CEO of Vu Technologies and marketing head of Zenith Computers, Devita Saraf doesn’t mince words and is not one to rest on her family’s achievements. “I began my entrepreneurial journey at 16 when I started training under my father at Zenith. I went on to become the director of marketing for Zenith at 21 after having successfully launched several new products for the company,” says Saraf. She graduated from HR College, Mumbai, before moving to the USA for higher studies. She earned her Bachelor of Business Management degree with a specialisation in marketing from the University of Southern California, USA. Additionally, Saraf also completed a course in Game Theory and Strategic Thinking from London School of Economics, UK, and one in management in technology from University of California, Berkeley.
In 2006, she launched Vu Technologies, which brought luxury into the LCD and LED TV segment in the country. She elaborates, “Over the years, Vu Technologies has developed a wide product range — intelligent TVs, India’s large screen LED TVs with the lowest power consumption, India’s first 3D video camera, video walls, customised TV panels, waterproof LCDs, car TVs and touch-screen products.” She has steered Vu Technologies to claim its place at the fore-front of technological innovations by marrying technology with luxury. “I’m very good at building and am a design-oriented person in terms of spaces and products,” she says.
In 2010, Saraf co-founded the US-based Vu TelePresence, where she serves as co-founder. Based out of Pittsburgh, USA, Vu TelePresence provides tele-presence solutions for small and mid-sized business marketplaces. It provides an affordable solution with Fortune 500 level service.
At the age of 26, she won Zee TV’s Youngest Achiever Award and also bagged Indo-American Society’s Most Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur award. She is also the youngest businesswoman on India Today’s list of 25 Most Powerful Women in India. She also addresses leadership conferences and entrepreneurial events regularly.
Her take on entrepreneurship and advice to youngsters is, “Enterpreneurship is not easy — it’s like getting married – a very serious long-term commitment. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone without adequate experience or a fall back option. Being successful as a first-timer is possible, but you need to be very focused. You can have your hobbies and social life, but managing to juggle both is the real challenge. I don’t respect someone who does a little bit of this and that.”
Saraf has managed to successfully balance her work and personal life. But she also goes a step further by mentoring students at Wharton, advising NGOs and being a part of TiE. Saraf’s interests clearly lie beyond the board room as she is a trained classical dancer, takes an active interest in drama and is an expert at Ikebana. This is one role model many would love to emulate.
— preethi@newindianexpress.com