There is plenty one can learn from the life and work of Hemachandran, CEO of Celebrity Badminton League
Text: Likhitha P Nair Photos: Mark Antony
Renowned investor and philanthropist Richard Branson had aptly said that key to success is the intention. Knowing what you exactly need out of life and working towards it with no excuses is what takes you to great heights. Like the story of this CEO, who started his life from the fear of failing an exam. Mr Hemachandran, Chief Executive Officer of Celebrity Badminton League is a man full of surprises. Born and raised in a small village in Arakkonam, Chennai, he was faced by the adversities of life quite a few times. But with hard work, he minimised them into just anecdotes and prologues to the story of his success. Hemachandran is an angel investor and also the founder and CEO of Brand Avatar, an event and branding company which has created successful properties like Global Mobile Apps Summit and Awards, Fashion Premier Week etc. FWD business learns more about his success quotient.
Seizing opportunities
Having studied in an English medium school till class five, Hemachandran was quite dejected when his father couldn’t afford it anymore and he was forced to join Tamil medium. “I took it so hard, that I failed my 12th.” For the next year, he sat at home and it seemed to him like he gave up on life too easy. Next step was joining a diploma, and passing it at any cost. His hard work paid off and Hemachandran bagged state first in his diploma course. Shortly, he joined Crescent Engineering college to finish his graduation, and this was where life taught him its most valuable lesson.
During the second year of college, his father, who was the only breadwinner of the family deceased and Hemachandran found himself at the crossroad. While quitting would have been the only option for many, he decided to fight. “The thing about our education system is that it is exam oriented. Students start studying 5 days before the exam. And I, as someone who never missed a class and always took notes, found an opportunity there.” The idea was to print and publish his running notes for last-minute learners, but it wasn’t easy penetrating into a market filled with foreign authors. After months of struggle, Hemachandran managed to get a publisher on board, and the book sold out 1000 copies in a week. He ended up writing 25 books for two universities and got himself through college with the money he earned. “I tell youngsters these days, that education should teach you how to make your own opportunities, and not to just acquire grades”, he says.
Celebrity Badminton League
Hemachandran always knew his passion was in woking with and for people. “I believe that connecting with people would teach you a lot more than you would learn from books”. When the concept of a badminton league was put forth, he saw a latitude to club two of India’s most profitable industries together. Entertainment and sports. “India’s sports industry is worth around 800 million today, about 5000 crores INR. And entertainment Industry, which comprises movies, short films and such, contributes to nearly 2060 billion, which would be 2 lakh crores in Indian money”, he says. Sports has been gaining prominence as it helps people de-stress and Badminton is the most played sport in India now, after cricket (11% Indians play the sport). Also, 68% of nation’s celebrities, both men and women play badminton. “All I had to do is connect the dots and make a business model, which has always been my piece of cake”, Hemachandran comments. CBL comes with a scope for plenty of community and CSR activities. Post a successful launch, the private limited initiative is looking at providing sporting and gaming facilities to many underprivileged children across India. “We are at the first phase of the project now. Once we have enough exposure and returns, we are looking at using all of the profit to benefit India’s less-fortunate sections”, he says.
Jack of all trades
While he was working with a Multi National Corporation, Hemachandran realised that his zeal to aid the upliftment of the society was something he couldn’t hide. This brought him closer to working with Lok Paritran, the political party started by IIT students and India’s educated youth to work towards making a better future for India. “I remember when media reported the activities of the party, I was given a choice to stay in my job or to dedicate all my time to politics. And I gave them a clear answer. I chose people and my cause. A risk that many would be reluctant to take.”, he claims. Hemachandran was the general secretary of the party that created ripples across the nation. They won 34000 votes in Tamil Nadu Assembly election of 2006, which is a record number for a new party. “It is not about politics or business. Your intention needs to be noble, and plan very concrete”, he says.