Sudhir Goel of Acer India on the support and lead with confidence

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. Shail Desai 4 min Read 25 Aug 2025, 11:30 ais Trust Builds Teams (Pexels) Summary Sudhir Goel, chief business officer of Acer India, shares insights on mentoring, the importance of curiosity and to keep one of the earliest life lessons that Sudhir Goel has been “curious. It has been a leading force since joining Acer India in 1999. “At the time, it wasn’t going to have all the answers. It was about the right questions, made the effort and advance challenges. In an industry that is constantly growing, the curiosity keeps on, while the dedication keeps you going, ‘says the head of the head of Bengaluru, Head of Sake, Acer India. Goel joined Acer India at a time when it just came from a joint venture. Over the years he has seen their transition from a small team to one of the top players in the computer market. In addition to laptops and table computers, their portfolio today also contains servers, workstations and lifestyle devices. A major highlight was their ‘make in India’ initiative that made India an important innovation and manufacturing center in the world’s global ecosystem. “The Indian market offers a great opportunity, as only 10-14% of the population owns a laptop. What keeps driving me is the transformative journey to watch the brand grow, adapt and lead in a dynamic market,” he says. Goel talks to lounge about mentoring and why he likes to pull out time for himself. Look at the full Beeld Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India Who do you consider your mentor? I haven’t had a single mentor in the traditional sense yet, but I was fortunate enough to get many seniors, which formed my professional life and changed my view to life. I have always looked up to APJ Abdul Kalam and Narendra Modi, who began to become humble to become leaders and to form the fate of the people of the nation. In professional life, my two longest serving managers, Mr. Mukund and Mr. Kohli, learned different aspects of matters. A great insight you have worked on with your guidance from your mentor? A mentor, a close colleague and now my manager, Harish Kohli, managing director and president of Acer India, still plays an important role in shaping our strategic direction. We focused together on promoting Acer’s Make in India Vision and strengthening local R&D capabilities, both of which were transformative for our business. Its vision is clear – India not only must remain a consumption market, but grow to a pivot for innovation. What means to be a mentor to you? How do you mentor colleagues at work? Mentoring is about the creation of an environment where others can grow, think independently and discover their voice. It is about offering support, guidance and constructive challenge if necessary. I try to lead with confidence and openness. I encourage colleagues to make ownership, make decisions and learn from their mistakes. I believe that real growth occurs when people feel empowered rather than becoming micromante. What do your morning schedule look like? My mornings are a mixture of mindfulness and to keep up to date. I start the day by catching up world news and current affairs. It helps me to stay attached to the bigger picture outside just matters. I then do light yoga or go for a walk, which helps to clean the spirit and give a calm tone for the day. And of course no morning is completed without my morning ‘Chai Par Charcha’ with my wife, which is a bit of a ritual in itself. What are some of the productivity principles that you follow that made your professional and personal life much easier? I focus on prioritizing what really matters, rather than chasing perfection. Planning my day helps me to stay organized while delegating and trusting my team, I can focus on strategic tasks. I also make it a point to carve out personal time – even a short walk or reading break helps to restore and maintain the balance. Staying disciplined, yet flexible, both work and life have made more manageable. What is the one positive work routine you developed during the pandemic? I personally contacted each team member. In such a difficult time, to be available as a support system, not just as a leader, but as a colleague, made a big difference. Regular check-in, open conversations and simply there to build a stronger emotional band within the team. It brought a sense of unity, trust and family, which not only helped us navigate the crisis, but also strengthen our culture. Any book or podcast that you would recommend about mentoring and growing? I regularly recommend the talent Sutra by Devdutt Pattanaik. It is in the Indian context and I believe that the Sutras apply more to us. When it comes to podcasts, some I find valuable, the knowledge project of Shane Parrish for deep thinking and decision -making, masters of scale by Reid Hoffman, packed with real leaders insights, and the daily stoic for timeless wisdom that is amazingly relevant in the fast world of today. How do you relax? Do you pursue any serious hobbies? I enjoy reading and traveling when I can. The examination of new places and cultures gives me a fresh perspective on both life and work. It helps me to step back, think and return with renewed energy. Sometimes just a quiet evening with a good book or a meaningful conversation is all it takes to relax. It is less about hobbies and more about moments that bring clarity and balance. Monday motivation is a series in which business leaders discuss their mentors and their work ethic. Catch all the business news, market news, news reports and latest news updates on Live Mint. 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