Early Life and Aspirations

Growing up in a village, Alok's family owned some land which was producing enough crops to ensure that the family didn’t have any survival challenges. His father secured a government job when he was around 10 years old and even though the salary was small, he could see a difference in the wellbeing of his family. Despite these challenges, like most of the village kids at that time, his childhood was more focused on fun than education. It wasn't until he moved to a high school, where his father decided to put him in the school hostel even when the school was 3 km away from his village that his interest in education started rising. Finally, when he encountered an IIT-focused coaching class in Patna while preparing for his 12th standard exams, his interest in higher education was ignited and his belief in himself increased manyfold.

Academic Achievements and IIT Dreams

With newfound confidence, Alok excelled in his science tests, which boosted his self-belief and encouraged him to aim higher. Determined to get into the prestigious IIT(Indian Institute of Technology), he took a gap year to focus on his studies. Despite facing financial difficulties and struggling with English, he secured a respectable rank in the IIT entrance exam and opted for the Computer Science and Engineering program at IIT Delhi. His determination and resilience in overcoming obstacles are truly inspiring.

Professional Beginnings and Entrepreneurial Spark

While growing up, Alok was inspired by a successful IAS officer who had roots in his village. He wanted to be an IAS officer because his understanding was that these IAS officers provide jobs. However, given the family situation, after completing his engineering degree, he decided to join a job and worked in various IT roles. His professional journey took a pivotal turn when he co-founded a startup, driven by the mentorship and guidance of his brother-in-law, who had a consulting business in Chicago. This relationship made Alok more serious and accountable about his career goals and achievements. 

Founding Walking Tree

Alok, along with his friend Pradeep, decided to start their own company, Walking Tree, in 2009. They had previously attempted to start a business with a more senior partner, but that partnership didn't work out due to communication gaps. His wife was supportive of his entrepreneurial venture, allowing him to focus on building the business. Despite the challenges of a startup failing in 2008-2009, Alok and Pradeep persisted and formally launched Walking Tree in 2009. Over the next 15 years, they built the company into a significant player in the industry.

Navigating Challenges and Pivoting to Success

Initially, Alok focused on product-based companies in the healthcare and telecom sectors. However, they faced challenges with customer adoption and struggled to gain traction. Realizing their product-focused approach was not working, they pivoted to a consulting model in 2011 to survive financially. This pivotal change underscored the importance of understanding market and customer needs, a key lesson from their entrepreneurial journey. 

Building a Resilient Business

Over the years, Alok and his team faced several challenges, including financial struggles, a failed expansion, and employee and customer churn after an acquisition. Despite these setbacks, they persevered, learning from their mistakes and building solid capabilities in areas like digital solutions development, data analytics, AI/ML and Generative AI. The company's growth over the past decade demonstrates the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the entrepreneurial journey.

Lessons and Insights

Alok's journey highlights the importance of building a strong leadership and delivery team. Despite the challenges, the startup grew to around 280 employees today, with operations in multiple locations. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to carefully consider their skills, resources, and commitment to solving meaningful problems. He emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not just about being your own boss but about creating value and solving significant issues.

His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, resilience, and a positive mindset in navigating life's obstacles. By focusing on doing one's best in any given situation, whether in a job or as an entrepreneur, one can find fulfillment and enjoyment, regardless of the outcome. He encourages embracing the journey and putting in full effort through the good, bad, and ugly. He believes that life must be celebrated and one must put his best in whatever he/she decides to do - be it fun or work or entrepreneurship!