Vinod has been our mentor when we were running our social impact startup. I have found very few leaders like him who are so humble, patient and have such clarity of thought. His poise and listening ability makes him a 'deep' person, someone who truly understands the tech or business he is doing. This video clearly depicts some of these traits that so many of us have seen over these years. In the video, he also mentioned about his wife Indra, who is well connected in the impact space - we have been fortunate to interact with her as well, have witnessed her excitement for this space and always-ready-to-help attitude
A very gripping story from 1984 to present. Proud to be witness of it 1999 onwards. I am one of those who started losing interest in erstwhile HSS once its culture started changing after acquisition by Flextronics. I was an entry-level manager at that time (2005), looking for challenges & opportunity to turn around complex tasks. When that hunger remained unsatisfied in FSS, I started looking for a change. That's when a friend/colleague suggested HSC & introduced me to Vinod. That's when I had my first F2F meeting with him & then started my journey with HSC. I was pleasantly surprised with the level of confidence he had in me from the word go. I have worked for around 4 companies but HSC always feels like a family with whom I also had my longest stint. I derive lots of inspirations from Vinod & he is a great mentor.
Vinod Sir - What an amazing journey from C-DOT to HSS to finally HSC. I am really proud to be part of the first few years of Hughes Systique where I got an opportunity to work very closely with Vinod sir. Together we hired some of the greatest engineering talent available in NCR area (who in future left and formed their own startups). I have wonderful memories from those years where I learned and made lifelong friends. I would also say that even though I was one of the few outsiders (non HSS background) in HSC, I never felt an outsider and Vinod sir always valued the external view and perspective that I bring to the table. Lot to learn from Vinod Sir - And I sincerely wish that I will get another opportunity in my life time to work again with you.
Great to hear about your early C-DoT days and also the early HSS days and rationale for formation of Hughes Systique. Everytime I see the photos of Diwali day (and other events at Hughes Systique) - invariable kindles memories of my own days at HSS and my first Diwali party of HSS. Heady days. And good interviewing - Prashant.. !!
Accurate description of Mr. Sood. A sweet and caring persona overlays a laser sharp intellect. I had the privilege of working and interacting with Vinod, Aadesh, and Mao, the core leadership team of Hughes Software Systems.
Dear Vinod, thanks for such a brilliant and candid interview. I did not know the story behind the start of HSC, and also the stories of resilience you displayed and commitment towards your team during tough times. Your work at HSC and helping thousands of young entrepreneurs inspire the entire fraternity. May you continue to expand the zone of your impact... Thanks Prashant for bringing this wisdom out from the humble leader...
We were class mates in engineering college. Sood, an exceptionally brilliant and genius was most popular and friend of all. Down to earth, helpful and very witty he was. The best thing is he is still like that. This is something rare to find after one touches dizzy heights in career and professional life. I feel fortunate and proud to be his long time friend.
Finally THE leader speaks! I often wonder what attracts brightest of the bright to work with Vinod, he seems to be the Pied Piper of engineering talent :-). I think I learnt at least three things from my personal experience and observing others who work with him: 1. He accomodates diversity, rather embraces it. Diametrically opposite work styles and he would get both to deliver. He didn't force his teams to be a bunch of tigers, but he harnessed the potential and capabilities of tigers, elephants, horses and mules too! 2. He stayed human and humane, never lost sight of the fact that at the end of the game all pieces ho back to the box the king, queen and the pawns too. He treated everyone as a "person" and not as a tool or "resource". 50 Million or 500 M won't be remembered, what will be remembered are "human" bits of "he supported me what someone threw a tantrum", "he supported me when I was going through a personal low". He stayed human with a unique personal touch. 3. He stayed positive and encouraged individual journeys. I would remember going to him with so many ideas at HSCs that seemed earthshaking (were naive though 😅), he would never shoot an idea, he would say "try it", "let's see how it pans out". Even though he could easily see the immaturity of the idea, yet he never short circuited the journey for others. I could go on an on... Yet he ticks all the boxes of a great conductor of the symphonies we have all heard over years. He continues to orchestrate fulfilling careers and personal trajectories and very few people can say that for themselves. May you continue to orchestrate fulfilling careers and lives, dear Vinod🙏🙏
Enjoyed every bit and wished it would go on for even longer. Prashant, you did a good job at drawing Vinod out. He was remarkably candid and lucid. His memory of past events was almost photographic in detail. Even people who think they know him well are likely to discover a new nugget. For instance, I used to think that the talk about an MBO for HSS was casual speculation. Turns out it was a real possibility. Everyone who has worked with Vinod will have a personal story or two about their positive experience. There is enough material around for a follow-on session
One of the greatest interview I have seen recently. Hats off to Vinod Sood for creating such a fabulous business and lessons and life changing decisions he took in his lifetime.
