The first two words that come to mind in the first two minutes of meeting 47-year young Mr. Shahzad Gidwani are: affable and a down-to-earth achiever. With no qualms about the success achieved till date, and about the struggles that preceded the same, Shahzad Gidwani is not in the least pretentious, and possesses no façade whatsoever.
Born and brought up in Kuwait, a young mischievous boy was bundled off to a Boarding School in Pune, India, from his sixth grade onwards. His parents wanted to let him experience a different way of life. He became much more aggressive while in the Boarding School and could barely manage to get grades that made any sense. “You would amount to nothing at all”, was the general summing up by many of his teachers. His grades were low, while the record of getting into trouble was exemplary.
Young Shahzad, however, soon understood that the situation had to change. He could not just connect with the system of teaching, which involved cramming up all that one had to, and finally vomit it all out at the exam. Unless he understood and appreciated something, his mind would not accept and retain it. He realised that he was not quite made up for such a system. As destiny would have it, Shahzad was sent to Cyprus for higher education and, the turnaround commenced.
It was the onset of a new dawn for the young learner. He began to get good grades rightaway. Enthusiasm towards studies seeped in, and there was just no looking back, thereafter. He secured a partial scholarship to the United States and surprised himself too, besides his parents, of course… He retained the scholarship for all the semesters during the two years and found himself absorbed in the Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Marketing. It was no cakewalk, there either, though. “My father wanted me to meet all my extra expenses… and hence, nothing came to me on a platter”. Shahzad took up a series of one odd job after another, to support himself. He cleared garbage; worked as a Lab Asst.; worked in a telephone company and sold telephone systems; cleaned grills in a restaurant. At a point of time, he was selling hamburgers and cleaning the grills in the afternoon and then changing into a formal suit and selling telephone systems, in the evening. “I would barely get two or three hours to sleep. But it was a learning experience. I know how it feels to mop floors; to make burgers… I know how it feels to clean grills. I have done it all.”
By this time, he had secured a sufficient exposure to dealing with people of all kinds and backgrounds. “And, I am in touch with all the people I have met on the way, in my journey, so far. I am in touch with all those whom I met in the University and those I met while doing odd jobs”.
Shahzad returned to Kuwait, as there were recessionary trends and not many jobs in the US. He started off as a salesman, selling mobile phones in Shuwaikh. Then he got a job as Asst. Manager (in the showroom) with Behbehani Telecommunications, selling Ericsson. It was followed with a long stint as the Key Account Manager at the Kuwait Ericsson Head Office. He had a challenging stint with Wataniya Telecom as its Corporate Sales Manager, wherein his strategic thinking and leadership steered the company towards greater heights. In 2010, he took over the Trading Division of the M. Y. Behbehani Group as the Deputy General Manager. Within two years, he was promoted as the GM of the Trading Division.
He began working in Kuwait with KD 375/- He had to prove himself and work hard and harder to today reach where he is and to gain the trust of the Behbehani family. And, he surely loves his work-place. Not the least stressed, as usually the highly-placed corporate bigwigs are, Shahzad attributes it all to the culture and ways of the Behbehani Group.
Shahzad is a people’s person—amiable, and simple in his dealings with everyone. However, he does not hesitate one bit while admitting that this is not how he was always. He was always comfortable with people, but there was an aggressive streak in him. The experiences at the Boarding school had instilled this aggression in his persona and it took a long time to get over that. He admits it himself that he used to scream and shout at the slightest of provocations, but he has changed. His wife, Anju calmed him down. He unequivocally credits his wife, for gradually easing out that aggression from his being. “I owe it to her, entirely. Everyone in this world has a dark side. I do not deny mine. And it is never a smooth sailing to get out, either.”
These days, parents almost universally want to give the ‘Best’ to their children. When asked, if he would mete a similar treatment to his son Prabeer, and make him work for all his needs—Shahzad replies: “Yes, I already have… I have clearly communicated to him that he must work his way up…” A year ago, he took his son to Phillipines to spend Christmas with his Nanny. He wanted to show the young boy that how those who earned modestly, managed the needs of their families and lived happily at the same time.
“Anju and Prabeer mean the world to me. I spend all my spare time and all my week-ends with my family. It gives me joy as no other activity can… We simply sit and chat together or watch movies or do nothing, but I make it a point to be at home all evenings and all weekends”.
Very honest with himself and with others, Shahzad Gidwani has learnt a lot, and can teach a lot to others, as well. However, he learns from life, and wants others to do the same. He has not read a Book, till date. He simply keeps his eyes and ears open and learns… He has no tips or lessons either, to pass on to the young. He cites the invasion of Kuwait, as one of the important turning points in his life which taught him that how uncertain and unpredictable life can be. It taught him that how life could change overnight.
Fond of playing Basketball, and with music as his constant companion- Shahzad Gidwani lives a simple life. The general view amongst his staff is: ‘Things have changed pretty much around here, since Shahzad has joined. Earlier on too, the Behbehani Group was a simple unassuming place to be. Ever since Shahzad has joined, it is now more so…’ He does not tell his staff that what they ought to do. He does not set goals for them; rather, wants them to tell him what they can do and what their goals are. “I let them set their benchmarks”.
“I never had any dreams. Even as a child, I just lived for the day. I don’t look behind and I do not look forward. I do not make Plans. Yes, I do plan not to fail. That’s it…”