“One of the things I appreciate most about FLAG is the opportunity to learn directly from people with such diverse experience. Their trust and guidance have encouraged me to take ownership, think bigger and continuously challenge myself.”
Could you share some insights into your background and how you came to join FLAG?
I started my telecom journey with Tata, working in Sales Support & Operations, where I gained strong experience in understanding customer requirements and managing the post-sales journey.
Joining FLAG gave me the opportunity to take the next step in my career — moving into Procurement and working closely with Sales on the pre-sales side. It has been an exciting transition, giving me exposure to global markets, telecom networks, commercial negotiations and strategic sourcing.
What makes my FLAG journey particularly special is the continuous learning, the challenges, and the opportunity to work with great mentors and leaders. Looking back, my experience at Tata gave me a strong foundation, while FLAG has helped me broaden my perspective and grow into a more strategic procurement professional.
What motivates you in your role at FLAG, and how do you maintain your inspiration?
What motivates me most is that every day is different. Procurement at FLAG is much more than negotiating a price. Every requirement brings a different challenge, whether it is finding the right supplier, developing a commercially viable solution, managing timelines, solving a delivery challenge or finding an opportunity to create value for the business.
I am also strongly motivated by continuous learning and the opportunity to grow through new experiences. Most importantly, I am inspired by the people around me. Working with experienced colleagues, mentors and leaders across different parts of the business gives me the opportunity to learn from their knowledge and perspectives, while constantly encouraging me to improve, think differently and take on new challenges.
Is there a specific project or achievement at FLAG that you are particularly proud of?
One of the achievements I am particularly proud of is the opportunity to contribute to some of FLAG’s key new investment and strategic network initiatives, including IAX and ECHO.
Being part of these initiatives has been a great learning experience, allowing me to contribute from a procurement perspective to projects that support FLAG’s network growth and future expansion. I am proud of the role procurement plays in creating value through strategic supplier selection, strong commercial negotiations, better terms and practical solutions to complex requirements.
For me, the real achievement is being able to contribute to projects that have a long-term impact on the business while continuing to learn, collaborate and grow along the way.
How do you approach challenges and overcome obstacles in your work?
I try to approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. In procurement, there are always situations where the first answer is “no” whether it is pricing, availability, delivery timelines, technical limitations or contractual terms.
Instead of stopping there, I try to understand what is driving the constraint and look for alternatives. Sometimes that means finding another supplier, sometimes restructuring the commercial model, and sometimes simply having the right conversation with the supplier.
I also believe that collaboration is critical. Many challenges can be solved much faster when Procurement, Sales, Network, Finance and Legal teams work together rather than working in isolation.
Who has had the biggest impact on your journey at FLAG, and how have they influenced you?
I have been fortunate to work with some excellent mentors and leaders during my FLAG journey.
Sean Clark, Vineet Verma and Ravindra Bajpai have had a significant influence on me. Their guidance, experience and different ways of looking at business have helped me develop both professionally and personally.
I have also had the privilege of working with great leaders such as Brice Evin, Nadya Melic and Paul Abfalter. Seeing how they approach leadership, decision-making and people has been a valuable learning experience for me.
One of the things I appreciate most about FLAG is the opportunity to learn directly from people with such diverse experience. Their trust and guidance have encouraged me to take ownership, think bigger and continuously challenge myself.
How has your role evolved since joining FLAG, and what are you currently learning or trying to improve?
When I joined FLAG, my focus was primarily around procurement activities and supporting commercial requirements. Over time, my role has evolved into a much broader responsibility, involving strategic sourcing, supplier management, commercial negotiations, contracts, network requirements and working closely with multiple teams and regions.
I have also gained much deeper exposure to international telecom networks and technologies, which has significantly expanded my understanding of the business.
I am still learning every day. At this stage of my career, I believe the biggest opportunity is to continue developing as a strategic procurement leader — looking beyond individual transactions and understanding how procurement can contribute to the wider business strategy.
What advice would you offer to new employees or those striving to excel in their careers at FLAG?
My advice would be simple: stay curious, take ownership and never stop learning.
Do not limit yourself to your job description. Try to understand how your work affects other teams and the wider business. Ask questions, listen to people with more experience, and don’t be afraid to challenge the way things are currently done.
I also believe relationships are extremely important. Build trust with your colleagues, customers and suppliers. People may remember the numbers you deliver, but they will also remember how you worked with them to achieve those results.
And finally, don’t be afraid of difficult assignments. Some of the most challenging situations can become the best learning opportunities in your career.
What’s a small moment at FLAG that made a big impression on you?
One of the things that made a strong impression on me was the trust I received from the beginning of my FLAG journey. I was given the opportunity to take ownership of challenging negotiations and complex procurement requirements, with the confidence to find the best possible outcome.
That trust made me feel that my experience and contribution were genuinely valued. It has been a strong motivator, giving me the confidence to take on greater challenges and make a meaningful impact.