Introducing Mr. Leslie Frank by Janet Pinto (Edit 3 Sept-Oct 2007)

Leslie Frank, visionary technocrat-entrepreneur, exemplifies the very spirit and mission of Dimensions, an initiative that seeks to ignite the entrepreneurial drive within the Christian Community. In this brief encounter with one of its founding Directors, you are likely to discover a resonance with your own fondest entrepreneurial achievements and dreams. It is with great joy that we present to you the Founder -Partner of Lancomp Networking Solutions -- Mr. Leslie Frank. Would you take us along the path that led to your Entrepreneurial adventure and the founding of 'Lancomp Networking Solutions'? My passion for Engineering led me to St. Xavier's Engineering Institute, from where I graduated as an Electronics Engineer in 1979. I then spent about 12 years in Organizations like The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Patni Computer Systems Ltd. --- places that were exciting environments for Learning and even Inspiration, considering that the legendary Mr. Narayan Murthy and his team of Infosys fame started their careers at PCS. At heart though, I've always been an Entrepreneur, it is this spirit that I inevitably brought to my work and it made my stint as an 'employee' both meaningful and enjoyable. Taking ownership of my work also kept alive my dream of having my own business. How did you conceive of Lancomp Neworking Solutions? As I said, I've had the Mind of an Engineer and the Heart of an Entrepreneur. And I had made a career in Digital Electronics. So it was only a matter of the right time. And it came about the time of the Gulf War, when the country's Foreign Reserves had dwindled and industrial growth had plummeted. Even large Business houses had to reign in their Capital Expense Budgets. Clearly, this was the time for the advent of 'Services' as a major thrust area, and IP Networking capacities were emerging as a decisive factor in corporate competitiveness. This was clearly the time to take the plunge --- but not alone! I sensed that the game would turn out to be too big for a single 'bright spark'. The immensity of the opportunity and challenge needed a team of like-minded technocrat-entrepreneurs. Selecting the right Team was a crucial choice. They say, once you've taken a stand, the whole Universe moves in to help you. This is what happened when, one by one, I met the right people and together, we formed 'Lancomp Networking Solutions .' We've grown ever since and are now established as reputed providers of Networking Solutions. What do you find most exciting about managing and growing your very own company? What's most exciting is keeping up with the accelerated developments in the Digital Technology space. We, at Lancomp, are committed to meeting the needs of our customers proactively. This means we must constantly look ahead and predict how emerging technological developments will shape our customers' demands and be ready to meet these needs in a way that is viable and competitive. This involves constant customer involvement and unrelenting technological innovation. What could be more exciting! Could you throw some light on the challenges you face, considering the tough environment in which you operate? Being an entrepreneur in these times of globalization and digitization, has enormous challenges. I must, however, add that these challenges can be most rewarding. They build you – in mind, heart and spirit. In our business we are compelled to stay on the cutting- edge of developments in every domain – technology, business, economy, political and social, with a perspective that is global. One is called to interface and deal with a wide spectrum of people, some with agendas that may challenge your value system. Every moment is one of decision –making. As a business owner, you juggle so many balls –it's a feat that hones your skills and builds your self-confidence like nothing else. What do you feel most proud of when you consider your achievements? I am proud that we have succeeded in staying on top of the grueling pressures of our business. We've been fast to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances, always maintaining high standards in customer service. We are also proud of our employees, who are highly motivated and self driven as they constantly go beyond the call of duty. In the Service Support arm of our business, for example, we have very successfully followed a policy of delegation that has proved to be highly productive and rewarding. I hear you are among the foremost network integration players to offer Internet–based solutions in Remote Video Surveillance! Could you explain how this surveillance system works? This is our most recent foray. We have harnessed the power of the Internet to provide solutions in remote video surveillance and automation. This is a tremendous boon to Business as well as to domestic households or families. This is how it works: you could be anywhere in the world and you could keep a hawk's eye on all that's going on at your Factory, your Office or even your Home – all clearly visible on your video screen. And it's all recorded, available for later viewing. The amazing thing is that you can review an hour's footage in just about 30 seconds! This is just an example of the many automation marvels of this system. I'd be happy to give your readers a demonstration should they be interested. For now, though, just imagine you've installed the System in your home and taken off on a family holiday. An intruder breaks into your house. At the very moment of the break-in, the System sets off an alarm and activates flashing lights and a hooter in the Security Cabin of the premises. Simultaneously, it sends you an SMS and an email with a photograph of the intruder! What is your vision for the future of your business? Going forward I see Lancomp Networking Solutions becoming one of the most sought after and reputed IT Solutions companies in India. Lancomp will be known as much for its Technological Innovation, as it is for its Customer- Orientation and its Value – Based Character. More specifically, I see the company developing a robust Marketing and Sales set- up that will take our Products and Services to the right places and accelerate our growth. Here is an open invitation to all Diamonds and readers of 'Dimensionally Your's.. If anyone feels nudged to come and join hands with us as our Marketing and Sales associates, we would be happy to meet up and explore possibilities. And boy … we really have a set of very innovative products to offer! What advice would you give to our young Christian professionals who feel drawn to start a business but are afraid of the risks? I wouldn't hesitate to say 'take the plunge'. You have support in DIMENSIONS. Come to our monthly meetings and network with like-minded professionals. You will find the guidance and the encouragement you need. Being an entrepreneur can be exciting and exhilarating. There are risks for sure, but believe me, the risks are worth taking!

