At Brilliant Read Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Colonel Rohit Dev for an interview with Brilliant Read Media. To say further, Colonel Rohit is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Managing Director and Founder of Reveille Energy. Let’s learn more about his background, his inspiring journey so far and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Colonel Rohit:
Could you please talk to us through your background and your journey?
Being a 2nd Generation Officer, my career-based responsibilities commenced as an Army Officer where I served the Indian Army, the best in the World, for nearly 24 years. Post serving in a gratifying and opportunity-galore environment, I joined a friend at his request to lead the most promising Bioenergy Company of that time, as their Chief Operating Officer and we took it 15x up on the growth path, curating pathways for growth and opportunities for ex-servicemen in various domains in rural economy.
In the interim, post being out of that Company, I served with a leading Aerospace start-up, a leading Logistics Company and also an Institute for Skill Development, all of Bharat and, as their Chief Business Officer. I curated a Start-Up, my neo-passion, ‘Reveille Energy’, when I turned 50 in 2023 and took it forward for interactions post 15th August 2024.
Besides that, I am the Co-Chairperson of BGAF, Indian Federation of Green Energy, an Expert Adviser with Indian Biogass Association, an Adviser & Mentor with 3E BIOedhan Sustainable Solutions Pvt. Ltd, a Partner with BBB Summit, Lead Member of a Special Review Committee of Govt of India and a Mentor for Start-Ups in Renewable Bioenergy Space.
I am also an Adjunct Professor at the Rashtriya Raksha University, a Media Personality and Social Media Influencer. That besides one does some more but might have to kill you if one told you!
How did you discover your passion?
My passion is to Ignite, Initiate and Inspire the Glorious Minds of Our Youth and Diaspora in nearly all walks of life and to support Veterans in their transition; especially other than officers, who need to fend for themselves post a glorious sojourn with the Indian Armed Forces.
This passion stems from the fact that one has seen life across rural and urban landscapes, visited few countries and observed shades of life that people nurture amidst their challenges and much of that one has observed while being posted to places with my late Father being in Army and later the military tenures one had oneself too. Stories of Military, Industry and great leadership of Flagships like TATA Group etc has always inspired to do something more and that inspite of the fact that one has had meagre resources.
One has been able to do this in nearly all portfolios one has handled since becoming a Veteran myself. The connection with fellow soldiers and the camaraderie and compassion which the Armed Forces are imbued with leads many to develop a passion to ‘Do More for Our Nation’ and it is that “Jasba” that propels military minds in uniform and business formals as well. One is no exception to that ‘Way of Life’ while certainly is labelled a “Positive Extreme” when pursuing those opportunities.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
Challenges themselves are an inspiration to survive through them and excel, as being the best has always driven many professionally and my challenges in being short stature, fragile etc egged me on to push harder, right since training days at the National Defence Academy, where one pushed himself to the edge and excelled and continued to do so later in career to remain in Top Echelon.
Mind can be conditioned through enduring hardship; physical and mental, and one is glad that the Armed Forces allowed me those opportunities and windows to excel always. Tenacity to pursue a course of action always added to the resolve and built Character which developed Convictions and enthused the Courage and Will to ‘Do the Right’ and against all odds.
The Self-belief to prevail, struggle through, compete and eventually excel has been dominant and as an exemplification, one would cite that in the Commando Course; allegedly the most arduous in military training in the World, one excelled in a nearly 42 days course after a meniscus tear on the 8th day of what is considered a very challenging course which many Young Officers undertake. It is all in the Mind; the Power to Excel, Survive and Win!
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
There have been many lessons along this wonderful life thus far, but I will pick one each from three prominent stages. First, from childhood, I drew a lot of inspiration from my late Father who called ‘Spade a Spade’ and stuck to his Convictions and Compassion for troops and this helped me do the same and more during service life.
Second, from military service one learnt that Dependability is key along with Directive Style to nurture better leaders. Third, from corporate life thus far, one is compelled to acknowledge that Backstabbers are never your enemies as you have your sights on them but are close circle friend(s) who might bite you for their own vested interests and against principled life lessons you learnt back in Armed Forces.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
To opine on keys to success one must be able to define success and that certainly is not the measure of Wealth, Celebrity Fame or, Profit and Loss. Through my lens, one sees success as being able to Inspire, Innovate and Imbue. It is the ability to strengthen the hands of others, give voice to the causes of others and to be able to curate dimensions for a better society for future generations.
It is the vision to look beyond and tread on the path of harder right than the easier wrong and be able to get more people on the same path without fear or favour. With that in mind, one would say that Character, Conviction and Courage to Act are quintessential elements for success, as a good upbringing and experiences with challenges builds an indomitable Character, through that emboldened Character comes Conviction that guides one in Life and through that steadfast Conviction is borne the Courage to Act and Do what if Right; always and every time.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Youth are much more aware of the steps to success that they deem appropriate and some of them even might be willing to pick up the negatives and tread on a path they feel will lead to success, as they perceive it.
Keeping it short and sweet for GenZ an GenA to assimilate, one would mention for their consideration that they should take their time and not hurry up with their education and in trying to seek a job. They must build a solid foundation of education and experience before moving towards jobs.
They must seek opportunities, based on their passion and interest, to create their own Start-Ups with a vision to enable Bharat better. While in a career, one must focus and align with the goals of that organisation, institution or company while one must endeavour to build their professional networking connections, pursue their passions and hobbies and engage in upskilling constantly to lead the curve and find their role enhancement opportunities at a faster pace and without incumbency.
In colleges, while in 2nd year, if not 1st year, one must endeavour to have a Start-Up initiated and work routinely to make it grow as a passion. This independence will bring out many latent talents and skills and push one to learn more and yearn more. Youth must never be inspired by career growth which leads to suppressing of their convictions and character, while adaptability and dependability remain key to their success as well.
Youth must learn and understand systems, processes and legislations well and be able to contribute towards the surge of Bharat towards #ViksitBharat and beyond and evolve as ‘Thought Leaders’ in the ‘path of Passion’ they pursue and this will be a reality if they constantly hone their skills and upgrade their knowledge base. The ‘Guru Mantra’ must be to Learn, Listen, Love, Liberate and Live well as Life is Beautiful but just one!
Finally, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
My journey of more than 51 years on Earth and nestled in ‘Shrestha’ Bharat has been about having great friends, leading the best soldiers on the Planet, inspiring us Citizens, Youth and Diaspora and putting fear in the enemies of Bharat; on the borders, within and over new media.
One has loved to lead and will always cherish the Victories that we had as part of the Reconnaissance Platoon, when one was young in 11 MECH INF (18 RAJ RIF); the Unit where one was born, raised and Commissioned and the challenging training and operational missions one set while serving 16 MECH INF as their Commanding Officer and saw the smiles of soldiers enduring those necessary exposures and ordeals with me to be the ‘Best and First Combat Group Going Into Pakistan’ as per plans conceived then
I have spent my ample time and paltry money nurturing and igniting minds and it makes me glad to see lives change for good and resolve getting strengthened to ‘Do More for Our Nation’ in many more Citizens and Diaspora. I have loved seeing a transition in the Armed Forces where children of other than Officers have excelled in training and joined the Forces; something one always asked troops to do was to educate the next generation better and invest in that part of their children. I have loved to see some of our Youth become Good Entrepreneurs through mentorship enabled by the Government, utilising Citizens like us.
It fills my heart with gratitude to see some good leaders inspire Our Bharat and Youth joining the bandwagon with much aplomb and energy. I have lived by many convictions and loved with much compassion, and I have truly done it ‘My Way’! JAI HIND!
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