At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Sampath Iyengar for an exclusive interview with us. He is an Entrepreneur, Mentor, Leadership Coach, Corporate Trainer and Founder at BlueTiger Learning Services Pvt. Ltd. Let’s learn more about his incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sampath:
Could you please share your background and journey with us?
I was born and raised in a small village in Karnataka, studied in Kannada medium Government schools, and pursued my Engineering degree from the nearest college. Later on, I did a year-long executive education from IIM and multiple global certifications to upskill myself
In 1986, I began my career as a construction engineer with a meager daily wage of Rs.15. In my 25 years of corporate career, I changed jobs and industries multiple times and had the opportunity to travel to more than 30 countries.
While working as the Vice President for a top IT services organization, leading a team of over 4500 people, I decided to step away from the comfort of a corporate career and embark on my entrepreneurial journey.
Despite having a talented team, well-crafted training modules, and putting in relentless hard work, our venture, BlueTiger, faced significant failures during its initial two years.
Our dream of building India’s biggest and best finishing school was shattered as our offerings didn’t align with the market’s demand for quick and easy success, which institutions and students sought. This led me to pivot into corporate training, and in retrospect, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
Continuous learning from renowned global trainers and coaches enabled me to enhance the value I provide to my clients and customers. As a result, my brand and business experienced rapid growth.
I had the privilege of training and coaching some of the world’s finest leaders, including esteemed judges and top bureaucrats in Asia. It is immensely satisfying to contribute to nation-building by adding value to the most privileged and influential leaders in the country.
How did you discover your passion for coaching?
In 2003, I underwent a personality development program conducted by a top faculty member from the Dale Carnegie Academy. It was during this program that I realized the profound happiness I derive from influencing people’s thoughts and positively impacting their lives.
Over the years, I dedicated myself to continual upskilling and practice, transitioning into a Leadership Trainer and eventually a Leadership Coach.
How do you persevere through challenges? What motivates you?
I consider myself blessed. Although I have faced numerous challenges in my journey as a coach, they have had minimal impact on me. The thoughts and actions I share with my clients are authentic, and I preach and practice what I believe in. Witnessing the success of my clients provides me with immense motivation to continue adding value to their lives.
On the personal front, I like challenges a lot more. Running 24 hours inside a stadium, multi-day intercity runs, climbing several Himalayan mountains, and doing it successfully without any trouble keeps me ready for the next challenge.
Who has been your greatest source of motivation?
I believe that no individual is perfect. I closely observe everyone around me and draw inspiration from them. It could be my father’s honesty, my mother’s adaptability, my mother-in-law’s kindness and work ethic, my wife’s ability to appreciate and enjoy the small things around us, my son’s curiosity and integrity, and countless others among the common people around me and successful leaders worldwide. By being willing to observe and adopt, you can find something special in everyone.
What strategies have helped you grow as a person?
I live by the belief that “Life is Simple, Make it Awesome”:
> Embrace simplicity in life—think, act, and live simply.
> Work hard, work smart, and strive for a balanced approach.
> Take responsibility for your life and be proactive in making changes if needed. Avoid blaming others or making excuses.
> Approach each day with ambition, give your best effort, and find contentment before resting your head on the pillow. Repeat this process day after day.
> Lifelong learning & upskilling is crucial—Be a lifelong student of life.
> Giving top priority to health & fitness irrespective of what’s happening in my life
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Success varies from person to person and changes over time. Here are some key principles:
(a) Clarify what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice to achieve it.
(b) Believe in yourself. Seek guidance from those who matter, but remember that nobody knows you better than you do.
(c) Take calculated risks and remain persistent in your efforts. Sooner or later, something amazing will happen.
(d) Consistency is the key. Incremental daily improvements lead to significant success over time.
(e) Failure is the default, but success requires intention, effort, and time.
(f) Invest in yourself. Your well-being, both physical and mental, is your greatest asset.
What advice would you give to our readers?
While I am in the profession of giving advice, I would refrain from providing free advice as there is already an abundance of free advice available to everyone and no one gives any importance to them.
Instead, I encourage readers to ask themselves a few essential questions and seek answers:
– What activities do I genuinely enjoy, whether or not I am rewarded for them?
– How do I currently fare in terms of physical and mental health, and how do I envision improving it?
– Do my capabilities align with my actions, and how can I unlock my fullest potential?
– What motivates my actions, and how can I enhance my performance?
Lastly, what makes your journey satisfying and exciting?
When I reflect upon the path I have traversed, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward the people who have supported me along the way. If someone had asked me what I wanted to become at the age of 60, even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have envisioned what I have achieved today.
Although financial success is important, the love, respect, and kindness bestowed upon me and my family surpass any material gain. I am highly satisfied with my accomplishments and deeply excited about the impact I can continue to make in the limited time I have left.
My goal is to empower more individuals to achieve success, happiness, energy, positivity, and optimism in their lives whenever I engage with them.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
