"The biggest breakthroughs often come from the biggest challenges."
Giridhar Akkineni Tweet
In an exclusive interview with ValiantCEO Magazine, meet Giridhar Akkineni – a trailblazing entrepreneur and visionary leader in the staffing industry.
With a rich background owning businesses in diverse sectors and founding his own IT staffing firm, interWorldnet, Akkineni’s entrepreneurial journey has been marked by tenacity and innovation.
In 2002, a pivotal moment inspired him to create AkkenCloud, an all-in-one enterprise SaaS system specifically tailored for staffing and recruiting.
By seamlessly integrating sales, recruiting, operations, and management functions, AkkenCloud transformed the industry’s approach, boosting efficiency and profitability.
Discover Akkineni’s passion for problem-solving and learn how he harnessed it to develop the latest mobile app, empowering busy salespeople and recruiters with unparalleled productivity.
Journey through the inspiring story of Giridhar Akkineni, where ingenuity and foresight continue to shape the future of staffing with AkkenCloud.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today, Giridhar. Let’s start at the beginning – can you tell us about your journey to entrepreneurship?
Giridhar Akkineni: Absolutely, and thank you for having me. My journey began in college, with my first venture. I’ve always been driven by problem-solving – whenever I encountered an obstacle or a pain point, I looked for a solution.
When none existed, I saw it as an opportunity to create something new. This drive to do what seemed impossible to others was the spark that lit my entrepreneurial fire.
That’s an inspiring start. How did this journey lead you to founding AkkenCloud?
Giridhar Akkineni: I owned an IT staffing company during the dot-com era. We took a big financial hit when several of our customers went out of business. I realized that we could have avoided these losses if we had an all-in-one system connecting sales and accounting.
When I couldn’t find a platform that offered this, I saw it as an opportunity to build one. That’s how AkkenCloud was born – it was the industry’s first, and remains the only, all-in-one platform for staffing and recruiting.
That’s quite innovative. Could you elaborate on the unique features of AkkenCloud that distinguish it from other staffing and recruiting platforms?
Giridhar Akkineni: Of course. AkkenCloud is built as a true enterprise SaaS system that seamlessly integrates all business functions, from front office, back office, to intra office. It is also mobile-ready, which is a significant advantage for our users who are always on the go.
But the key differentiator is our integrated approach – we provide a solution where sales, recruiting, operations, and management teams can all work together on one platform, improving efficiency and profitability.
Speaking of mobile-ready, could you tell us more about AkkenCloud’s latest mobile app? How does it support the needs of busy salespeople and recruiters?
Giridhar Akkineni: Absolutely. The newest version of our mobile app is designed with our users’ hectic schedules in mind. It allows full access to all records, including contacts, companies, candidates, job orders, opportunities, submissions, and shortlists. Users can search, update, and add any record or activity on the go.
Additionally, it has features like event creation, task tracking, note-taking, and the ability to view shortlisted jobs and candidates. Perhaps most significantly, it allows users to view contacts, companies, and candidates within their proximity, allowing them to efficiently plan their meetings.
That certainly sounds like a game-changer. How has AkkenCloud been received by the staffing and recruiting industry?
Giridhar Akkineni: We’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response from the industry. Firms appreciate the efficiency and cost-savings that AkkenCloud provides by combining all functions into one system.
The mobility and accessibility features have also been applauded. Overall, we’re proud of what we’ve built and the difference it’s making.
As a successful entrepreneur, what advice would you give to someone starting their entrepreneurial journey?
Giridhar Akkineni: Be driven by problem-solving and not be afraid to take on what may seem impossible.
It’s also important to be passionate about what you’re doing, as this will fuel your drive during tough times. And remember, the biggest breakthroughs often come from the biggest challenges.
That’s some valuable advice. Finally, how do you unwind when you’re not at work? Any hobbies or passions outside of AkkenCloud?
Giridhar Akkineni: Yes, I’m an avid fan of Formula 1 Racing. It’s a sport that combines speed, strategy, technology, and constant innovation.
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Giridhar Akkineni for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Giridhar Akkineni or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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