Vach Pillutla AL Ikhsan Sports: World's Best Emerging Leader 2022

Vach Pillutla, CEO, AL IKHSAN SPORTS, MALAYSIA

What makes a strong leader? What are your key leadership strengths are make the strongest attributes of success?

In my opinion, what makes a strong leader is his/her ability to show empathy towards one’s employees and aligning them successfully towards company goals and objectives. In my view, one of my strengths as a leader is to always provide a context to whatever decisions are being made and clearly communicating the direction that I want my employees to take. Additionally, I also believe in coaching and guiding my team members so that they are able to maintain the pace. My attempt is to do all this fairly and with a very clear KPI driven approach. In all this, it is important to monitor and measure how the organization is tracking vis a vis the KPIs and the destination.

An acc o m p l is h m e n t t h a t yo u c on sider t o b e t h e m o s t si g nifi c a n t in yo ur c ar e er? What challenges did you face to reach to the success?

In my view, the fact that our business has grown tremendously well over the past 5 years despite headwind is one of the key accomplishments. Our sales grew 50% and profitability grew 400% between 2017 to 2019. We are all aware that the world has been suffering from Covid for the past 2 years. Despite the tough conditions, we have managed to deliver a consistently profitable result with our market share increase.

What is a role of leader in these challenging times.

Coach and retain your best employees and keep them motivated

Ability to manage uncertainty and deliver consistent profit

Ensuring that too much cash is not locked up in inventory

Nurture a strong and healthy ecosystem of vendors, consumers and partners

Invest heavily in digital and ensure continuous engagement with consumers

What is your vision and how do you share that with your shareholders, employees and others?

My vision is to build Al Ikhsan into a world class organization with over 50% market share within multi-brand sports retail category by 2025. Ultimately, our goal is to list this company within the Malaysia stock exchange, thereby making this the first Bumiputera retailer to list on the stock exchange. When I had taken over the Al Ikhsan Sports in January 2017, I had shared my goal objectives, mission and vision along with the 5 years business plan. I have quarterly and annual discussion with my board in terms of how we are tracking and regular town halls every quarter with my employees where we communicate our results.