Vikas Prasad: Leveraging Two Decade Strong Expertise Across Domestic & International Marketplaces
Vikas Prasad
President & MD
“Vikas is a well known professional in the Auto industry. He holds the highest respect due to his knowledge, sincerity and ethical way of performing the businesses”, opine many OEM representatives. Below is an excerpt of Vikas’s interview with CEO Insights.
What inspired you to venture into the automotive sector, and what keeps you motivated today?
Equipped with a varied set of experience from retail to consulting, chemical to media, and so on, in my opinion, the automotive sector is the most dynamic & aggressive industry. This also can be called as a barometer to the economy of developing country. On the approach of any particular market crisis, the automotive industry is the first to get hit, and the last one to revive. Meanwhile, the period in between witnesses a huge turmoil, making the automotive industry quite synonymous with excitement and exuberance. Successfully arresting my attention, this pheno
menon of the niche industry inspired me to change my conduit from media to the automotive sector in 2011 and still keeps me motivated and excited to be a part this industry.
What inspired you to venture into the automotive sector, and what keeps you motivated today?
Equipped with a varied set of experience from retail to consulting, chemical to media, and so on, in my opinion, the automotive sector is the most dynamic & aggressive industry. This also can be called as a barometer to the economy of developing country. On the approach of any particular market crisis, the automotive industry is the first to get hit, and the last one to revive. Meanwhile, the period in between witnesses a huge turmoil, making the automotive industry quite synonymous with excitement and exuberance. Successfully arresting my attention, this phenomenon of the niche industry inspired me to change my conduit from media to the automotive sector in 2011 and still keeps me motivated and excited to be a part this industry.
How do you apply your strong experience to maintain your company’s dominance in the market?
It is not about the position we hold in the organization, but it’s the vision which guides us the way towards success. I feel my leadership style can be divided into two forms: visionary and coaching. Being a visionary, I believe the vision is the prime importance and the essence of your actions. Company vision should be shared with all our colleagues, stake holders and all the interested parties who contribute to achieve desired result. My second leadership trait is coaching, which defines everyone within the team should get coached and stay updated with the recent skillsets and the trends. Amalgamating these two leadership styles together, we remain aligned with our objectives and proceed accordingly, simultaneously keeping the morale of our people high and motivated. We are growing by 400 percent year on year following these strategies, and I proudly state we are lucky to have zero attrition since beginning.
What inspired you to venture into the automotive sector, and what keeps you motivated today?
Equipped with a varied set of experience from retail to consulting, chemical to media, and so on, in my opinion, the automotive sector is the most dynamic & aggressive industry. This also can be called as a barometer to the economy of developing country. On the approach of any particular market crisis, the automotive industry is the first to get hit, and the last one to revive. Meanwhile, the period in between witnesses a huge turmoil, making the automotive industry quite synonymous with excitement and exuberance. Successfully arresting my attention, this phenomenon of the niche industry inspired me to change my conduit from media to the automotive sector in 2011 and still keeps me motivated and excited to be a part this industry.
Vikas is a well known professional in the Auto industry. He holds the highest respect due to his knowledge, sincerity and ethical way of performing the businesses
How do you apply your strong experience to maintain your company’s dominance in the market?
It is not about the position we hold in the organization, but it’s the vision which guides us the way towards success. I feel my leadership style can be divided into two forms: visionary and coaching. Being a visionary, I believe the vision is the prime importance and the essence of your actions. Company vision should be shared with all our colleagues, stake holders and all the interested parties who contribute to achieve desired result. My second leadership trait is coaching, which defines everyone within the team should get coached and stay updated with the recent skillsets and the trends. Amalgamating these two leadership styles together, we remain aligned with our objectives and proceed accordingly, simultaneously keeping the morale of our people high and motivated. We are growing by 400 percent year on year following these strategies, and I proudly state we are lucky to have zero attrition since beginning.
Describe some of the changes in the market behavior that you anticipate and the opportunities you foresee for your company.
Our automobile sector is a very dynamic in nature and can also be defined as a roller coaster sometimes. The IC Engines will soon be exited and electric vehicles will be dominating an Indian market. This will completely change the present scenario, as batteries will start reigning the automobile industry after dethroning petrol, diesel, and CNG from the market. In 2015, we started our e-mobility vision by participating in battery management systems as a new vertical along with our charging and heating systems. We are gearing-up for the EV future as our new technologies, and we are ready to offer products from our portfolio. We also know currently the situation of EV looks challenging due to infrastructure availability particularly in India. Never theless, Webasto Group will introduce high technology and innovative products across the Indian market to fulfill the expectations of the customer as well as of the industry.
What would be your advice for the upcoming professionals in the same automotive industry?
Automotive industry is being driven with constant innovations and matured/proven technologies. Reading the customer’s mind remains the most difficult part of the success. To rule the market, one should bring the best value product to the customers, which will change the market. Secondly, the upcoming leaders should remain fixated on the skill sets because industry is facing an acute skilled manpower shortage at the moment. If we guide our young talents with the right curriculum in universities, it would really boost the skilled manpower scenario especially in the field of EVs. With this, our industry will grow much faster.
Vikas Prasad, President & MD, Webasto Group
After completing mechanical engineering from Delhi College of Engineering in 1998, Vikas plunged into mainstream business before opting to study international business at Delhi School of Economics. An adherent industry leader who handles the present functionalities of the Webasto Group as its President and MD, he also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in Business Valuation for Merger and Acquisitions.
Our automobile sector is a very dynamic in nature and can also be defined as a roller coaster sometimes. The IC Engines will soon be exited and electric vehicles will be dominating an Indian market. This will completely change the present scenario, as batteries will start reigning the automobile industry after dethroning petrol, diesel, and CNG from the market. In 2015, we started our e-mobility vision by participating in battery management systems as a new vertical along with our charging and heating systems. We are gearing-up for the EV future as our new technologies, and we are ready to offer products from our portfolio. We also know currently the situation of EV looks challenging due to infrastructure availability particularly in India. Never theless, Webasto Group will introduce high technology and innovative products across the Indian market to fulfill the expectations of the customer as well as of the industry.
What would be your advice for the upcoming professionals in the same automotive industry?
Automotive industry is being driven with constant innovations and matured/proven technologies. Reading the customer’s mind remains the most difficult part of the success. To rule the market, one should bring the best value product to the customers, which will change the market. Secondly, the upcoming leaders should remain fixated on the skill sets because industry is facing an acute skilled manpower shortage at the moment. If we guide our young talents with the right curriculum in universities, it would really boost the skilled manpower scenario especially in the field of EVs. With this, our industry will grow much faster.
Vikas Prasad, President & MD, Webasto Group
After completing mechanical engineering from Delhi College of Engineering in 1998, Vikas plunged into mainstream business before opting to study international business at Delhi School of Economics. An adherent industry leader who handles the present functionalities of the Webasto Group as its President and MD, he also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in Business Valuation for Merger and Acquisitions.