Humble Beginnings
The CEOs and senior GovCon leaders of today weren't always sitting in the corner office. They weren't born in suits with a handbook for success and a direct path to leadership. In fact, before many of these executives came into positions of powers, they had rather humble beginnings -- no corporate family tree or unlimited access. Many had to find their way on their own with little to fall back on. This podcast will share the stories of high school part-time work, first jobs and early-career decisions, decades before the CEO appointments and the board memberships. We'll learn about the unconventional paths to success, the ones most of us can relate to.
Humble Beginnings
From Job Rejections to NASA, the Savli Group and Beyond: Vishal Desai’s Path of Personal Investment & Perseverance
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Vishal Desai, a president and board member at SilverEdge Government Solutions, about how the experiences throughout his life have help shape his perspective and the type of leader he is today. Desai takes us through key moments and memories; like growing up in India, moving to the U.S. at the age of 15, assimilating to American culture in New York and what led him to study engineering at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Overcoming cultural, financial and personal barriers ⏤ including receiving over 300 job rejections after college ⏤ Desai landed a job at NASA and received his Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He'd go on to lead NASA’s Next Generation Enterprise Management effort, but when it came time to manage larger programs, Desai ⏤ in his late 20s ⏤ wanted to start his own company instead. Knowing nothing about business, he chose to invest in himself. Tune in to hear how Desai founded, built and grew the Savli Group; the cultural fundamental values and learnings he carries with him today; and what ultimately led him to SilverEdge Government Solutions.