Thanks for sharing your story Vinod Sir, it’s very interesting to listen to, inspiring and motivating. You have been part of India’s technological advancement from the very beginning. Now I can relate yours and Huges story.
Really proud to be your friend...your journey from CDOT to HSC..Only focus..hardwork and excellence. Your support to startups and founders is just great..!! A gem of person...
An excellent podcast! Vinod Sir is a visionary in technology and digital transformation, he has shaped Hughes Systique into a global leader. Proud to have him as a mentor!
"Vinod-san by Prashant" is an interview that will take many of us down memory lane, bringing back memories of our early days in engineering. It was a time when excellence and discipline were at the forefront, and we had the privilege of working on high-pressure projects for top-tier clients like Nokia, NEC, EB, Ecrio, Agilent and many more. We also had the chance to build a talent pool that any startup would envy. I still remember our first day at the HSC office-crammed into a small 10-seater cabin, where Ashish Gilotra, Nishant, Harpreet, Vinod, Ajay, and I shared a meal together! HSS/HSC Mafia put together would be dominating telecom and apps business for sure , Btw - Vinod and Prashant - what's your secret to staying so fit? You haven't aged a bit!
A truly remarkable podcast! I’ve learned so much from it. The speaker, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Hughes Systique, also chairs the CII Digital Transformation Committee. He is a visionary leader in the technology sector, particularly in software development and digital transformation. Renowned for his deep expertise and innovative mindset, he has been instrumental in shaping Hughes Systique into a globally acclaimed provider of technology solutions. His vision and steadfast dedication to technological progress have earned him immense respect in the IT and telecommunications industries. I am incredibly proud of him-not only as a distinguished leader but also as a mentor to many, including myself.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Vinod for the past five years, and I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s been one of the best mentors I’ve had in my life so far. Watching this podcast was an absolute delight-it gave me such a detailed glimpse into Vinod's journey, showcasing how he has consistently excelled and followed his engineering passion to become the shining star he is today and infact, has always been. Prashant has done a phenomenal job steering the conversation with sharp, incisive questions that bring out the depth of Vinod’s experiences and his incredible approach to leadership and innovation. Despite knowing Vinod well, I was amazed to learn so many new aspects of his journey-his resilience, his commitment to excellence, and the values that drive him. The 100 minutes flew by, and I enjoyed every moment of this insightful discussion. It’s a treasure trove for anyone looking to learn about perseverance, leadership, and staying true to your passion. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be inspired! What were your biggest takeaways from this podcast?
Thanks Prashant for creating this platform and getting this wonderful interview with Vinod sir done! Vinod sir: Thanks a lot for sharing these facts, inside stories, views candidly. After going through this interview, following are my key take aways: 1. Listen to your heart and take risks: Your journey from Siemens to CDOT to HSS to HSC is great example of the same. 2. Tough time never lasts, tough people do: the way you handled 3 challenging times of 2008, 2014 and 2020 are great examples of the same. 3. Leader is as good as his team : The way you got your team from CDOT to HSS and then to HSC is clear example of this. Once again really enjoyed listening this close to 2 hrs of interview. Getting to know we are from same Alma Mater was pleasant surprise! 😊
I know Vinod for last 20 years. He is one of the most outstanding CXOs I have had interactions with. He is what a top leader should be - humble, straightforward, honest and inspiring.
