Defunct after 4

Like in many start-ups, we do many new things: ventures, geographies, products, ideas, pilots, chip, change, etc. To grow, to keep us ahead, to keep us challenged.

Many of our kin also do that. They get big wigs from the industry to lead them by the “been there, done that” kinds. “Why reinvent the wheel?” they say. Rightfully, so.

We do it differently, though, at OfBusiness. Most of our functions, products and new initiatives are led by OFBians with 4-5 years of experience, almost all that experience with us.

Our model is simple; we recruit young. Less than 2 years of experience, majorly freshmen. And promise them 4 years to the top. “4 years to business head”: our key proposition to campuses. Compelling enough for most, especially if we have walked the talk.

Most get to leadership in 4 years. What after that? They are defunct.

These men and women are the ones who do the new stuff. They have no experience in what they do, but they are armed with the key skill that they have learnt in the 4 years. They can get stuff done, particularly at OfBusiness, which is all what they and we care for!

Plus, they have enormous acceptance in the org. And, it rejuvenates them like never before. The dream is simple – 1 st year a worker, 2nd a manager, 3 rd a leader, 4 th a BU Head and 5 th onwards an entrepreneur. With each passing year, you have to do what role comes newly in the year plus all the previous years’ roles.

With a lack of domain experience, do they have to reinvent the wheel? 100%!! That’s what we want to do. We believe the wheel has been turning wrong, and we want them to set it right. And who better than homegrown talent to attempt it.

It has its obvious advantages. The team inside is secure that they are the ones who will reach the top and not borrowed talent. It reduces our dependency on the outside as well. And the byproduct of camaraderie is seen to be believed.

Does it have disadvantages: many – but beyond a point, we don’t care. 

Took us a while to get there, though. 4 years of patience, to be precise, till the 1 st batch was ready for leadership. After that, it’s an engine that self-fuels. Every single year, 20 of us get defunct and are ready for entrepreneurship within.

Interesting proposition? With the recruitment season beginning, do write to us at hr@ofbusiness.in and ashish.kumar@ofbusiness.in

Read more from CEO speaks Column:-
– Dealing with failures
– Humility the Multiplier