We recently had the privilege of interviewing Capt. Mohit Sabharwal, Heading the Business in Xpro Energy (part of Planet group). As a seasoned Master Mariner with expertise in Maritime, O&G Business, Sustainability, Data Analytics, Digital Transformation, Strategic Advisory, and others, Capt. Mohit Sabharwal aims to drive industry growth and transformation through his more than two decades experience, skillset & boundless energy.
As a reflection of his being an industry expert, Mohit was recognized as a Top 20 under 40 industry professionals by Seatrade Maritime in 2021. By leveraging his entrepreneurial mindset and skills, Capt. Mohit Sabharwal is committed to safeguarding the offshore environment sustainably, while maximizing organizational bottom-line impact. In this insightful session, we get a glimpse of Capt. Mohit’s journey over these years, from being an ex-seafarer to a marine pilot to an entrepreneur, who is constantly helping the start-ups & tech ventures to reshape their business model seamlessly.
The Beginning
To learn how Capt. Mohit Sabharwal started this professional journey, we asked, “Could you start by telling us about your professional career path?”
Mohit Sabharwal shared, “Having started with a career at high seas, I am an ex-mariner by background, who was sailing on commercial ships (Oil tankers) for over 15 years. After reaching the pinnacle of my career, as a Captain of a VLCC, I decided to come ashore with a curious question in my mind for self – What’s Next?
Having been a Marine Pilot and then into commercial operations with Maersk, I was also fortunate to complete my further postgraduate studies (MBA) in Operations & Finance from SP Jain School of Global Management. This educational endeavor not only broadened my horizon but also equipped me with the skills necessary for my subsequent roles in the business world.
Recalling a pivotal period in his career, he shared, “In 2019 I was headhunted by BCG (Boston Consulting Group) to join a maritime tech start-up in Singapore as the Head of Operations and Solution Delivery, focused on decarbonizing the maritime industry. After a few years, I evolved into a new version of myself, gaining expertise as an SME, directly assisting customers, and transitioning into sales and business development roles. Meanwhile, I also became involved with accelerator programs and other start-ups and businesses as a mentor, board member, investor, and strategic advisor, leveraging my experience and knowledge and impacting multiple businesses and ventures with actionable strategies.”
Mohit Sabharwal added, “Continuing my pursuit of personal and professional development, I pursued further studies at Stanford Graduate School of Business, specializing in Strategic Leadership and Corporate Innovation. Now leading the Xpro Energy division of Planet group, my focus is on launching an enterprise B2B software solution for industries like Oil & Gas, Maritime, and Offshore Renewables. I work closely with Directors and Partners to launch, grow and scale the business, adopting an entrepreneurial approach. I also handle business plans, implementation, and change management for our customers. Each opportunity has enriched my journey, and I strive to make impactful contributions to business and innovation.
Adaptability amidst Adversities
Every journey is inevitably filled with challenging phases. To learn more about it from Capt. Mohit Sabharwal, we inquired, “What have been the most significant barriers you’ve overcome, and how have these challenges influenced your leadership philosophy?”
Mohit Sabharwal shared, “Throughout my professional journey, I’ve encountered several significant barriers that have shaped my leadership philosophy in profound ways. Transitioning from a career at sea to the corporate world was a major challenge for me. The fast-paced, dynamic nature of business was a steep learning curve, but I saw it as an opportunity for personal growth. Another obstacle was leading startup ventures with limited resources and uncertain futures. Thriving in ambiguity and uncertainty, I fostered innovation and creativity to drive success.
I also faced the challenge of building credibility and expertise in new domains as I moved into sales and business development roles. Overcoming imposter syndrome requires confidence building and continuous learning.
These challenges shaped my leadership philosophy, emphasizing adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning. I believe in leading by example with authenticity, transparency, and empathy. Diversity and inclusion are crucial for driving creativity and innovation. Overcoming barriers has taught me perseverance, humility, and empathy in leadership, inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential and achieve collective success.”
Encouraging an Innovative Culture
Eager to learn how Capt. Mohit Sabharwal ensures an innovative environment in his organization, we asked, “How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within your organization?”
Mohit Sabharwal shared, “Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within an organization requires a multifaceted approach that empowers employees, encourages.
