Ramesh Menon
CEO
Therefore, it was easy for me to adapt to the corporate environment", quotes Ramesh, when asked about his voyage across the real estate sector as a new age entrepreneur. An Army Veteran with over two decades of experience as an Infantry Officer, Ramesh started his illustrious career in the corporate sector wherein he got the opportunity to work with a tier-I IT MNC in a top leadership role. Having completed his MBA in Strategic Management, Ramesh has contributed to various industry forums as a thought leader and knowledge professional and his domain expertise spans the entire spectrum of operations covering Real Estate, Facilities, Security, Safety and Business Continuity. In his current role as CEO of GAR Corporate Services, Ramesh is leveraging his knowledge and expertise in this field to steer the organization on a journey of process excellence.
Below is an excerpt of Ramesh's interview with CEO Insights.
Define GAR Corporate Services as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its client base?
GAR Corporate Services is an entity of GAR Corporation, the leading
developer of commercial realestate in Hyderabad with a market presence of over three decades. The company has been shaped by the vision of our Chairman, Amarender Reddy and growing under the dynamic leadership of Abhinav Reddy who is our Managing Director. As CEO and Head of GAR Corporate Services I am responsible for the highquality delivery of services. Though relatively new, GAR Corporate Services, has seen stupendous growth and won several awards and recognition. The process excellence journey that I have envisioned is catapulting us into a leadership position in this industry segment.
How has been your response to the challenges posed by the covid affected market? How would you describe your role in tackling those challenges?
The Covid pandemic has posed some unique challenges to the Real Estate Industry. However, it has also helped resilient organizations emerge stronger. As one of the earliest organizations to build a cohesive strategy to handle the challenge, GAR devised a strategy called '5S' - comprising of Screening, Segregation, Sanitizing, Social Distancing and Sensitizing, which helped us prevent the outbreak of the virus at our campuses. Our strict adherence to ISHRAE COVID-19 protocols and focus on air quality acted as key differentiators and our approach of getting third-party audits helped give the right assurance to our clients about the safety of the campus. Understanding the importance of mental well being in a post-covid scenario, we tied up with a Wellness partner to provide support and counseling to our associates. I am glad that our strategies were effective in mitigating the scourge of the pandemic.
What is your view on maintaining the perfect balance between personal and professional life? How do you ensure the same for your employees?
Work life harmony can be achieved by a goal congruent approach. With a belief that life is all about striking the right balance, I always advise my employees to do what they enjoy and enjoy what they do. To me, it is
The process excellence journey that I have envisioned is catapulting us into a leadership position in this industry segment
How has been your response to the challenges posed by the covid affected market? How would you describe your role in tackling those challenges?
The Covid pandemic has posed some unique challenges to the Real Estate Industry. However, it has also helped resilient organizations emerge stronger. As one of the earliest organizations to build a cohesive strategy to handle the challenge, GAR devised a strategy called '5S' - comprising of Screening, Segregation, Sanitizing, Social Distancing and Sensitizing, which helped us prevent the outbreak of the virus at our campuses. Our strict adherence to ISHRAE COVID-19 protocols and focus on air quality acted as key differentiators and our approach of getting third-party audits helped give the right assurance to our clients about the safety of the campus. Understanding the importance of mental well being in a post-covid scenario, we tied up with a Wellness partner to provide support and counseling to our associates. I am glad that our strategies were effective in mitigating the scourge of the pandemic.
What is your view on maintaining the perfect balance between personal and professional life? How do you ensure the same for your employees?
Work life harmony can be achieved by a goal congruent approach. With a belief that life is all about striking the right balance, I always advise my employees to do what they enjoy and enjoy what they do. To me, it is
very important that my employees are eager and excited to come to work every day. This can be achieved by creating a conducive work environment where there is care, concern and collaboration.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The pandemic has been the greatest flashpoint in recent history and it has redefined the very concept of the workplace. The perception of the workplace has transitioned from physical to virtual and flexibility is a key criterion for designers and managers of future hybrid workplaces. As the key parameters like Health, Safety and Wellness have sharply come into focus, sectors like Healthcare, e-Commerce, and Insurance have emerged stronger. The havoc wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic is the best example of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity that characterize the VUCA world that we inhabit. But we have always seen the market bounce back stronger after every low and therefore, I am quite optimistic about the future.
Being an entrepreneur your self, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in this domain?
The most important thing is to have a dream that keeps you awake. And once you have such a dream, you need to work hard to live that dream. Failures are a natural part of your growth curve and you must learn to accept those failures. Never take your success for granted and never be under the illusion that it is permanent.
Ramesh Menon, CEO, GAR Corporate Services
Lt Col Ramesh Menon is an army veteran with over two decades of combat experience as an Infantry Officer in the Indian Army. Post his transition from olive greens to corporate blues, he has held senior leadership roles in the corporate sector, where he continues to play the role of thought leader, mentor and motivator. He is an avid reader, passionate writer and raconteur.
Hobbies:Reading, Creative Writing.
Favourite Cuisine:
Hyderabadi cuisine
Favourite Book:‘We need to talk about Kevin’ by Lionel Shriver
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The pandemic has been the greatest flashpoint in recent history and it has redefined the very concept of the workplace. The perception of the workplace has transitioned from physical to virtual and flexibility is a key criterion for designers and managers of future hybrid workplaces. As the key parameters like Health, Safety and Wellness have sharply come into focus, sectors like Healthcare, e-Commerce, and Insurance have emerged stronger. The havoc wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic is the best example of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity that characterize the VUCA world that we inhabit. But we have always seen the market bounce back stronger after every low and therefore, I am quite optimistic about the future.
Being an entrepreneur your self, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in this domain?
The most important thing is to have a dream that keeps you awake. And once you have such a dream, you need to work hard to live that dream. Failures are a natural part of your growth curve and you must learn to accept those failures. Never take your success for granted and never be under the illusion that it is permanent.
Ramesh Menon, CEO, GAR Corporate Services
Lt Col Ramesh Menon is an army veteran with over two decades of combat experience as an Infantry Officer in the Indian Army. Post his transition from olive greens to corporate blues, he has held senior leadership roles in the corporate sector, where he continues to play the role of thought leader, mentor and motivator. He is an avid reader, passionate writer and raconteur.
Hobbies:Reading, Creative Writing.
Favourite Cuisine:
Hyderabadi cuisine
Favourite Book:‘We need to talk about Kevin’ by Lionel Shriver