Focus and success: The story of Akash Khetan

Focused minds reach the optimum level of success. Akash Khetan, a focused and successful businessman is one of the biggest examples of intelligence and discipline. He is a post graduate from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, with a specialisation in Family Managed Businesses. Prior to this, he pursued his B Sc in Business Administration from Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK in 2005-2006 with specialisation in Marketing Management. A strong interest in the business systems had led to Akash Khetan being profiled to be considered fit for a special case study published in the March 2010 issue of the 'INC India' business magazine. In addition to being strongly inclined towards achieving his business vision, Khetan also has a firm belief that his mission will be accomplished through the potential of his human resource team. His father Anand Khetan laid the foundation stone of Narayan Group in the year 1994 at Surat, India. Akash was a brilliant student, as he excelled in his studies and stood 1st in the 2008-10 batch.

Narayan Texfab Private Limited is for women's fabrics. The company's unique selling point is its quality and innovation according to the trend. The recent recognition of Narayan Group as a leading name in "Dyed Synthetic Woman's Fabrics" category by ET Now Channel in the Leaders of Tomorrow programme (in association with India Mart) has been the talk of the town in the textile industry. Akash believes in positivity and considers his father as his biggest inspiration. "The discipline in me today, is because of my father," he says. With a strict schedule that starts at 6 a.m. in the morning and ends at by 10 p.m., he still finds time for himself and says time management is not an issue for him - since his day starts early. Narayan Texfab is today a famous brand which guarantees the quality of the fabric. Texfab has collaborated with pre-eminent designers such as Manish Malhotra and Rohit Verma. At the New York Fashion Show 2016, Narayan Texfab collaborated with Archana Kochar. The brand of Texfab is renowned in the glamourous world because of fabric quality. The company is NIS certified and has SAP installed which wins the trust of the customers and clients.

The team at Narayan Texfab is excellent and hard working which helps the company to prosper more. When being asked about the challenges faced, Akash replies, "Yes, I did face challenges and the biggest one was to change the mindset of the workers since there was no professionalism in them during the early days." To change the mindsets was absolutely the biggest challenge and required a lot of skill and time, because it was really difficult to get workers who have had been imbibed with the traditional approach of thinking to see new perspectives. Now the workers readily move out of their comfort zone and work with more innovative ideas and approach. Akash's passion and willingness were the main reasons for him to choose his family managed business. He was focused right from the beginning. When asked about his favourite book, he said, "The Goal is my favourite book." He listens to Brahmakumaris thrice a week and he is inclined towards spirituality. His vision and goals are pretty clear and his aspirations are practical. He also believes in 'Do what you love!'

They consider their family business as something they think can run and manage right from day one depending on the scale of work.

So, after exploring their choices if they succeed it's a jackpot for them, or else they come back with so much of confidence and start to consult their father and uncles without knowing the practical after effects of their own decisions. Somewhere youngsters think they don't need any qualification to join their own business, and subconsciously it becomes their last choice! In my opinion, family run organisations should be managed the way corporates are managed in order to sustain in today's competitive market."

He advises the budding entrepreneur generation to be focused and to not lose hope at any point. His aura is very positive and can charge anyone with optimism. When being asked as to where does he see his company five years down the line, he says, "The brand should be globally recognised!"

He is a true face of the next generation of family managed business with clear vision, goals and intentions.