The World Economic Forum at Davos announced the Bangalore based Suhash Gopinath for the "Young Global Leader" award for 2008-2009 along with A.R.Rehman.Gopinath is just 23 years old now.He is the youngest to recieve this award in the history of World Economic Forum.This years YGL award features two other Indians(by birth)Hotmail.com's Sabeer Bhatia and Lousiana State Governor Bobby Jindal.But this post is about Gopinath.
Suhash Gopinath became the youngest CEO at the age of 14.A class IX student,he floated his own web solutions company,Globals Inc,headquartered at California .Today his company is a multinational company with presence in 11 countries with a multi billion turnover employing over 250 persons mostly of his age.Globals Inc has over 200 clients worldwide.His clients include some Fortune 500 companies also.Gopinath's company offers world class quality solutions in web,mobile and softwares.He had to float his company at US,since Indian laws does not permit minors floating companies.The first employee he hired for his company at the age of 14 was 30 years old.When he was 16, CNBC and e-Business canada recongonised him as world's youngest enterpreneur.At 17 he was recogonised as World's youngest CEO by BBC,Washington Times and The Age. Other milestones in young Gopianth's career so far are given below.
In 2005 the karnataka government awarded the State Rajyotsava Award to Gopinath.
In 2007 the European Parliament and International Association for Human Values conferred "Young Achiever Award " on Gopinath.The European Parliament invited him to address the European parlimentarians and businessmen at Brussles.
In 2008 World Bank President invited Gopinath to be part of World Bank's Advisory body for Kenya and Nigeria for increasing employee ability and fostering student skills.
In June 2009 Incerdible Vienna conferred the "Make a difference Award " on Gopinath.
In October 2009 Global Social Innovatos Forum,Singapore conferred the SIP Fellow Award on Gopinath.
Gopinath completed his Engineering at Bangalore. His father is a defence scientist at Bangalore. Gopinath had his share of embarassments initially,for many people refused to believe the boyish Suhash as CEO of a company.In many forums and meetings the organisers could not recogonise him. International companies refused to have business with Globals because the CEO did not even have a proper moustache.Gopinath's Engineering college lecturer at Bangalore even applied for a job in his company.But Suhash could not oblige him since 'the emphasis was on skills'.
Gopinath is a much sought after speaker around the world now.He delivered lectures to students in Islamabad.He has delivered lectures at IIM Ahmedabad,IIT Kanpur,IIT Bombay, IIT Madras and Anna university,Chennai.He is delvering lectures in Enterprenureship across the globe.He has delivered lectures at European Business School,Germany,university of Cologne and university of Colombo. Gopinath's idol is surely Bill Gates.But when he met Bill gates, he found a humble Gates telling Gopinath "I should be afraid of you.I started my company at 20, but you started at 14".
Gopinath is the resource person for IIT Ahmedabad,Advisory board member of IIT Bombay for enterprenuership.He is the youth Ambassador for Indo-Pak Leadership Program organised by School of Leadership,Pakistan.
There could be many more budding young Gopinath's in India.Gopinath has set a benchmark for present day young enterpreneurs.One hopes Government would come forward to help young enterpreneurs through a single window enterprenuership cell.This could unearth budding enterprenuers and will surely be a step forward in realising vision 2020.
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