Leaderspeak: Alcatel-Lucent India President and MD Srini Sundararajan

Business Today speaks to Alcatel-Lucent India President and MD Srini Sundararajan about his inspiration and his journey to success.

LEADERSPEAK: Alcatel-Lucent India President and MD Srini Sundararajan

My first role model

My mother. Her perseverance is awe inspiring. A homemaker, she made me apply for IIT exams, take Master's degree, laying the foundation for my success

My first job

With Tata Burroughs (now Unisys-Infotech) in Mumbai

My first boss

Nancy Nyberg in the US. A strong people manager, she taught me that if your people are successful, you are successful

My first promotion

From Software Engineer to Senior Software Engineer

My first disappointment

During my IIT days, many of us decided not to go overseas and stay back to contribute in the technology and innovation field in India. However, my company sent me to the US within three months, which further encouraged me to take up higher education there. I was disappointed at not being able to contribute for my country immediately.

Photo by Shekhar Ghosh
As told to Goutam Das