The art of entrepreneurship is drawn along the lines of efforts, dedication, and innovation along with the ability to stand through the thick and thin of customers’ needs. IIM is reputed to produce such entrepreneurs who are capable of nurturing businesses and creating opportunities for the people. While we appreciate such elite alumni, here we have an entrepreneur & alumni from IIM Bangalore; sharing a journey of re-learning and creating a more impactful legacy. Anupam Sharma, the co-founder of Etrends Technologies deserves the honor as an inspiring leader.

In the past 21 years of ideation, Mumbai-based Etrends Technologies has emerged as a leading provider of Corporate Governance GRC Software solutions under the brand name, ‘Laser’ – specifically, collaboration tools in the areas of Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit Reporting, Legal Compliance, Internal Financial Control Management Systems, and Management of POSH Complaints. Today, the brand is catering to reputed organizations across several industries in India, while also having its presence in the UK, the US, North Australia, Africa and the Middle East Regions.

In an exclusive conversation with Women Entrepreneur India, Anupam takes us through an interesting ride of her journey, company, leadership secrets and more.

What are some important features of your expertise as a business leader?

I have over two decades of experience in the IT Industry, with an academic qualification in MBA (Marketing & Finance), an exposure to Software skills from GEBBS, Hyd. It has been an eventful and rewarding journey right from the inception of Etrends. Speaking of my expertise, there is a very blurred line in the roles played by any entrepreneur in any organization. Often, there is overlap in the roles, and a founder needs to know every bit of business aspects even though they may not be directly involved.

"Cutting edge corporate governance(grc) software solution , simplified and easy-touse tools"

The primary functions that I play a major role in are operations, client relationships, and managing finances. Also overlook into HR, role which is quite close to my heart. While am very glad to mention that our employees who have contributed for more than a decade are our strongest pillars. Leadership is all about being collaborative with lot of emphasis on team work and growth.

Tell us about some of the learnings that have impacted your life as a leader.

To mention a few, I am associated with a couple of NGOs that teach me empathy while dealing with everyday situations of life. The learning also help me handle human relations in my Organisation . Having a sibling in the Indian Army changed my outlook towards life and leadership. Selection to the Goldman Sachs Women Entrepreneurs Program – 10k woman entrepreneurs program, fully sponsored by Goldman Sachs was a very insightful experience. The entire journey was of learning and unlearning many aspects about business, with new insights and impacts on my outlook to leadership. I believe that understanding the needs to run an organization, providing to the team with opportunities, planning the future – all of this are ongoing process of learning for any leader. Moreover, every new association in business teaches something and get’s you prepared for the next. We never stop learning and that is where we evolve both as individuals and as an Organisation.

What motivated you to establish Etrends Technologies?

Etrends was started as a software development company, creating customized software that manage internal audits / Risk management requirements for a couple of reputed companies. Good mentors, and inputs from existing clients, a vision of my Partner Manesh Karani set the road ahead for Etrends establishment as a pvt Ltd company and our brand LASER was conceptualized. The brand LASER was created to standardize various Corporate Governance processes , aligning to various standard Associations such as the IIA or the COSO Pillars. Etrends had a product based model which was a more sustainable and profit bearing. The products have been since catering to all leading Organisations across Industries. The impeccable services offered by Etrends were the steps up for our scaling and become market leaders.

Give a brief on your brainchild and its most unique features.

Etrends Technologies has been offering collaboration tools for sectors across manufacturing, retail, NBFC, Banks, Automobile, Healthcare, Aviation, Oil and Gas etc. The LASER GRC Suit has The Laser Audit Reporting System (LARS), Laser Legal Compliance System (LLCS), Laser Enterprise Risk Management System(LERMS), and Laser Internal Controls Manager (LICM) that can be implemented standalone or as a complete GRC suit. We are only one Made in India brand offering entire GRC suit.

More than 140+ listed companies in these sectors, have the LASER GRC tools deployed while vouching for the Make in India initiative. In line with the Governance tools specialization, Etrends partnered with the NASDAQ Governance and offered Nasdaq Boardvantage (NBV) – a paperless board meeting tool. The moment of fame for Etrends was this is not A separate phara. this is continuation. Square, New York when the partnership went live. Some of our esteemed clientele includeGodrej Group, Tata Group, Kirloskar Group, ICICI Bank, Shoppers Stop, Wipro, Gulf Oil, Tata Realty , Flipkart, Paytm bank, NSDL Bajaj Allianz, LTFS and a lot more. We also have clients in South Africa, Nigeria, New Papua Gunieu, Muscat and Lower Gulf. With a 99% retention rate we strive to work for our mission to develop innovative and affordable GRC Solutions. Our 95% referral business indicates our values and service offered to our esteemed clients who have now become a part of us as our sales force.

Anupam Sharma, Co-Founder, Etrends Technologies

Operations and Finance expert with more than 23 years of experience. Striving to make Etrends Technologies - a global GRC solution provider company, while vouching for the Make in India initiative. A mompreneur, empowering several women to attain financial independence through her business, admires Indra Nooyi and Kiran Bedi. She has been associated with Mentor Together and Vidyarthi Mitra Foundation, mentoring students, helping them with education & entrepreneurship, and uplifting destitute women counselling them about dignity living.