CEO Insights Magazine

Recent decades have seen an exponential growth in the development and adoption of new technologies, even though various gaps persist in terms of adoption in different parts of the world. These rapid technological changes involve, among others, technologies like Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, nanotechnology, satellites and drones, renewable energy technologies, biotechnologies and more.

Constantly evolving technologies poses new problems for policymakers, consultants, and executives alike. This problem was realized by Rajesh Rao, Managing Director of Temus. Temus is a Singapore based firm that aims to unlock economic and social values through holistic transformation enabled by technology. It was established in 2021 and specializes in Digital Transformation, Business Consulting, Value Architecting, and IT Services. Before foraying into entrepreneurship, Rajesh has had years of experience working at Infosys, Bengaluru. The idea that new technology should be used for innovation and creating new business value was indoctrinated in Rajesh’s mind from the beginning. He also believes that digital transformation is the key to unlocking a better future.

In an exclusive interview with CEO Insight, Rajesh Rao gives a detailed insight into his professional journey and unique business operations at Temus.

Tell us about your professional journey and the various milestones that you have achieved along the way.

I started my career in the early 90s at the Infosys, where I worked closely with the management as a part of financial services team and was responsible for taking banking products across the unchartered territories like Eastern Europe, and Africa. After that, I shifted to Silicon Valley and worked with companies who had great ideas on a piece of paper or a napkin. Bringing them to fruition by creating new business models was a challenge. Through these experiences I learnt to keep a big vision because world is a stage. One should have no limitations when it comes to exploring and aiming for the goal. In 2021, I started my own firm in Asia – Pacific (APAC) region, with the aim of reaching out to Fortune 500 companies and making sure they used technologies for transformation. My most recent achievement is my work for Temus. It is a unique opportunity with a specific purpose, to unlock economic and societal values for large enterprises and government agencies through digitization. Temus is a joint venture between Temasek and UST Global and has grown to include 200 employees since its inception.

What are some of the challenges that you face in the industry and how do you manage to solve them at Temus?

We primarily focus on four problems. First is Consulting and Execution gap, wherein a consultant creatse a vision but implementation is a challenge. To solve this, we created a model known as Vision to Value, which ensures that strategy consulting team is also involved in the implementation of vision to ensure its success. The second issue is Cloud Value Realization, which is what many C- level executives face after lift and shift of application into the Cloud. This is resolved by creating a cost functionality with the help of strategy consultancy, technical architects and AI. The third challenge is slow gain in the market and to solve it we have created service offering to build digital factories and leverage solutions. The fourth major challenge is lack of Innovation, technology, HR, management across organization. We partner up with established firms and startups who offer innovative solutions to help with this issue. “Technology is to be used to solve customer problems as well as to create real business values".

How is Temus helping its customers and partners to facilitate Carbon management? Please tell us about your approach of ‘Brown to green’?

Temus is focused on sustainability and we try to enable our customers to transform to carbon neutral. We recently helped a large firm in Singapore to go from ‘Brown to Green’. The major issue that was placed before us was whether this venture will be revenue generating for the firm. As a part of the strategy and design, we created Renewable energy certificate (REC). These RECs have monetary value and can be bought and sold. Temus is also actively trying to come up with different technologies which will perform carbon neutral implementations.

What will the market opportunities lie in the future? How does Temus look to make a difference?

Future opportunities lie in getting control of digital transformation. Temus has a Vision-to-Value concept where we need to make sure it’s implemented thoroughly. Second is to make sure one is nimble and fast enough to be able to partner with best in the game. In a fast-changing world, Temus believes in partnership with the best service providers. Third is Data and Artificial Intelligence. After implementing cloud, due to multiple data sources, information is spread across and is inaccurate. There will be huge opportunities for consolidating these data sources to create a data lake which can be used for AI, and predictions.

You possess more than three decades of experience in the industry? What advice do you have for future budding entrepreneurs?

Technology is changing rapidly so one needs to have a mental model of data points about how it’s impacting the world. More importantly, to grow and be successful there are certain behavioral characteristics that one needs to possess like high integrity and value. One needs to make sure that the team is motivated, participating and working towards the success of the company. To the budding entrepreneurs, I would like to say to not promise things they cannot deliver. It takes away your credibility. Always under-promise and then overdeliver.

Rajesh Rao, Managing Director, Temus

Rajesh Rao is the Managing Director of Temus which is a business and IT consultancy firm based out of Singapore. He has over 30 years of experience working in the IT sector with companies like Infosys. Rajesh believes that in this fast-moving world, technology can be used to bring about a sustainable change. Rajesh Like practicing meditation and mindfulness and also likes spending times outdoors, hiking, running, and playing sports. His favorite books are Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation by Nandan Nilekani and From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew

Hobbies: Practising mindfulness and meditation, Hiking, sports, running, Reading.

Favorite book: Imagining India by Nandan…. And From Third world to first.

Favorite travel destination: West coast of US

Favorite cuisine: Any vegetarian food.