Vikas Bhonsle was the first business development manager for Dell Professional Services in India, an area that continues to be one of the most successful and profitable segments for Dell India. Vikas, who joined Dell in 1999, is today the general manager for the India Large Enterprise division. And he is a ?restless soul?, by his own admission.
Vikas? career could have been very different considering his background. His father Waman Bhonsle was a leading film editor in the Hindi film industry. ?But I did not show any interest towards movies,? says Vikas. ?I was instead drawn into sports and used to represent my school cricket team in Mumbai.?
In fact, his interest in cricket wasn?t just cursory. His all-round abilities did make a small splash in his school circles. He used to play at the Khar Gymkahana. Vikas did fare well in studies too and he got 87% marks during his 10+2 Board exams.
He later joined NIIT and started learning the popular programming languages.
?I soon figured out that I was not the type who could sit and desk and programme the whole day. I had a lot of energy, and did not want to waste it by sitting behind a desk. That?s when I thought I could make a career out of selling products.?
After spending a few years in a few small firms, he got his big break at Dell. And he took to the firm like a duck to water. ?Dell believes in meritocracy. Here it?s all about one?s performance. It?s not about your qualifications alone. Dell is a very fleet-footed organisation, which is fast paced and result oriented. We have a flat structure and the customer focus is intense. I like all of these qualities. Even Michael Dell is extremely approachable.?
Vikas himself is a complete team man who believes in the team game. ?It?s not about any one individual. All the teams have to work together to achieve significantly,? he says. ?I love to collaborate and achieve. One has to empower teams to see the right results. At Dell, we have a solid governance system. There is a weekly review of teams, and we look to help everyone. No one gets a raw deal.?
People at Dell believe that Vikas? enthusiasm is infectious. It is said that people like to work with him, as he helps to bring out their passion at work. Like all sales people, Vikas says he is very competitive. ?You have got to have that fire as a salesman. Sales can be very frustrating, since the cycles can be long. But you need to stay positive. The right attitude is everything in this business.?
Staying close to family is one of his top priorities. ?Me and my wife take a lot of interest in the overall development our child. While she takes care of the school aspects, I make sure that the kid develops as an all rounder. I have introduced her to a number of adventure sports.?
Going ahead, he plans to do something for deprived kids. ?It?s important to be good. When I see poor kids suffering, it pains a lot. I have done a little bit in this direction, but a lot more could be done.?
The restlessness continues.