In a freewheeling interaction with Travel Trade Insider, Dr. Himanshu Talwar, Executive Director, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), offers a peek into his personal side and what keeps him going.
Q. How do you define yourself?
A. Three words that define Dr. Himanshu Talwar are passionate, professional, and prolific. I have always been an ambitious professional and worked and re-worked on enhancing my potential. I have always been keen to learn something new. Even after earning multiple degrees and bagging national-level awards, I never abandoned my true love, which is to write.
Q. Please share more about your love for writing…
A. A determined attitude, keen observation, and the ability to take criticism have helped me build a career for myself in the field of writing. I frequently write articles for magazines and websites. I have also published research papers and numerous case studies for national and international journals. And, this is just the beginning.
Q. What are your role and responsibilities at TAAI?
A. My major responsibility in the association is to support the President, Office Bearers, and Managing Committee members from the perspective of policy advocacy, public relations, organising training programs, and event management to name a few. I also work closely with the management for the betterment of travel trade, tourism, and above all for the benefit of members.
Q. Please throw some light on your educational background…
A. I completed my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from a reputed Management Institute based in Ghaziabad; and to further enhance my skills I studied Philosophy, and Law and, attended Executive Management Programmes at Said Business School (SBS), University of Oxford, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore and Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore.
I also hold a Doctorate (PhD) and Post Doctorate (D. Litt (H.C.)) in Business Management. With changing times and technology, I indeed look forward to further enhancing my skillset from time to time and would be keen to write research papers and case studies in the future.
Q. What about your career path?
A. For more than a decade, I have been working for international organisations; facilitating people-to-people contacts and conducting training/workshops for professionals on International Relations, Strategic Management, Cross-Cultural & Corporate Communications, Business, and Corporate laws, and Entrepreneurship, among other subjects.
During my corporate journey, I have worked for the governments of Japan, Poland, United Arab Emirates, and El Salvador, associations like PHD Chamber of Commerce, FHRAI, Indo Polish Chamber, Northern India Shippers Association and trained nationals of East Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and top executives of MNCs.
Q. Tell us something about the books that you have written?
A. After writing extensively on management and legal subjects, I became focused on authoring and publishing my first book, ‘The Journey of a Lost Soul’ which talks about a boy Shlok, who wants to evolve at his best, but knows that his chosen career path is not for him.
My second book is a story of two people who always put each other first. Titled ‘Aasakti – Too Fond of You, the book talks about the love between two people, whom distance could not separate. And, my latest creation is ‘The Tales of Triumphs – Pathways of Prosperity’ which inspires us to not only be a better version of ourselves but also keep learning something from each person that we meet throughout our lives.
Q. You have received many awards too…
A. For all the dedicated efforts, my hard work has been acknowledged with more than fifteen national-level awards in the last few years including prestigious ones like the Best International Speaker and Author of the Year award from Leaders Awards; Inspirational Leader of Asia Award 2022 from the White Page International.
Q. What is the motto of your life?
A. I always pay great attention to details, and this makes my writing very articulate. I follow the policy of ‘Passion with Profession” and continue to make great use of the god-gifted talent, rigorous training, and experience gained.
Q. Did you face any challenges in your life?
A. Every step taken was in itself a challenge. For instance, leaving a lucrative job in Doha, Qatar, and coming back to India or risking the Doctorate due to extensive travel and international assignments, and many such experiences.
The way to deal with all such challenges is what I have learnt from my superiors and experience is to be by being consistent. Never lose focus of your ultimate goal, and sooner or later you will certainly achieve it.