For the past four years, the Business Journal has honored some of the men and women whose technology leadership has helped local organizations grow, deal with challenges and shape the future. The work these leaders do is vital, both to their organizations and for the growth of the local economy. Read more about them here.
Founder of the link, Sapna Foundation & Wired2Perform
What are your job responsibilities?
Vision & Strategy, Problem Solving & Solutioning, and many more to list across the 3 initiatives I am involved with which are all startups.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment in the past three years?
Launch of Wired2Perform, a patented behavioral science and people analytics tool
Launch of the link in Nocatee, a space that inspires people of all agre groups to Learn-Play-Think-Do
Launch of Sapna Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide innovative solutions to alleviate poverty. Launching various services in 3 key areas,
a. K-12 students
b. Workforce Development
c. Small Business Resiliency
What has been the most satisfying moment of your career?
Early on, sale Shipxpress, where i was the Co-Founder & CTO, to GE Transportation and launch of Wired2Perform, the link and Sapna Foundation.
How have you helped your organization deploy technology to the best effect?
Technology plays a significant role in all three of my current initiatives. Wired2Perform is a technology / SAAS platform. the link is one of the smartest buildings in the region with some of the latest and greatest pieces of technology in the world. Sapna Foundation is embarking on a technology platform that will drive significant economic impact in the community.
How has your leadership helped your company grow?
As the Founder, my leadership is vital for what happens in the organizations I am involved in.
How do you help mentor the next generation of tech talent?
Over the last couple of decades, I have been in the Metro Jacksonville area, I have mentored numerous up-and-coming technology enthusiasts on how technology can be used effectively to solve various business and societal problems. I have offered various internships and volunteer opportunities to many school and college students.
What advice would you have for young technologists just starting their careers?
Be adaptable. Embrace change.
What advice has had the most impact on you personally or professionally?
My father’s advice to me as a young child was to “always be in a position to Give”. My whole life has revolved around those 7 words, thats my mantra for life.
What technology or innovation on the horizon are you most excited about and why?
Blockchain is surely interesting, advances in IOT and using them to create smart infrastructure, buildings are very promising. Other major areas that will completely change how we live are robotics and automation. Sapna Foundation has started a weekly series called “Future in _____” series where in we bring in thought leaders in various fields to discuss exactly this. So the future generation and all of us who have teenage children and youth become aware of what’s happening in the various sectors both from opportunities and disruption.
In what ways do you give back to the community (board membership, volunteering, etc.)
I am and have been involved at the board member level or various not-for-profit organizations like Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, Florida Cricket Association, and Founding board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization’s Jacksonville Chapter, and Sapna Foundation. I actively volunteer and mentor entrepreneurs and small businesses across the world.
What does the First Coast business community need to do to grow its technology and innovation sectors?
I feel the first coast is a hidden secret in Florida for the amount of technology and innovation that’s happening here. We need to collectively do multiple things like, drive a coordinated campaign elevate the public perception of what various companies are doing in terms of innovation, and have a solid technology/startup ecosystem. “the link” is an attempt at creating a network and become a major hub of tech innovation in the area. Sapna Foundation has started a annual 3 day Entrepreneur summit called “EnterCIRCLE” in Nov 2021, will be doing it again this year on Nov 17, 18, 19 to help give a platform for tech founders, startups and small businesses in the region. But, there is a lot of these kinds of things that need to happen. Would love to play a part in this process. I am very motivated to put First Coast on the global innovation map.
As you look over the next decade, what is your goal for you and/or your organization?
A decade is a great horizon to think about. For:
Sapna Foundation: We are embarking on some major initiatives that will have Billions of dollars of economic impact, will help hundreds of thousands of people and small businesses at large, help millions of people become self-aware and find opportunities they are passionate about and hence be happy in their lives. Help millions of underprivileged children and families get out of poverty.
the link: we will have hundreds of locations “spaces that inspire” across the united states, where we are helping the local communities lead productive and inspired lives.
Wired2Perform: We will be helping millions of youth and the workforce not only find themselves and find opportunities that they are aspiring to, and help them get to their aspired states.
2022 Fast 50 Event celebrates 50 of the Florida’s First Coast Fastest Growing Companies. Join as as we honor the 50 companies that have posted year-over-year growth and setting the standard for excellence in our business community.
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