4 AUGUST2022Editor NoteCOO: Jack of All Trades "A COO is the architect, instigator and change champion for the company strategy", explains Ramya Parashar. There is merit in her description, after all she is a certified Digital business Strategist and Organizational performance expert from IIM Bangalore who is currently functioning as the Chief Operating Officer for MiQ Digital, a digital marketing firm. Ramya further adds that the role of the COO requires one to oversee day-to-day operations, implement continuous improvement as well as execute the company's long-term goals. Because the COO's role is so diverse and oversees many different departments, having the working knowledge of and experience with many different business functions comes in handy. "It's much easier to have walked the talk when you understand every role on your team and have either lived it or taken the time to understand it. This has given me the ability to identify gaps and understand needs. You have to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of a few!" she says. One of the most critical and essential positions within an organizationa COO is usually the one responsible for maintaining and driving operational results within a company. It is their prerogative to work in tandem with the CEO, the CFO and other executive management team members to take the company's vision forward on the ground. As Ramya rightly mentioned that a COO must have the understanding of various roles and functions in order to ensure that the company functions like a well-oiled machine. Kiran Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Noida International Airport explains her role saying, "As the COO, my key responsibilities involve providing quick, efficient processes at the best value to passengers, airlines, and logistics partners, enabling seamless and customer-friendly airport processes for passengers, cargo, and stakeholders alike, and providing an end-to-end solution for addressing the on-going concern of logistics and cargo operations at airports, providing a clean and well-maintained infrastructure with a comforting ambiance allowing for the airport to become an attraction for users and visitors by providing commercial hubs that are accessible to passengers and non-passengers". Thus it's essential that a COO possesses the perfect amalgamation of skilled communicator, effective leader and driven business person. After all it will be their responsibility to not just ensure the maintenance of key operational proceduresbut to enable company growth and creation of new processes. Kiran sums it up perfectly, "Sometimes the responsibility itself is a challenge and one must respect everything that comes with it. Not only do you become an important, integral part of an institution but chances are you become the institution itself".Read on and do let us know your thoughts. Rachita SharmaManaging Editor
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