From humble beginnings to giant enterprise - Hanmantrao Gaikwad's BVG

Mr. Hanmantrao Gaikwad is Chairman and Managing Director of BVG India Limited.

Hi my name is Rehaan Khaneja and this is the 19th podcast in the Leadership Speaks series where I interview the most successful and influential leaders of India.

INTRODUCTION

Starting from truly humble beginnings, having faced dire financial hardships Mr. Gaikwad built a giant business group with single goal - to empower rural and marginal populace by utilizing their skills to offer professional corporate services and create a sustainable source of livelihood for them.

BVG India Limited provides facilities management services to companies and government, and employs +75,000 youth and people from rural and marginal backgrounds.

To this day, Mr. Gaikwad proudly wears the same uniform that his service staff wears. He stays close to his philosophy and believes businesses must not be run merely to make profit. There is great social and human upliftment that business can bring. Mr. Gaikwad is focused on meeting two socially-inclined goals - of developing India and of providing opportunity to the poor and needy.

"My vision is to positively impact 100 million lives by 2030"

Watch Mr. Hanmantrao Gaikwad's views on business and social upliftment in the video interview below:

KEY LEARNINGS

Here are my two key learnings from my interview with Mr.Gaikwad -

1st: "What you think, and how pure your thoughts - they have the power to make anything possible"

From a young age, Mr. Gaikwad read books and teachings of great Indian gurus such as Swami Vivekananda. Reading about the power of pure thoughts and how our focused thoughts can make things happen, Mr. Gaikwad was able to face financial and personal challenges and build confidence. He started from the bottom and did not stop till he achieved success.

2nd: "Strive to excel in whatever field you're good at. This will earn you money as well as keep you happy"

Achieving success in life is a long journey, and requires years of dedicated work. Since we invest our whole lives into achieving success, make sure that we invest our years in a field that makes us happy and in which we can excel at.

Talking to Mr. Gaikwad has been an inspiring experience. He did not let hardships in his early life stop him. He did not give up. And most of all, he did not settle for the ordinary. Instead, he focused on creating excellence.

"Think of your impact on others. As people climb to top, wealth grows, but they forget the others at the bottom."

- Hanmantrao Gaikwad

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If you enjoyed Episode 19 of the Leadership Speaks. Series, please do like this blog and the video on Youtube! Your likes will make this a truly positive and encouraging experience for me and for other viewers like you. I'll be releasing my next Leadership Speaks interview soon. Till then, think positive, have big goals and focus on the road ahead.