Teach Middle East Magazine May 2014 issue 1 vol. 1 | Page 23

A Moment With
taught me valuable lessons in how to
run a business. Despite the split, I still
consider my former business partner
a fantastic guy and there is no love
lost between us.

results? People tend to overlook that.
Secondly, know what you are good
at and stick with it. The third is to be
diligent and focused. Do it [business]
because you want to do it.

How many titles do you carry and
what are they called?
We have three titles, two of which
are monthly titles while the third is a
quarterly title. Our monthly titles are
Premium and The Oath, which look
at insurance and law respectively,
across Gulf States and wider MENA
region. The third title is a contract
publication which we were awarded
out of a pool of many other publishers
by the Qatar Financial Centre. It deals
with insurance for the local industry in
Doha, Qatar.

Do you have a philosophy that
you use to guide key business
decisions? If yes, what is it?
There is always something good in
everyone and in even the most difficult
relationships. A positive attitude with
an open mind is crucial before you
make any decision in life.

Are you involved in any sports or
community groups?
I am a devoted fan of cricket. I play
cricket and if I am not playing it, I am
watching it. I am very proud of being
an Indian. Naturally, my favourite team
is India.

Mr Shankar, how did Niche
Publishers come about?
I’ve been in this region for over
eighteen years of which seventeen
years have been spent in publishing.
Three years ago, saw some
downsizing in most industries after
the recession. I was fortunate to have
kept my job for two years after the
recession but the writing was on the
wall. The company I was working with
eventually relinquished publishing as a
portfolio. This was what prompted me
to assess my next career move. After
a year of planning, I collaborated with
an investor on starting a publishing
company, however within a year of
our collaboration; I made the decision
to take control of my titles. It proved to
be a wise decision despite having to
invest more money in order to fully own
the business. This experience caused
minor setbacks during the first year. It

As you know, we are an educators’
magazine, so please share with us
who your favourite teacher was and
why?
The Headmaster of my high school,
Linus Cevejo made a lasting
impression on me. During a class
he once had with us I recall him
saying, ‘character is what you are
when nobody is looking’. It was such
a profound statement which has
remained with me all these years and I
have proven it to be true. Most people
tend to act differently when they think
no one is watching.
If you had the option to host a PTA
meeting or coach your son’s cricket
team, which would you choose?
I haven’t missed a single Parent
Teachers meeting since my son started
school. I take pride in being able to say
that because I do get so busy at times.
However, my passion is cricket, so I
would prefer to coach my son’s cricket
team. As a matter of fact, my son is
currently being coached professionally
in cricket. I am there for most of his
sessions and I coach him as well.
Give us three (3) things every
entrepreneur
should
consider
before going into business.
I would recommend that serious
consideration is given to the worst
case scenario. What would one do if
they did not achieve the anticipated

What do you enjoy most about
Dubai?
I definitely love being in Dubai. The
openness of Dubai has helped it more
than its neighbours. Dubai accepts the
world. I believe that Dubai is poised to
be the Middle Eastern gateway to the
world. It offers a wealth of opportunities
and much industry.
Where would you say is a wonderful
retreat or secret get-away in the
UAE?
There is one place that has stayed on
my mind since I’ve been there, Bab Al
Shams Desert Resort. It is very serene
and is the perfect place for someone
to have some quiet time for reflection.
What was your last luxury
purchase?
My last luxury purchase was my car.
It’s an Audi A5, supercharged with
Quattro. I purchased it a year and a
half ago.
What gadget can’t you live without?
It’s my Blackberry. It is one of the best
phones when you travel especially
when it comes to affordability and its
data capacity.
What is your proudest achievement?
It is yet to come. There are quite
a few things that I am proud of but
everything I have achieved so far is a
small percentage of what I really want
to achieve.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Mahesh Lunch Home. It’s a seafood
speciality restaurant out of Mumbai,
India that opened recently here in
Dubai. As a child, I hated seafood until
I ate there. Now, I am a fully-fledged
seafood lover. It’s a seafood lovers
delight!

After The Bell

May 2014

21