Radha Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, Government e-Marketplace, India
By Apala Bhattacharya
Women in GovTech 2018 Special Report.
My mantra as the CEO of Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is to bring speed, transparency, efficiency in public procurement in a transparent, contactless and efficient manner. This also resounds with the vision at the highest levels of policy making in the Government of India.
Since its inception in 2016, GeM has today over 30% of its sellers as micro, medium and small enterprises, creating opportunities for small manufacturers in remote hinterlands of the country to sell and to interface with the government, directly – total disintermediation.
What has been the most exciting thing that you worked on in 2018?
The mission drives planned for about a 40-100 day period with the idea of generating more awareness about GeM, and mass trainings for on-boarding of buyers and sellers. These have helped in expanding the horizon of GeM, which has been most exciting thing of 2018. Also, showcasing GeM to the world community has been a source of immense pride and honour.
If you were to share one piece of advice that you learned in 2018, what would it be?
The one thing that 2018 has brought to the forefront is inclusion and teamwork both inside and outside of office that any senior manager must keep on their radar - always along with maintaining the confidence of seniors.
What tool or technique particularly interests you for 2019?
The focus for 2019 would be to introduce tools and techniques which bring in greater data security in GeM. Continued efforts for localisation by using high-end AI tools and techniques are also of particular interest.
What are your priorities for 2019?
To bring in technology led solutions for improving the GeM platform.
What is one skill that has helped you the most throughout the course of your career?
Perseverance.
What advancements do you predict will happen in your field in the next ten years?
BI-led analytics, coupled with a whole new generation of technology-aware entrepreneurs will be the highlight of this sector.
Coffee, yoga, music… what powers you through your day?
Unquestionably, music is what powers me through day. As a famous Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras once said, “There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres”.
Also, the famous philosopher Plato was known to have an extreme interest in music. He said that music, particularly harmonies, help highlight their importance within both an individual and society. Music is my discipline that I start my day with and across the years it has strengthened and sharpened my mind, calmed my soul and helped me stay focused.
Music as a discipline has also helped improve relationships and it has helped me be an effective manager and team player across my various assignments in serving the Indian Government both at the state and national levels.