"The past two years have been eye-opening regarding how fast the world can change and how important it is for businesses to adapt to the change if they want to survive."
Rupinder Singh, an alumnus of London Business School, is the result-oriented CEO at Seasia Group of Companies. His hands-on experience in technology and product research and development sector help him establish and maintain strong alliances with companies all over the world. He has received accolades for leading and motivating teams while drive projects to successful completion and exceed client expectations.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Rupinder Singh: Hello, I am R.P. Singh, currently serving as the CEO of Seasia Infotech, a CMMI Level 5 certified company. At Seasia, we believe that we live to help our clients’ purposes. We are presently offering our clients premium services in software development, mobile application development, AI/ML solutions, and several other IT solutions. At present, I genuinely enjoy working as a leader in the IT industry while having the opportunity to mentor young entrepreneurs to help them succeed.
As for me, I am an entrepreneur at heart who loves the opportunity to mentor other leaders. I aim to bring considerable changes in the IT world through my team’s work and keep progressing further in life.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Rupinder Singh: The previous two years were definitely challenging for several businesses, but the IT industry did not suffer as much as the others. However, the pandemic encouraged even our industry to change how we operate. Several companies relying on traditional operations methods have also digitalized their work.
It was a learning experience for me. Remote working is possible in the IT industry, and we quickly had to adapt to the new infrastructure.
The past two years have been eye-opening regarding how fast the world can change and how important it is for businesses to adapt to the change if they want to survive.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Rupinder Singh: Well, the thing is that business is never stable. There is no growth in stability anyways. So, it is so by design. A situation like the pandemic is the test of corporations’ preparedness, courage, and ability to adapt and change per their needs. Companies that were able to survive, and I would like to add that some actually thrived in the chaos, were the ones who embraced the opportunities that the pandemic offered and not just tackled the issues that it brought.
Digitalization of the work is one aspect that has helped several businesses remain afloat in trying times. Hence, companies should invest in smart solutions if they want to be well-prepared for the worst-case scenarios.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Rupinder Singh: The pandemic did not change our industry as much. We still work on our laptops and computers. The change seen most prominently is that the hybrid working model has become necessary in our industry. Some people like to work remotely, and others enjoy coming to a dedicated space for work.
Given that all communication can happen online, through video and phone calls, it makes sense to provide remote working.
It has helped us expand our team and hire resources with varying skill sets. Moreover, it has also made it possible for several people who previously could not invest their time in a full-time job to return to the workforce.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Rupinder Singh: Persistence and patience were the two virtues that helped me and the organization navigate the pandemic successfully. However, it would have been better if there had been more clarity around the various changes from the administration. It was a complex situation with little clarity, making decisions all the more difficult for businesses.
The rules were changing daily, and it became all the more challenging to adapt, but I believe we still did a good job.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Rupinder Singh: With new technologies like Metaverse, Web 3.0, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and much more, it is easy to see that online businesses will only increase from here on it. The fact is that several corporations are also experiencing the benefits of moving their operations online. From less overhead cost to a wider audience, online platforms offer companies benefits in every aspect of their business operations. So, my expectations for this and the next year is a steep rise in the number of companies that offer their services exclusively online.
New technology can change how businesses work and collaborate through virtual meetings. The new technology will also likely change how people experience services and entertainment. Moreover, the fact that consumers are willing to trust online sites for not just small but also luxurious purchases only adds to the industry’s growth.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Rupinder Singh: I would like to believe that it is somewhere between 8 to 10 hours. I know it sounds like a lot. But you do not have much choice when you work in the IT industry. I do try to limit it as much as I can. If I can take a printout of something, I prefer to do so.
Also, I have been working on avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. So, walking in the park during breaks and in the evening is a must for me. I also avoid the screen once I reach home, as I want to be present for my family.
Of course, once you leave the laptop behind, your mobile still stays with you. So, it requires a bit of discipline. But I manage it well.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Rupinder Singh: I haven’t really given that prospect much thought, though I do use stories as a way to persuade and motivate others for their tasks. So, the statement isn’t entirely incorrect in my scenario. Personally, I do believe that if I can offer my experience to others, I should. I have worked in the IT industry for several decades now, so new scenarios for others tend to be a repeat of history for me. I can generally provide examples of similar instances to help my colleagues navigate a situation.
For my company, the open-door policy allows me to stay in touch with everyone who needs my input. It has given me the opportunity to tackle challenging situations that required tact and ensured that I could offer my insights into life to help others.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Rupinder Singh: In the IT world, the real challenge is ‘change.’ While every businessman will tell you that change is the only constant, for IT industries, the rate of change is exceptionally high. However, it is also why several new companies can emerge at a moment’s notice. The fact is that the ever-changing nature of IT is an obstacle that also offers growth to companies willing to grab the opportunity.
The real challenge in the IT industry today is trying to focus your efforts in the right direction. With so many new technologies cropping up every day, it is almost impossible to have expertise in everyone. It only makes sense to choose the technologies that will persist and aren’t just a fad. So, that, in my opinion, is the biggest obstacle today.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Rupinder Singh: Seasia has always stayed up with the new trends in the IT world, and so Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, AI, ML, and everything else new that you can think of is under our radar. We aim to expand our business with the times and offer the latest technologies for our clients.
Our motivation for incorporating the newest technologies comes from our need to stay relevant and offer a diverse range of services. It is easy to see that businesses understand the importance of innovation and staying up-to-date with the latest technology. As an IT solutions company, we must know about these advancements. It is the only way to survive.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Rupinder Singh: If people surround themselves with ‘Yes Men,’ it is easier to fall prey to such a trend. However, I have found that my open-door policy with my colleagues and the ability to lend an empathetic ear to everyone who visits my office does give me an edge over the others. Of course, it isn’t possible to keep everyone happy at all times, but as the CEO, it is my responsibility to try, and I believe that I do.
The number of entrepreneurs is only increasing, which means that we would need to fight other companies to secure the best resources. IT is becoming a more competitive market in terms of employees. So, it is only fair to change our tactics, offer a better working culture, and ensure work satisfaction for employees to retain them. Again, it is nothing different than our previous view on the matter, and the only difference is that now companies need to follow these steps to survive, whereas before, it was an option that they could choose to accept voluntarily.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Rupinder Singh: A superpower that I think every businessman would like to possess is the ability to control other people’s moods. If I could keep my team motivated at all times with a superpower, that would help my business reach new heights at a record-breaking rate. Of course, now we have to deploy management to keep our employees happy and motivated, and that works, but it would become so much easier with such a superpower.
Also, the ability to teleport would be an extremely useful superpower. Think of all the time I could save on traveling if I could reach my destination with a snap.
But I am more practical in my approach, so I look for real-life solutions, and my company manages the various aspects quite well even without the superpowers.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Rupinder Singh: My definition of success has not changed as much, but I think the path to success has changed. My goal with my business is to create an engaging, challenging, yet fulfilling environment where my colleagues can enjoy their work and the clients get the best products. Overall, my company’s ability to serve clients using the latest technology at all times is the ultimate goal for my organization and me.
On a personal level, I believe that doing good work, being present for my work and at-home family, and being recognized as a considerate person are some things that I see as a sign of success, at least on an individual level.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Rupinder Singh 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 Rupinder Singh or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
