ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned during your entrepreneurial journey?
Passion, perseverance, boldness, and flexibility are the necessary traits of any entrepreneur. If you
are not truly passionate about your idea don’t, go for it. Don’t start a venture just for money. Profitability is the main goal of any business, but the leader has to balance this against the interests of
all stakeholders of the company, whether direct or indirect. Finally, cash flow has to be maintained
at all times—if there is no cash, your vision is meaningless. I have learned the last point the hard
way. I like to think of an entrepreneur as being like a river—strong yet flexible, clear in thinking,
and prepared for any bend/rock around the next corner. Finally, and most importantly, there is a
larger ocean of purpose, which the entrepreneurs have no choice but to merge with!
If you could give one piece of advice to budding entrepreneurs and those looking to enter the
sustainable innovation and renewable energy sectors, what would it be?
Please don’t enter these sectors just on the basis of the hype that surrounds them. These are
non-glamorous industries with challenges and issues that directly impact people’s lives.
Open-mindedness is the most important trait required for success. One of the key features of
this sector is how different ideas and knowledge intersect. Economics, finance, the environment,
livelihoods, pollution, and cultural interaction with technologies are just some of the fields that an
entrepreneur has to be aware of.
My final piece of advice would be ‘learn while you earn’ as these industries are still on a steep
learning curve.
Have you been involved in the Hult community since graduating?
I have been greatly involved with Hult’s global community since graduating. I would like to
acknowledge Prof. Patrick Courtin, with whom I continue to exchange mails and ideas, and
debate many different topics. I also returned to Hult’s Shanghai’s campus to attend an elective
(Real World Decisions) led by Prof. Courtin and learned a lot from the class.
I am also working closely with several other Hult alums on different ventures. I am working on
several sustainable business propositions with Madhav Bissa, MBA Class of 2010 alum and now
a consultant for Arthur D. Little Consulting. I am also cooperating with Ashish Tandon, MBA Class
of 2012 and his company, Gram Vaani, on solar energy delivery. Hult has provided me with a great
platform, a truly global network.
Passion, perseverance, boldness, and flexibility are the
necessary traits of any entrepreneur. If you are not truly
passionate about your idea don’t go for it.
Pranay Kumar
MBA Class of 2008
hult.edu
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