“You should ask that to my team,” Pavan replied without hesitating when asked about his leadership style. Pavan Mahajan, the Managing Director, Solution Delivery, APAC at Belden Inc., emphasizes the importance of team building and management as the core part of any organization.
However, his leadership was honed years ago in college when he played field hockey in India at a national level. “So I understand, the underlying concepts, I would say, of how I operate have been based on operating in a strong team,” he explains. “First, get the right people on board the team. The second is to motivate the team to achieve the desired goals.”
That young Hockey player has now transformed into a dynamic and adaptive leader, combining his extensive experience in various sectors with an in-depth understanding of business fundamentals and strategic growth.
At Belden, Pavan is leading the APAC region with this dual focus while maintaining a steady course toward overarching goals.
A Journey from Finance to Industry Leadership
From college hockey to chartered accountant, Pavan embarked on a remarkable journey, honing his skills at PricewaterhouseCoopers. His career took an entrepreneurial turn when he joined a nascent mutual fund, HB Asset Management Company. This role marked Pavan’s first venture into a startup environment, where he successfully managed fund schemes and collaborated with regulatory authorities such as RBI and SEBI. He was also instrumental in the nationwide rollout of these schemes, demonstrating his strong leadership and organizational skills.
However, Pavan was always intrigued and driven by the burgeoning IT industry, which led him to co-found a network integration company in the late 1990s. Demonstrating exceptional entrepreneurial acumen, his company expanded across India, growing in revenue and workforce and positioning itself in the mid-segment of network and system integrators. To enhance capitalization, Pavan pursued a partnership with a telecom operator, where he contributed for three years before embarking on his next leadership adventure.
This adventure led Pavan to become a crucial part at Belden India in 2006. At this time, the company was undergoing a transition from a liaison office to a full-fledged sales and marketing organization. As one of the pioneering members of the team, Pavan played an integral role in expanding Belden’s business, focusing on channels, building automation, and networking. He successfully grew the enterprise networking business to several million dollars before leaving in 2011.
Pavan then ventured into the ed-tech sector by joining Aspire, a B2B2C organization, as Chief Revenue Officer. Aspire, funded by prominent investors, was an early promoter of delivering blended education across online and offline platforms on a learning management system. Pavan advanced to the position of CEO at Aspire before returning to Belden in 2015.
Pavan led the industrial automation business in India, and his strategic acumen helped increase sales by 25% in his first year. He was later transferred to Singapore, where he led Belden’s business in the Energy vertical for the APAC region. Pavan held various roles at the APAC level, eventually becoming VP of Sales in 2022 and culminating his impressive career journey by becoming the Managing Director in 2023.
His career trajectory is marked by a consistent pattern of identifying opportunities, building teams, and driving growth. Pavan’s journey of becoming the MD at Belden is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit, strategic vision, and ability to adapt to evolving market dynamics.
Steering Growth in Asia Pacific
As the Managing Director for Solution Delivery in the Asia Pacific region at Belden, Pavan oversees the entirety of the company’s operations. His leadership is focused on driving revenue, enhancing stakeholder’s profitability, and boosting overall business growth.
Belden’s global structure works into three primary regions: Americas, EMEA, and APAC, each managing the company’s two core businesses — Automation Solutions and Smart Infrastructure Solution. Under the leadership of Dr. Ashish Chand, who became CEO in early 2023, Belden has embraced a solutions-oriented approach. Before he was appointed CEO, Dr. Chand led APAC, where he and Pavan collaborated on this transition. The idea of solution delivery originated from their work in APAC, evolving from early product bundling practices.
Today, Pavan’s role is crucial in ensuring this strategic shift from a product-centric to a solutions-oriented model is effectively implemented in the APAC region. Under his direction, the APAC region has achieved significant milestones, including establishing Customer Information Centers (CICs).
Initiated in alignment with Dr. Ashish Chand’s (CEO) vision, the Shanghai CIC, the first of its kind in Asia, opened in 2023. “The rapid growth in visitor numbers underscores the increasing demand for our solutions and approach,” Pavan stated. The momentum continued with the launch of Belden’s 5th and largest CIC in Bangalore in 2024, showcasing the breadth of the company’s solution offerings.
Strategic Planning and Timing in Business Expansion
Pavan’s extensive experience in setting up and scaling businesses has taught him the critical importance of thorough planning and timing. “Understanding the business before you start is crucial,” he advises. Pavan believes that while market reports and external data are crucial, one must acquire deep and critical analysis of the business model and potential challenges.
This meticulous approach to planning extends to scaling up as well. Pavan addresses the importance of scaling as an integral part of the initial business plan, with clear goals and a well-timed execution strategy. “Scaling is about two things: how solid your plan is and how good your timing is,” he says. This philosophy has guided him in successfully expanding Belden’s operations across the APAC region.
Overcoming Challenges and Encouraging Resilience
Amidst economic challenges, particularly in China, where Belden faced a significant downturn, Pavan’s team successfully navigated the storm, sustaining and growing business in other regions. Pavan and his team have shown remarkable resilience in steering the complicated economic terrain. India emerged as a significant growth engine, with an astonishing 68% increase in business in 2023, attributed to the leadership of Senior Sales Director Santosh Kalmath and his team. “I credit this exceptional performance to the dedication and expertise of the India team,” Pavan acknowledged. Overcoming these challenges highlights Pavan’s and his team’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions and identify new growth opportunities.
