In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, Suhas Hegde, an IT professional, shares his journey from being a naval commander to succeeding in the corporate world.
Rashmi Bhumireddy
It’s no surprise to see how people these days go to greater lengths to follow their passion. A similar case has been with Suhas Hegde, an IT professional who followed his passion for exploring the technology space, shifting his career from being a naval commander to making his mark in the IT field. To begin his journey, he enrolled himself
at the Indian School of Business to pursue a
PGP course in information technology and strategy.
Suhas Hedge hails from a middle-class background in Mapusa, a small town in Goa. His father being a retired school teacher and his mother being a housewife, he recalls his journey in this exclusive chat sharing: “I completed my schooling from PUC in Goa and later completed my BTech in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding from Cochin University. I also pursued my post-graduation at the prestigious IIT Delhi. During my mid-career, I was selected to attend the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Ooty, where I completed my MSc in Defense and Strategic Studies along with chosen officers of the armed forces of India and over 50 officers from foreign armed forces. Finally, I was enrolled in the technical branch of the Indian Navy after successfully cracking the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, which is known to have the toughest selection method for government services.”
This played a key role in his career. He initially started his career in operations onboard India’s aircraft in Mumbai and later joined a design organisation in Delhi, where he worked on contracting and designing complex technical marine platforms.
During these days, he shares, “I have learned to work with global teams. I was selected to collaborate with foreign nations to get a niche TOT in the shipbuilding domain. Following my MSc in Defense and Strategic Studies from DSSC, I have taken up CEO’s office roles, where I was a staff officer and a subject matter expert advisor to the fleet commander of the Eastern Fleet. Apart from that, I took part in over 13+ international maritime exercises during deployments and high-stakes events that have given me a rare opportunity to sail on the Singaporean frigate RSN and US Aircraft career as part of my personal exchange. In regards to leadership roles, I was selected to head a large unionised industrial organisation with over 700 workers in Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.”
While delivering warships, he came across various grievances and expectations, which gave him a thorough understanding of consumer needs. By working in various locations across the country, from Delhi to Kochi, and on international engagements, he has gained great exposure to managing global and multicultural teams. Being a technology evangelist, he believed technology was the greatest enabler to solve complex problems. Deep diving into the sector empowered him to understand the nuances of its implementation.
A double-major in information technology and strategy, he further shares, “PGP was the best decision I have taken as it eased my transition from the government sector to the corporate sector. My core subjects on marketing, finance, and strategy helped me understand the business side of the industry. I also studied a wide range of electives that provided me with vital knowledge on new product development, digital transformations, IOT, information technology and other disruptive technologies. Its curriculum introduced me to structured thinking and problem-solving that can be used in any sector, which prepared me for the roles in the present company. ISB provides a lot of opportunities to network with industry professionals and alums through various on-campus events, pro bono consulting projects, experiential learning programs, and study treks.”
However, he did go through his own good share of challenges as well during his transition from the government sector to the corporate sector. “Though military service is respected by a lot of companies, it does not translate into employment opportunities,” he highlights, adding, “There is a tendency to stereotype defense veterans who want to join corporations. I had difficulty convincing companies that the skills I acquired during my previous tenure were relevant to the corporation. This is where PGP from ISB helped me. Some of the recruiters are willing to give candidates from prestigious business schools an opportunity because of the skills and knowledge acquired during the course. Finally, I have succeeded through various levels of interviews with multiple companies, culminating in the final interview with the business heads.”
As we head towards the end of this interaction with him, he shares how he aspires to lead large organisations and help them solve their problems through the advent of technology.
