Richard Branson, an English business magnate, investor, and author once famously said, "Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming". Although true, yet in order to materialize such opportunities there arises the need for an effective business strategy. Today, businesses or brands, whether they've been around for decades or were entrenched recently, fight an uphill battle to come up with ingenious idea to draw consumer attention and establish themselves as the go-to market venture. Certainly, these ideas don't just materialize out of anywhere. From Apple and Amazon, TATA or Volkswagen and many more, these successful brands weren't built in a day. Instead, they have figured out their way into customer's hearts, and shopping carts by implementing some unique go-to business strategies that have been game changers.
Business has evolved massively. Today's aggressive market landscape requires perceptive business strategists and business consultants who can helps brands to reign the business world. Shaked Avraham, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Shepha (an international business firm) is one such charismatic women business leader who has been helping business leaders across diverse industries devising productive business strategies for either elevating their businesses from the current positioning or penetrating and establishing amidst a proliferous marketplace. Possessing dexterity in providing strategic direction to executive-level, guidance in decision-making, and overall business management, Shaked is an experienced business professional and consultant who has worked on cross-border transaction with an in-depth understanding of India and Israel markets.
There's much more to her accomplishments and inspirational life journey as a business strategist which she talks about in an exclusive one-on-one conversation with Women Entrepreneur India. Here are excerpts from the invigorating conversation.
Delineate about your background and also enlighten us with the factors that led you to gravitate towards organizational consulting & business development?
I am based in Tel Aviv, Israel. My higher educational journey began with a B.A. in Behavioural science with a specialization in PR & Marketing, and my M.A. in Organizational Consulting & Business Development, with a specialization in Strategy & Change Management. However, I have also been to India where I did three years of my studies at (ASB) American School of Bombay.
My prior industry experience for over a decade has been managing and supporting organizations in planning and implementing organizational change to achieve growth & maximize potential. I have worked on cross-border transactions with in-depth understanding of India and Israel markets and further specializing in Globalization, Emerging markets, Growth strategies, Market creation, and Ecosystem development. Currently, being the MD at Shepha, I also work as the Director of International Relations at NCG (Net Connect Global), which is a technology services company based out of Bangalore India.
“One of our most significant vertical that is in big demand and i want to develop in the short term is to increase foreign companies manufacturing in the word India”
Having spent time growing up in India and Israel I not only got introduced to the real India, but also acknowledged its rich and cultural diversity. I fell in love with the place. Also, since my father is an entrepreneur who lived in India for more than 18 years with multiple businesses & exposure to the Indian and Israeli market, I had the privilege of understanding closely the opportunities and the challenges that the Indian market holds. Knowing about the business nitty-gritties from such a nascent stage of my life, led me to do something here in Israel that I could call my own. Hence, enriched with my education in Organizational Consulting, I envisioned Shepha as it is today, doing what I do best and love most. Shepha is a consulting firm based in Israel and in India, a bridge that serves companies globally, establishing new found businesses across industries or strengthening the existing businesses.
Give us a brief overview of shepha and also mention about its unique services that helps it stand out in the market? What have been some significant milestones that the firm has achieved?
Shepha is catering mid-size & large companies based out of Israel & India. For growth stage companies to expand within foreign markets, holds massive potential, complexities & a world of possibilities. We at Shepha, develop an appropriate go-to market strategy in the foreign country, engaging suitable partners & bridging the gap between the business cultures. Herein, we focus mainly across the following specializations go to market planning and execution in foreign countries, locating global distributors and partners, risk assessment, international product and technology sourcing, manufacturing in India and post M&A integration. Among our clients are the top firms from Europe, US, and Israel in various industries like aerospace and Defense, Waste Management, Water Treatment, Technology & IoT, Agriculture, Smart cities solutions, and many more.
“Shepha is catering mid-size & large companies based out of Israel & India. For growth stage companies to expand within foreign markets, holds massive potential, complexities & a world of possibilities”
If I talk about the milestones of Shepha, as an individual at a personal & professional level, I cherish every accomplishment small and big, so every day is a milestone, full of success, challenges, and learnings that takes me forwards towards my vision, and reminds me of how Shepha is making a change for the better and impacting people and organizations with the work that we do. When my clients reach their targets and milestones is when I reach mine, when I witness the bridged business relationship working out well between my associated clients, when we overcome challenges with a client, or when I inspired and supported someone else to fulfil their dreams.
As the co-founder & managing director of shepha and the director of international relations at ncg, how do you drive growth within the organizations? What is your leadership mantra? What is your advice for women dreaming to lead?
Being the Co-Founder and managing director at Shepha my day-to-day commitments involve general management across all our business verticals, ensuring daily operational requirements are met, learning constantly about the market's trends and changes, and strategizing and keeping track on our short-, mid- and long-term targets for our clients and for Shepha.
As Director of NCG, it involves strategizing, planning & executing bilateral relations, multilateral relations with global multi sectorial customers & partners in countries like Israel, Europe, USA etc.
I focus on end-to-end alliances for NCG and facilitates international cooperation for both premium professional services and their Technology offerings.
To mention about my leadership mantra, is leading by setting an example. My advice for others dreaming on leading, don't be afraid to Make decisions, to ask for help and to ask questions, to do mistakes and to say no when needed. Have belief in yourself that you can face any big success or big challenges. Celebrate any small success, learn from any failure. Keep growing. Be open. Listen. Be professional and find the balance between being in control & letting go.
What do you do to keep yourself well aligned with the evolutions taking place in your field and the tech world in general?
I like to read, to travel and to surround myself with talented people from different parts of the world & across industries who can help me to keep myself informed & aware as to what is happening. I believe that combined with my ability to connect the dots allows me to stay ahead of the curve.
Give us a glimpse of your life beyond work? Are there any activities or hobbies you like to indulge in when time permits?
I'm married to a wonderful and talented person, along with whom I live in Tel Aviv by the beach and making dreams come true. We love to travel, and actually, in the COVID days last year when work could be done online, we can travel much more. This year we went on a tour to Greece where for six months we were traveling, living and working. We love to travel slow and get to know the people and the culture anywhere we go. Of course, here in Tel Aviv, Israel, our friends, and our family are our heart and we love being here with them. Some more of the activities that I mostly involve in my part time are reading books and practicing yoga, meditation, and Pilates that keeps me strong and keeping my body and mind in sync.
What's the roadmap that you've set for shepha in the near future? Are there any new areas or capabilities that you would like to develop for the company?
In Shepha we have different verticals sup-porting different needs of our clients in penetrating and growing in the Indian market. One of our most significant vertical that is in big demand and I want to develop in the short term is to increase foreign companies manufacturing in the Indian market.
I know that in India, there is a lot of support and I know that today, a lot of foreign companies are looking for more options to manufacture and assemble for the local market in India and for exporting purposes. We have some solid relations with amazing states in India that are keen and supportive in these types of activities.
