Techmart

Madhu Sharma: Retirement Reinvention

Madhu Sharma dared to dream at 57 after he stepped down as President of Jumbo Electronics, a leading company in Dubai. Today, two decades after his retirement, he is reaping the benefit of the dream that he turned into reality.

Each phase of life has its own share of charms and challenges. Life is a rollercoaster ride for most people, with ups and downs, and also occasional thrills that leave them exhilarated. Retirement is considered the time to bid farewell to the fast-paced life that one has led for a few decades and to embrace a new quiet journey ahead. However, we need to have an optimistic attitude towards life. As per the latest scientific studies, everything depends on our thought process and mindset. The adage, 'age is just a number,' cannot be dismissed any longer as balderdash. 

As Madhu Payan Sharma, a 78-year-old businessman living in Dubai, would have us believe that retirement is the time to reinvent and rebuild. He dared to dream at 57 after he stepped down as President of Jumbo Electronics, a leading company in Dubai. Today, two decades after his retirement, Madhu Sharma is reaping the benefit of the dream that he turned into reality. The septuagenarian avers that one must enter retired life with optimism. Our independence should be our new identity. We should welcome the retired life with open arms as a host of good things await us to pursue, including dreams and interests, to which we could not pay adequate attention.

New Journey 

During his tenure at Jumbo Electronics, Madhu Sharma had  acquired a thorough business knowledge and built an extensive network. Given the fact that he did not come from a business family and did not work for himself, his enterprising spirit was appreciated by his family members. The experience he gained at Jumbo Electronics gave him the confidence to set up his own distribution company, Techmart, in 2002, thus becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 57. 

After the completion of higher secondary education in 1962 from Amritsar, India, Madhu Sharma earned his Master's in Mechanical Engineering, with distinction in 1967 from BITS Pilani. Thereafter, did his MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India. He has been a sports aficionado and took keen interest in sports and games. In 1961, while at  the higher secondary, he represented his school in District Badminton Tournaments. In 1972, he represented the erstwhile Bombay Gymkhana and played for the Indian Rugby Team. He was passionate about Golf, and he takes pride as he had the honour of making four 'Hole in One' on Dubai's Majlis Course in Emirates Golf Club.

Prior to establishing his firm, he undertook a survey to assess the economy and the viability of his business goals. At the time his wife was associated with a leading company in a senior capacity in Dubai, which provided him the buffer against any business failure. It gave him the much-needed confidence to start his own business. However, what drove him relentlessly forward was his passion and ambition to try setting up a business, wherein he himself had adequate experience. He had a strong determination to succeed and to learn, venture out and grow. Today, Techmart has expanded its footprint to six countries and has around 250 employees. Also, it has tie-ups with several leading technology brands.

Madhu Sharma was instrumental in setting the retirement age at 55 years at Jumbo Electronics when he served as its president. This was done with a well-meaning aim to help retirees. Retiring from full-time work at the age of 55, according to him, gives the retiree an opportunity to explore future prospects with a clear mind. Hence, upon completion of 55 years he tendered his resignation, though it was not accepted initially by the company management. 

After retirement, he engaged himself in providing management consultancy services. Since he was a retired person, with an extensive management knowledge, some of his friends sought business and management advice from him. This prompted him to set up a management consultancy, Mars International Holdings. The consultancy work prodded him try something further and higher, which subsequently led him to establish a technology distribution company. 

Neil Sharma, Techmart's New President 

Recently, Madhu Sharma's son Neil Sharma has taken over the reins as President of Techmart. Neil is proud of his father's resolve to start a business after retirement. The father-son duo has been working together since Neil joined the family business in 2009. After completing his under-graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University, and earning a Master's in Business Administration at Cornell University’s Johnson School, he worked for Cisco for eight years in the US. He joined Techmart, as the business was growing, and he wanted to assist his ageing father. Therefore, he decided to move back to Dubai and joined as Techmart  Vice-President. In 2018, after learning the business, he was appointed President of the company.

Archie, Madhu Sharma’s wife, is proud of her husband's achievements. According to her, Madhu Sharma has been such a kind and generous person who believes in helping people. Her son Neil concurs with the view by saying that his father has been a leader in all aspects of business and life. This, according to him, makes him a good leader. Madhu himself is highly appreciative of his wife Archie, son Neil and his spouse Ahiya, and daughter Arti, and grandchildren. He opines that they have been his source of strength and attributes all that he has achieved to their love and support.

(Photo: Courtesy Techmart)