Harry Dhillon is the President of Ecko Worldwide Transportation Group. Ecko Worldwide Transportation, Limo Stop Worldwide Transportation, Airone Worldwide Transportation, Californian Limo Wine Tours, and San Jose Limo make up the collection of businesses. In 2009, Harry started his career in the field when he started his company with a single sedan. He created a business with a vast affiliate network that spans over 53 nations and more than 1100 cities by working hard and making consistent acquisitions of smaller businesses.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Harry Dhillon:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
I’m an all-around family-oriented guy. I love to be around my children and other family members. Family is what life is all about. We love to travel together. I’m very focused and strive to make everyone’s life easier inside and outside of the workplace. I am a critical thinker and can help solve any problems brought before me. I try to find good in everything and help everyone around me to find good in people and situations as well. The less stress we have within the workplace, the easier life is for everyone. I always encourage my family and employees to be successful. If they were to choose to go start their own transportation company and compete against me, I would help guide them in the right direction to do so, regardless of the intense existing competition that already exists within our service area.
Describe your background and what did you do before you joined the company?
I was a hardworking immigrant from India who came to America. I had very little to my name. I soon began a career in liquor sales. After an unfortunate loss of my investment in what would have led to a store of my own, I began looking elsewhere to support myself. One of my friends, whose father drove shuttles, suggested the transportation industry as an option. There was a big event happening in Monterey, a city located close to my home, so I knew transportation companies would need drivers. I went through the phone book and called taxi companies in the area. Because of the way I presented myself, a gentleman suggested that I try limousines instead. That’s how I started working for Skylark Limousine and cut my teeth.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
I bought my first car for $8,000 in Los Angeles in 2009. When I got the car home to San Jose and took it to the dealership for some warranty work, I found out that the car I thought had 139,000 miles really had 230,000 miles. What I thought was a solid deal was based upon a complete lie. That taught me a lot from Day One about making sure to do my homework in the future before making other investments.
I was focused on supplementing other limousine services that sent work to me. I performed services as a sub-contractor to their operation. I am most grateful to companies like Gateway Limousine, Mosaic Global Transportation, and Music Express. I became known as the go-to contractor in my area because I was always out on the road. If any other limousine company needed help in our area, I was there to cover those trips. It was beneficial for me and beneficial for them.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Building relationships within the industry has been a huge part of making my dream a success. A large part of my success has been achieved by becoming involved in trade associations such as the National Limousine Association and the Greater California Livery Association. I am currently serving my second term as a board member of the GCLA. I ran unsuccessfully for a board seat with the NLA (National Limousine Association) as well. Being involved with trade associations and reading every trade magazine dedicated to the industry I serve has truly helped me gain valuable knowledge. Growing up, I came from practically nothing and I knew if I was ever to change, it would require me to maintain consistency in the delivery of service. I’ve never lost my motivation and I make great efforts to maintain our brand name.
What are the most important aspects of a company culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
The most important aspect of our company culture is to embrace and recognize our staff and our chauffeurs. Employees are the only reason a company succeeds. Regardless of the product or service you are engaged in, people deliver the service and people develop relationships with people—not companies. Our culture includes tapping into the creative minds of our employees to hear what they have to say and what their recommendations are for doing our job better and more efficiently.
The other company culture we embrace is listening to our customers. We are in the business of delivering service to some of the wealthiest business leaders in the world, and the most important voice we can listen to is theirs. We want to deliver what they want instead of what we think they want.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Innovation in any company is the key to continued success. We live in a world of technology and convenience. People expect it. Without being innovative, you simply deliver the same service over and over. Another company might be embracing innovation more than yours, and if your customer learns that another company is doing what you do but in a more efficient manner, you will see the customers leave to find innovation.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
The delivery of luxury transportation on a worldwide basis requires a dedicated team process with each member of the team working cohesively together to produce a positive outcome. Individuals who step out of line to be the hero threaten the failure of the entire team. Teamwork makes the dream work!
What are your responsibilities as the CEO/Founder of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
My main responsibility is to make sure that my office staff have the best working environment. As far as actual work goes, I’m able to be involved in every facet of our operations. I’m not above working as a car washer when needed. From hiring new chauffeurs to handling accounting, my hands are in it. My favorite part of my job is investing time in retaining existing business and landing new business. I love interacting with those we serve. I spend a lot of time cross-training my office staff to help expand their knowledge and help them grow into even more productive team members. With cross training, each team member can perform any of our daily responsibilities. Seeing us all work together as a team is the happiest part of my day. And, it is important to me that my employees enjoy what they do.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Don’t give up. You know your own destination and you are responsible for arriving at your chosen destination in life. Set your goals and focus on achieving them. You may not take the fastest or smoothest route, or you may have chosen a route that no one else has taken, but it’s your route to choose. If you want to improve it, that’s up to you too.
