10 January,2022 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | BrandMedia
Founder and Global CEO of Water and Shark, Mr Harsh Patel
Founder and Global CEO of Water and Shark, Mr Harsh Patel, is the proud recipient of the Young Leaders of Change 2021 award - one of the most prestigious business awards of our time hosted by the Economic Times. He was chosen from among millions of youth leaders in the country to receive such a high honour because of his incredible achievements and contributions to the business and legal world.
The Economic Times Leaders of Change 2021 is an event to honour Indian entrepreneurs across various industries for their immense contribution to the business world during the uncertainties and dynamics of a global pandemic.
Harsh was among several luminaries of his time to receive the award in different categories. Some of the personalities that graced the event were MrKabirBedi, Ms. Archana Khosla,Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, Mr. Ajay Bakshi, Dr. Geeta Lathkar, Ms. Jyoti Das and Ms. Suchita Oswal Jain.
He may look young, but the wisdom and experience he has attained make him one of the best entrepreneurs out there. The world changed for him when he started his entrepreneurial journey at the youthful age of 18. He decided to set up his own practice, which led him to become the Founder and Chairman of the Water and Shark Group. Since then, he has donned several hats - an entrepreneur, a speaker, an innovator, and a mentor. In just 10 years, he has become a Young Leader for businesses straddling a dynamic world.
Harsh says his mission is to leave a Global imprint, a legacy. He wants Water and Shark to be the most sought-after finance and legal firm globally. Many companies are outsourcing their jobs to countries like India, Nepal and Bangladesh because they know that our people are capable of so much more. As new-age professionals, our skills and expertise are no longer limited to national boundaries. He wants to empower his peers to constantly acquire knowledge about skills that are relevant to their current and future roles and not be afraid to explore unfamiliar territories of business.
The pandemic's tricky and tough times bolstered this belief when Harsh made some gutsy decisions to expand Water and Shark, at a time when most companies were wary of the uncertain future and the inhibitors to business in these countries. While many CA firms were focusing on local business, Water and Shark was expanding. These bold decisions underscored his aspirations for greatness.
The world is changing faster than ever and with that, there are several technological obstacles. A major segment of the event focused on how technological disruptions have affected Water and Shark. Harsh's insights on technology were quite apt. He believes that we should not look at technological challenges in a bad way. Challenges are the precursor to innovation. At Water and Shark, the team has taken on these challenges to revolutionize its processes. They're using AI now, more than ever, to make legal and business processes a smoother ride for companies.
Harsh's message to his successors is to expand their horizons. Not be concerned with the nitty grittier of compliance and day to day tasks, but be open to change and upskilling. They must not confine themselves to boundaries but build skills that are global and will cater to their progress. Our youth is capable of so much more than just bookish tasks. The key to progress and growth is constantly working on yourself and developing something. Aspire. Be untethered.
