Leaders

Deepika Kadian, COO of Space World has broken all stereotypes to come victorious in the present day corporate world. The leader in her had grown since her childhood, only to fuel her passion to lead organizations in the right direction. Space World has been fortunate to have Deepika spearheading its operations. In the below excerpt of our interview with her, Deepika walks us through the true meaning of a leader and COO.

Tell Us About Space World And The Values Engrained In The Firm's Culture. 

Space World is a journey since 2007 and we have grown exponentially. We are pioneers in the field of manufacturing for telecom, power sector, warehousing and road safety domain. We are working with all major players in telecom sector like RJIO, Airtel, VF Idea, and Ericsson.  We are also associated with Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra in the warehousing segment. In Road safety domain, we are supplying crash barriers to National Highways. We have expertise in designing, manufacturing, quality, testing and customer services.

Space World is an organization of zealous engineers and planners, rich in experience and high on commitment. The company was started in 2007 and the journey of 14 years has come-out in flying colors. The motto of our organization is to ensure a better tomorrow by providing the best quality and output to our clients.

Space World gained experience and expertise in handling various major projects coupled with technology, innovation, quality made to acquire most needed strengths for delivering the best work for utmost satisfaction of the customers. Our vision is to partner with our customers to provide products of high quality and competitive value through continuous technology and process innovation.

If we want to succeed in today's volatile conditions where we are encountering unforeseen roadblocks - supply chain issues, team shortages, and operational challenges, health and safety concerns for your people, then we should focus on four things ­ adapt boldly, speed over precision, reliably deliver, and engage for impact.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey. What Were Some Of Your Initial Areas Of Interest?

Just after my Graduation in technology, I started working. Soon after, I completed my MBA and then got married.  It won't be wrong to say that all my learning has come from working on field daily. My knowledge has further grown manifold through my various travels and interactions with different people.

From the very beginning, I strongly believed that one should grow vertically as well as horizontally. I started from technical department, moved to marketing later, and then to commercial. Now, I handle the entire operations. Holistic growth is a continuous process of learning and evolving. One must have knowledge of each department while heading the organization; because ground knowledge will help you take better decisions and resolve all types of issues. As an executive, I strategize in numerous ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the company, let it be by directly motivating people or by developing a work culture with values and visions.

As One Of The Top Leadership, How Do You Drive Growth Within The Organization? What Is Your Leadership Mantra?

Leadership is as much about creating an enabling environment and engaging with employees on a personal level, as it is about driving success and productivity. Everyone should seek challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, and improve at a personal and organizational level.  My approach is fairly straightforward ­ get the right people for the right job and focus on the `say-do ratio'. Speed matters, as does capability and cultural fitness. Give people wings to fly and they will carve out their own journey.

“A good team player is one who can inspire team by demonstrating and capturing the imaginations”

In Your Opinion, What Are Some Facets Of Your Personality And Leadership Style That Have Helped You Become A Successful Business Leader And Rise To The Very Top? How Do You Keep Yourself Well Aligned With The Evolutions Taking Place In Your Field And The Tech World In General?

Heading a company is not an easy task. It comes with lot of responsibilities. First & foremost thing, I never wanted to become a boss, I always wanted to be a leader, the people's person. A good team player is one who can inspire team by demonstrating and capturing the imaginations. I always tried to empower my team, and my team is a group of people who trust each other. Yes, we fight through some bad days to earn good days.

I would say one should become a person of values rather than a person of success. For example, a dishonest CEO makes employees feel as if they can cut corners, steal from the company and generally behave accordingly to the same standards. I somehow feel my work life is more important than my personal life.

While Globally, Women's Participation In The Workforce Has Been On A Steady Rise Across Industries, Yet There Is A Dearth Of Women Representation In Top Leadership Roles. What Is Your Take On This And How Can We Work Towards Rectifying This In The Near Future?

Being a woman & mom, I personally believe that there is no equality between men & women. Women are a way ahead. Even after having more responsibilities, women are conquering the world today in every field. They can run a home while running a company. The biggest barrier to progress is an entrenched male culture based on merits created by men, shaped by presenteeism and defined by male standards. Attracting and developing more women in leadership requires company wide change driven from the top. More awareness & conversation on this topic surely can help to break these gender stereotypes.

What Would Your Words Of Advice Be For Women Aspiring To Become Business Leaders?

Hard work, responsibility, discipline, and persistence have been the key principles in helping me accomplish my goals on both the personal & professional fronts through the years.  Effective time management has been my mantra ever since I was elected Head Pupil of my school in the 1st grade. I have been very passionate about each project I have taken on, giving it my soul with the `never say die sprit', no matter what the obstacle that came my way. The result was my reward, and this further fuelled my desire to continue to dream. I just want to say to all my girls ­ `Give yourselves permission to live a big life. Step into who you are meant to be. Stop playing small, you are meant for greater things'.

Deepika Kadian, COO, Space World

Deepika Kadian, COO of Space World has broken all stereotypes to come victor in the present day corporate world. The leader in her had grown since her childhood, only to fuel her passion to lead organizations in the right direction.