Here are some strategies I employ to cultivate such a culture:
- Encourage Open Communication: Encourage open dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing for creativity and innovation.
- Empower and Support Employees: Empower staff to innovate, experiment, and embrace risk and failure. Offer training, mentorship, and growth opportunities.
- Set Clear Goals and Expectations: Establish and communicate goals to employees, empowering them to take ownership and celebrate achievements for continuous improvement.
- Promote a Growth Mindset: Promote learning and growth by encouraging, facing challenges, learning from failures, and seeking new experiences.
- Reward and Recognize Innovation: Recognize and reward creative and innovative employees, driving positive change within the organization.
- Lead by Example: Leaders should continuously learn, be open to new ideas, adapt, and serve as role models for innovation.
- Create a Safe Space for Experimentation: Encourage experimentation and exploration by creating a safe space for employees to test new ideas and approaches and learn from successes and failures.
These strategies have helped me in the past and presently helping too, to create a culture that fosters continuous improvement and innovation, driving long-term growth and success.”
Staying Ahead of the Curve
We further asked, “In the context of global competition, how has your company adapted its strategies to maintain a competitive edge?”
Mohit Sabharwal replied, “The venture which I was tasked with, is presently getting shaped up, but if I mention the bigger Planet group and partner BW Offshore, then, in the face of global competition, the groups have continually evolved its strategies to maintain a competitive edge and thrive in the dynamic business landscape.
The Planet Group pursues a long-term approach to building businesses based on its core values, which are not just astute business decisions, but also the responsibilities that affect the world’s future. The Planet Group pursues a long-term, value-oriented approach to building businesses and group companies at all stages of their development in the chosen industries. With over 40 years of experience, we have a proven track record of value creation in our chosen industries. We leverage industry insights, long-term relationships, and trust to accelerate the growth of our group companies. Our operations span various regions including India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Our focus is on building world-scale, industry-leading companies in large economies that play a significant role in the global marketplace. We are entrepreneurial, identifying market opportunities early and backing strong management teams. Through strategic partnerships, we shape industries and create value based on long-term market changes.”
Mohit Sabharwal further added, “We have made some key adaptations; through regular market research and analysis, we identify emerging trends, customer preferences, and competitive dynamics to stay ahead of the curve and adjust our strategies accordingly. With an agile approach to strategy execution, we can quickly respond to market shifts, customer feedback, and competitive pressures. Innovation is key to our competitive strategy as we heavily invest in research and development to drive product innovation and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
To diversify our growth opportunities and mitigate risks, we expand into new markets, forge strategic partnerships, and explore opportunities in adjacent industries. By adopting a customer-centric approach, we deliver exceptional value and personalized experiences to differentiate ourselves from competitors. We prioritize talent development and empowerment to nurture a skilled and motivated workforce capable of driving innovation and executing our strategic objectives effectively.
Recognizing the growing importance of sustainability and corporate responsibility, we have integrated sustainable practices into our business operations and strategy. By adopting environmental-friendly practices, reducing our carbon footprint, and promoting social responsibility, we enhance our brand reputation, attract environmental-conscious customers, and differentiate ourselves in the marketplace.”
Incorporating Client Insights
Customer insights can play a crucial role in shaping a business. We asked, “What role has customer feedback played in shaping the direction of your products or services?”
Mohit Sabharwal replied, “Customer feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction of our products and services.
- Identifying Pain Points: Customer feedback helps us identify pain points and challenges that customers face when using our products or services, and we can prioritize areas for improvement and develop solutions that address their specific pain points.
- Informing Product Development: By gathering insights into what customers want and need, we can ensure that our products align with market demands.
- Iterative Improvement: Continuous feedback loops enable us to iteratively improve our products and services over time, as we can identify opportunities for enhancement and refine our offerings to better meet customer expectations
- Enhancing User Experience: Customer feedback helps us optimize the user experience and create intuitive, user-friendly solutions.
- Driving Innovation: Customer feedback sparks innovation by inspiring new ideas and solutions to address customer needs and preferences.
- Building Customer Loyalty: Actively soliciting and responding to customer feedback demonstrates our commitment to customer satisfaction and fosters a sense of trust and loyalty.
Customer feedback serves as a valuable source of insights and inspiration, guiding our product development efforts, driving innovation, and ultimately, helping us deliver greater value to our customers.”
