In this instalment of Shortlister Spotlights (a Q&A series to get to know some of our team members) meet Ganesh Gavankar, Global Finance Manager from our Mumbai office!
At Shortlist, we love building our team almost as much as we love building yours!
We have some pretty amazing people across our three offices who have a real passion for what they do and for the Shortlist mission.
Read to know more about Ganesh’s Shortlist journey.
Tell us about your life at Shortlist.
To sum it in one sentence- professionally enriching experience with desired work-life balance!
At Shortlist, I formulate and implement finance process improvements, and manage cash flows. I take care of internal and external financial reporting, taxation, and other finance-related matters.
I enjoy the experience of working at a startup like Shortlist. Honestly, I wish other organizations could also learn from this great culture that Shortlist has.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was always inclined towards drawing and painting. As a kid, I used to spend most of my time painting mountains and sunsets. But pretty soon I realized that I wasn’t even close to becoming MF Hussain.😜 I sold my first hand-made drawings when I was in 6th standard and realized how important understanding commerce is!
I became a thorough convert to the field of commerce ever since.
What is your professional background, and what were you looking for in your next career step when you found Shortlist?
I had worked on a significant number of assignments that mostly involved the audit of finance processes, preparation and presentation of financial statements, analytical reviews, valuations of securities, BvA analysis, etc.
THE missing piece was – I was working on passive data rather than on active or existing data. The next professional step was to work on active data and take corrective actions at the right time. The role of Finance Manager at Shortlist provided me the right opportunity for me to do that.
How has your current role impacted you?
One of the biggest learnings for me was to understand the existence of cost-effective software or platforms that help small businesses scale up their operations at a favorable cost to benefits ratio.
I am thrilled that our Shortlist hiring platform is definitely one such amazing product!
What’s your professional superpower?
I don’t know if it’s a superpower or not, but according to me ‘Integrity’ plays a pivotal role in the function that deals with significant stakeholders like employees, vendors, investors, government departments, etc.
What’s your favourite Shortlist memory?
Undoubtedly, it is from our last team outing in Lonavla. I bowled out Paul (our co-founder and CEO), hitting the middle stump. Bowling him out was important because he is a dangerous batsman in cricket who has baseball experience! He had single-handedly demolished the previous team that he played with, by hitting some crazy sixes!
What are three words or phrases you would use to describe Team Shortlist?
Dedicated, Young, Next Generation.
What’s your favourite Shortlist value and why? (Learn more about our values here!)
“Own it” – I have always been that person that if I notice a problem, I try to fix it. This value resonates deeply with me.
Why is the Shortlist mission important to you?
I find our mission vital because it promotes a culture of the objective selection of candidates and wants to do away with a bias-prone hiring system.
So Ganesh, what do you like to do outside of work?
Two things without a doubt- whenever I get a chance, do something adventurous that gets my adrenaline pumping (paragliding, camel riding and a lot more) and spending time with family.
What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
Currently, I am tracking the development of the COVID-19 situation and its impact. That is at the top of my list for the moment.
We like to give (virtual) high fives to recognize our team members when they do something awesome. Now is your chance to make a public high five to a fellow Shortlister:
Hanifa, Naomi and Catherine – thanks for all your support whenever I needed it. You guys are a superb team to work with.
India and Kenya – BD & Ops team a huge shout out for your support on all the finance processes.
Thank you, Ganesh! We’re so glad to hear your experiences on Team Shortlist.
Did reading about Ganesh’s experiences make you want to check out the rest of our squad? Check out the rest of our crew here.
If you would like help building your team, let us help you. Shortlist offers a wide range of recruitment solutions that help companies build great teams.
