True to that childhood call, he pursued MBA from Shinawatra International University Bangkok after he graduated in commerce from University of Calcutta. The University inThailandthat equipped him with skills and knowledge about management however required work experience for enrolment, which he, fortunately earned through his family line of business.
Interestingly, he also earned much of the expenses he needed for his studies while pursuing his MBA in Bangkok. Although he concentrated more in his studies for the initial year, he engaged himself in some part-time ventures and in the process, also gained much experience in business, which comes handy now.
He has experienced trading while he was in Bangkok; he even came face to face with gangsters- something that is more often associated with movies than reality for the majority lot; he has done business over e-Bay, the popular online site. He sold belts online, specifically belts with buckles with the free time he held in his hands, which also served as a means to sustain himself.
In a day, he sold about 5-6 belts, each one costing about 300 Baht which comes to Rs. 600 INR. With these experiences in hand, he expresses that doing things practically really enabled him to see business from a wider perspective even as he goes on to confess that the international exposure that he got immensely helps him in what he currently does now.
Ruokuoneilie today manages IT World, Aircel and Lozi Hyundai with over 80 employees under these business establishments. He does see changes even in the society’s perception for business over the years. Ten years back, he recalls, our own people were reluctant to enter the shops owned by Nagas or even hesitated to step into finely established showrooms, but today, he says that, that sight has taken a positive stride even as people are progressing in their mindsets and looking for modern amenities or the so called, more fashionable items.
One thing that, however, grieves him is the fact that there isn’t much local productions in the State even as he points out that everything we get here is a product that comes from outside. ‘Outside, there is so much self production, here, it is not like that….whether stationery, computers….no local production”, he laments.
He is aware that the infrastructure here is weak but it is his dream that one day, there would be production of local products from the State, which, he believes would significantly contribute to the growth of business and economy in Nagaland. He also hopes that more and more young people would venture into management courses, explore and learn, and move a step higher from traditional business.
One of the prospects that he sees is also the use of terrace fields during dry seasons by planting vegetables and producing products for our own use rather than getting everything from outside the state.
In the meantime, he is concerned that a lot of people from outside venturing into several businesses in Nagaland are taking total advantage of the State, which is exempted from tax. He hopes that the government would also keep a check on this issue for the benefit of the business community in Nagaland.
He does his best to employ local people, but it is also a known fact that Nagas are often lacking discipline, and holding little value for experience. Yet, a good number of his employees are Nagas and when asked how it feels to be able to reach out to our own people, he simply states, “It feels good.”
“Patience and Honesty”, he emphasises are virtues that a businessman must possess.
As for him, he aspires to keep on exploring more business opportunities. The unassuming young man has his heart set for business, although he would rather listen than talk. He loves painting, which is also a hobby that has long been inherent in him since his boyish days.
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