Over the years, I have been incredibly lucky to have met a whole lot of people from a wide variety of fields. Some of these incredible individuals have left indelible impressions and shaped the way my Firm sees and represents these champions of industry, art, sports, science, and management.
In a series of forthcoming articles, I plan to celebrate these wonderful people and share some of the enlightening conversations I have had with them. I want this to be a celebration. And so, the individuals being highlighted will remain anonymous.
For my first illustration, I plan to talk about this remarkable senior representative of an Indian organization I first met in July 2004. I began by laying out the rules for an L-1A and encouraged the gentleman, whom I will refer to for the purpose of our conversation as Mr. Krishnan, to provide me with the required documents and evidence. I also wanted him to provide me with a timeline for the transfer.
His answer was both refreshing and insightful. Refreshing because it was different and insightful because it showed character.
He looked me squarely in the eyes and said, “we want this to be a turn-key operation where you decide everything. From incorporating in the U.S. to filing the petition, we want you to set the agenda and execute it for us. I will provide you with the necessary documentation from the foreign company and after reviewing it, you decide if it is appropriate to present to the US Government.” He then explained that he had been with the company for over 20 years and that the average employee spent 10 plus years in the company. This company is a household name in India with a pedigreed history of over 150 years. They pride themselves on an egalitarian culture that shows a dedicated top-down work ethic grounded in an introspective approach to management.
Krishnan then waxed eloquently on the company’s culture of inclusion and nurturing. He said, “the first thing we look for when planning to expand, is how our employees would fare in the new environment. We look at housing, transportation, schools, banks, hospitals, etc. In fact, for the past 100 years, the company has launched numerous initiatives aimed at creating a home for our employees wherever we go. Our entry into the U.S. would be no different. If we acquire land for a manufacturing plant, senior management wants us to first conduct a feasibility study that puts the employee first. The plant will be built around a community!”
What impressed me most about my interaction with Krishnan was the executive decisions he was able to make independent of senior management back home.
One very important sign of mature management is the ability of senior managers and executives to operate independently and decisively and most importantly in a timely manner.
The entire time Krishnan was in my office he was extremely professional and extremely committed to the company’s vision of what it meant to expand its operations in the U.S. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with Krishnan and the senior management of the company solving various legal issues. Where my expertise was limited, I sought to introduce the Company to associates in the fields of accounting, corporate and real estate law, employment law, etc.
Twenty years later, I am still associated with this corporate client. In fact, the Company has grown and has a thriving manufacturing hub in the U.S. with over 200 employees. Mr. Krishnan is still an employee of the company, having gone through immigration in the first preference multinational executive category. And I am happy to note that he continues to evangelize the corporate culture that instilled such faith and loyalty in him.