Friday, March 22, 2024

Mohit Anand Resigns, Talks about his tenure at Microsoft: Interview

Mohit Anand

Mohit Anand, the man who played a big role when the Xbox 360 was rolled out in India, will no longer be a part of Microsoft. His sudden exit may have left people with their mouths open, wondering the reason behind the same. We too were absolutely curious to know the reason and thus decided to catch with the man himself. This excerpt is the concluding part of the parting interview we had with Mohit Anand from Microsoft India.

GG: Would you be staying in India or going abroad, professionally speaking?

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MA: Absolutely in India! I had made that decision 3-4 years ago and though I had multiple opportunities to leave the country, I am extremely committed to it. I think this is our way as our generation, our way of giving to the economic upliftment of the country. So I completely am not going to leave the country under any circumstance and this is very excellent.

GG: What are the things that you will miss the most about working with Microsoft and the things that you probably won’t miss?

MA: The things that I will miss the most are the people that I worked with. These are people who will be my friends for life, people who are incredibly talented, incredibly smart, great fun to be with. So that’s obviously something that one does miss. When I took over this division, I was around 26-27 years of age. I think the amazing part of Microsoft is that I got to see a company which would give lots of money, lots of environment and allows you the freedom and the entrepreneurial spirit to go and do your thing. So I think that’s the amazing part of the company. As long as you are giving it your best, it is ok. That is something I would miss.

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What I won’t miss is that I hope in the new company that I join the travel comes down as I travel quite frantically; one has been really jaded with all national and international travel. So that is something that I have a sense that I have a sense it may not come down, it may come down a bit. That is something that I will definitely not miss.

GG: As a company, is there something you would want in your future company to have, which probably somewhere Microsoft lacked?

MA: To be very honest, if I would say that as to what was the biggest challenge for any big company, specially multinationals is to understand the complexity of India. People who are western, who haven’t had much experience, can’t understand India in a couple of visits of a week, few days. I think that is something big multinationals need to understand. None of the blueprints of success that have worked elsewhere in the world are ever going to work in India. You have to tear all of them up. It is a very dynamic market. You’ve got to be very adaptable.

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I know a lot of multinationals that are a little bit apprehensive when they see things changing so dramatically, so fast, that there is no rhythm to things. But that is the way it is. Markets like these and opportunities like these don’t come for generations. That is something that I wish people would get better to understand and allow the people on the ground to go for it even more. It is going to take unbelievable risk, making it perfect, it is going to take unbelievable appetite for growth, unbelievable appetite for mistakes. All of those are really concoction things that I wish we could do better in.

GG: What according to you would be the good, the bad and the ugly of the Indian gaming industry and gaming as a whole in the country?

MA: The good, very clearly is that gaming is now getting the eyeballs, the visibility, the attension that it deserves. The bad, the government support for it. The government is looking at it and not formulating any policy or supporting this industry at all. The ugly would be parental perception. Why I say that is, any parent should realize that too much of anything is bad. If someone studies for twelve hours a day, it is bad. If your kids play sports outside twelve hours a day, it is bad. Likewise, too much of gaming is bad too. But gaming in moderation is great fun. It creates a lot of social bonding in the family. A lot of fun to do together in the family. So I think that is my answer.

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GG: Did you have any bad experiences during your interactions with Indian gamers?

MA: No, not at all. I would not say that I had any bad experiences dealing with gamers. I know, there have been many times when gamers have been frustrated and perceived lack of support from multinational companies as to why something is not happening. It happens in the US. But then why should they not expect it. Yes there is that understanding that needs to come in that we are on a path of evolution and those countries are much more evolved, have a larger market and all of that. But I would not say any experience I had is bad. It’s been a great experience. Listen to your customers, if you can’t keep a ear closed to your costumer and what they are saying, then as a leader in any business, you will never succeed. And I have always attempted to do that.

GG: Any message to the Indian gaming community?

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MA: Well, I think we all are on one hell of a ride and it is going to only get better.

GG: You could be as parallel to Peter Moore. So when he left the company, he walked away with a big bag of moolah. So anything that we’d expect from you?

MA: (Laughs)… Come on, I am not going to answer that. But nothing like that. Peter More is an icon. He is an icon, I am not even a peck on the radar.

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GG: But definitely at the Indian level, you are an icon in the country for sure. So anything…

MA: All I can say is I am humbled by that comment. I don’t think I am that. I am a pretty ordinary guy who just turned up do his job well.

GG: We wish you all the best for all you future endeavors.

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MA: You are most welcome. I would like to add here that GameGuru.in is doing a great job in promoting the gaming industry and you’ll have a real passion for your job. It has been a pleasure interacting with you guys and I hope to continue that wherever I go.

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