HBS Reflections - 2 years milestone
Namit Bhargava
Managing Director, Sales Leader, SAP Supply Chain | Value-Driven Business Transformation, Industry X & Digital Transformation, Partner in Client's Value Realization through SAP S/4 and Cloud Transformation | Harvard Alum
Executive Summary
Namit Bhargava, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience advising Fortune 500 clients on digital supply chain management, advanced analytics, and enterprise transformations, embarked on a transformative journey at age 51. Inspired by his experience at Harvard Business School (HBS), Namit has undergone significant personal and professional growth over the past two years.
Key Transformations
Looking Ahead
Namit seeks collaboration opportunities and aims to mentor individuals in finding their purpose and leading a joyful life. Namit looks forward to engaging with potential partners and mentees for further collaboration or mentoring opportunities to realize game-changing ideas and purposeful living.
Introduction
The world is full of commitments and milestones we set for ourselves. Leaders are constantly learning and adjusting their purpose. I decided to unlearn and relearn at the age of 51. The big idea was to prepare myself for the next ten years, leading to a purpose-driven life.
Context Setting
Namaste & hello. My name is Namit Bhargava, and I live in Philadelphia, PA. I have over 20 years of experience advising Fortune 500 clients on digital supply chain management, advanced analytics and optimization, and enterprise transformations driven by data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
I originally come from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. I am a proud alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management and Lucknow University (Economics and Marketing). These two esteemed institutions have taught me the importance of hard work and focus. I came to the US in 1997 to further my education. I enrolled at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, to pursue an MBA in Management Information Systems (MIS).
I started my career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a Management Consultant, consulting global Fortune 500 clients on supply chain transformation and optimization, explicitly focusing on enterprise resource planning software SAP. In 2002, I joined IBM Global Business Services (IBM). For the next ten years, I traveled four days a week and visited 10+ countries. The experience taught me how to be client-centric and relevant and made me a global citizen who embraced various cultures and norms. I was privileged to be IBM's Degree Work Study Program Scholar, enabling me to pursue my Executive MBA (2006-2007) in Strategy from Kenan Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Having worked at US multinationals PwC and IBM, I wanted to expand my skills and learn more about how India-based IT transformation companies worked and operated. Thus, from 2012 onwards, I spent ten years at Infosys, Wipro, and HCL. I learned valuable humility, emotional intelligence, global talent markets, and digital and enterprise transformation lessons from stalwarts like Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Mr. Azm Premji, and Mr. Shiv Nadar. These leaders have taught us the meaning of being humble (appreciative of the opportunities provided) and hungry (responsive to client and team's needs).
Fast forward to 2022, I joined DXC Technology (an HP spinoff). I lead Enterprise Applications Sales for our clients in North America. In this role, I advise Fortune 500 clients on supply chain management, digital supply chains, advanced analytics, and enterprise transformations. I aim to help enterprises leverage digital technology to build more agile and customer-focused organizations. I collaborate with key stakeholders to overcome financial, organizational, and technological challenges and to create and execute scalable and sustainable digital transformation roadmaps. I also spearhead industry 4.0 initiatives and private equity strategy, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. I am passionate about delivering value and impact to my clients and partners.
My desire and aspiration to improve myself led to my application for the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School (HBS) in 2021. AMP focuses on educating senior leaders with 20+ years of experience, preparing for the highest leadership level with rigor and relevance. According to HBS's website, the AMP prepares for the highest leadership level and empowers executives to create and renew competitive advantage for their organizations. The key benefit of the program is emphasized as a life-altering transformation program, better enabled to tackle the organization's toughest strategic challenges, leading with greater confidence, inspiring performance at all levels, and contributing more value as a member of the company's senior leadership team.
The application process takes about six months. The average class represents globally dispersed CEOs, CIOs, VPs, and Business Leaders. Once selected, you must plan and prepare thoroughly as this eight-week program demands every minute of your schedule.
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The program covers 175 plus world-renowned HBS case studies and multiple in-person leadership sessions with global business leaders. Key competencies built upon are:
Standing proud at the HBS graduation ceremony made me realize that I was a graduate and an alumnus of an Ivy League and prestigious Harvard University and Harvard Business School.
Fast Forward two years
In the past two years, I have "remolded" myself; let me explain the top 5 changes I have gone through.
HBS's mission statement taught me that I am a leader who makes a difference in the world. That responsibility was not evident before I went to HBS. Post HBS, I have taken full responsibility and strive to make a difference. For instance, I have implemented new strategies at DXC Technology, focusing on digital transformation and customer-centricity, which I learned from HBS.
Based on the classroom interactions and subsequent discussions that I continue to have with my HBS and work colleagues, I know far less than I think. Hence, intellectual curiosity and humility are essential.
I also relearned the value of the inner circle. Hence, from now on, I commit to visit my family & friends in India every six months. Likewise, I "block" time for family. Nothing, and I repeat - nothing is more important than family. Our cat, Sierra, is an excellent listener. I often talk to her about my challenges, and she helps me develop creative solutions.
I read a lot about the growth mindset, and I used to practice actively. Individual performance matters, but your team's strength delivers the needed change. The importance of relationships became evident during and after the HBS experience. Having friends and a board of directors is essential in life. Since then, I have had a board of directors (both personally and professionally). I also connect more often with my friends.
HBS taught me that expressing gratitude is one of the essential qualities of leadership. Christopher Littlefield correctly articulates that we experience gratitude when we shift our focus from what we don't have to what we do and when we take time to appreciate and be thankful for those who have contributed to the abundance in our lives. After HBS, I practice gratitude more often. I have realized life is too short and uncertain, and I try to make the most of it. Indeed, I have been more often exploring new places, savoring new cuisines, engaging with strangers, and enjoying locally crafted beers.
I also have a passion project. I want to open a Coin Museum in Lucknow, India. I grew up in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, a large city in northern India. Lucknow became critical in 1528 when Babur, the first Mughal ruler of India, captured it. Growing up, I experienced multiple cultures, cuisines, and crafts. This museum will display my collection of Silver-sized crown coins. The collection consists of coins from more than 200 countries along with very unique coins and coin jewelry. All the coins are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company, an international third-party coin grading and certification service based in Sarasota, Florida. NGC certification involves authentication, grading, attribution, and encapsulation in clear plastic holders. I look forward to connecting with like-minded, passionate leaders who can partner with me.
Till we meet again
As I sign off on this two-year update, I welcome the opportunity to hear from you and explore how to collaborate on the next game-changing idea. On the mentoring front, I want to coach individuals to find their purpose and lead a joyful life of gratitude. Till we meet next, thank you and goodbye.
Associate Professor & HOD Assam University (A Central University)Silchar
2 周Very informative
Leading empathy driven developments & CI/CD in SAP ECC, BTP, S/4HANA Digital to Business Transformations | Nimble, agile, visionary SAP BTP & AWS SA | BTP UI5 Fiori GenAI Work Zone Lead/Architect, Lead Software Engineer
2 周A very inspiring, beautiful and hard working journey, it was humbling to read from the start till the end. ??