to use the computer to start writing the story. We promised each other that we would finish the book, no matter how long it took."

Those night-time expeditions to the computer resulted, six months later, in Conspiracy of Calaspia. "No publisher wanted it," he laughs, adding, "We edited the book several times and about six years later the book got published." The book was launched in Delhi, by the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who called the brothers "born storytellers."

[caption id="attachment_26545" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Author | Jyoti Guptara | Global Indian Jyoti and Suresh at the Conspiracy of Calaspia book launch, with Sheila Dikshit[/caption]

While students his age were busy planning what they wanted to do in their life, Jyoti already knew he wanted to be an author. "I had started writing articles when I was 15 and already two had been published. I think the Universe had given me a signal that my writing career would flourish. So, I left school and only focused on writing," shares the author.

The power of storytelling

Although their first book was a worldwide bestseller, and fetched the young writers widespread praise, only Jyoti continued to write books. However, writing alone came with many challenges. "I had only written with my brother, I had to rediscover the process since I would be writing on my own,” says the storyteller, who took a job with the Swiss government to ensure a regular income.

Going through a rough patch financially at the time, Jyoti decided he had to reinvent himself. And that is where his journey as a business storyteller began. "When I was a Fellow and Writer-in-Residence at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, I realised that people’s best content often came after presentations, informally over coffee – where people told stories. I was quickly able to apply my decade of experience with fiction to executive education, helping business leaders find and tell stories to give better talks, to pitch ideas and influence meetings,” says the author.

[caption id="attachment_26546" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Author | Jyoti Guptara | Global Indian Jyoti leading an executive education workshop[/caption]

Business storytelling, Jyoti explains, “Is the quickest, cheapest and deepest way to influence anyone. A lot of people have a great product or idea, but struggle to convince people to buy it. I help them with a framework, to connect to the right people, convince them and convert it into sales."

Ten years of writing fiction meant Jyoti brought with him a skill set seldom seen in Marketing / Communication circles – the ability to tell a gripping story. He worked with business leaders on their presentations and discussions, helping them weave their own real-life anecdotes, experiences, and personalised learnings into the narrative. In Europe, where he was one of the first business storytellers on the scene, Jyoti offers workshops, coaching and global consulting services for both individuals and organisations. He has worked with a range of companies, including “start-ups, SMEs and Fortune 500s with executive education, story systems, proven brand messaging frameworks and immersive storytelling in virtual reality,” Jyoti says.

[caption id="attachment_26548" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Author | Jyoti Guptara | Global Indian Jyoti, teaching masters students at top business school, University of St. Gallen[/caption]

However, despite his very busy schedule, Jyoti is still working on his books. "Recently, I distilled my experience in a 100-page start-now guide: Business Storytelling from Hype to Hack. This Amazon bestseller explains why Forbes calls storytelling the most important business skill, and shows how you can master the skill enjoyably – before your competition does.," says the author, who lives with his wife in Switzerland.

Follow Jyoti Guptara on LinkedIn, Twitter, and on his website

Reading Time: 6 mins