Leading an Innovation-driven OrganizationSanjay Nayak

CEO & MD

Changing Global Industry Dynamics• Shifting market power

– “Emerging” markets are driving growth

• Innovation needed to address emerging market needs– Affordable, high-quality solutions

• “Innovation efficiency” will drive where it happens– India/China can do much more R&D for the same budget– Gives time-to-market as well as cost advantage

Innovation will shift to global locations where it is more efficient

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India Advantage: we have the 3M• Market

– Large domestic consumption- initial “home” base– Indian electronics systems: $45Bn in 2009 to $400Bn in 2020

• Manpower– Highly talented workforce- technical as well as managerial– High proportion of people in the working age-group

• Money– Venture capital funding– Positive macro-economic environment

Leaders need to find ways to leverage the unique “India Advantage”

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Building the team• Hiring the right team

– Vision alignment– Complementary strengths– Fire in the belly- high energy, positive, can-do attitude

• Employee development– Challenge them to maximize their potential– Facilitate continual learning- give opportunities

• Making hard decisions– Dealing with wrong hiring choices, quickly– When people don’t scale up– When people lose the “fire in the belly”

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Leadership Challenges: what worked• Tackling adversity

– Every crisis is an opportunity to innovate and improve– Take it as a challenge

• Customer orientation– Are you solving a “real” problem– Customer comes first

• Constant Communications with key stakeholders– Set the perspective and big picture– Reinforce your vision- power of positive thinking !

• Commitment – Most things take longer than you think- need patience– Stay focused and committed to your belief

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About Tejas Networks

6 © Tejas Networks Ltd

Product Innovation

Award 2010CSIR Technology Award

from Prime Minister

Award for R&D & Innovation

Technology Fast -50 India

Fast-500 Asia

Emerging Company of

the Year

• Focused on building optical networking products for telecom operators

• “Innovation Leverage” from India – sustainable competitive advantage through R&D strength

• Global success: used by all major operators in India and several more in over 50 countries

• Profitable growth: 5 yr CAGR of >65% • Reached Top-10 spot amongst global players

Product of the Year 2010

Award for Excellence in R&D