THE PILANI PIONEERS

THE PILANI PIONEERS GAURAV MANDLECHA

How did the trailblazers of Indian business turn their dreams into reality? The Pilani Pioneers profiles twenty-five accomplished BITS Pilani graduates, including startup founders, entrepreneurs and CEOs, who have made an indelible mark on the Indian – and global – business landscape while deftly navigating the twists and turns of their professional and personal lives. It introduces us to mavericks such as Hari Menon, co-founder and CEO of BigBasket; Harish Bhat, Brand Custodian at TATA Sons; Phanindra Sama, co-founder of RedBus; Tulsi Mirchandaney, Managing Director of BlueDart Aviation; Baba Kalyani, Chairman and MD of Bharat Forge; and Nandini Chopra, MD at Alvarez & Marsal, whose stories of passion and perseverance reveal what it takes to not only achieve success in the competitive arena of business but also make a positive difference in both industry and the world at large. Inspiring, with a touch of nostalgia, The Pilani Pioneers is an essential read for anyone looking to find their niche and build a meaningful professional life.

GAURAV MANDLECHA

Gaurav Mandlecha is a double major in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani. His personal venture Fresh-Potpourri is his attempt to achieve the extraordinary. He spends his free time reading about startups, writing emails to people he admires, exploring the city of Mumbai or dancing to a DJ with his friends. Durjai Sethi pursued a Bachelors in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering at BITS Pilani. A self-proclaimed mega-fan of genuinely crafted music, Durjai was widely known for his scintillating theatre performances at Pilani. A fan of 90s grunge music, he wishes to visit Seattle someday and watch either Pearl Jam or Alice in Chains perform live.