Ankush Sharma is not just a data scientist; he’s a visionary architect, building a future where data-driven insights transform industries. As the Co-Founder and CEO of DataToBiz, along with his partner, COO, P.S. Dhillon, he has escalated the company’s growth from an idea into a reliable force in the data and IT industry.
Ankush’s leadership is defined by a relentless pursuit of innovation. His in-house creations, PrepAI and HireLakeAI, are not mere products but solutions that address critical business challenges in the education and recruitment domain. Under his guidance, DataToBiz has become a trusted partner for enterprises(across the globe) seeking to leverage AI, BI, and digital, data-driven business transformation solutions.
But it’s not just about numbers and technology. Ankush is a cultivator of talent, with a belief: “Hire people who are smarter than you so that you can delegate work and be confident that they’ll take care of it”, fostering a culture of self-reliance and growth. His team-first approach has been instrumental in navigating the crumbs of the startup ecosystem and emerging stronger.
His inclusion in your prestigious platform- Ideamensch, will inspire the next generation of tech leaders. His story is a testament to the power of data science to drive positive change, and his journey is far from over. By recognizing Ankush, you will not just be supporting an individual’s journey but a movement toward being data-driven.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
As I need to interact with different stakeholders in a day, so usually rather than aiming to make my day productive and aggressively plan for it, I usually aim for a week as a single unit of productivity. In an ideal scenario, around 50-60% of my week is pre-planned (at least a week before) with my client appointments of internal weekly calls with department heads. The remaining 30% of the time slots are scheduled at least a day before, making 80% of my time pre-scheduled for any given day. The remaining 20% of the day’s time is dynamic, which requires me to address some of the operational scenarios during the day or some unexpected things that might fall into place.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Regarding bringing ideas to life, I am not that hard-core idea-generator guy, to be honest. We have a very solid process in place within the organizations, where we promote internal employees to keep on sharing whatever new ideas they come across. We have a dedicated idea research team in-house with a fixed framework/benchmark to validate those ideas by doing proper research.
Once the research is done, then it is pitched to the core idea validation team, which I am also a member of. At DataToBiz, ideas are not driven by senior leadership authority, or there’s not a hierarchy involved, but with the merit of the idea backed by research regardless of whom it’s coming from. In that way, we don’t attach too much to an idea but take an unbiased approach toward validating the ideas and bringing them to life.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I mean my work is established on data, and at first, the data is a bunch of random stuff coming from multiple places, unless you streamline it! Hence, for me, finding patterns within the randomness is one of the key things that seems exciting and gives a lot of adrenaline rush.
There are so many trends going out there, but one such trend that pushes me hard towards my day-to-day goals is how shall we remain relevant (as an individual or as an organization) in this ultra-short attention span world. The way brands were built in the past won’t work in today’s generation and every brand (whether new or old) has to find a way of being relevant and market themselves better. Hence it democratizes the brand-building process and tries to give equal chance to newer companies/brands as well.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Being 80% pre-planned and not going out of the way in my day-to-day appointments/tasks and 20% keeping it open to accommodate the things on the go.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Finding the right balance of being patient is the key to success. Most of the time, I used to be under-patience where more patience was required and sometimes I was over-patient where less patience was required. So finding the right balance is the key!
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I won’t say nobody agrees, but yes most of the people find it hard to relate to or lack implementation. I solely believe in being myself in whatever situation/scenario arises in front of me. I try to keep my original nature as it is rather than wearing different masks in different situations. In that way, I can maintain consistency in my personality and how people perceive me.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
If there’s one practice I’ve increasingly embraced and advocated for, it’s maintaining consistency in goal-setting. While I’ll admit that in the early years of my entrepreneurial journey, I was prone to frequent shifts in priorities and objectives, I’ve since recognized the value of stability and focus. I’ve learned that success often requires patience and dedication to a singular direction. Rather than constantly changing the goalposts for my team, I now prioritize consistency, setting clear objectives, and allowing sufficient time for execution and evaluation.By adhering to this approach, I’ve observed greater clarity, efficiency, and ultimately, better outcomes. I believe it’s a practice worth adopting for anyone seeking sustainable progress and achievement in their endeavors.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
In such scenarios, I try to defocus myself and try to take a holistic approach to deciding what I am trying to achieve and whether the approach I am taking makes sense or not. I always try to find a non-conventional approach or a lazy way to achieve the required solution. In that way, I do get the ideas/approaches to attempt a problem in a very different way, which gives a different perspective and outcome. Hence switching between the microscopic and macroscopic view and vice versa is the key that works in most of the cases for me.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
There is no single strategy I can think of to share. Different stages of growth (both individual and organizational levels) require different strategies. But one thing that has been consistent with me and contributed a lot to where I am today is “Being Honest and True to Myself”. This is one quality that I believe can help others as well and whenever we are true to ourselves, our subconscious mind somehow registers the right way/problem to solve to move ahead and once we see the right path after that it’s all about execution.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
There are so many failures in my career I might have done but I never see them as a failure. For me, it is a way for life/universe to teach us any particular thought/skill/idea/thing that we might need to move to the next phase of life. Hence I never take any particular failure too seriously that it becomes difficult for me to overcome.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea I’m willing to give away to your readers is the concept of a “Smart Community Hub.”
