Smart People - Parag Parikh

SMART EYE

esident executive course. But what made him enroll so late? He says he was interested in studies but his parents would not allow him to go abroad. So he grabbed the opportunity, albeit late. Even now, he goes to Harvard once every year for short-duration courses. One such important course, he mentions, is that of behavioural finance.

In fact, the study prompted him to devise a division in his company devoted to the study of investors. For now, Parikh is bullish on stocks. However, he says, investors are increasing becoming short-term oriented and seek instant gratification. This makes markets highly unpredictable.

One might get the impression that it's all work and no play for Parikh. But his schedule seems to be well-defined with time allocated for everything from exercises to meditation to work and golfing. It's this lifestyle that makes the 50-year-old look many years younger. Parikh's wife (an economics graduate and a painter) assists him at his work.

Two sons - a software engineer in the US and the younger one who graduated in economics from the US and returned to join his father in the research department - complete the family. But his son coming back hasn't stopped Parikh from exploring new ventures - the recent one being an