Great to learn many new things about Vinod, even if we know each other for over 7 years. His focus on telecom and transformation in the face of challenges, is the trait of an entrepreneur, a level 5 leader, as Jim Collins mentions in his book Good to Great. His commitment to startup founders is unwavering and I loved to listen to his journey as that has many tenacious lessons for all the founders we mentor together.
Nostalgic to go through the HSS journey and Vinod’s leadership. My stay was from 1996 till 2003. Vinod and his team were my largest internal stakeholders. Strong collaboration, healthy tensions with the single objective to get the best. United top leadership at the top built a culture to reckon with. One of the best places to work. Work hard, play hard! Must memorable time of my career. Remarkable leadership, Vinod!! Someone who is with the iron fist under the soft gloves. Always came across as appropriate, approachable yet not shy of taking the hard decisions. Loved the interview.
I have worked with Vinod sir for nearly a decade and it turned out to be greatest lesson in leadership and humility and transformational for my career. His way of putting faith in your abilities is what drives you to excellence. Even till today, I keep going back to him on matters of startup setup/scale and come back with newer insights. He being there is a certain kind of psychological safety which is completely absent in these days. Going back, When he started setting up HSC, I happened to be first few who joined and within a month, it was clear to me that this is going to be an organisation of highest reputation in coming years and I am proud (and lucky) to be there during the making of an organisation from scratch … a rare experience to have for anyone. Such an experience provides you an ability to build context around every aspect of organisation setup and scale. Amazing person.. amazing opportunity.. amazing time… and amazing colleagues around you - that’s HSC for you.
"Vinod Sir's interview was incredibly enlightening! I learned so much about his amazing journey at C-DOT, HSS, and HSC. Feeling grateful for the opportunity to connect with him and hear his stories."
Vinod is not merely a statesman in his own right but an extraordinary mentor to many. Throughout my entrepreneurial ventures and corporate career explorations, he has been a guiding light. For over 15 years, he has stood as an institution of wisdom and a steadfast support system in my life.
Vinod has been an excellent leader, mentor, friend to so many across 4 decades spanning numerous organisations and bodies. He has build, nurtured so many leaders. Its always fascinating to hear Vinod about these stories - which I have also experienced. Vinod continues to be calm, cool, humble and simple ... amazing ... as Prashant said 'nazar na lage' 🙂
Great interview and vinod is still a role model for me. Remember the pride and golden days when we had worked on satellite system software and the great learning at hughes with all these stalwarts.
Highly grateful to Prashant for this dialogue with a gem of India Vinod Sood who can inspire few more gems if our youth. There is a lot to learn for our young men and women from this dialogue . Fills me with joy and pride that he was in my class in PEC. Prashant ji keep on finding such gems , without bothering to see the number of views as most of our people busy on Tic Tocks making fun of their lives . If even one person gets inspired foryour dialogues and we have another Vinod will be great service to the humanity than making crowd laugh . Luv Regards Unguru Prof KK Garg
Excellent interview.. enjoyed so much watching it (without stopping even once 🙂).. Apart from all the things he said, it helped bust / clarify a few "misinformation" that some people may have carried over these years.. Excellent overall..👍👏 Good job Boss..
An immensely fascinating interview and really a nostalgic one , so close to our heart- wonderful to listen in to our favourite and respected leader Vinod Sood . Great initiative Prashant.
I went to PEC with Vinod and can attest to his sharp intellect and humbleness. Thanks for sharing this interview, very refreshing and informative.
