Mahesh Shahdadpuri is the executive director of Tasc Outsourcing, which he founded in 2007. The Indian entrepreneur, 45, has previously worked in America for Digital Equipment and founded a software company called Astrum Technologies based in New York and Bangalore. Mr Shahdadpuri has two daughters, aged 10 and 15.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
I look forward to the weekend, it’s my time to relax and enjoy quality time with my children and the extended family. I love exercise as I feel it is the key to a sharp mind, so in the mornings I go out for a bike ride and occasionally go swimming. I enjoy the outdoors; weather permitting I find myself taking the children out with me to do something fun in the sun. I am a fan of good food, so in the evenings my wife and I explore the various eateries in Dubai. My favourites are LPM, Zuma and Indego at Grosvenor House.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
Travelling. I take hiking trips at least twice a year in the US and Europe. I particularly like Beaver Creek in Colorado, Provence in France and Yosemite in the US. I also love food and sampling exotic cuisines, so I’ve spent a lot of time travelling in search of new experiences.
What can’t you live without?
My daughters and my family, they mean a lot to me. I also love a good challenge, I can’t live without it. Sometimes life and work can get overwhelming and after even a few days of being on holiday, I have to occupy myself with something new to work on. I enjoy redefining the status quo and creating new concepts to challenge myself with.
What do you consider the secret to your success?
Being able to think from someone else’s point of view has been the key to my success. There have been many times in my career when I have had to make a difficult business decision, and my ability to look at the problem from an angle different to my own has led to a positive result. Another important factor is keeping my family and employees happy. When they are happy, I am positive that I have done a good job.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
To expect the unexpected. The business landscape is constantly changing; throwing up new challenges every day. Another important quality is to be disciplined in the execution of ideas and handle surprises in a mature manner. Leadership is important; an entrepreneur should be able to recognise when micromanagement is needed and when it is not. It can be difficult to oversee operations and let go of the day-to-day handling, but at a certain point you should be able to give people their autonomy. Your team should be given the freedom to think and aspire under your guidance.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
Work is important, but too much or too little work is unhealthy. I invested a lot of time in hiring a highly qualified team who I trust. With the right process, team and technology, delegation becomes easy. I have also established clear rules as to how long I spend on certain projects, which helps me set aside enough time to spend with my family.
How do you relax after the working day?
My week can be long and tiring at times. But after work, I spend a lot of time with my younger daughter as my elder daughter is very busy with her schooling and projects. A good book and jazz music is the perfect evening of relaxation for me.
If you weren’t running your business, what else would you be doing?
I would have been a food critic or a chef. I enjoy travelling the world and tasting different cuisines. My children and I experiment in the kitchen at least once a week. We also attend cooking classes together; it’s a great way for me to share my interests with them. My schooling has been in engineering and business, so I have always had a very scientific mind. Cooking lets me explore my creativity; the endless possibilities are fascinating to me.
arayer@thenational.ae
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