CxO of the Week: Dr. Raj Padhiyar, CEO, Digital Gurukul

CiOL has chosen Dr. Raj Padhiyar, CxO of the Week, who has won 12+ National & International awards, and have been associated with various Government Organizations, Political Parties in Managing their Digital portfolio.

What is your top priority while making decisions to improve tech infra in your organization?

Our aim as an institute is to offer our students experience various touch-points online & offline and try to constantly improve them to the best of our ability whether through chatbots, personalized emails, social media interactive ads, youtube etc. In order to achieve this, constant up-skilling of your team about the latest technology & enabling this experiencing for B2S & B2B segment is where you win the tech game.

Challenges you face in driving digital transformation?

The major challenge for driving any digital up gradation/transformation is resistance to change – human psychology. Students/Parents have confined themselves to the experience of certain operational/communication ways coming from Institute and they do not want to change it or learn new technologies & that’s where success for a digital transformation lies.

Do you feel that freshers in the industry come with only basic knowledge but don’t have the right skills to fulfil job requirements? If yes, your suggestion to students and colleges?

But isn’t colleges/authorities responsible for upgrading the syllabus as per latest technology & demand from across the sectors? I regularly meet hundreds of students from tier 2, 3 cities who come to our institute after their graduation, post-graduation because that didn’t get them any practical opportunities for job, startup. Students should be given exposure to the latest & practical skill set and help them to prepare for the same in their initial graduation years with Internship to master the skills.

What’s your mantra to become successful in life?

Before starting Digital Gurukul, Even I thought the same, but believe me - There is absolutely no shortcut to success, at the end hard work and determination pays off. But Digital does give you an edge to overcome most common & practical limitations to take your career/startup to scale-up at rapid speed.

What would you like to give back to society?

I believe in any sector- any form of material give-back is always short term in nature. It would never have a lasting impact. As a Young Director of Digital Gurukul, I always want to inspire as many people as I can to launch their dream startup like I did, challenge yourself and solve complex problems. You will face numerous problems/psychological barriers in the path – but have courage, dedication & sheer passion to achieve.

Your favorite book and what are you reading now?

I love reading books. I like reading non-fiction/autobiographies and inspirational stories. Currently, I am reading the book Sapiens – A Brief history of humankind

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Heading Education Institute doesn’t give you much spare time but whatever time that I get - I love reading books, spending time on Twitter, meeting & interacting with new people.

Achievements (Awards & Recognitions)

Awarded Asia’s Best Digital Marketer of 2018 by NIER in New Delhi, 2018

Received Doctorate in Digital Marketing from USA (Only Indian to achieve such feat)

Awarded "Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year" for Digital Marketing Education in the year 2017,2018 consecutively.

Awarded “Digital Marketer of the year in 2019” by World Marketing Congress

Recently I have Published his first book “Social Media & Politics in India” in 2019 available on Amazon & Flipkart. (It has got 5-star rating by readers)

Experience

My involvement in Digital Marketing dates back to 2008 when Digital Marketing was a relatively new term for all the people across the industry by handling Freelancing work of Small Businesses & Educational Institution.

Now At the age of just 28, I head the following organizations - (Founder – Digital Gurukul – Awarded Asia’s Best Digital Marketing Institute & 12+ Awards), (Founder – Socialladdoo – Central India’s leading Digital Marketing Agency), (Founder – DG Property Edge – Central India’s Leading Real estate consultancy startup), (Founder – Maharashtra Mirror–Maharashtra’s Online news media) & Mentor of 50+ Organizations across Asia.

With 12+ National & International awards, I have been associated with various Government Organizations, Political Parties in Managing their Digital portfolio. I have trained 5850+ Professionals across various industries & list is growing day by day.

First Job - Yes Bank

Education - I have done my B.Com from Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai (MBA from Welingkar Institute, Mumbai) & (M.Com from Mumbai University) & (Digital Marketing from Ireland).

Take a look at the previous CxO of the Week