773. Creating a Corporate Thriller By Escaping Monotony of His Jobs

Devarajan Venkat

“One of the important catalysts probably could be that I was a CFO for so many organizations, and I did so many good things. But unfortunately, I could not become a CFO to my own house. So that’s the time I realized that whatever expertise, whatever knowledge that I’m carrying, I could not actually pass on to my family. That was one of the reasons I thought, ‘let me take a break and start something on my own.’ And when I left Reliance, I didn’t have anything in mind.”

Devarajan Venkat is the CEO of Archis Management Advisors, LLP, a private equity and strategic advisory firm headquartered in Mumbai, India. He’s also the author of the fast-selling corporate thriller, “Entruppted.” He’s a mentor to many entrepreneurs around the globe and investor in select companies. His past experience includes being CFO at two of the leading media companies of India, Reliance Group and Balaji Telefilm.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

“In my case, I think I should call myself an accidental Chartered Accountant (CA), because through college and afterward, everything happened more or less by accident. Like many people, I followed my father’s steps, without giving it much thought. It was only later, after becoming dissatisfied with a job at a leading company, that I began to look for positions where I could be challenged and feel I was using my mind and my talents. I began to flourish when I got into positions where I was involved in many aspects of the company, not just the accounting and financial side.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“After working two years at a leading apparel and textile company in India, I left for greener pastures in a smaller company. The work had become too mundane and monotonous. In a larger organization, there’s too much structure. I felt there was no innovation or opportunities to apply my mind. You just need to do whatever has been said or done in the past. I chose to consider that as something that was not good for me. That is the reason why I left a secure and sound job in one of the biggest companies in the country.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“I realized that life is not only about finance and accounts. I saw that I have the vision, the need and the hunger to grow in an organization. I got into multiple areas of the business and had the opportunity to do multiple things. Eventually, I saw that the sky is the limit.”