Foundational Principles
To learn how Mohit Sabharwal includes core principles in daily business operations, we asked, “How do you approach corporate responsibility and ethical business practices in your operations?”
Mohit Sabharwal shared, “The Planet Group is committed to corporate responsibility and ethical business practices, aiming to create economic and social value in emerging markets. Currently, the group focuses on six industry sectors: People, Logistics, Aliment, Nature, Energy, and Technology. Following a long-term, value-oriented approach, the group supports management teams and invests for the future. With their expertise, our group identifies market opportunities, develops talent, makes acquisitions, and executes timely exits.
Achieving sustainable success demands a comprehensive approach that encompasses the interests of all stakeholders while ensuring operational efficiency and excellence. To address this need, WE5 SCORED is a pioneering philosophy framework designed to guide Planet Group Companies towards achieving their goals while prioritizing Equitability, Empowerment, Excellence, Environment, and Economics.
Through WE5 SCORED framework which ensures holistic organizational success, through a structured assessment framework, evaluating Safety, Compliance, Operating Discipline, Reliability, and Data-driven Decision Making. By systematically assessing performance against these parameters, we gain insights into strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, guiding us towards excellence. WE5 SCORED represents more than a philosophy framework; it embodies our commitment to holistic success. As the Planet group companies integrate these principles and activities, we embark on a journey towards sustainable growth, meaningful impact, and enduring value creation for all stakeholders.
WE: Collective Goal Achievement
E5: Pillars of Organizational Excellence
- E1quitability: Fostering fairness and equality across operations to build trust and accountability.
- E2mpowerment: Enabling informed decision-making and skill development for confident, responsible action.
- E3xcellence: Instilling a mindset of continuous improvement and surpassing benchmarks for exceptional value delivery.
- E4nvironment: Prioritizing environmental sustainability to minimize ecological footprint and promote a healthier world.
- E5conomics: Acknowledging the importance of economic viability to safeguard sustainability and long-term value creation.
By embracing corporate responsibility and ethical business practices, we not only fulfill our obligations as a responsible corporate citizen but also create long-term value for our stakeholders and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.”
Plans We Asked Capt. Mohit Sabharwal
We were curious to learn about the upcoming events and plans Capt. Mohit Sabharwal has for his business. We asked, “Could you tell us more about your services or products and if you have any upcoming plans regarding them?”
Mohit Sabharwal responded, “The tech solution, JourneyXPro is an innovative Enterprise software solution, housing essential components of ICM – Integrated Crew Management, for heavy industries like Oil & Gas, and Maritime and has a potential to extend to industries like offshore renewables.
The solution was developed as a crew management system with OCS Services as an anchor client. The platform has over 50 Crew Coordinators and 5000+ users, streamlining operations, minimizing errors, and enhancing efficiency across marine, offshore, and onshore assets, with the goal to optimize crew management, improve compliance, and prioritize crew wellbeing by leveraging technology. Navigating the complexities of crew management, JourneyXPro introduces a transformative approach, from door to deck to door, to alleviate administrative burdens and bolster organizational effectiveness.”
“Mission is to spearhead technological advancements in asset-heavy industries, from upstream to downstream & from offshore to onshore. Utilizing over four decades of industry expertise, JourneyXPro employs a multifaceted approach by addressing the pain points around CMS – Crew Management System, LMS- Learning Management System, CM – Competency Management & WM – Wellness Management.
All these solution pieces seamlessly talk to each other, woven together for a holistic experience, and enable you and your business to be ESG-centric and compliant. JourneyXPro’s seamless integration and commitment to crew well-being signal a paradigm shift in crew management solutions. By prioritizing transparency, collaboration, and sustainability, JourneyXPro not only enhances operational efficiency but also aligns with organizations’ long-term goals and regulatory requirements.” he added.
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
Lastly, addressing the beginners, we asked, “Would you like to give beginners in the same industry some advice?”
Mohit shared, “When mentoring or sharing my experience, I emphasize a few key points.
Find your purpose and build around it, understand your strengths and desires, take care of yourself mentally and physically, learn from failures and take risks, set clear goals, and approach problems from different angles.”
Follow Capt. Mohit Sabharwal on LinkedIn & Twitter.
Visit Planet Group at their website http://www.planetventures.com.
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