My main aim is to always keep the company debt-free

- Nidhi Gupta, Co-Founder & Director, Rays Power Experts Pvt Ltd Where there is a will, there is a way. This holds abundantly true for Nidhi Gupta, Co-Founder & Director, Rays Power Experts Pvt Ltd, as she wears the mantle of Finance Head at Rays Power Experts. She co-founded the company with her brother Rahul in 2011, even while she was graduating in computer engineering from IIMET, Jaipur (International Institute of Management, Engineering & Technology). Barely 23 years old when the company was launched, little did she know that joining her brother in his business would prove to be transformative. The young entrepreneur manages the company´s finances and audits along with routine work. She also looks after on-ground activities like field projects and construction work to ensure smooth project execution. Her courage and motivation keep the entire team of 120 people at Rays Experts upbeat and on their feet. In fact, under her supervision, the company has achieved a Rs 600 crore turnover this financial year, within a mere three years of its inception. What´s more, she manages another independent company where she supervises the vendors and labourers and has channelled over 300 hands to Rays for project execution. She shares more on her experience and vision with SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN. What led you to form Rays Power Experts and how has the journey been so far? My brother and I had dreamt of doing something independently, unique and big. So whenever we discussed something big and different, the key to all our ideas was innovation. After months of research, we discovered the rays in the ultimate source of energy: the sun. With this, we decided to venture into the solar market and formed Rays Power Experts on March 8, 2011. I actively joined the company in 2012 but prior to that was very involved with my brother in setting up the company. What is your current role in the company? As the director, I primarily look after the finance department, purchase department and day-to-day operations of the company. During the first 15 days of any project, I regularly make visits to the site as well. What is the purchase requirement for a solar project? The major purchase is of modules, the solar plates that actually generate the energy. Other than that, inverters, transformers, boxes, cables and other small items like nuts, bolts and structures to mount the modules. I am involved in the purchase of all these. As a young entrepreneur, where does the real challenge lie for you? My family does not have a business background. My father and uncles have been involved in government jobs. Thus, to initiate something new without prior experience is a challenge in itself. Also, when we started, bagging our initial projects was hard. Our first was a 250 kw project. My brother and I went to site for one-and-a-half months. As a girl, visiting sites used be challenging for me then. But I gained confidence over time. On a positive note, this has turned out to be an adventurous journey. Every day poses a new challenge before us and we simply enjoy facing it and succeeding. And now, as this is a family business, we want to take it to the highest level. At present, achieving this is our biggest challenge. What is your employee portfolio like today? We have around 130 to 150 employees. The mix includes IITians, pass-outs of MBA colleges including IM-Bangalore and Ahmedabad, architects, and some engineers with specialised electrical, mechanical and civil backgrounds. How do you view the current solar market? The solar market is booming the world over. There are three types of renewable energy: wind, thermal and solar. Wind is not as secured as solar because of technical issues; it is not that safe. Thermal is a better option but it is a constrained material. You can´t use it as the ultimate source. The only thing that remains is solar energy. The market is set to grow in leaps and bounds in the next five years. And, amid this growth, though we have started small, we are thinking big. Our target is to make this company the world´s largest solar EPC company. Every home and roof should have its own solar plant so that everyone is self-sufficient-consume energy generated from one´s own roof and experience good payback for the energy saved from the grid. Introduce us to the solar projects you have executed. Our first project for RH Prashad was completed in October 2012. Our main working months are from March to September. So, in March 2013, in a single day, we executed and commissioned around eight projects. Similarly, in March 2014, we executed and commissioned 12 projects in a day. Under your leadership, within three years, the company has achieved a turnover of over Rs 600 crore... I look after all the finances. Hence, managing the same becomes my responsibility-rotating the money, seeking payment from the client, paying the vendor on time, and executing the project on time. As it´s a debt-free company, my main aim is to always keep it that way. The main thing is to keep the rotation going. Considering your educational background, did you ever imagine this is what you would eventually do?I always wanted to become a commercial pilot. But my ultimate interest lay in doing something different. While I did not see much of an opportunity in being a pilot, my brother and I decided to do something for the family. So before I was done with my college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. How prominent is innovation in your business? Our main focus is on executing projects at minimum price while delivering the best quality. We achieve this by negotiating with vendors and contractors and building a quality team. The quality team inspects materials before they are dispatched to the site. By doing this, we can optimise the price and complete the project in minimum execution time. We can execute a project in a month if we have all the materials at site. So this is our main approach. You also manage another company where you supervise vendors and labourers... Yes, the company Phoolchand Construction Pvt Ltd has been formed to supervise and manage the labourers. This company is our start-up through which I manage the vendors and labourers regarding the work subcontracted by Rays. It´s all about management. As part of this company, we also provide some training. Now, it has become day-to-day work for us. Is there a separate vision for this company you have formed? At present, this company offers subcontracting services only to Rays. But my vision is to make it among the leading subcontracting companies in India and, thinking big, world over. How do you maintain a work-life balance? Today, for me, there is no life beyond business. This is my first right and I cannot imagine my life without it. My day starts in the at 9.30 am and ends at 10 pm. Over the weekends, I spend time with friends and family. The construction industry is commonly perceived as a male-dominated one. How do you see women driving this industry? Women working in my company are involved in negotiating with contractors on a day-to-day basis. They are engineers, some from marketing as well. So, construction may be a male-dominated industry but nothing is impossible today. If you see today´s scenario, the platform of opportunity is open for men as well as women. Is there a motto you follow in life that could be a source of inspiration for entrepreneurs entering and working in the construction industry? I follow three Cs: courage, confidence and commitment. Whatever commitment I make to my client or vendor or contractor, I fulfil at any cost, provided it is ethically right. To share your views, write in at feedback@ConstructionWorld.in