Personality

By Abha Dhital

Businessman By Chance

Khem Raj Panta’s life took an unexpected turn after he came to Kathmandu in 1990. From his first business exposure with UPS and entering SkyNet in 1992 to starting his own business in 1997, he has come a long way. Today, there is apparently nothing that he is more passionate about and more committed to than business.

Looking at him stand tall with responsibilities of a host of companies on his shoulders, it is hard to imagine that he had no plans of becoming a businessman when he was growing up. Executive Chairman of Nepal Skin Hospital Pvt Ltd and Country Manager at SkyNet Worldwide Express, Khem Raj Panta has also held important designations in companies including Qantas Freight, DTDC Worldwide Express and Nepal FM 91.8. “It was accidental”, he bluntly answers to how he turned a businessman. Born in the hills of Gorkha and raised in the plains of Biratnagar, as a young boy, he aspired to hold a government position. The Pantas were not businessmen; business had never run in the family.

Going down the memory lane, he recalls that his father always wanted him to take up science, particularly either medicine or engineering. However, his life took an unexpected turn after he came to Kathmandu in 1990. He got his first business exposure when he worked with UPS, a global company, for six months. He entered SkyNet in 1992 having cleared an interview and in five years’ time, he became the first person of the company. And then, his long journey of leadership in the field of business began in 1997. Today, there is apparently nothing that he is more passionate about and more committed to than business.

It seems distressing, having to handle so many responsibilities at once. Panta admits that although it is a tough job, he goes about accomplishing his work with the help of his team and the system behind him. He believes that team building, system building and channeling are crucial aspects of business and management. Although there are no hard and fast rules to his management philosophy, he does live by three words like a mantra “honesty, hard work and commitment”. While he is thankful towards J N Shetty, MD at SkyNet Mumbai, for guiding him, Panta had no godfather to look up to when he entered business. Whatever he has earned and achieved till now, it is due to his hard work and ability.

He is very committed to his work; and works from 7 am to 10 pm on a normal day. His work demands a lot of travelling across the world and in long flights. When he is travelling, his flight hours are also his prep hours; he uses the time to do his homework for the visiting purpose. One very important characteristic of his is that he worships time and values every minute of the day. Even when he is abroad, he doesn’t spend a day extra than demanded by his work unless he is on a planned vacation. Panta is strictly against wasting time.

For this businessman, his friends and family have always been a strength factor. When asked about important people in his professional and personal life he instantly remembers two other people besides his wife and son: brother-in-law Kiran Acharya and partner Bijay Rijal. Panta’s wife above all is like a backbone to him. Ever understanding and ever loving, she helps him keep calm and be patient in affliction. For 20 longs years, she has always stood by him. “She is a wonderful woman, a wife, a friend and most importantly an advisor to me,” he says. Besides wife Nirmala’s significance in his life, he has another advisor in the family, his 18-year-old son Aashish. Panta believes in the importance of quality education and has always sent his son to the best of schools. Currently, Aashish is pursuing his BBA at GD Goenka World School.

 He listens to his son because for him it is important to keep up with the new generation. With father’s wisdom and son’s freshness, the Pantas share a relationship that stands on friendship within and beyond the family. Panta has begun grooming his son for the business world already. They attend business meetings together whenever his son is free. Some time ago, his son even looked after one of his business ventures for six whole months. Panta sees a potential businessman in his son. He confesses that it is difficult to balance time between family and work, and compromises have to be made sometimes. However, whenever he is with his family he gives his 100 per cent to them, “Saturday is an absolute family day for me” he justifies his claim. Once in a year, Panta and his family also fly to a holiday destination.

Despite the hectic schedule and a number of responsibilities attached to his designations, Panta leads a modern healthy life. He is an Osho follower; and hence he meditates for 30 minutes every day. He also runs and sometimes swims at the club. He is fit and healthy and hence plans to work hard in the coming decade while he still has the oomph of business in his soul. “I don’t want to die working like most Nepalis do”, he says.

After the age of 55, he plans to hand over his responsibilities to a new generation of leaders and retire willingly. Panta has neatly outlined his retirement plan already and shares it enthusiastically. He plans to divide a year into four perfect halves, each for a destination. He plans to spend three months each in Kathmandu, Gorkha and Delhi where his beloved friends are and the remaining three months travelling around the world with his wife.

There were two major turning points in his life. The first one was his association with SkyNet, where he understood what his purpose in life was and the second one was the birth of his son. His son’s birth was like a lucky charm and opened all the doors of opportunities for him one by one. However, time is god to Panta and he credits his respect for time as the main reason for where he stands today.

He has a few simple but powerful messages for the entire new and emerging generation of entrepreneurs - young entrepreneurs should not be involved in politics and young talents should not migrate abroad because if there is one place that has enormous potential for business it has to be Nepal. Finally, Panta says, “I know, the new generation is in a hurry to succeed and it is only natural for them to want so. But, you should understand that there are no shortcuts to success. You have to be patient.”

PERSONAL SIDE

Fitness: Meditation and Health Club. An Osho follower, he meditates for 30 minutes every day.

Fetish: Gadgets and Watches. Changes gadgets every two-three months and gets his hands on the latest models. Has over 50 watches to choose from and wears a different watch each day.

Brand Consciousness: Absolutely brand conscious. Always wears and carries brands.

Suburbs or the City: Suburbs for home because it needs quieter surrounding. City for business because it needs the crowd.

Travel Destination on the Wish List: