Winning Stroke: Interview with Nikhil Barshikar, MD, Imarticus Learning

 If not in the current Profession, you would be?

 A politician I think. I would like to affect real change and it’s the only other option, other than running an NGO or              being an entrepreneur, that puts you in the driving seat.

 One tune you always hum?

  I have a toddler, so it’s currently one of two tunes. Wheels on the Bus or Humpty Dumpty.

 One Book to read when you want to motivate yourselves ?

  Indian Summer. It talks to the story of the struggle in creating something monumental.

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

  Gordon Gekko says, ’Lunch is for sissies,’ in Wall Street. It’s quite funny really, because I am very partial towards           my packed lunch and eating on time.

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

   Russia, and hopefully the World Cup will change that.

  An animal that signifies you & why?

   I’d go with a Gazelle – it has a large amount of focus and intensity.  Its also strong and fast – manages to beat the           cheetah on most days.

   A Movie Character you most resemble or resonate with ?

   Gordon Gekko from the movie, ‘Wall Street.’ I think he was a massive inspiration to so many of us from my                      generation, and the reason why we joined Wall Street.

  Choose one from each below :

     a)      Marvel or DC - Marvel.

      b)      Batman or Superman- Batman.

      c)       Tom or Jerry - Neither, didn’t like that show as a child.

      d)      Chacha Chaudhary or Super Commando Dhruv - Who?

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

  To be turned into a movie, one’s life needs to be filled with monumental events. I’ve been through a few, but lets             talk about this as soon as I achieve all goals I’ve set for myself.

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

  They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I think preparation is nothing but pure hard work.

  One best decision you ever made?

   Quitting my corporate job and becoming an entrepreneur.

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

    I am fairly long term in my outlook and believe many wrong decisions get taken in haste, in order to remedy some           short term crisis. So I always ask myself if I am doing this because it’s easy and/or solves something immediate,             or because it’s the right thing to do and something I would have done regardless of the situation.

   Whose advise you seek when in dilemma?

    My wife. She’s always abreast of the context and will usually ask me the questions that lead me to my own                       solution.

   What has been your biggest achievement?

    I think it’s yet to come, but I think I am very proud of what we have achieved at Imarticus, which is a collective                 achievement of my team and my co-founder.

  One thing that you want to change in yourself?

     I am quite impatient and am always trying to be more patient with myself and others.0

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

     My dad always says, ‘go big or go home.’