An Interview with Mr. Dhaval Doshi, CEO and Founder,
Webventurous Interactive Pvt. Ltd.
by Saba Vakani, Correspondent, BMS.co.in
- Tell us something about yourself?
I am an over educated entrepreneur still learning as I grow with my venture. My education does not bar me from thinking out of the box and has not boosted my creativity in any way either. I like experimenting with new to-do lists everyday for a productive life ahead 🙂
- Tell us something about your company/business?
Webventurous as the name goes is a digital agency that has worked with diverse businesses to develop their web presence and boost their brand using digital marketing platforms. We are a team of online marketing experts who specialize in social media communication, search engine optimization and PPC marketing. Our growth over a period of years is thanks to the diversity of the clientele we have worked with – right from a small electronics shop owner to a national consumer brand, we have worked at all levels. We are at a stage where we are trying to carve a niche and find our focus as an agency.
- How were you inspired to start this venture, its vision & current status?
Well, I started off as a web designer and later as social media evolved I always tinkered with it and kept creating profiles on dozens of social networks including Orkut, MySpace and Zorpia (in it’s hay days). With Facebook (during my days of education in US), there was an obvious paradigm shift that businesses saw with the ability to use them as marketing tools. That’s when agencies with expertise sprang up and I saw that opportunity as an extension to my service suite as a freelance designer. My vision is to work with some brands and see them grow with our efforts as digital agency. Currently, as mentioned earlier, we are looking to carve a niche in the social media communication space. However, we will continue to develop websites on open-source technologies which is something that I started with and do not intend to give up.
- Whom do you admire as your role model? Why?
One of the initial role-models for me was Lee Iacocca. I used to be a sucker for management books and loved autobiographies and rags to riches stories. I admire Lee Iacocca’s narration of how he turned around Chrysler. There are a lot of lessons to learn in times of adversity. Lately, I have also been inspired by Richard Branson with his “Screw it, just do it” attitude – it just makes me feel that being unplanned in business is not that bad. For all those looking to read a really great management book, I would highly recommend “Rework” by Jason Fried. It is unconventional and beats the hell out of old school management philosophies (aka Lee Iacocca, Jack Welch and somewhat in lines with Richard Branson). Rework is a must-read for wannabe entrepreneurs who are stuck in the rat-race with a job and those who are looking to be in the service industry.
- What is your philosophy towards work?
Make it fun. Your to-do list should be of things you like doing and not of work. Let your end goals be about sales and growth but the means to those end goals should be about the things you love doing – in the end that’s all that matters.
- Is the Name of the Institute from where a student does his/her Management courses important while entering into corporate world?
Not at all. However, being a part of a reputed institute could open more doors if it has a reputed and vast alumni network. I am not saying that being from a reputed institute will determine your success in business but it could have its own advantages. I would say that if you want to be in business and if you are going to graduate from an IIM or IIT, don’t let that get to your head – starting a venture may require you to unlearn a lot of what you learnt and forget that your brand does not matter.
- “Management is core to every individual, organization & society.” Give your views on it.
Yes, I agree with that. Organizing and managing people around you are most important at every level. That is the underlying challenge when you perform any task in business or life.
- Name 3 qualities of prime importance that an Entrepreneur should possess.
Perseverance. Perseverance. Perseverance.
- According to you, what are the challenges for Entrepreneurship today?
The biggest challenges of entrepeneurship today are developing a business that has a long-term vision. Often times, fads replace fundamental business sense in a business model. This should not be the case. Another greatest challenge that entrepreneurs face is that of innovation. Innovation is not rocket-science and does not require you to set up an R & D lab. Small innovations in business can change your cash-flow, marketing strategy and turn around your business. As entrepreneurs, we need not be hesitant to try out something new and get adventurous. This applies for me and my business as well.
- Can Management and Entrepreneurship be taught in B-Schools/Management Institutes/Colleges?
Ofcourse. It can be taught but not necessarily learnt by everyone. You need to be really interested in the subjects to learn them – to go beyond case studies and meet real businesses to understand how things work.
- Do you think today’s economy is conducive for a new venture to start upon?
Yes, in fact it is the right time to start a business. When the economy is down, there is a need for low-cost suppliers or products and services. You can compete very well in such a market if you are start-up and can provide that better than the competition.
- “Earning more & more is the motive behind any business.” Is it justifiable?
Yes, of course. You need more money to expand your business. Unless you expand your business, there is no growth. Unless there is no growth, there is no momentum to continue in that venture. Earning more is important.
- What message would you like to give to the budding entrepreneurs?
Don’t get bogged down by those who did not make it. The most important thing that you will need every day is Inspiration. Once you have enough of that, just give it your best shot in business and you will succeed. If not, try again. It’s not going to be easy but who said it would be?
- What qualities you see for apart from the required academic qualification while recruiting a person?
Problem solving ability, people skills and most importantly his character and background as an individual.
- Your feedback for BMS.co.in?
Great resource for management students. One of the best.
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