This month, AsianLife is kicking off the New Year with our third Feature Profile.  We recently spoke with Manish Mehta, the Vice President of Social Media and Community for Dell, and one of the founding members of Dell Online (www.dell.com).  We congratulate him for continuing to be a role model for entrepreneurs and Asian professionals, and for his impressive work in the fields of Communication and Technology. 

In a room called the “Social Media Listening Command Center”—which many would agree resembles a scene at NASA—specialists at Dell monitor conversations about the company and its products, in 11 different languages, all around the world.  This Command Center in Texas is Dell’s social media hub, where ideas are constantly being exposed, exchanged and created.

“If someone ‘tweeted’ something in South Asia, we would be able to see where that person came from and their level of influence. If they have an issue, we can help them,” says Manish Mehta, Dell’s Vice President of Social Media and Community.  Mehta describes the Command Center as a way for Dell employees to listen and engage with consumers around the globe and be sensitive to a diverse range of ideas and opinions.

Mehta, who is at the forefront of innovation in corporate online communications, has always had an immense dedication to such ideas and visions.  When asked about the passion behind his job, he says, “I love planting ideas and watching them bear fruit.  Watching something that I planted being embraced by thousands, starting something that you passionately believe is the right thing to do.”

Mehta’s journey to Dell began with beliefs and ideas.  Born in India, he moved to the U.S. with his family at the age of two but never forgot his roots.  Growing up, Mehta took frequent trips to India, continued to practice his family’s religion and ate traditional food everyday.  Staying true to his Asian identity meant “absolutely” living the culture at home.  The values of his family have kept Mehta grounded in his Indian heritage and have contributed to his present appreciation and understanding of “roots.”

At the 2nd Annual NAAMBA Leadership  Conference, in his  Keynote on the topic of ‘Being an Asian Executive,’ Mehta emphasized the importance of cultural heritage for aspiring Asian entrepreneurs, and he continues to define what it means to be an Asian Executive in an increasingly globalized world. Though Mehta doesn’t deny there are numerous challenges for Asian professionals, he holds that many of the challenges are self-inflicted.

“The biggest challenge is believing that there are limits and ceilings, believing that you must follow a certain path to rise to success,” he says. “There were many times when people [told me] ‘that’s too risky’ or ‘you need to be pragmatic in your approach.’ But as I began to follow that advice, I found myself moving further and further away from what I was passionate about.” 

Mehta voices a very common concern among Asians who grew up in immigrant families, especially those just beginning their professional careers: to be pragmatic or to dream?  Mehta maintains that risk is often necessary for growth and success in many industries.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks,” he advises.  “Our parents embedded this in us—stay practical, stick with the careers that have the highest probability of success.  I think that is sound advice, but if you really are an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to fail.”

Mehta cited an example of one successful entrepreneur’s courageous decision to follow his dreams.  He recently met with the friend, who told him about pursuing a business in the face of resistance from those around him. 

“The biggest backlash and hurdle was from his family,” Mehta remembers. “They said, ‘you have such a good job now, how could you possibly take that kind of risk?’” Mehta says that because many Asian families take an immense risk immigrating to the U.S., their initial reaction to their children’s own risky decisions can be tough to handle.  Nevertheless, he encourages struggling entrepreneurs to not be daunted by family pressure, but to follow their passions.

Mehta continues to dream and follow his passions as the leader of Dell’s Social Media and Community Leadership Council, where new ideas about communication trends are shared and implementation strategies are born. Currently, the Council is looking at trends in social commerce and how it connects with the online community.  Mehta emphasizes that at Dell, people think about social media a little differently.  There is a focus on how to use the online community as an “early warning system.”  Through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, employees can be aware of potential problems early on, and consumers can receive more efficient feedback and help.

“If we launch a product with a bad battery, we would know about it long before a customer calls us,” Mehta says. 

Fortunately, ideas such as the Social Media Command Center in Texas have already taken off successfully.  Mehta is working towards making this kind of consumer-focused communication embedded in every Dell employee’s work.

When speaking with aspiring Asian entrepreneurs, Mehta stresses courage in all endeavors.

“Don’t be afraid to be transparent and genuine and very active,” he advises. “Whatever field you’re in—fashion, politics, technology—if you’re willing to get in the fray and make conversation, your personal network will expand.”

His advice holds true for social media.  Many professionals can use social media to develop their ideas, share opinions and get feedback.  Mehta says that exposure is a key to success and growing one’s career.

One Dell employee’s social media story is especially inspiring. 

“We’ve had a lady who was very passionate about Dell and technology.  She was so vocal, and her point of view was so fascinating that we ended up hiring her.  She’s actually on the social media team working for Dell.”

A professional’s genuine passion, combined with a strong social media presence, can boost his or her career. 

“Before this, she never would have guessed in a million years that that’s where her career would take her,” Mehta adds.  In this case, her passion became her job.

Her story is evidence of Manish’s summary of the Dell mindset:

“We’re going to be where our customers are.”