"Mentorship that Matters: Lessons I Learned from Hari Iyer"

This is the second article by me on mentors who have influenced my professional and personal life.

In the year 2000, fresh out of engineering, I joined my family business. It was an exciting yet daunting journey, filled with the uncertainty of where to begin and what to prioritize. Amidst this confusion, an invaluable guide came into my life—Hari Iyerji, an ISO consultant in 2001.

When Hari Iyerji first interacted with our team, he posed a straightforward yet profound question: “Do you want ISO certification with proper systems and processes in place or just a paper certificate?”

This question became the foundation of our transformation. My team (during that time we did not have big team. It was humbly led by Sadhan Banerji- Dada) and I decided to embrace the challenge of implementing robust systems, not just for the certification but to truly understand the workings of our organization. Though ISO is primarily about Quality Management Systems (QMS), the process extended far beyond—it touched nearly every aspect of our business except accounting and finance.

The Journey of Implementation

The process took 9 to 10 months. Together, we developed a quality plan, quality manual, and procedure manuals. It was an engaging experience as we delved deep into the functioning of every department. Once everything was documented, clarity emerged—clear procedures and reporting frameworks were in place across departments, including:

• Production
• Quality
• Store Management
• Maintenance
• Marketing
• Tender Management
• Purchase

Hari Iyerji and Chaudharyji played instrumental roles in training, guiding, and mentoring us through this journey. Their sincerity and discipline left a lasting impression on all of us, especially me. Hari sir’s relentless energy and commitment rubbed off on the entire team. He made sure we implemented every system to the last detail, never taking “No” for an answer. He was terrific task master and most important attribute he had, he was very blunt about his feedback.

A Lifelong Impact

At the time, these processes might have seemed excessive, especially since written procedures are more commonplace now. However, for a young team like ours in 2000, this exercise was a transformative learning curve. It helped us understand not only how our organization functioned but also prepared me for my future role within the business.

We eventually received our ISO certification, thanks to Prakash Tikareji’s validation. Yet, the certification was merely a milestone; the real value lay in the journey, the systems we built, and the guidance of a mentor who truly cared.

Lessons Learned

Hari Iyerji taught me a lesson I carry to this day: The right mentor doesn’t just guide you—they handhold you through challenges and shape your perspective.

Even after 25 years, I remain in touch with Hari sir. His mentorship reminds me that we should never forget those who guided us at the start of our journey.

To anyone reading this: If you have a mentor who helped you through a pivotal stage of life, reach out and thank them. Mentors shape not just careers, but lives.