In this interview, we delve into the remarkable story of how Vineet Trakroo, the CEO of Evolution Strategy Advisors, embarked on his path as a business leader. Having spent 23 years in leading b2c organizations, such as Usha International, Cavinkare, Pidilite, and Beiersdorf, Vineet brought transformative change and grew business by over 50% in a short time, managing over 25 large brands for corporates. He also ventured into advising organizations to become globally competitive, starting Evolution Strategy Advisors in 2013. One of the first clients he transformed was a loss-making faucet brand, which saw a doubling of sales within 12 months. From there, the company expanded to represent international brands like Coty, Honeywell, and Westinghouse for licensing and JV. Vineet’s leadership journey has been shaped by his educational background in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from Jamnalal Bajaj Inst of Mgmt Studies, Mumbai. He has held significant positions in various organizations, leading sales and marketing departments and creating joint ventures with international brands.
Significant Accomplishments and Success Stories
As a business leader, Vineet Trakroo takes pride in working with leading organizations like Titan, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Saint Gobain, Pfizer, Abbott, Crompton, Parry’s, Murugappa Group-Carborundum Universal, among others. Evolution Strategy Advisors has improved the sales performances of these organizations by 20-30% within the same financial year. Over the past decade, Vineet and his team have completed more than 100 projects for over 50 clients across sectors, including FMCG, durables, building materials, pharmaceuticals, and B2B. The company’s differentiated approach and focus on providing end-to-end solutions have resulted in over 80% repeat customers, reflecting the trust clients have in the ability to deliver tangible results.
Leadership Style and Unique Strategies
Vineet Trakroo describes his leadership style as team-oriented, and Evolution Strategy Advisors has a unique approach to business solutions that set them apart from competitors. The company works as a cohesive team with predefined roles, offering three integrated services: Business Transformation for existing organizations, Business Transformation for new businesses, and Operational Strategy and execution for specific functions in sales, distribution, marketing, brand, and product management. This comprehensive approach has been instrumental in delivering success to clients and retaining long-standing relationships.
Navigating Challenging Situations
As a consulting organization, Evolution Strategy Advisors is sought after when clients face challenging situations they cannot resolve. From turning around companies running losses for years to helping businesses achieve exponential growth, Vineet and his team have consistently navigated through difficult scenarios. One such example is a recent success where a large business that was not growing beyond 10-15% experienced a 300% growth in
just two years without adding significant manpower or infrastructure, adding US$75 million to their topline.
Guiding Values and Principles
The decision-making process at Evolution Strategy Advisors is guided by a set of core values. The company’s mission is to offer realistic solutions in operational strategy and execution to grow businesses along with change management. Quick results, practicality, domain expertise, sincerity, and a factual approach are the pillars of their decision-making framework. These values are reflected in the successful delivery of more than 100 projects and the trust clients place in their recommendations.
Contributing Factors to Success
Vineet attributes his success as a business leader to persistence in providing growth solutions to corporates. Additionally, the strong understanding and application of data analytics as a tool to identify challenges and influence cultural adaptability within organizations have been key factors contributing to their achievements.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Evolution Strategy Advisors aims to increase its market penetration by approaching more businesses across different industries. The company is supported by a robust team of consultants covering various sectors. Vineet acknowledges that growth will be a challenge for all companies, especially with increased competition, new businesses, and mergers. Embracing change and managing transitions will be a way of life for businesses, and Evolution Strategy Advisors intends to stay at the forefront of assisting organizations in this ever-evolving landscape.
Personal Accolades and Industry Recognition
While Vineet and his team have received numerous accolades and awards from publications and private associations, they find the most significant reward in the success their clients achieve at the end of their engagements. The impact they make on the clients’ businesses remains the true measure of their contributions to the field.
