CEO Insights India

“Keeping a constant finger on the pulse of the market & industry trends, sound financial planning and strong employee motivation are key factors of our success, though not necessarily in that order,” says Kaushal Agarwalla, Director, Maithan Steel while talking about how they have been able to create a niche in the industry and deliver sustained success. Maithan Steel is a pioneering business organization that has been setting new standards in the steel industry. And owing to the world-class quality in offerings, the company has been able to develop into a pioneering name in the industry.

In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights, Kaushal talks more about his professional journey and the unique business operations of Maithan Steel.

Give us a brief detail about your educational background and professional background and how has it helped you in your journey so far?
I have an Engineering Degree from R.V College of Engineering and MBA degree from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. I realized very early on that the country’s per capita steel consumption is still low as compared to the global standards. I believe that India being a developing country will undoubtedly witness a surge in the per capita consumption of steel in the coming years. Coming from an engineering background, I was keen on developing new age

steel products that could revolutionize the infrastructure development process in the country while reducing construction cost by 20 percent. I also have a Finance Specialization from New York University Stern School of Business. I aspire to make Maithan Steel a leading supplier of quality construction materials in the country. My top priority is to establish ‘Maithan Steel’ as a benchmark of trust and quality.

What different roles have you been undertaking at Maithan Steel?
I had worked for a year with Deloitte after completing my engineering degree and swiftly shifted to the world of business. In 2007, I joined Maithan Group as the Vice President of Maithan Alloys Limited. My next move was to lead Anjaney Alloys Limited as the company’s Director in 2012. Then I took a challenging decision in 2013. After gaining success with ancillary products, I turned my focus towards steel and took up the leadership role at Maithan Steel and Power Limited.

How does your experience help you out to chalk out business operation for the company? In your professional journey so far,which milestones have bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and a founder?
I have the experience of working in and leading different verticals such as various aspects related to production and finance. This diversity of experience empowers me to face and overcome critical hurdles of the business. Since I have a helicopter view of how the business is handled, I can manage it with more ease and confidence.

I have seen the company grow from a very small one to a very respectable company both in terms

of brand value, and customer trust and perception. I had once visited a small store without disclosing my identity and was looking around as a prospective customer, when the store owner began showing me my own product mentioning that the rest of the products are not up to the mark, but this is the real deal. That made me believe that we are doing something right.

How do you update yourself with the latest technologies and trends in the Steel industry of India?
Keeping-up with global standards is very important, and I do it by having access to industry journals and consultants. Also, I try to engage with industry stalwarts across multiple platforms and train our manpower with the latest trends and technologies during the different training programs. This keeps the company as a whole, abreast of latest developments.

What has helped you to achieve success in the industry?
I believe ‘trust’ is life’s greatest asset. Be it while assigning responsibilities to my employees or providing the best-value steel products to consumers, mutual trust remains at the helm of all affairs. In fact, we strive hard towards evolving the steel-making process each day to deliver products that consumers can trust for shaping their dreams and aspirations. I really believe in hard work and perseverance and find solace in helping the needy. We organize free eye camps for the underprivileged. Realizing that education lays the foundation for a nation’s development, we have helped several students from needy families. Besides taking several other philanthropic initiatives, we also stand by the underprivileged whenever they require ambulances and medical services.

Kaushal Agarwalla, Director, Maithan Steel
Born in a family of businessmen, Kaushal grew up listening to stories about deals, ventures and entrepreneurship. These inspiring real life tales structured his vision for life. It took him no time to realize what future should look like. Presently, Kaushal is heading the Finance, Operations, General Administration, Liaising and Project related affairs of the Maithan Steel and Power Limited.