Winning Stroke: Interview with Devendra Rane, CTO & Founder, Coverfox

If not in the current Profession, you would be?

I’m an Aerospace Engineer. I like to believe that in alternate life I would’ve helped Elon Musk with SpaceX. Or started something similar in India. ISRO is awesome, by the way.

One tune you always hum?

“New Slang” by The Shins. It’s a very hummable tune. And it just so helps, that the tune always makes Nihira (my baby girl) smile.

One Book to read when you want to motivate yourselves?

This one’s easy - “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum. I had randomly picked this book at Strand Book Stall. Robert’s essays are awesome, and make you realise what is the really important stuff in life. That’s stuff we learned in Kindergarten.

One Dialogue of a movie that motivates you or you like the most?

"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling" from Inception. 

The Place you never been to and always want to go?

Area 51, where they keep captured aliens. Of course, it exists! 

Jokes apart - a New Zealand tour and visit the locations where they shot ‘Lord of The Rings’ has been on my bucket list for way too long.

An animal that signifies you & why?

Has to be Fox. :) They’re smart, they are sharp and they always find a way out to get what they want. 

Choose one from each below:

Marvel or DC: Fan of DC comics and Marvel movies

Batman or Superman: Batman Forever

Tom or Jerry: Jerry

Chacha Chaudhary or Super Commando Dhruv: Super Commando Dhruv. Love, Raj Comics!

If your life was to be turned into a movie who would you like to play your part?

Rajkumar Rao. He is a brilliant actor. 

Luck or Hard Work, what do you think weighs more in defining a successful Person?

Hard Work. Luck can help you win 100-meter dashes. But if you are running a marathon - only Hard work can push you through. I’m a marathoner.

One best decision you ever made?

To ask Abhiruchi to marry me. She’s a phenomenal lady in every respect. Remember the song -“Buddhu sa mann”? She wrote it! I lucked out big time there.

A strategy that you always use to take your decisions in Personal or Professional life?

Most of my decisions are around prioritising one thing over the other and find the best use of my time. To that end, I always ask myself -

“Does it need to be done right now?” and “Is there anyone else who can do it better than me?”

If the answers are “YES” and “NO” - then I go ahead and do it. Otherwise, I park for later or delegate to someone better at it than me.

Whose advise you seek when in dilemma?

Depends who holds the expertise w.r.t the situation. Sometimes friends, sometimes family, and mostly Google.

What has been your biggest achievement?

Taking Coverfox from an idea on paper to where it has reached today. I had a LOT of help from a lot of fine people along the way though - as colleagues, as employees, as investors, and as family. 

One thing that you want to change in yourself?

I talk really fast. My family hates it. I wish I could slow it down, but I think it’s too late.

A line said by your closed one that you never forget?

“I told you so!”