Dr. S. Anthony Raj, Principal, Sir C.V. Raman College of Arts & Science, Managing Director, AGG Manna Pvt. Ltd.
I am Dr. S. Anthony Raj, hailing from a remote place and born into a middle-class family in South India. As a small boy, I grew up in a rural place without any ambition or goals. During 1998, I came to Coimbatore for my postgraduate degree and got Bharathiar University rank IV in my Master of Foreign Trade program. In the year 2000, I started my career in Chennai, in the shipping and logistics industry, for a short time. Also, my academic journey started in the same year and led to further achievements in academics, which include many international, national, and state-level publications and world-reputed books from leading publishers. Now, I am looking after my own business as well as administering an arts and sciences college in Coimbatore.
Could you tell us about your venture, AGG Manna Pvt. Ltd., and its services?
In the year 2015, I met a couple of professors from Canada and Israel, and they asked me about my academic journey. One of their life-changing questions was how Indian professors can teach business without experiencing it. It was a perplexing moment for me. Later in the year 2016, I registered my business, GOG Marketing Agencies Private Limited, which has been renamed AGG Manna Private Limited. It is a food processing unit that involves manufacturing healthy and hygienic food products, namely idly batters, idiyappams, edible oils, plain flours, and masala products. We also merchandise dairy products, cereals, pulses, and a few branded agricultural and food products.
What was your inspiration behind starting AGG Manna Pvt. Ltd.?
As told in the previous question, my business spark was kindled by a team of professors from Canada and Israel. They asked what I was teaching. I replied that I teach business. They instantly asked what business I do, and I replied that I don’t do any business. They asked me again how you can teach business without doing it. I replied that I read books and teach. They added, How can Indians teach without experience in the respective industry? That changed my whole perspective on teaching. This paved the way for my business idea, and I was thinking about which sector I could venture into. That time I met Mr. A.D. Padmasingh Isaac, the founder of Aachi Masala, during the Karunya Evangelin Memorial Lecture at Karunya University. He said that the only job that man cannot stop till his death is ‘eating’. This gave me the idea of venturing into the food processing business.
Could you tell us about your educational and professional journey?
In the year 2000, I joined the RVS College of Arts and Sciences in the International Business Department. As I confessed earlier, I had no ambitions, goals, or plans for my future. So, I was unhappy in teaching, and so I applied to many corporate companies for different positions, such as Amrutanjan, HUL, Berger, Asian Paints, etc. In the final HR rounds of the Asian Paints Interview at Abad Plaza in Cochin, the HR asked me why I was turning to corporate after completing my M. Phil. and many publications, which I included in the resume as my achievements. He also insisted that I have a better future in academics. Only then did I look back and feel happy about the way I progressed in academics. Then I registered for my PhD and completed it in 2011 at Bharathiar University. My age grew, my experience grew, and my salary also increased to my satisfaction. Then, in 2021, after the Corona lockdowns, my close friend who runs a few schools asked me to support their new venture. I am now successfully managing the college and my business with the support of an excellent team, which I built based on trust and commitment.
What have been your current roles and responsibilities for the role of principal at Sir C.V. Raman College of Arts & Science?
The new academic venture in which I supported my friend is the Sir C.V. Raman College of Arts and Science. I helped them with their earlier papers and the educational links to establish the project while I was working for Karunya University. After the smooth installation of the project, my friend insisted that I be in charge of the campus and its development activities. He said that they don’t have better people than me to manage the college. So, I took my comfort dress off and took on the new challenge of developing the new college. My key responsibilities are to create industry-academia links, or MoUs, and promote the institution. Still, we are developing and increasing day by day in all possible areas.
What do you think are the key skills one should acquire to succeed as an entrepreneur?
According to me, jumping from a comfortable academic industry to a risky business venture is not an easy cake walk. I had to dirty my hands, suffer losses, and accept the cheats. So, the following are the very important skills one should acquire to succeed as an entrepreneur:
- Risk-taking
- Strategic
Thinking
- Commitment
- Perseverance
- Resilience
When I faced my customers, it was so embarrassing to understand their different feedback. For the same product, 10 people appreciate me, and 10 people comment on me very badly. It’s all been a learning platform in the beginning, and now I am enjoying the fruits of my initial risk, labor, and investment.
If you could give one piece of advice to young professionals or students interested in combining entrepreneurship with academia, what would it be?
When I turned back to my past, I was roaming with no ambitions or goals. If I could do so many things in my life, why not the current generation if they develop perfect ambitions and goals for them? Always understand, ‘Nothing is impossible’. Everything is possible when your hard work, perseverance, commitment, and resilience are combined. Never lose hope. People around you deal with you using their own energy, and that should not adversely affect your energy. Always inherit good energy from the universe.
Post a Comment