Vinod has been our mentor when we were running our social impact startup. I have found very few leaders like him who are so humble, patient and have such clarity of thought. His poise and listening ability makes him a 'deep' person, someone who truly understands the tech or business he is doing. This video clearly depicts some of these traits that so many of us have seen over these years. In the video, he also mentioned about his wife Indra, who is well connected in the impact space - we have been fortunate to interact with her as well, have witnessed her excitement for this space and always-ready-to-help attitude
A very gripping story from 1984 to present. Proud to be witness of it 1999 onwards. I am one of those who started losing interest in erstwhile HSS once its culture started changing after acquisition by Flextronics. I was an entry-level manager at that time (2005), looking for challenges & opportunity to turn around complex tasks. When that hunger remained unsatisfied in FSS, I started looking for a change. That's when a friend/colleague suggested HSC & introduced me to Vinod. That's when I had my first F2F meeting with him & then started my journey with HSC. I was pleasantly surprised with the level of confidence he had in me from the word go. I have worked for around 4 companies but HSC always feels like a family with whom I also had my longest stint. I derive lots of inspirations from Vinod & he is a great mentor.
Vinod Sir - What an amazing journey from C-DOT to HSS to finally HSC. I am really proud to be part of the first few years of Hughes Systique where I got an opportunity to work very closely with Vinod sir. Together we hired some of the greatest engineering talent available in NCR area (who in future left and formed their own startups). I have wonderful memories from those years where I learned and made lifelong friends. I would also say that even though I was one of the few outsiders (non HSS background) in HSC, I never felt an outsider and Vinod sir always valued the external view and perspective that I bring to the table. Lot to learn from Vinod Sir - And I sincerely wish that I will get another opportunity in my life time to work again with you.
Great to hear about your early C-DoT days and also the early HSS days and rationale for formation of Hughes Systique. Everytime I see the photos of Diwali day (and other events at Hughes Systique) - invariable kindles memories of my own days at HSS and my first Diwali party of HSS. Heady days. And good interviewing - Prashant.. !!
Vinod sir is a very humble and genuine person as I know of him. Thanks for sharing his journey. Got to learn several things and inspired to do more.
It’s inspiring and motivating to listen to your amazing journey Vinod sir. Thanks for taking time and sharing your story.
Accurate description of Mr. Sood. A sweet and caring persona overlays a laser sharp intellect. I had the privilege of working and interacting with Vinod, Aadesh, and Mao, the core leadership team of Hughes Software Systems.
Dear Vinod, thanks for such a brilliant and candid interview. I did not know the story behind the start of HSC, and also the stories of resilience you displayed and commitment towards your team during tough times. Your work at HSC and helping thousands of young entrepreneurs inspire the entire fraternity. May you continue to expand the zone of your impact... Thanks Prashant for bringing this wisdom out from the humble leader...
We were class mates in engineering college. Sood, an exceptionally brilliant and genius was most popular and friend of all. Down to earth, helpful and very witty he was. The best thing is he is still like that. This is something rare to find after one touches dizzy heights in career and professional life.
I feel fortunate and proud to be his long time friend.
Finally THE leader speaks! I often wonder what attracts brightest of the bright to work with Vinod, he seems to be the Pied Piper of engineering talent :-).
I think I learnt at least three things from my personal experience and observing others who work with him:
1. He accomodates diversity, rather embraces it. Diametrically opposite work styles and he would get both to deliver. He didn't force his teams to be a bunch of tigers, but he harnessed the potential and capabilities of tigers, elephants, horses and mules too!
2. He stayed human and humane, never lost sight of the fact that at the end of the game all pieces ho back to the box the king, queen and the pawns too. He treated everyone as a "person" and not as a tool or "resource". 50 Million or 500 M won't be remembered, what will be remembered are "human" bits of "he supported me what someone threw a tantrum", "he supported me when I was going through a personal low". He stayed human with a unique personal touch.
3. He stayed positive and encouraged individual journeys. I would remember going to him with so many ideas at HSCs that seemed earthshaking (were naive though 😅), he would never shoot an idea, he would say "try it", "let's see how it pans out". Even though he could easily see the immaturity of the idea, yet he never short circuited the journey for others.
I could go on an on... Yet he ticks all the boxes of a great conductor of the symphonies we have all heard over years. He continues to orchestrate fulfilling careers and personal trajectories and very few people can say that for themselves.
