Hackers such as Kevin Mitnick, who earlier this year was arrested for breaking into Motorola’s computer system, strike fear in the hearts of most corporate managers. But to Kavelle Bajaj, these high-tech outlaws are just another business opportunity.
Bajaj, 44, is president and founder of I-NET, a $235 million technology firm in Bethesda, MD, that helps organizations network and upgrade computers, manage sophisticated digital information, and make sure unauthorized users don’t break into their systems. “We’re in the business of selling solutions,” Bajaj says.
I-Net manages computer operations for the White House and Department of Defense, and counts BP, MCI, and Exxon among its clients. While other firms provide some similar services, none manages and networks all parts of a system as I-NE I does, says analyst Paul Callahan of Cambridge, MA-based Forrester Research.
Bajaj is an unlikely corporate titan. A New Delhi native, she moved to the U.S. in 1974 for an arranged marriage to computer scientist Ken Bajaj. After a few years as a housewife, she took some computer courses and realized businesses would need help networking their PCs and mainframes.
With a $5,000 loan from her husband-who is now I-NET’s CFO-and additional financing from a Small Business Administration program allowing minority-
owned companies special access to government contracts, Bajaj hired some computer specialists, and I-NE I got its first contract to upgrade the Department of Commerce’s word processors. Since then, the 10-year-old company has continued to grow, weaning itself away from government contracts in recent years and targeting private business. Last year, the company’s revenues rose 58 percent from $148 million.
Bajaj doesn’t claim to be a techno-wizard; she hasn’t even ventured onto the Intemet yet. “I just try to hire the best people and let them do their jobs,” she says.
Her goal is to go public in the next year and become a $1 billion company by 2000. Forrester’s Callahan believes I-NET runs the risk of being gobbled up if it goes public, but sees $1 billion as “very doable, if the company continues to attract talent as it has.”
Bajaj isn’t worried. As always, the trick is anticipating companies’ needs. “The key to success,” she says, “is being on target.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
