Innovation

Sanjay has recognized that the human bias is to avoid dramatic change. By hiring people who are, at the core, intelligent and good individuals, he can help them make small "tweaks" that, to the individual, are barely perceptible, but over time, dramatically change their positive impact on the company. When meeting with a new hire one on one, he asks them what motivates them? What are the values that motivate them? What are the goals that drive them? What are your life goals—whether professionally, personally, or financially. How can I help you set a plan to meet those? How can we make a 20 year plan for your trajectory at this company?

He also insists in complete transparency from everyone to machine operators to the front office executives. As an example, he discussed the hiring of a new CFO. This gentleman had a meeting with all employees and had to answer all questions of them. One machinist asked, what do you do here that justifies your pay? How does your work make the company money? By having these frank discussions, there can be an understanding and appreciation of the roles of all within the enterprise.

Once on board, all employees have 4 evaluations annually. They discuss areas that are on the top of their minds, and he also seeks a deeper understanding of employees lives, understanding that if he can help make their lives better, they will perform better, which ultimately helps the entire company and is a virtuous cycle for the individual employee as well.

Inspiration

Sanjay grew up in India. He suffered from asthma, but was determined to become a good swimmer. One of his most meaningful, early memories was at his boarding school, when his swim coach, within clear earshot of Sanjay, asked his father, "Why is your son bothering to try? He will never be any good at this. He has asthma. He should find something else to do."

On the drive back home, Sanjay's father asked him, "Do you still want to do this?" When he said yes, his dad told him, "Well, you will just have to work harder." He did, and by the time he was a senior, he was the swim team captain, not by natural skill or athletic gifts, but by his quiet perseverance, work ethic, and example of what he describes as a servant mentality of leadership.

He also described a near-violent confrontation he witnessed as a child, where his grandmother defended their Muslim chauffeur from an angry Hindi mob intent on assaulting this individual. His grandmother insisted they would have to attack her first to get to her chauffeur. This experience helped form his views on the importance of every life, and the profound differences, both positive and negative, that can result from the approach we take to others. He values watching out for the "underdog" and being certain they are valued and given excellent opportunities to grow, develop, and provide for their families by finding a sense of value and purpose in their work.

Overall impact

Mr. Sanjay Singh, has incorporated his life lessons within Roll-Kraft ever since he joined the company in 2013 as Executive Vice President and now as the current President.

The impact that Mr. Singh has had in the enrichment of the work culture at Roll-Kraft has permeated every area of the business. From sales by creating meaningful relations with clients, employee development through encouragement of personal growth, and developing a team mentality by developing a nurturing work environment, all areas associated with Roll-Kraft have benefited from Mr. Singh's intentional development of a positive work culture.

He shared with us stories of employees not meeting their numbers, and working with them together to come up with better plans rather than disciplining them. He describes setting high goals for the board and insisting that all work towards them rather than saying it can't be done. The company culture continues to strive to be better, by valuing all and motivating all.

Business benefit

Mr. Singh has done an excellent job of incorporating his personal growth into Roll-Kraft's development. The company's core values "Safety, Honesty, Attitude, Reliable, Prosper" hone down on Mr. Singh's ideology of personal growth combined with teamwork. By creating a nurturing environment, Mr. Singh's is ensuring that his employees take ownership of the work they do and encourages them to feel part of something bigger than themselves.

This mentality ensures that Roll-Kraft will maintain its role as a world leader in Roll form tooling. By encouraging employees to pursue their own goals, their individual roles within the company gain emotional value. This allows them to see Roll-Kraft as something more than a "9 to 5" job; it enables them to think of their work as an essential part of who they are. This encourages two important factors needed for a company to stay ahead of its competition: creativity and idea development.

Social and environmental benefit

Roll-Kraft's commitment to enhancing the economic growth of their customers has made them a reliable source for many industries across the USA and Canada. Their commitment to providing unparralled customer services set them apart from their competitors. Their mission "to be the most reliable supplier for industries we serve" is an accurate reflection of Mr. Sanjay Singh's personal growth, as well as his commitment to his staff.

In addition, Mr. Singh's initiative to incorporate his personal growth into the company's core values has had a positive impact on the lives of his employees. The creation of a nurturing environment by Mr. Singh's has allowed his employees to value their work and feel accomplished when the company, as a unit, is successful.

Interview

Sanjay Singh, President