May you continue to orchestrate fulfilling careers and lives, dear Vinod🙏🙏
Enjoyed every bit and wished it would go on for even longer. Prashant, you did a good job at drawing Vinod out. He was remarkably candid and lucid. His memory of past events was almost photographic in detail. Even people who think they know him well are likely to discover a new nugget. For instance, I used to think that the talk about an MBO for HSS was casual speculation. Turns out it was a real possibility. Everyone who has worked with Vinod will have a personal story or two about their positive experience. There is enough material around for a follow-on session
One of the greatest interview I have seen recently. Hats off to Vinod Sood for creating such a fabulous business and lessons and life changing decisions he took in his lifetime.
Thanks for sharing your story Vinod Sir, it’s very interesting to listen to, inspiring and motivating. You have been part of India’s technological advancement from the very beginning. Now I can relate yours and Huges story.
Studied with Vinod in elementary and middle school. He was always a serious guy. Modesty, dedication and sincerity have always been his halmark
Really proud to be your friend...your journey from CDOT to HSC..Only focus..hardwork and excellence.
Your support to startups and founders is just great..!!
A gem of person...
An excellent podcast! Vinod Sir is a visionary in technology and digital transformation, he has shaped Hughes Systique into a global leader. Proud to have him as a mentor!
"Vinod-san by Prashant" is an interview that will take many of us down memory lane, bringing back memories of our early days in engineering. It was a time when excellence and discipline were at the forefront, and we had the privilege of working on high-pressure projects for top-tier clients like Nokia, NEC, EB, Ecrio, Agilent and many more. We also had the chance to build a talent pool that any startup would envy. I still remember our first day at the HSC office-crammed into a small 10-seater cabin, where Ashish Gilotra, Nishant, Harpreet, Vinod, Ajay, and I shared a meal together! HSS/HSC Mafia put together would be dominating telecom and apps business for sure , Btw - Vinod and Prashant - what's your secret to staying so fit? You haven't aged a bit!
Learned so much about Vinod and his experience in C-DOT, HSS and HSC. Really humbled by it and really feel great to be connected with Vinod.
A truly remarkable podcast! I’ve learned so much from it. The speaker, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Hughes Systique, also chairs the CII Digital Transformation Committee. He is a visionary leader in the technology sector, particularly in software development and digital transformation. Renowned for his deep expertise and innovative mindset, he has been instrumental in shaping Hughes Systique into a globally acclaimed provider of technology solutions.
His vision and steadfast dedication to technological progress have earned him immense respect in the IT and telecommunications industries. I am incredibly proud of him-not only as a distinguished leader but also as a mentor to many, including myself.
Shared schooling and Engg college with Vinod. Proud of the hard work and success achieved by him. Congratulations and best wishes.🎉
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Vinod for the past five years, and I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s been one of the best mentors I’ve had in my life so far. Watching this podcast was an absolute delight-it gave me such a detailed glimpse into Vinod's journey, showcasing how he has consistently excelled and followed his engineering passion to become the shining star he is today and infact, has always been.
Prashant has done a phenomenal job steering the conversation with sharp, incisive questions that bring out the depth of Vinod’s experiences and his incredible approach to leadership and innovation. Despite knowing Vinod well, I was amazed to learn so many new aspects of his journey-his resilience, his commitment to excellence, and the values that drive him.
The 100 minutes flew by, and I enjoyed every moment of this insightful discussion. It’s a treasure trove for anyone looking to learn about perseverance, leadership, and staying true to your passion. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be inspired!
What were your biggest takeaways from this podcast?
Thanks Prashant for creating this platform and getting this wonderful interview with Vinod sir done!
Vinod sir: Thanks a lot for sharing these facts, inside stories, views candidly. After going through this interview, following are my key take aways:
1. Listen to your heart and take risks: Your journey from Siemens to CDOT to HSS to HSC is great example of the same.
2. Tough time never lasts, tough people do: the way you handled 3 challenging times of 2008, 2014 and 2020 are great examples of the same.
