Name: Deep Kalra
Profile: Founder, Makemytrip.com, a company that today hires 670 people and will do Rs. 210 crore in revenues (commissions) in the year ending March 2010.
He Says
First work for a professional. That way, you know the value of someone who works for you.
Hire people better than you. If your marketing, ops and finance guys are not better than you, why are you hiring them?
For someone with no real alternative livelihood, entrepreneurship might come easy. But for the better off, it is much more difficult to venture into the unknown. As a man who started his career as the quintessential management graduate chasing the multinational lure, Deep Kalra was quite settled, except that he couldn’t ignore his urge to start on his own. He chucked his salaried career and set up shop in the most uncertain of domains — the World Wide Web in the midst of the dotcom boom. It is in his journey of the last decade as the founder of Makemytrip.com that we glean insights this fortnight into the three essentials of business: Surrounding yourself with people better than you, raising the right amount of money from the right people and the importance of being humble.
(This story appears in the 02 April, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
I have read the story of Mr. Deep Kalra\'s success. I have also gone through the complaints of so many innocent people who have been cheated by this company. I want to know whether Mr. Kalra is aware of it or he is also.....................
on Sep 11, 2012I strictly oppose him and his so called "makemytrip.com". Many people lost their money (of course, I'm one among them). They cheated us.... For more details visit http://www.consumercourt.in/travel-agent/4422-makemytrip-com.html
on Oct 19, 2011Dear Mr Kalra, Your success story is impressive but the kind of after sales response mechanism is seen (and if it not been taken care properly ) it'll not take much time to allow others to take the lead. It is believed that calls to customer care in case of booked tickets is low priority in call queues compared to calls to buy tickets. There is undue delay (i am using a very mild word and I am yet to get it) in getting service in case of getting help on already booked ticket. The escalation process in case of complaints is not published on the website. Estimated waiting period or the position in the call queue is not announced. Customer Service is very poor in response and resolutions of queries for booked tickets.
on Feb 28, 2011Its very true that we have to come out of our comfort zone to achieve something great. This is proven in this well crafted interview.
on May 24, 2010Hi Subroto - well written of a truly inspiring leader and a great human being.
on Apr 3, 2010Surround yourself with people who call a spade a spade. You should have the humility in you to say %u2018you are right'! - well said, awesome...
on Mar 30, 2010Not good enough piece here...looked like a 10 minute job... Could have been much better !!!
on Mar 23, 2010Om, I accept your feedback. You are right. Deep's achievements and insights could have been better presented by me. Subroto Bagchi
on Mar 23, 2010Subroto Sir, I look forward to your piece eagerly. I was somewhat disappointed here. I believe it will be great, like before, next time. Omkar Sahoo
on Mar 23, 2010Lovely article - yet again -- The way you have captured the best practices of an entrepreneur - especially thoughts of someone who has a similar background to scores of people who want to go the entrepreneurial way & don't know how/when to start - is really good. Thank you.
on Mar 23, 2010Quite motivating for budding entrepreneurs
on Mar 25, 2010Very true ... One must work for a professional before being 'The Boss'... Hiring ppl better than u is another aspect brought into light, <br /> <br /> Although I have a question... wearing shorts & tshirts to work sounds cool.. but is a true professional also judged by a dressed code? Although I personally feel ppl should not be judged by their appearences... In your book 'The Professional' ... you havent really mentioned abt it... <br />
on Mar 24, 2010"The Unprofessional" section (Pt No. 10) of "The Professional" does speak about "unsuitable appearance."
on Mar 27, 2010Superb!
on Mar 26, 2010