Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace?
As a senior research analyst specializing in Metals and Mining advisory services, I am passionate and dedicated to providing insightful guidance to clients. Inside the workplace, I am diligent, detail-oriented, and possess a strong analytical mindset. I delve deep into market trends, financials, and industry dynamics, identifying investment opportunities and risks
Outside of work, I thirst for knowledge and stay updated through conferences, publications, and networking. I bring fresh perspectives and innovative insights to my work. Personally, I am proactive, motivated, and thrive in collaborative environments. I value open communication, feedback, and respect. I maintain work-life balance through hobbies, spending time with loved ones, and nurturing personal interests, striving for overall well-being.
Describe your background and what did you do before you joined the company?
Prior to Beroe, I was an engineering graduate focusing on Electricals and electronics. Multiple internships (with a couple of startups) enriched me with skills related to market research, data analysis and business analytics. This gave a strong foundation to my career.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
As a Senior Analyst, I am a part of the mid-level management of my organization. Our CEO, Mr. Vel Dhinagaravel (CEO) understood the need for addressing the huge gap in knowledge when it comes to understanding the market dynamics for global procurement community. This is when he, along with Mr. Robert Handfield, established the firm Beroe-Inc in North Carolina State University.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Being featured in 30under30 (Supply Chain Tribe 2020) and Women in Mining (2020) is a testament to the continuous value I have been able to provide over the past half-decade. Several factors have played a significant role in my success:
- Expertise and Knowledge: Deep understanding and expertise in the Metals and Mining industry, especially in supply chain, enable me to navigate challenges, optimize operations, and provide value to clients.
- Continuous Learning and Growth: Committed to staying updated with industry trends and best practices, I continuously expand my knowledge base, positioning myself as a trusted authority.
- Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical abilities allow me to analyse complex data, identify patterns, and offer valuable insights. I approach problems innovatively, producing measurable results.
- Strong Work Ethic and Drive: Dedication, going the extra mile, meeting deadlines, and consistently delivering high-quality work have earned me a reputation for reliability and excellence.
- Networking and Relationship Building: Building professional relationships within and outside my organization has been instrumental. Collaborating with colleagues, mentors, and clients has expanded my knowledge and created opportunities for collaboration.
In terms of values, I prioritize integrity, ethics, and maintaining strong ethical standards in all professional interactions. Striving for excellence and delivering high-quality outputs are essential values that drive my work. I also value collaboration, teamwork, continuous improvement, and a client-focused approach.
These qualities have not only contributed to my success but have also helped me make a positive impact in the advisory services I provide.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
- Beroe-Inc has transformed into a leading Software as a Software based procurement intelligence and analytics provider. We bring intelligence, data, and insights, empowering companies in making data driven smarter sourcing decisions
- During and post COVID 19 pandemic, Beroe-Inc has been the market leader in transitioning from a service based company towards a product based company
- Investments in technological advancement including AI-ML(artificial intelligence and machine learning) helped the company in creating an online platform for other untapped markets on global level
- This strategy created a guaranteed additional revenue stream, thus increasing competitive advantage over rivals who are still in customized solution business lines
- Value added services supported by Beroe Inc includes deep dive customized market/supplier intelligence report, category cost and pricing, supplier risk, supply chain visibility, category alerts with respect to supplier and market risks/trends etc.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture?
The best part of a company culture is encouraging continuous learning at all organization hierarchy/grades, core employee ethics of care balancing both personal and professional life, encouraging new ideas and most relevant in today’s scenario is a “hybrid working model” that allows employees to exploit the flexibility of either working from home or office
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Innovative ideas are crucial for companies as they drive growth, competitiveness, and adaptation to changing markets. Specially in the Post COVID 19 era, innovation is the key to fuel creativity, unlock new opportunities, improve processes, products, and services, and foster a culture of continuous improvement, keeping companies relevant and ahead in their industries.
- Innovation is crucial for success and great innovative ideas can take a company to another growth trajectory. For instance, Beroe-Inc during COVID-19 pandemic initiated an innovative idea to increase our visibility and make our service available to another small clienteles. This initiated the Development of a subscription based online platform and as on date, we cater over 17,000 companies including 80% of the fortune 500, enabling a smarter sourcing decision making, leading to reduced risk and lower cost of manufacturing. Additionally, partnering with industry accepted subscriptions also increased our data reliability.
- Our data driven methodology with subject experts offers solutions to customers in numerous domain such as Metals, minerals, mining, Industrial Manufacturing, Chemicals, Agriculture, IT hardware, logistics, Pharmaceuticals etc.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I believe organizations ideally strive for a balanced approach, recognizing the importance of both individual heroics and effective team processes.
While individual heroics can bring exceptional results in certain situations, relying solely on them can create a culture of dependency and hinder collaboration. Strong team processes, on the other hand, promote synergy, innovation, and shared accountability.
Effective teamwork harnesses the diverse skills and perspectives of individuals, leading to greater productivity, collective problem-solving, and sustained success. Organizations that strike a balance between recognizing individual contributions and fostering collaborative team dynamics are more likely to achieve long-term growth and resilience in a rapidly changing business landscape.
In short,
- Organization goals benchmarking is imperative for the organization growth in terms of securing the financial
- Work break down structure involving cross functionable teams will help in accomplishing the project completion in short time, more efficient and reducing burn outs on all individuals
- However, individual heroics can also set examples in leading the individuals together towards common organization goals by motivating the company’s talent pool on various critical/complex projects
What are your responsibilities in your position? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
I hold a mid-level managerial position at the firm Beroe-Inc. As a ‘Techno-Manager’ my responsibilities include
- Analyzing the problems faced by clients (in metals and mining sector) with a focus on supply chain.
- Designing, Developing and Delivering an implementable solution which would mitigate any risk associated with supply chain.
- Proactively analyzing risk in supply chain: Identification of several category drivers under research such as market dynamics(supply/demand) and price drivers
- Carrying out category and supplier impact analysis: Assessing risk and impact on category/commodity due to Macro-economic/Geopolitical crisis/Logistical disruptions from unprecedented scenarios (COVID pandemic, Russia-Ukraine crisis etc.)
- Developing Category Value Chain Assessment (end to end activities) – Indicating factors beneficial for buyers’ negotiations and price controls, overall lowering sourcing and procurement sourcing costs/risks with commitments towards net zero carbon emissions
- Developing and analyzing cost structure/models development and continuously monitoring the market trends.
- Periodic monitoring and development of insight dashboards for critical metals/mining consumables such as refractories raw material along with price forecasting
The happiest part of the daily routine for analysts in the Metals and Mining domain is uncovering valuable insights and contributing to informed decision-making. Analyzing market trends, financials, solving supply chain puzzles, and conducting research brings a sense of accomplishment. Collaborating with colleagues, sharing knowledge, and witnessing the impact of their analyses reinforces their passion for the industry.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
As a mid-level manager, I would not be able to provide my example here.
However, I believe
- Listening actively and being open to feedback from your team is a must.
- Building relationships based on trust and respect.
- Communicate clearly, set clear expectations, and provide guidance while empowering your team members.
- Lead by example and demonstrate integrity.
- Embrace continuous learning and seek opportunities for personal and professional growth. Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment.
- Always remember, leadership is not about having all the answers, but about empowering others to succeed. So, be adaptable, resilient, and embrace change. Stay humble and acknowledge the strengths and contributions of your team.