3. Leader is as good as his team : The way you got your team from CDOT to HSS and then to HSC is clear example of this.
Once again really enjoyed listening this close to 2 hrs of interview. Getting to know we are from same Alma Mater was pleasant surprise! 😊
I know Vinod for last 20 years. He is one of the most outstanding CXOs I have had interactions with. He is what a top leader should be - humble, straightforward, honest and inspiring.
Great to learn many new things about Vinod, even if we know each other for over 7 years. His focus on telecom and transformation in the face of challenges, is the trait of an entrepreneur, a level 5 leader, as Jim Collins mentions in his book Good to Great.
His commitment to startup founders is unwavering and I loved to listen to his journey as that has many tenacious lessons for all the founders we mentor together.
Nostalgic to go through the HSS journey and Vinod’s leadership. My stay was from 1996 till 2003. Vinod and his team were my largest internal stakeholders. Strong collaboration, healthy tensions with the single objective to get the best. United top leadership at the top built a culture to reckon with. One of the best places to work. Work hard, play hard! Must memorable time of my career. Remarkable leadership, Vinod!! Someone who is with the iron fist under the soft gloves. Always came across as appropriate, approachable yet not shy of taking the hard decisions. Loved the interview.
I have worked with Vinod sir for nearly a decade and it turned out to be greatest lesson in leadership and humility and transformational for my career. His way of putting faith in your abilities is what drives you to excellence. Even till today, I keep going back to him on matters of startup setup/scale and come back with newer insights. He being there is a certain kind of psychological safety which is completely absent in these days. Going back, When he started setting up HSC, I happened to be first few who joined and within a month, it was clear to me that this is going to be an organisation of highest reputation in coming years and I am proud (and lucky) to be there during the making of an organisation from scratch … a rare experience to have for anyone. Such an experience provides you an ability to build context around every aspect of organisation setup and scale. Amazing person.. amazing opportunity.. amazing time… and amazing colleagues around you - that’s HSC for you.
"Vinod Sir's interview was incredibly enlightening! I learned so much about his amazing journey at C-DOT, HSS, and HSC. Feeling grateful for the opportunity to connect with him and hear his stories."
Vinod is not merely a statesman in his own right but an extraordinary mentor to many. Throughout my entrepreneurial ventures and corporate career explorations, he has been a guiding light. For over 15 years, he has stood as an institution of wisdom and a steadfast support system in my life.
Vinod has been an excellent leader, mentor, friend to so many across 4 decades spanning numerous organisations and bodies. He has build, nurtured so many leaders. Its always fascinating to hear Vinod about these stories - which I have also experienced. Vinod continues to be calm, cool, humble and simple ... amazing ... as Prashant said 'nazar na lage' 🙂
What a journey Vinod. Onwards and upwards 👏
Great interview and vinod is still a role model for me. Remember the pride and golden days when we had worked on satellite system software and the great learning at hughes with all these stalwarts.
Highly grateful to Prashant for this dialogue with a gem of India Vinod Sood who can inspire few more gems if our youth. There is a lot to learn for our young men and women from this dialogue . Fills me with joy and pride that he was in my class in PEC.
Prashant ji keep on finding such gems , without bothering to see the number of views as most of our people busy on Tic Tocks making fun of their lives . If even one person gets inspired foryour dialogues and we have another Vinod will be great service to the humanity than making crowd laugh .
Luv Regards
Unguru Prof KK Garg
More power to you Professor !
Excellent interview.. enjoyed so much watching it (without stopping even once 🙂).. Apart from all the things he said, it helped bust / clarify a few "misinformation" that some people may have carried over these years.. Excellent overall..👍👏 Good job Boss..
Listening to this was a super nostalgic ride...Boss came to know lots of things about you 😊
An immensely fascinating interview and really a nostalgic one , so close to our heart- wonderful to listen in to our favourite and respected leader Vinod Sood . Great initiative Prashant.