This document discusses Ritesh Sarvaiya's relationship with his "4 am friend" Fredrick Hamilton. It describes how they met when Sarvaiya was working for Wipro, and how impressed Hamilton was with Sarvaiya's skills and work. Sarvaiya credits Hamilton for his professional and personal growth over the years. He still consults Hamilton for advice on important decisions. Hamilton also reminds Sarvaiya to maintain a work-life balance and not neglect his personal life while pursuing ambitions.

1. FOR CAREERS IN THE FAST LANE
T H E ECO N O M I C T I M E S M U M B A I G T U E S DAY G 7 D EC E M B E R 2010 *
RIGHT SAID FRED
F or Ritesh Sarvaiya,
CMD, Rikhav In-
fotech, a 4 am friend is
someone who is not only
available during tough
as a technical consultant.
“Fred was general manager
- operations, Wipro BPO
Solutions and was six lev-
els above me. Over 1500
ise, he made me a part of
his core team. Being a task-
master, it wasn't easy
working with Hamilton.
But, today, at every step in
seamlessly as we did when
we were not so big. He has
been a powerful guiding
force for my company. His
leadership skills, his ability
times, but also takes you out people reported to him and my role as the leader of my to inspire and motivate
of that trouble. “My 4 am the way he went about his team, I realised the impor- people, knowledge and un-
friend is the one who gives work, the respect he com- tance of whatever I have derstanding of myriad top-
me an honest feedback, calls manded was truly awe-in- learnt from him. I feel ex- ics as well as his ability to
a spade a spade, not worry- spiring. Once an an- tremely privileged to have think big and think out-of-
ing about my stature or nouncement was made worked with him and the-box are some of the
what I may think or feel that he needed a Microsoft grown tremendously, both qualities, which I truly ad-
about it,” says Sarvaiya. Excel expert and I took the professionally and person- mire in him.”
Sarvaiya met Fredrick initiative and helped him ally,” recalls Sarvaiya. “Fred has always re-
Hamilton when he was out. Impressed with my How often does he con- minded me to maintain a
working at Wipro in 2004 proactiveness and expert- sult him for advice and he work-life balance. He be-
replies, “I consult him lieves if you are successful
whenever I am stuck with at the cost of your personal
choices - as to which road life, you are not successful
to take that will take me at all. And I completely
forward with minimum agree with him; I try to
risks. Having ideas is one leave office by 6 pm so I
thing, executing them is an can spend some quality
altogether different ball time with my family. There
game and Fred is the one, are times when I get blind-
who has always given me ed by my ambitions and
the right advice with ex- unintentionally overlook
tremely logical and patient my personal life but from
explanations. Six months nowhere Fred pops up in
ago, when I moved to this my mind to remind me
facility, I had no idea if we that I have life beyond
could manage the show as work,” adds Sarvaiya