Born in India, Ashish Gadnis moved to Minnesota in the 1990's where he has since built a successful consulting firm speaking truth to power (Forward Hindsight), recently launched a personal electronic medical portal for consumers (Koozala) and (in his spare time) travels the globe working to end world hunger. Just another day's work for this radical CEO who clearly understands the connection between business and social progress.
Ashish Gadnis Facts:
Born in India, moved to Minnesota in 1990s. Attended college in Bombay and received MBA from Carlson.
- Co founder and CEO of Forward Hindsight (management consulting firm) and founding CEO of Koozala.
- Has history with TIES and Fourth Generation Inc., which he left in 2004 to create Forward Hindsight, offering aggressive enterprise tech consulting to clients like Best Buy, Caribou Coffee and AirTran.
- Started Koozala in 2009 to let consumers have an easy way to manage and access their personal medical records. Currently in use, with the University of Minnesota as an initial enterprise partner.
- He has an express "no ego" philosophy. If you hire Ashish, expect him to listen carefully and then tell you what needs to change in your organization in unvarnished terms (even if it means firing the CEO).
- Nominated and selected as one of a few hundred Young Global Leaders for the World Economic Forum in 2009 (the gathering in Davos, Switzerland attended by Bono, Bill Clinton and others).
- Has a stated goal of retiring by age 45 so he can focus exclusively on solving world hunger and sustainable business in emerging markets.
- Mentors ethnic entrepreneurs as a volunteer with the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA).
- Author of workbook Sustainable Disruption, which shows how the use of sustainable disruption can bring focus into an organization.
Ashish Gadnis Quotes:
- "There are so many smart people [in Minnesota] buried in large corporations."
- 3 Things that will make MN more innovation-friendly are: (a) "CEO's here need to get balls to take risks"; (b) "get the local investment money in motion"; (c) "try incubators and innovation zones" to get new businesses started.
- "My reputation is pretty polarizing. 50% of the people hate my guts." "One time a CEO introduced me to a group and said I was hired to be an asshole. I think that's a compliment."
- Minnesota has a "passive, lukewarm business environment" dominated by "an old boys' network," but also has "a lot of cool people who can build cool companies" and a "very strong education baseline that absolutely needs to be highlighted."
- "Within the next decade, Minnesota could be like Silicon Valley, but it will take a mix of people from outside and inside Minnesota [to make it happen]."
(Adapted from post on Tech.MN)
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Local
High Schools
Fall or spring, it's Rochester Mayo's year in prep tennis
The Spartans have the top-ranked boy and a high team ranking now, after producing individual and team champs during the girls season.
Local
Minneapolis reaches $150k settlement with eyewitness of George Floyd's murder
Donald Williams, a former MMA fighter, has several criminal cases pending.
Local
Israel-Hamas war creates 'really fraught times' at Minn. colleges
The latest conflict is happening thousands of miles away. But debates over Palestinian rights and antisemitism hover over U.S. college campuses, including the University of Minnesota.
Local
Rare and fatal brain disease in two deer hunters heightens concerns about CWD
A team of researchers said the cases hint at a potential contamination from infected venison. CDC says link is unlikely.
Politics
911 transcript gives more detail of Sen. Mitchell's alleged burglary
A caller now identified as Mitchell's stepmother told a dispatcher she "tripped over" a person who was on the floor next to her bed. That person was later identified as the DFL senator.