Growth Story in India

As many of my Indian colleagues do, I often wonder what it would be like to live in India. My wife is convinced that I wouldn't be able to cope with the shift in lifestyle, and I for the most part, agree. And thus, she believes we will not be moving any time soon. Lifestyle notwithstanding, one thing is for sure, the pace and energy in India today is unmatched - and for the transferrable executive an amazing work experience awaits. I recently had the opportunity to prepare and review a "Why and How" India Strategy Deck with senior executives from a top ten global software company. One of the slides - reproduced here without the template, frames it well. Careers are often more about catching the right waves than swimming harder. Its clear India is one in the making and this is the year to make the decision to ride it or pass it for the next one. I for one, need to start getting my head around renewable energy.

Fathers Day in Half Moon Bay

“Walk a little slower, Daddy,” said the child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
sometimes they’re hard to see;
so walk a little slower, Daddy, for you are leading me.
Someday when I’m all grown up, you’re what I meant to be:
then I will have a little child who’ll want to follow me.”

Bengaluru's new airport

I flew though India's newest and fanciest airport this week. Compared to DEL and BOM, and the previous BLR, this is very impressive - open, airy, and brightly lit. And its well set for retail and food choices - in the domestic departures area I spotted a Illy in addition to the Barista, and there were a couple of food places you could easily eat at. The single runway didn't cause any noticeable delays or flight backups, and contrary to what I had been told, getting in and out to the city was easy (I landed around late in the night and left around noon).

Air India and Kingfisher are now both starting non-stop SFO - BLR flights. The latter is the better option, since Air India business class is normally filled up with freebie tickets and free upgrades for every possible government employee, and (based on my one and only flight on Air India when I had to take the only available option to Kenya) you would be better off in the cargo bay than traveling the back of the bus. Its more than 8,700 miles over the Arctic Circle, so getting a good seat is going to be really important.

BLR is a preview of Indian air travel to come, and thanks to privatization and capital markets, India is getting ready to fly.