Tête-à-Tête with Shivaz Rai
Meet: Shivaz Rai, CEO of DU Digital Global.
Passions: Golf, Squash, Skiing & Running
Driving Force: The notion that “the clock is ticking.”
Inspirational Business Leader: Dhirubhai Ambani – He came from nothing and took the world by storm!
One word that describes Shivaz: Excited!!!
The enigmatic CEO of DU Digital Global, Shivaz Rai, is a goal-oriented entrepreneur with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel. After graduating from the prestigious University of Chicago, this CFO conquered multiple financial capitals with his expertise and skill, including New York Wall Street, Singapore and Dubai.
Today, spearheaded by Shivaz, Du Digital Global is one of the country’s most prominent travel facilitators. With Over 26 offices around the globe, this multi-million-dollar entity is committed to making travel seamless. As a testament to Shivaz’s distinguished leadership skills, Du Digital Global has recently launched its IPO and is now a listed company on the National Stock Exchange.
A fervent golfer and a passionate businessman, but above all, Shivaz is a loving father to his two sons Miraan and Rohail and a supportive husband to wife Mandira.
Here’s what we discovered about the man of the hour in a candid rendezvous with him…
Business Insights
What has been your biggest professional achievement to date?
“Taking my company public via its IPO recently.”
What is your company’s 5,10, and 20-year BHAG (big hairy audacious goals) vision?
“My life’s mantra is ‘go big or go home, my goals may be big, but so is my tenacity to achieve them! “
For the upcoming 5 years, now that the company is listed on the National Stock Exchange, I envision taking its valuation from a small-cap to a mid-cap company. Within the next decade, I plan to take its valuation from a mid-cap company to a large-cap company.
And finally, as a long term goal, I’d want to create a legacy for posterity’s sake and hand over the business to my next generation. And then start taking some serious vacations!”
If you were to start up your business from scratch, what would you do differently
“Every experience comes with its own lessons. And I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am, had it not been for those experiences. But in retrospect, if I got a redo, I would have gotten entrenched in the family business a lot sooner and taken over the reins rather than charting my career in finance and coming back decades later.”
Journey with EO:
Since when have you been a member of EO, and what has been your journey in it?
“I started my journey with EO in 2020, the year the pandemic ensued, which made me miss out on face to face interactions initially. Thankfully, that is all behind us now! I look forward to meeting every member of our EO family in person.”
How has EO contributed to your business and professional journey?
“EO has given me another family that I can turn to in times of a crisis as well as when I need a sounding board and some really solid advice. And as we all know, good advice goes a long way in charting a successful professional path. Resultantly, I have grown leaps and bounds as an individual trying to run a business in India.”
What do you most look forward to in your EO journey in the years to come?
“Fostering relationships for life.”
How has the EO Forum experience been for you, and how does it help you personally?
“I truly consider myself a richer person, as I have lived not just through mine but real-life experiences of so many. Further, it has enabled me to access situations and envisage complexities before they present themselves.”
Why should someone join EO?
“In both our professional and personal life, having a sounding board as well as peers who are willing to share their invaluable life experiences is worth its weight in gold – EO offers you that and so much more.”
With an endearing personality and an undiminishing “go-getter” attitude, Shivaz is destined for success. We look forward to seeing him blaze towards it.