Leslie Frank can be contacted at leslie@lancomp.net

Janet Pinto is the Founder – Director of Kairos Integral Consulting, a Human Resource and OrganizationDevelopment Organization with a focus on Leadership Coaching, Training, and Facilitation.

The Time Has Come Part 2 By Veronica Paul (Edit 3 Oct 2007)

In the last part (part 1), Ms. Paul referred to the three Power factors, i.e. Economic Power, Intellectual Power and the Power of Conviction, In that issue she focused on Economic Power. In this issue, she elaborates on Intellectual Power Intellectual Power: Intellectual Power is important because it influences thought and action. If you observe a group of people in conversation, you will often find that the person who appears the most knowledgeable, and can quote facts and statistics to substantiate his statements, automatically leads the conversation, holds everyone's attention and exerts a certain power over others. This power comes from Knowledge, and Knowledge comes from education and experience. For our youth, both male and female, education is the cornerstone of intellectual power, leading to economic wellbeing. Unfortunately, very few of us reach the level where we can make a real difference in the political, corporate and business world. A vast majority of our Christians have little education, hold low-end jobs and seem to be satisfied with the crumbs that fall off the table of India's economy. This is a pitiable state of affairs especially considering that we have had access to superior education in Christian schools and colleges. We have failed to capitalize on this asset and to grow intellectually. We call ourselves an educated community but this merely means that we have a basic education, which has limited use in today's scenario. Someone recently spoke of a classmate who was a consistent topper in school and college, yet did not pursue further studies and today holds a mediocre job in a BPO. What a waste of brainpower. Many of our youth today have taken the line of least resistance and have fallen prey to dead-end jobs in BPO's and Call Centers because of short-term returns. Even parents, dazzled by the handsome salaries, are encouraging this trend. This is sad because we are slowing down our own progress. As a community, we have several vertical skills such as knowledge of written and spoken English, interpersonal skills, culture, team playing abilities, integrity, basic values, etc. Instead of capitalizing on these advantages for our own long-term benefit, we happily allow these assets to be exploited by others, but to our own detriment. BPO's and Call Centers, being a 24/7 industry (i.e. 24 hours a day, seven days a week), involve shift timings and monotonous work. The burnout rate, thus, is very high, and many young men and women quickly learn that there is no future in these jobs. By then, however, they not only find it difficult to get mainstream jobs due to lack of qualifications, but also find it impossible to continue their college education. Thus, they find themselves between a rock and a hard place, and frustration sets in. What is more alarming is the fact that even undergraduates are being targeted because of the ever-increasing demand. Christian Career Counselors should be aware of this trend and advise our youth accordingly. In some cases, BPO'S may be a good starting point for a person who has completed his/her full education and needs an initial break. But not for a student who would have otherwise gone in for higher studies and branched out into a more meaningful profession. We need to raise the bar in terms of academic achievement. How many of our youth aspire to the IAS, IPS, Chartered Accountancy, or to B-schools like the IIM's, XLRI, TISS, etc., or to the top engineering schools such as the IITs? How many have entered top medical schools? Today, we have a wide choice of professions like Media, Entertainment, IT, Fashion Designing, etc. to choose from. However, even these are very competitive and we need to set our goals much higher to qualify for admission into the best professional institutions in the respective fields. A good education necessitates the investment of time, energy and finance. While students should endeavor to excel in their chosen streams and not take for granted the facilities offered by Christian schools, colleges, and professional colleges, these Christian institutions too can help by focusing on our youth and encouraging them to excel. Giving them a head start by way of preferential admission would also help. In this context, it may be useful to remember that charity begins at home, and we need to ensure that our Christian youth get access to these facilities first. Since superior education is expensive, Christian corporate houses could sponsor the coaching of high-potential students for further studies at the best institutes both in India and abroad. Coaching that is strategic and goal-oriented has to start early. This is not to imply that only a spectacular academic background guarantees success. Many have achieved significant success without fancy qualifications. Indeed, some have reached dizzy heights with very little formal education. However, few of us have the genius or business acumen of a Bill Gates or a Dhirubhai Ambani. For the rest, a top-notch education is the gateway to success and aspiration. Intellectual power also means using our native intelligence to the optimum. We need to be on the cutting edge of developments and knowledge in our areas of interest. We need to be aware of our rights, privileges, opportunities and threats, and think laterally. The antithesis of intellectual power is ignorance. In property matters particularly, many of our Catholics, through fear and ignorance, are intimidated by unscrupulous builders and other elements. Here, dedicated Legal Cells can be of great help. Christian lawyers and builders should access areas like Gaothans which have a large Christian population and offer services and guidance to those who need them. Christian housing societies should also spread awareness among their members in this regard. Having the requisite intellectual skills will empower us immeasurably. No longer then, will we be considered an ignorant, easy-going and naive community that is virtually begging to be exploited. Veronica Paul is a Placement Consultant and Proprietor of C. S. Paul & Associates.