The tale of being fit and healthy while reaching high on the corporate ladder
Balancing corporate life with your personal life can become quite tiresome, especially after reaching a good position on the ladder. The weight of ‘having it all’ is a relatable experience for many. Although, Amit Marwah literally took that weight on his shoulder and made good out of it. He is a senior investment professional with a keen interest in fitness, health and gymming. Let’s take a look at how he balances it all, in his own words:
1. Please tell us a little about yourself.
Let me not start with the same lame introduction of coming from a middle-class background. I am a senior investment professional with an educational background of economics and corporate finance. I am extremely passionate about travel, fitness & setting up businesses.
I started my career in banking before having stints in strategy consulting, Investment Banking & Private equity. I have also been a part of many start-ups in different capacities. I travel extensively, having experienced 50+ countries in depth.
2. You are currently the Chief Investment Officer at a major & well renowned group In the Gulf. How did this whole journey pan out for you?
It has been an amazing journey. When I was first offered this opportunity, honestly it looked too good to be true. But it has turned out even better. Where on earth, a young professional gets an opportunity to play a leadership role in setting up multiple businesses from ground 0 and that too with some of the largest organisations in the world as partners. It was probably the best decision of my professional career to take up this role, which has put me in a very unique club of professionals with this kind of experience. Also, the gulf region in general and Saudi in particular has been in the midst of some unprecedented social and economic changes which has made my time here even more remarkable.
3. You have played an instrumental role in establishing various multimillion-dollar corporations in the last 10 years across the Middle East. What made you choose the Middle East, especially after working in India?
It was a tough call to have made at that point in time. But I knew if this pans out the way, I was expecting it to be, it will be a game changer for me professionally. I have always wanted to chart a different path for myself than just being one of many while taking a conventional choice. As one notable philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said and I completely echo the sentiment “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”.
4. You are regularly featured in international magazines and journals and was recently lauded as one of the most influential Indian Business leaders in the Gulf, how does it feel to get this media attention?
See, it is one of my hobbies to write and put out my views on different topics. I love to write
I make it a point to keep this thing going as it requires me to continuously read and keep myself updated. Rest of the media coverage in your question is a by-product of continuously chasing my dreams with a stringent work ethic. I would be lying if I say that I do not like the attention that comes with it. I have earned it.
5. As an alma mater, you are running a Corporate Development Program at Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. Please tell us a bit about it.
This has been my dream project for a long time. I always felt that I would have lived and charted my path differently, had I got a mentor during my young years. That was the idea of this corporate development program. I interact with students every year and then take on one person from every batch to mentor him/her through his personal and professional development. It has been an amazing experience. I am in continuous touch with each of the students, I have worked over the last many years. They still come to me on a regular basis for advice, guidance and references for just about everything under the sun. It’s wonderful to see all of them doing very well in life. It’s a nice exclusive club we have formed over the years.
6. What will you say were the roadblocks during your journey? How did you overcome them and what keeps you inspired to keep going?
There are no journeys without hurdles and roadblocks. At the time of these challenges and hurdles, they might seem very unfair and unsurmountable. But what I have learnt is that every roadblock and the way you cross it, is preparing you for biggest achievements and success in life. There are no linear journeys and that’s what makes the whole process so intriguing. It’s what you do in the dark that puts you in light. That’s what maturity teaches you to embrace these “stepping stones” in life.
What keeps me inspired is not to end up mediocre in life. I still feel I have been underplaying my potential and the journey has just started.
7. Apart from your profession, you are also invested in fitness. What made you passionate about it and what is your daily regime? How do you keep a balance (between your fitness training and work)?
I believe fitness is one of the most important tools, which allows an individual to maximise his/her potential. One looks good, feels confident and is physically & mentally at its best. Imagine your body as an auto engine and being physically fit is like putting a high octane fuel in that engine. And then there are the immense mental benefits of following a fitness regime. Everyone starts a fitness lifestyle to look good and feel confident but eventually, you realise that it does so much good to you in terms of your mental state, in terms of how you feel and how much more you can do in life. If you are fit, you will be able to work more and achieve more. You will be able to be more productive because if you lack energy you will not be as productive as you should be.
I wake up at about 5.30 every morning. I work out for an hour and a half every day which includes an hour of strength training and 30 minutes of cardio. This is sacrosanct for me and I try not to miss this on every day of the week. If you are passionate or rather obsessed with something, taking out time for that activity would be the last thing you have to worry about.
8. You just got a photoshoot done and the results are as good as it gets. We have not seen many senior corporate professionals, if any, taking their fitness obsession to these levels. Is this your Bollywood calling? Where did this come from?
See there is no point in doing something and not aspiring to be the best or as close to it. There have been times when close friends told me that I am never going to look the way I did in the recent photoshoot. Many told me that being such a senior corporate professional in mid to late 30s with family & kids, what’s the need to go that far. Just a healthy lifestyle is enough. Yes, maybe for them. Most certainly not for me. See, If people are not laughing at your goals, they are not big enough.
I wanted to do it once and now one more goal of mine has ticked the check box. Anyhow, I am very excited to be an investment professional. Looking good and feeling confident has never hurt anyone. Good to be an allrounder – “Equal Parts Swagger & Smarts”
9. What is that one piece of advice that you always give to youngsters?
I will keep it very simple. Aim high in life and hustle and don’t let anyone tell you that your goal or dream in life is unrealistic and not worth it. The world we live in behaves in a very idiosyncratic manner. The moment the world sees anyone having goals, aspirations and routine which is not conventional, they will start picking reasons to criticise that. Never fall in the trap of mediocrity. Dream big, set ambitious goals and then crack them wide open.
