CeOh!

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They are young, they are dynamic. They are India’s young breed of under-27-CEOs. India is replete with heartwarming stories of many young men and women who have proved their mettle as entrepreneurs. We get five young achievers to talk on what maketh the young CEO.

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Fast track to good health
Shashank ND, CEO, Practo, Age: 24
At 22, he started Naabo Medical Solutions while in his final year of engineering. Co-founder and CEO of Practo, the largest web-based software that enables doctors to manage their clinics with ease and efficiency — simple to use technology for doctors. Shashank says, “I come from a family which had to spend hours in the hospitals as many folks in the family were not healthy. There were no proper e-records, and the writings in the handwritten records were illegible, so in this digital age, I felt there was a need for software to make healthcare better.”

The driving force:
I have a great passion for coding. We started with software in medical care and then got subsequent advanced versions with higher technology. The thrill of creating something and making lives of thousands of people easier keeps me going.

I get a high from:
We are a very young team, in an average age group of 24, so it’s always bustling with energy. You can call us eccentrics with abnormal thoughts that help us continuously build on our product. I get a high from this learning curve. Exposure to cutting edge technology gives me the kicks that do not come with a regular job.

Personal front:
Playing with gadgets helps me unwind, since other material things like fast cars or high street brands don’t excite me much.

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Powerhouse of ideas
Sudeep Aditya, CEO, Esswon Environment Holdings, Age: 23

Sudeep Aditya started Esswon Environment when he was all of 19. Today as CEO, he works with large utility companies (power plants, transportation companies etc) to help them manage/reduce their carbon emissions and work towards a greener future. He says, “We arrived on this idea by working with a reference in an earlier business (IT services dealing with airline operators and construction companies). The predominant challenges of being young are credibility, lack of relative experience and access to funding. But one can make up for those through enthusiasm, diligence, creativity and drive to deliver.”

The driving force:
Right opportunity, some exposure to how things work, understanding the risk involved and gathering the commitment to take the leap. You have to be a self-starter and have enough self-confidence to stay the course. But ultimately, anyone can make it if you have the drive and commitment.

I get a high from:
bringing an idea to market, bringing in a new approach to how things are done, providing employment and setting an example. The nature of our business is such that it requires a fairly large dose of capital upfront (to develop our products) and it pays off down the line as we start selling to customers via licensing agreements.

Personal front:
My social life has taken a hit after I started my own company, but I like to swim and run regularly. I love to travel and would like to go snorkeling. My agenda for 2012 is to attend the Singapore Formula One Night Race. I’m actually pretty low-cost otherwise when it comes to fast cars or big brands.

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Adding spunk to a ppt
Abhisek Sarda, CEO, PPT Salon, Age: 27
From staid to one with spunk, 27-year-old Abhisek Sarda’s forte lies in transforming power point presentations. With plans of making polished presentations he set up his studio called pptsalon.com specialising in making funky presentations. “My design company is focused on creating beautiful and effective presentations. Based in Goa, I serve clients from over 20 countries, including Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, investors, Ivy League professors and filmmakers. We have just launched Invite Salon making wedding invites,” says Abhisek.

The driving force:
I love creating something beautiful and building things from scratch. I find inspiration from thousands of people around, not necessarily famous, but doing brilliant work in small niches.

I get a high from:
The pride in having built something beautiful is a huge kick. Once the model is up and running, I’d want to build something different.

Personal front:
I can’t sit behind a desk for too long. If I wasn’t running a design company, I’d be biking around the country clicking photographs.

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Shilpa Wadhwa, CEO and co-founder, WishBox Studio, Age: 27
Shilpa Wadhwa, Co-Founder and CEO of WishBox Studio, designs solutions to communication problems and has worked with big names like Dalmia Bharat group, 99labels, Wills Lifestyle, Ozel India, Religare arts. Shilpa says, “The business idea is not something out of the box. I graduated in Fashion communication from NIFT, the natural step after that was to either work in someone else’s firm or to start one on my own. I decided to start WishBox Studio solely for the reason that I wanted to learn, explore and experiment with design communication.”

The driving force:
The dynamic field keeps me going. Each project comes with anxiety, excitement, thrill and anticipation. A brand not only offers a commodity/product to its customer but also has to establish an emotional connection. My idea of starting my own studio was to be able to select what I wanted to do and not to get restricted.

I get a high from:
getting innovative with unconventional and experimental projects. I wish to use communication design as a tool not just to glorify brands, but also to create awareness and educate masses about social concerns surrounding us.

Personal front:
Travel and photography where food fits in very naturally. Though time doesn't permit so far, I intend to do a lot more of it in future. Although, I come from a fashion college, I have personally always believed that fashion is over-rated and there are more important issues the world is dealing with. I am not saying that I don't like dressing up for an occasion or driving my own car, but comfort is what I look for in my personal tastes.

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Ice cream dreams
Natasha Aggarwal, CEO, Mama Mia Group of gelateria outlets, Age: 26
Natasha Aggarwal, co-founder and CEO of the Mama Mia Group of gelateria outlets (ice cream parlours) across the country, is younger than almost all her employees. She started working at 22, when all her friends were partying. She now runs ten shops in Kolkata, three in Bengaluru and is always hunting for more suitable locales across the country.

The driving force:
I was always fascinated by interesting ice cream flavours. My dream got life while backpacking with college friends in Rome and we chanced upon Italian ice cream gelatos. I loved them and wanted to bring the art of making gelatos to my country. I took training in a gelato factory in Bergamo, near Milan in Italy, came back and set up my first store in Kolkata. I’d wake up every morning and get on my job mixing fresh cream, milk, sugar and fruits.

I get a high from:
I like to innovate with funky flavours at times and have dabbled with Drunken Brownies with brownies dunked in Baileys, Pepperoncino-Chocolate with red chilli flakes.

Personal front:
Creating new flavours always gives me a high. I also travel around the world to get inspirations from what’s happening in the food industry. I also like to experiment with new ideas in food, ice cream and desserts. Currently I am enjoying conducting culinary workshops at the Mama Mia! stores to educate people about cooking gourmet food.