After being to quite a few conferences, there is not the slightest doubt that the NASSCOM 2006 was the best I’ve ever attended. Great agenda on outsourcing, offshoring, globalization and innovation. Where do you get people like India’s President Dr. Abdul Kalam, Thomas Friedman from “The World is Flat”, Azim Premji from Wipro, Vivek Paul from Texas Pacific Group, Nandan Nilekani from Infosys, Promod Haque from Norwest Venture Partners at one place, giving keynotes and after that being available for unconventional 1:1-talks. Then fantastic people to network with. Like on the second evening I was exchanging a lot of thoughts with Ajith Pillai and Sanjeev, CEO and Vice President respectively from Nous Infosystems, where later Jerry Rao, founder and CEO of Mphasis, joined for a chit-chat. And altogether a perfect organization from Nasscom, and what I appreciate more than anything else and something that money can’t buy: The sincere and warmhearted Indian hospitality.
So the last evening was full in line with all the other program of the Nasscom 2006 and set a dignified final for this unforgettable event. And the organizers did it again: outperforming their own standards by being able to make a very special location available for the final party. The Indian Navy Ship “INS Vikrant” which had served as an essential aircraft-carrier for India in a conflict with Pakistan and brought pride to the nation. This vessel is out of service and has been re-purposed into a museum-ship for the public in the navy harbor of Bombay (Mumbai).
On deck, Nasscom had installed a stage with a fantastic show with obviously an ensemble of western dancers. Their show was among the most explicit which I have so far seen in a rather conservative India and I was not sure where all the wives of the CEOs present felt too comfortable seeing the female dancers presenting their underwear. As one can imagine, I did not really bother about that detail too much. And the show from the artistic standpoint, was absolute outstanding, too.
As usually, on an event around IT & BPO, the female participation among the delegates is usually miserably underrepresented. Therefore, I felt more than privileged to meet two both extremely smart and beautiful ladies whom I managed to convince for a picture together with me. I had to promise, if I blogged it here, that I would duly add: “ONLY FRIENDS!”, “NOTHING HAPPENED!”, “PURE; PRIM, PROPER & PLATONIC!” :-)
To my left, Hlubi Mtimkulu from South-African SACCCOM and to my right, Anupam Ahuja from Channai based Officetiger whom I named “Pearl of Africa” and “Pearl of Asia” respectively. So, even for the nerdy me this picture comes as an unprecedented kiss from destiny, something I can show off with to my male comrades and the foundations to receive heavy beatings from my girl friend ;-)
Feeds
Beats “Boringalore”
How you speak so endearingly about your lady friends.
you look as happy as “a pea in a pod”..
I hope your girlfriend beats the living daylights out of you :-)
Yes, Anju…
I second you. René’s girlfriend should spank him really hard for charming those 2 poor ladies for photos for his blog…Naughty boy!!!
p.s I thought I am the ONLY pearl of Asia!!!
Hi Nina,
sorry, sorry, of course, of course. Only you are the “Pearl of Asia” - and the “Hippopotamus of the Earth” :-)
René
the pitfalls of a blog, you said I was the pearl of asia :-)
Nina, if its any consolation, the last time I saw him he was twice the size of a hippo…
Ha ha René
you use the same line for all Asian chicks?? Jeez..0 point for originality;-)
Love and hard-kicks,
Pearl of Asia #2,034,789
Apropos originality, the following recent episode was funny.
Huddled up in the back of a car trying desperatly not to make any body contact during our journey.
(Indian girls don’t do this sort of thing)
The guy next to me says
“Anju you look so cramped”
My reply
How did you realise that I’m sitting uncomfortably.
the guys reply
“Anju, because a women’s BODY is like an instrument in my hands”
At which stage I puked :-)
but this guy, (won’t mention any names as there are too many crazy Croats out there) had more up his sleeve.
A question i posed to him later
“hey, why is an attractive, succesful guy like yourself still single?”
reply.
because i’m in the google phase “still searching”……..
Don’t censor this René, the nerds that visit your site should learn dare I say not from you, but from your “Asian Pearls”
Beat you by a hair Nina nr 2′032.000 :-)
Hey Nina, hey Anju,
I really tried my best to keep this blog serious, pure, prim and proper. But somehow it has slipped :-)
And I seriously have no clue what you are talking about :-) How about also engaging to passionately on my articles about business models in the software industry … :-))
René
I totally disagree, the content has drastically improved
Thanks to our didactic skills :-)
I think this calls for an invite to some posh restaurant.
No worries if you can’t make it René, we’ll just invoice you :-)
Nina how about it :-)