Ajay Harinath Singh Greatest Brand Leader 2018-2019

Hailing Light at the End of the
Tunnel
The road to success for Shah was not an
easy one, and was certainly laden with
challenges. Sharing some of the specific
challenges that he faced and the ways in
which he overcame them, he says, “In the
early days, we faced challenges in being
a cost-conscientious company and had
our engineers handle sales, rather than
creating a sales or marketing division.
Since there wasn’t any venture funding to
propel us into the market in a flashy way,
we were forced to be thoughtful in our
partnerships, which is why SAP has been
instrumental to our success. Partnering
with SAP has propelled our ability to take
our products to market.”
Radiating Goodness
Shah’s greatest treasure is his heart of
gold. As an individual who is inclined
towards social responsibility, he asserts, “I
know the importance of giving back. As part
of Vistex’s corporate social responsibility
initiatives, I formed the Vistex Foundation
to focus on poverty, education, health
and humanitarian issues in the Chicago
area and around the globe. Projects have
included food drives, programs for innercity
children and the construction of a
birthing centre in Sierra Leone, all of which
are supported by Vistex employees. A Vistex
Hospital also opened this year in Bihar,
India.” He can be best described as an
epitome of selflessness when he declares,
“I’m proud to pair the growth of Vistex
and my success with causes that establish
positive opportunities for others.”
Cherishing Accomplishments
A multitalented personality, Shah feels
“privileged enough to pursue interests
outside of my [his] career.” He worked hard
to get his “pilot’s license,” enjoyed “going
back to school to obtain a CPA,” and taught
himself “how to speak German and write
complex software code.” Expressing his
gratitude for having an excellent support
system, he adds, “These passions, paired
with my family’s unwavering support,
have been incredible. When my wife was
pregnant with our second child, she stood
by my side as I ventured into building my
own software and career.”
Shah’s outstanding contribution to the
sphere of business and technology has
been recognised at various forums. He has
received accolades and awards throughout
his career, such as the EY Entrepreneur
of the Year 2019 and Illinois Technology
Association’s City Light CEO of the Year.
A self-made man, Shah is an inspiration
for the young generation. His message to
the youth is, “If I could go back and give
my younger self advice, it would be to not
follow any advice. There are many paths to
success, and you should draw inspiration
from those you admire, but not be caught
up in replication of their triumphs.”
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