Interview with Parag Gadhia
Grow Learn Connect: Parag, I have been reading your bio on GLC. You have had such an impressive and very diverse career. How did your professional journey begin?
Parag Gadhia: I started my professional journey as a software developer with one of the best conglomerates – Tata Unisys (the company is now called Tata Consultancy Services). These were interesting grooming years for a fresh graduate like me in terms of technical and people skills and coupled with extensive training programs, this experience really shaped my future.
From there, I moved on to different organizations and had an opportunity to work in many countries, including the USA, the UK, and Singapore.
Finally, in 2012, I decided to go into a totally different area and explore the world of leadership and behavioral skill development.
GLC: For over 16 years you worked in Fortune 500 companies. Can you name some of these companies and what roles you played? What did that experience teach you? Have you ever thought about coming back?
PG: I worked in many companies, including Tata Unisys (TCS), Melstar Information Technologies, i-flex (now Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd.), and JP Morgan.
I played various roles starting from software development, leading project teams, handling clients, project process definition and management, project and compliance audit, training, and more. My last position in the corporate world was with JP Morgan, where I served as a vice president.
During those years that I worked in the corporate world, I learned a lot of things: first, that one needs to align oneself and their goals with the organizational goals. Each role and organization have some pros and cons and searching for a perfect role and organization may not be 100% possible. There are multiple ways to look at specific scenarios, and you and your colleagues will not necessarily have the same perspective, so one should learn to respect differences in opinion. Finally, one should lead by doing rather than telling.
GLC: You are the founder of the Deep Ability Consulting company. Is it a family business? What prompted you to open your own company?
PG: Deep Ability Consulting is a proprietor firm that I started. I collaborate with other trainers when necessary. My daughter who is a clinical psychologist conducts training and my son is in charge of the Rubik’s Cube workshops. After spending 16+ years in the corporate world, I wanted to challenge myself by coming out of my comfort zone and have some venture of my own which resulted in the launch of my own business Deep Ability Consulting.
GLC: What's in the name? What does the company specialize in? What sets it apart from other companies in India, regionally, or worldwide? What futuristic ideas does the company promote?
PG: I always believe that in whatever I do, be it coaching, facilitation, or a speaking engagement, I should be able to draw out the abilities of my clients which may lie deep inside each one of us and hence the name Deep Ability Consulting.
The focus of my company is always on facilitating training using innovative, engaging, and result-orientated methodology combined with my coaching skills. We try to introduce enticing programs using Lego Serious Play, Memory Magic for Professionals, and Personal Leadership Development and Productivity Enhancement. Our programs are jargon-free, relatable, fun, and affordable with realistic outcomes.
GLC: You have mentioned that you facilitate programs using Lego. How did you become interested in Lego serious play? What serious issues does it address? Who is the target audience? How do you play Lego in a serious manner?
PG: Lego is very expensive in India, so I personally did not have much opportunity to play with it during my childhood days unlike kids in the western world who get a lot of exposure to Lego bricks. I have always been interested in Lego and felt a lot can be done with it. When I was once in the UK on my professional assignment, I purchased Lego for my daughter, and I found myself playing a lot with it. Lego opens the mind and hence the thought process. In my facilitation, I always look for ways to bring in innovations, and then I came across the Lego Serious Play program. I researched it and immediately felt the need to develop this skillset to give something unique and interesting to my clients and hence my journey with Lego Serious Play began.
Lego works very well with a lot of things. One of the programs I run is an ideation workshop called Think In 3D. I have used Lego for team collaboration, aligning vision, mission and organizational goals, conflict management, parent and child bonding, goal setting, unveiling leadership challenges, creative problem solving, stress management, organization annual retreat, mid-life coaching, and more. I have conducted Lego Serious Play workshops for corporates, professionals, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, and college students.
GLC: Do you have a good memory?
PG: I would say I have trained myself to have a good memory with the understanding and techniques we will be discussing in the workshop.
GLC: Every person may benefit from memory-boosting techniques. Why do you think it's important for training professionals to be aware of those tricks? How can it help them in their professional career and course facilitation?
PG: First of all, having a good memory may boost self-confidence and this is of foremost importance for any professional including training professionals. Also, as trainers, we need to remember the names of participants and address them by name to easily connect with the participants. The content is effortlessly delivered when we remember the order in which it needs to be executed. The same is true with examples, stories, and certain data. Keeping memory fundamentals in mind helps training professionals design their content in such a manner that participants have the maximum retention which eventually leads to the success of the training program.
GLC: What is your favorite board game?
PG: Snakes & ladders
GLC: Do you have bad habits that you don't want to get rid of?
PG: I am a bit of a foodie. I cannot resist tasty fried food even though I know it is not good for my health. I have started training my mind to eat healthily and I hope I will succeed.
GLC: What is your biggest life achievement?
PG: I feel I have a lot of small achievements, which combined together, make me a lot happier.