BMW Infinity Cars Mr Trivedi 01

Summary

This video chronicles a 23-year career journey across the financial services and automotive sectors. Starting with a foundation in financial services, the individual transitioned into the automotive industry, working with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Their success is attributed to preparation meeting opportunity, rejecting the notion of luck. Emphasizing personal integrity and making strategic career choices, they rose through ranks, contributing to market expansion and growth. Their story highlights resilience, self-reliance, and the importance of continuously evolving to succeed in dynamic business environments.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's career began in financial services, where they worked as a dealer for equity and derivatives, despite being a fresh graduate without clear direction.
• 😀 A major turning point came when the speaker transitioned from financial services to the automotive sector, combining their financial knowledge with an interest in consumer behavior and product cycles.
• 😀 The speaker took a sabbatical to pursue higher studies in Pune, despite being filtered out by companies that preferred engineering backgrounds. This experience shaped their resilience and broadened their career outlook.
• 😀 In 2005, after completing their studies, the speaker joined Mercedes-Benz India, where they worked on the CBU segment, contributing to significant growth in sales and understanding the intricacies of product life cycles and manufacturing.
• 😀 The luxury automotive industry, especially at Mercedes-Benz, exposed the speaker to the contrast between engineering design and the reality that many engineers designing these luxury cars would never be able to afford them.
• 😀 Despite not having a traditional engineering background, the speaker applied lessons learned in financial services to the automotive world, focusing on business fundamentals and customer satisfaction.
• 😀 In 2009, the speaker moved to Volkswagen India to assist in the company's market entry. This transition allowed them to apply their expertise in sales planning and build a deep understanding of the automotive market.
• 😀 The speaker spent four years at Volkswagen before transitioning into frontline sales, prepared to face customers and dealers with an in-depth knowledge of the company and market dynamics.
• 😀 By 2016, the speaker made another shift, returning to financial services with Volkswagen Financial Services, where they applied their experience in managing sales for both retail and wholesale segments.
• 😀 The speaker highlights that career growth is a result of preparation and seizing opportunities, believing that 'luck' is a combination of readiness and timing rather than random chance.
• 😀 Reflecting on their journey, the speaker feels no regrets about their career choices, emphasizing that they are proud of their self-made path and the lessons learned along the way, asserting that all choices came with a package of deliverables.

Q & A

How did the speaker's career journey start in the financial services industry?

The speaker began their career in the financial services sector at ICSI Securities, where they worked as a dealer for equity and derivatives shortly after completing their graduation. This was a formative period that laid the foundation for their future career.

What significant challenges did the speaker face when transitioning into the automotive industry?

The main challenge the speaker faced when entering the automotive industry was being a non-engineer in a field dominated by engineers. Many companies initially filtered out candidates based on this criterion, which made it difficult to gain opportunities in the automotive sector.

How did the speaker leverage their financial services experience in the automotive industry?

The speaker used the lessons they learned in financial services, particularly around understanding markets and customer behavior, to approach the automotive industry. They focused on applying business fundamentals such as customer service, creating markets, and delivering value, which helped them navigate challenges in the new industry.

What role did the speaker play in Mercedes-Benz India, and how did their contribution affect the company's growth?

The speaker was responsible for the CBU (completely built unit) segment, helping grow the company's sales from 70 units to 200 units over five years. This experience allowed them to understand product life cycles, customization, and the operational challenges of manufacturing luxury cars.

What key insights did the speaker gain about the automotive industry's manufacturing process?

The speaker learned that engineers who design luxury cars often never drive or afford them. They also gained insights into the manufacturing process, including supply chain, production timelines, and how customizations work within the CBU segment.

How did the speaker's perspective on success and luck evolve over their career?

The speaker believes that success is not about luck but rather a combination of preparation and opportunity. They dismiss the concept of 'good luck' or 'bad luck' and emphasize that one's success is determined by being ready when opportunities arise.

What was the speaker's philosophy when faced with rejections and setbacks in their career?

Despite numerous rejections, the speaker remained focused on their philosophy that business is about serving customers, creating markets, and generating delight. They used setbacks as motivation and believed that each failure was a lesson that contributed to their eventual success.

How did the speaker transition to their role in Volkswagen Group, and what impact did they have on the company's operations?

The speaker was recruited by Volkswagen Group in 2009 to help set up operations in India. They played a critical role in translating their experience at Mercedes-Benz into operational realities at VW, especially during the launch phase, where they acted as a bridge between various stakeholders such as head office, plant, and dealers.

What prompted the speaker to shift to the world of financial services again in 2016?

In 2016, the speaker transitioned back into the financial services domain when an opportunity arose within the Volkswagen Group. This shift allowed them to apply their previous experience in the sector, managing wholesale and retail sales for two Volkswagen brands.

What key lesson does the speaker emphasize about career choices and success?

The speaker emphasizes that career success is ultimately shaped by the choices we make. They believe that each role comes with its set of challenges and responsibilities, but the key to success is owning those choices and remaining true to one’s character and integrity.