Rajesh Gandhi, managing director, Vadilal Industires

CLAIM TO FAME
He has taken Vadilal international and has played a pivotal role in making Vadilal Industries an umbrella brand for ice creams and frozen foods. In 1999, he oversaw the acquisition of Bareilly Dairy Products in Uttar Pradesh and went on to become a strong ice cream brand in the state. Vadilal listed on the BSE in 1989 and on the NSE in 2011. Under Gandhi, Vadilal also ventured into the processed foods industry in the early ’90s to optimise its cold-chain network across 16 states.

I failed in class 9 and wanted to move out from St Xavier’s High School Loyola Hall, Ahmedabad, and join class 10 in a new school. My father was against me changing schools. He said that there was no need to move out, and that I would have to repeat a year in class 9.

I was ashamed to repeat the same class with a new set of boys who were junior, but my father did not relent. He was clear in his view: I didn’t study, so I failed. It was a matter of fact for him, not something to be embarrassed about. My father had taught me a good lesson: Never settle for the sub-standard. After that I realised that hard work has no substitute and I had to put in efforts to achieve something. From a failure, I went on to become a rank holder. I got serious about whatever I did and started preparing in advance. I began looking at my career as an opportunity. When there’s an issue, don’t hide from it. I am well prepared to solve problems. Given that I am in a seasonal industry, every season is a challenge. A few years into the ice cream business, I found that we were facing the same problems of sourcing raw material and manpower every wedding season. So, I made a list of such issues and prepared a white paper of sorts on how they could be dealt with. Today, I make sure I always have a Plan B ready for such situations.