Serial Entrepreneur: Manoj Saxena (Part 6)

SM: Where are you now in your frame of mind? You are at IBM obviously, are you going to be at IBM? How does IBM jive with your current state of mind? Where do you want to go next? What motivates you?
MS: Well I am at IBM right now. I’m still running the Webify business unit. What has been very satisfying for me to see is the impact we are having on transforming both Global Services of IBM as well as the software group. This is the first acquisition that IBM made that is a joint acquisition between their software group and Global Services.

I want to build and I want to make sure my products and technologies are going to make an impact on thousands if not tens of thousands of customers globally. IBM gives me a global platform to complete the journey and vision I had of leaving a personal legacy behind. Something that didn’t happen with Commerce One. I’m staying on for a couple of years to make sure that this product, which IBM has now launched as Websphere Fabric, is successful. I went to China to open the China Center. The ribbon cutting ceremony and all. Sitting back and watching the proceedings, you know when I saw the word IBM written next to Fabric in Chinese it was a very proud moment. I think I’m emotionally committed to making sure that this product sticks and becomes the crown jewel of IBM’s SOA portfolio. So that I can tell my grandchildren about this stuff.

SM: Assuming that your grandchildren would care!
MS: They may not but at least they will hear it!

SM: There’s actually a slightly tongue in cheek part to that comment. By the time we have grandchildren they are probably going to take all of this for granted. Just like we take the telephone for granted.
MS: They might tell us “you are so old” kind of stuff. I like to say that when you are done and gone all you leave behind is your children and what Google says about you.

SM: Before Google there was nothing actually. No epitaph, so to speak.
MS: Exactly, so I would like Google to have some cool things to say in a small way. We will be able to move the needle forward in certain areas.

SM: What are you doing with your wealth? Are you investing in new companies? Are you doing philanthropy? What is the destiny of the wealth you’ve created?
MS: Well, a couple of things. Number one I am contributing to the economy right now by spending. I’m doing my part from the consumers point of view. More importantly we’ve done a couple of things.

One is that 90% of my stock from the two companies will not go to my children. We have a foundation in place called the Saxena Foundation. We have quite a number of initiatives. There are three or four initiatives we are doing in India, some in America. We have a classroom named in Michigan State. Now there is a Chair back in Pilani. In the foundation we are going to put a provision in place that any member of our family out of America or India, if they are able to get into any of the Ivy League schools, the foundation will pay for four years of their education.

On a personal level you know after the Commerce One deal I tried to retire and ended up almost getting a divorce because I was bouncing off the walls. My wife suggested to me gently that I should go start another company.

SM: So that’s not going to happen again?
MS: I don’t think so. I’ve got a strong desire for what I call brain candy. I also have some money into hedge funds. I’m not allowed to invest in individual companies by IBM. Given the big title and name they think that seeing me put money in deals would be seen as IBM putting money in it.

SM: Any overriding unrealized visions or dreams at this point?
MS: That’s a great question. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for all of the opportunities and breaks that have come about. I think the one thing would be to get to be a better human being. That sounds very philosophical, but I think to be a more rounded human being would be my unrealized dream. Being a more patient person, because patience is not my virtue. Being a better family person with a balance of home and family life. Some stuff like that.

[Part 7]
[Part 6]
[Part 5]
[Part 4]
[Part 3]
[Part 2]
[Part 1]

This segment is part 6 in the series : Serial Entrepreneur: Manoj Saxena
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