BPONews Unconference
By Bobby Singh

In a first of its kind initiative, BPONews organised an 'authentic high tea' to unravel a forum (BPO Un’Conference) to answer the undercurrent brewing in the BPO industry for long. It is an attempt to get together decision makers from the BPO (and allied) businesses to meet once a month. The meeting is expected to serve to network for business as well as discuss problems in the BPO business while attempting to uncover new areas. The once-a-month event, third Wednesday every month, is open to a select few by invitation only. To celebrate the individual and collective success as well as friendships, old and new.

Supported by Plantronics, this event unravels a new format of social networking for the executives who are otherwise prone to stress and long hours at work. Business networking now therefore seems moving away from formal environments to more relaxed ones. The whole idea is to create an environment where people interact in a visibly informal (read relaxed) atmosphere, more as friends. The previous events witnessed enthusiastic response and have been appreciated by everyone who attended it. Each one felt the need for more interactions of such kind, which would take the industry forward. Now the events which will unfold shall mesh a luxury experience with understated business interactions in a glamorous setting.

The 'BPONews Un’Conference' is actually an attempt to bring the CEOs together to huddle up as friends and network among each other so that we (as an industry and as friends) are better formed to fight the market conditions together. The excitement among invitees is rather infectious and more requests to attend are expected than invitations being sent. The group is small and very exclusive, limited to 20 per meeting. Given the economic downturn, a more cohesive approach being followed at business, in all activities, including networking is being apparently noticed. The BPO business is particularly fortunate since business is not really drying up as for other industries. In fact there are more opportunities that the post-US-election will throw up. These meeting end up in initiating new business deals among CEOs.

The host, Deepak Kapoor says “I intend to extend my existing friendships with illustrious trailblazers in the industry. And a celebration of life through exclusive and luxurious get together. We had an exclusive (authentic) English High Tea session where our friends joined us for a relaxed 2 hr tea drinking. It was more like a 2 hr treat away from the stress of work and that too on a hectic work day. What a perk. But when you’ve achieved so much, as each attendee already has, I guess one is entitled to the luxury.”

BPONews has to thank their Patron (sponsor) Plantronics and the hosting partner Fortune Select Hotel Gurgaon who made this luxurious and exclusive session possible. Everybody enjoyed it very much and a few pro-active CEOs managed to initiate business deals as well. Whats better than doing Business with Pleasure.

The following people were spotted from Industry, Associations and Government among many others who would prefer not to be mentioned: Bobby Joseph, Country Manager, Plantronics; Aditya Gupta, President, Infovision, Rakesh Sharma, EVP & Admin Head, Quatrro; S N Zindal, Former Director General, STPI.