Imagine a platform that connects local businesses, residents, and local governments to foster a smarter, more connected community. This hub would use advanced analytics technologies to provide real-time information and services tailored to the needs of each community member.
For example, local businesses could use the platform to offer targeted promotions based on community trends and preferences. Residents could access a personalized dashboard that includes everything from local news and event notifications to utility usage insights and public service updates. Local governments could use the data to identify community needs and improve public services, from waste management to public safety.
The Smart Community Hub would leverage technologies like IoT, AI, and big data analytics to create a seamless and interactive user experience. By integrating various data sources and providing actionable insights, this platform could significantly enhance the quality of life in communities, drive local economic growth, and improve the efficiency of public services.
It’s a win-win for everyone involved, and the potential for scalability and customization makes it a versatile solution for communities of all sizes.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use ”Google Calendar” very religiously. I try to keep all my meetings/calls/tasks on my calendar and categorize every entry into one particular category. In that way, I can see for a day/week/month, where I spent most of my time and whether this is what I intended to do. Plus that way, I never miss anything important and do not need to remember it, which anyways I won’t be able to it provided the variety of tasks I perform every week.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
Reflecting on recent expenditures, I prioritize investments that contribute to my personal growth and well-being. While I adhere to essentials for a comfortable life, the majority of discretionary spending is allocated towards experiences and resources that nurture various aspects of my development – physical, personal, financial, spiritual, and emotional.
One notable investment that comes to mind is my purchase of a Kindle device. This decision wasn’t merely about acquiring a gadget but about unlocking a gateway to a vast repository of knowledge and inspiration. With access to an extensive library of books and magazines, I can delve into enriching content anytime, anywhere, without the hassle of carrying physical copies or arranging specific titles. The convenience and versatility offered by the Kindle have significantly enhanced my reading habits, allowing me to explore diverse topics and perspectives at my leisure. It’s not just a device; it’s a catalyst for continuous learning and personal enrichment, making it a worthwhile investment in my journey of self-improvement.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
There are many personal favorites in terms of books. But 2 of them stand out differently –
Rich Dad Poor Dad – I know a cliche answer, but it’s so good!!
It helped me get a personal finance perspective, especially in my 20s,
The Hard Thing About Hard Things – To give a perspective at our initial company-building stage
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I have recently wanted a Bollywood Hindi movie “12th Fail”, It is a story of the struggle of one of the real IPS officers from India. It shows how he came from a very humble background with no resources and went on to crack one of the toughest recognized exams in India and Globally. It shows the significance of character and patience in achieving the big things in life even when we have 0% favorable and supporting chances to meet our objectives.
Key learnings:
- Weekly Productivity Planning: Ankush Sharma approaches productivity by planning every week rather than daily. Approximately 50-60% of his week is pre-planned, 30% is scheduled a day in advance, and the remaining 20% is reserved for dynamic and unexpected tasks.
- Structured Idea Validation: At DataToBiz, ideas are promoted internally and evaluated based on merit through a structured process. Employees share ideas, which are researched by a dedicated team before being pitched to a validation team that includes Ankush. This ensures that ideas are judged objectively and not influenced by hierarchy.
- Trend Excitement and Brand Relevance: Ankush is excited by the challenge of finding patterns in data and the necessity of staying relevant today. He highlights the democratization of brand-building, where both new and established brands must continually innovate to capture attention and market themselves effectively.