Moreover, Pavan’s strategic focus on emerging markets like the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia is positioning Belden for sustained growth. He has cultivated a growth-oriented culture within the APAC region by building local capabilities and empowering regional teams. Reflecting on the recent past, Pavan stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of localized decision-making, and we have leveraged this insight to drive significant improvements over the past two years.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Innovation
Pavan’s career is a testament to his ability to lead with vision, adaptability, and a strong focus on team dynamics. From his early days in finance to his current role at Belden, Pavan has consistently demonstrated a knack for identifying opportunities, building teams, and driving growth. His leadership has been instrumental in transforming Belden’s operations in the APAC region, steering the company through economic challenges, and positioning it for future success.
As Belden continues to evolve into a solutions-oriented organization, Pavan’s strategic initiatives and leadership will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the company’s future in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. His entrepreneurial journey has significantly influenced his leadership and business development approach in large organizations. His experience in fast-paced, uncertain environments has made him more adaptable and open to change—qualities essential in today’s volatile business market.
Key takeaways include:
| Focus and Discipline: | Pavan’s entrepreneurial background helps him maintain focus amidst multiple initiatives, balancing long-term strategic vision with immediate, actionable goals. |
| Ownership and Empowerment: | He enables a culture of accountability, empowering associates across all levels to take ownership of their projects, leading to a stronger sense of belonging and achievement within the organization. |
| Collaboration: | Pavan builds teams that complement his strengths and isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves when necessary, leading by example and ensuring that all areas of the organization are well-covered. |
Over time, his leadership style has evolved into a more empowering approach. Pavan now acts as a coach, giving his teams the independence to excel while providing necessary guidance. This balance of autonomy and direction reflects his commitment to growth and innovation within the organization.
Inspiration through Collaboration
Pavan draws inspiration from both his internal and external environments, which fuel his drive to make meaningful changes in his industry and the lives of those who work with him.
Pavan credits his family, friends, and support structure as the foundation of his inspiration. They provide the encouragement and stability needed to pursue his dreams and ambitions.
The organizations he has been part of, like Belden, play a crucial role in his motivation. “My daily focus is on upholding Belden’s 120+ years legacy while ensuring its continued leadership as a top provider of solutions that make our customers’ digital journeys simpler, smarter, and more secure.” He quotes.
The company’s rich history, consistent high performance, and long-standing presence on the New York Stock Exchange inspire him daily. The ambition to contribute to such a legacy drives him to excel.
He believes in the power of thoughtful planning and teamwork. Whether scaling up or down, having a clear plan is essential. Pavan highlights the importance of collaboration, stating that his success has come from presenting his ideas to his team, listening to their feedback, and adjusting the course as needed. This collaborative approach ensures Pavan and his team always act as a united front, leading to shared success.
Vision for Belden
Pavan envisions Belden transitioning from a focus on products to becoming a leader in Network Infrastructure and Data solutions over the next few years. This shift isn’t just a response to market trends but is deeply rooted in the company’s strategic positioning within the digital landscape.
| Core Competencies: | Belden’s expertise spans data acquisition, transmission, orchestration, and management—key components of the digitalization process. |
| Future Focus: | The aim is to advance from offering network solutions to providing comprehensive data solutions, positioning Belden as an integral part of the digital transformation journey for their customers. |
| Strategic Partnerships: | While Belden may not directly handle analytics, they plan to collaborate with industry leaders to offer complete digitalization experiences.In the next five years, Belden will solidify its role in network solutions and expand into data solutions, carving a unique space in the digitalization ecosystem. |
In the next five years, Belden will solidify its role in network solutions and expand into data solutions, carving a unique space in the digitalization ecosystem.
Guidance for Aspiring Business Leaders
Pavan offers valuable advice for those aiming to become influential leaders. He begins by stressing the importance of a growth mindset. “Embrace continuous learning and stay curious,” he advises. “A growth mindset will propel both personal and professional development.”
Networking is another integral element Pavan highlights. “Build connections within and beyond your industry,” he suggests. “You never know where opportunities might arise, and a diverse network can provide crucial support.”
He also emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of your business and its competitive landscape. “Know your industry inside and out,” Pavan states. “Understanding what your competitors are doing is just as important as knowing your operations.”
According to him, focusing on goals rather than problems is essential. “Keep your eyes on the end objective,” he notes. “When you focus on the goal, solutions to problems often become clearer.”
Finally, Pavan underscores the importance of resilience. “Develop the ability to bounce back from setbacks,” he advises. “Life and leadership come with challenges, so it’s crucial to learn from mistakes and be patient.”
His insights provide a comprehensive approach for aspiring leaders, blending a growth mindset, strategic networking, deep business understanding, goal orientation, and resilience.
Pavan’s journey from a chartered accountant to a successful business leader at a global technology company serves as an inspiring example of the power of teamwork, strategic thinking, and resilient leadership.
