1. Introduce yourself and share a bit about your
professional journey.
I’m Anish Mathew, Senior Business Director, currently
residing in Bahrain with 20+ years in IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and enterprise
networking. My roots are in Kerala, and my career has spanned from being a
hands-on network engineer to project management, business development,
culminating in a recent executive leadership role at an ICT firm based in
Bahrain. My passion in this arena has opened up opportunities to explore
business ownership in various parts of Kerala under the brand names iTech,
iWebTune, Paliyath Trading, etc. I hold a B.Tech in IT, an MBA in Systems &
Marketing, and certifications including PMP, NLP, CSSC, and several other
technical certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIP, RHCE, Fortinet
(FCNSA/FCNSP), MCP, ASE/ AIS (HP), and more. My focus has always been on
driving ICT transformation, building resilient infrastructures, and scaling
businesses through operational discipline and technical innovation.
2. How has your career path shaped your approach
to business coaching?
My journey from network engineer to the boardroom has
shaped a coaching style grounded in technical realism and strategic foresight.
Having led teams through complex migrations, cybersecurity overhauls, and cloud
transitions, I’ve learned that effective coaching extends far beyond technical
know-how. I guide individuals to see the bigger picture of how their roles and
decisions align with their organizational strategy and the broader business
environment.
In practice, I help professionals develop resilience,
manage work-life balance, and mentally prepare for high-stakes environments. I
encourage a mindset that balances ambition with sustainability, ensuring
individuals are not just technically equipped but also mentally ready to thrive
and lead in dynamic, often unpredictable business landscapes.
3. In your opinion, how important is hands-on
experience compared to formal education in achieving professional success?
In tech, hands-on experience is non-negotiable, and it
has been the key factor driving my career progression. Formal education gives
you the vocabulary and frameworks, but real progress happens when you’re
troubleshooting outages, architecting solutions, and leading deployments. The
pace of change in ICT means you need to learn by doing—whether it’s rolling out
a new security protocol or optimizing cloud spend. Certifications and degrees
open doors, but it’s your track record in the field that earns respect and
recognition as an industry leader.
4. Can you share a case where your experience as
a coach made a tangible impact on a client or business?
I once worked with an enterprise whose cloud migration
had stalled due to unclear responsibilities and a lack of a clear roadmap. My
approach was first to help leadership clarify the company’s structure—mapping
out key roles and aligning responsibilities with the demands of a dynamic,
tech-driven environment. By coaching individuals to understand not just their
technical tasks, but also their strategic impact, we fostered ownership and
accountability across the team.
Through targeted workshops and one-on-one sessions, I
guided the team in adopting agile principles, breaking down silos, and
establishing clear lines of communication. This shift from ambiguity to
structured collaboration enabled us to move swiftly from planning to execution,
reducing migration time by 30% and minimizing downtime. More importantly, the
team developed the confidence and adaptability needed to thrive in ongoing
transformation, with each member clear on their contribution to the organization’s
broader goals.
5. How do certifications influence credibility
and effectiveness in the coaching and business consulting industry?
Certifications play a significant role in IT and
tech-focused coaching, especially for those specializing in NLP and related
disciplines. Achieving recognized credentials demonstrates not only up-to-date
expertise but also a commitment to industry standards and ethical practice.
Clients and organizations look for trainers who are fluent in the latest
methodologies and frameworks, expecting more than just theoretical knowledge.
However, actual effectiveness comes from applying these skills to real-world
challenges—facilitating genuine behavioral change and organizational growth.
I’ve encountered professionals with impressive lists of certifications who
still struggle to deliver meaningful results. In the end, credibility is built
by solving problems and enabling transformation.
6. What are the key qualities or skills that
aspiring professionals should develop to excel in business coaching?
Business coaches need deep domain expertise, but also
the ability to communicate complex ideas easily. Critical thinking,
adaptability, and a relentless focus on outcomes are essential. You need to
stay current with market and global changes, and be able to guide teams through
ambiguity. Above all, integrity and transparency build trust in this industry.
7. Looking ahead, how do you see the role of
career and business coaching evolving in the next 5–10 years?
My vision for business coaching across India is to
move beyond tactical fixes and drive true strategic enablement. As automation,
AI, and hybrid work models continue to reshape the business landscape, the real
value for organizations will come from building resilient, learning-driven
cultures. The goal is to help firms not just adapt to disruption, but to
anticipate it ahead and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
To achieve this, coaches must bridge deep technical expertise with sharp business insight, guiding organizations through structural change and capability building. It’s about empowering teams at every level to think strategically, embrace continuous learning, and operate with agility. By restructuring firms with this mindset, we can help Indian businesses stay competitive, innovative, and future-ready in a rapidly evolving environment.
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