What makes a great hire? And how can one leader’s decision shape an entire company’s future? In this episode of My Best Hire, host Rajeev Soni sits down with Eddie Chandok, former President & Global Delivery Head at Infogain, to discuss the impact of his best hire—Shardul Sangal. Eddie shares the story of how he brought in Shardul as SVP of Delivery to support Infogain’s growth, optimize global operations, and streamline acquisitions. 

Through this insightful conversation, we explore the decision-making behind hiring a senior leader, the challenges of integrating new talent into a growing company, and the strategies that helped Infogain scale from a mid-sized firm to a global player.

Whether you're a leader looking to make high-impact hires or a professional aiming to position yourself as an invaluable asset, this episode is packed with lessons on talent acquisition, leadership, and business transformation.

Summary

Eddie shares the story of bringing Shardul on board as SVP Delivery during a crucial growth period when Infogain was expanding from a small IT services company to a global organization through acquisitions. With his extensive experience at Wipro and balanced skill set across technology, process, and people management, Shardul proved instrumental in establishing robust delivery frameworks and taking on complex transformation projects that Infogain hadn't previously attempted.

What made Shardul stand out wasn't just his technical expertise, but his ability to build trust with clients and lead with a people-first approach. As Eddie notes, "He was a good mix of broad process technology, but more importantly, a strong people leader." This balanced leadership style enabled Shardul to successfully manage challenging situations, including the company's first major rebadging project, where client personnel were transferred to Infogain's workforce.

Key Takeaways:

- When hiring leaders, look for balanced capabilities across multiple areas rather than deep expertise in just one domain

- Great leaders must be comfortable enough in their own position to hire people who might be better than them in certain areas

- Provide guidance and support to new hires while avoiding the temptation to do their work for them

- Building trust with clients requires taking full responsibility and standing behind your team when things go wrong

- Career growth requires saying "yes" to challenging opportunities, even when they seem risky

This episode offers valuable insights for both hiring managers looking to build stronger teams and professionals aiming to advance their careers. Eddie's observation that "stagnated careers are dead careers" serves as a powerful reminder that continuous growth is essential for long-term success.