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Vaibhav Kothari is holding a radio on his shoulder and posing for professional shot. — The most unique thing about Vaibhav Kothari is that he started learning sign language at the age of 17 years old!

Vaibhav Kothari is pursuing a Master of Business Administrations (MBA), June 2017 with Daniels College of Business at Denver University in Denver. He has obtained two degrees – Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Industrial and System Engineering with Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY and Master of Science (MS) in Technological Entrepreneurship with Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Vaibhav worked as a Director with Bhilwara-Jaipur Tolls Road Pvt Ltd, focusing on constructing a two-lane 212-km state highway, a first BOT (build, operate and transfer) project based on public private partnership (PPP) model from Jaipur to Bhilwara in Rajasthan. for four years.

Vaibhav belongs to the next generation of promoting Om Metals Infraprojects Ltd, (www.ommetals.com), an industrial conglomerate in engineering, real estate and infrastructure in India. During his two years work with Om Metals, he helped transform its manufacturing unit in Kota, Rajasthan into a high-quality manufacturing unit. Vaibhav has worked as an intern with two companies – EIMCO Water Technologies, Salt Lake City, Utah and New United Motor Manufacturing Inc, Fremont, CA during his undergraduate years. Vaibhav has been brought up in New Delhi, India without using any support services available for his needs.

He has produced “Not Anymore”, an award-winning documentary film (www.notanymorethefilm.com) that focuses on how he works as a leader in professional settings in India. Vaibhav is profoundly Deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). He is also on the Board of Associates with Gallaudet University. The most unique thing about him is that he started learning sign language at the age of 17 years old!

Serious Questions:

You have a new project called, “The 20-Minute Talk Show”, tell us more about how this idea got started?

Few months ago, I was awakened by one of my MBA colleagues during our trip to London, that she noticed I would enjoy meeting different people and learning more about their whole journeys – she told me she would have loved to watch how I talk with hearing people through ASL interpreters, and she loves how I keep having smooth conversation with those people. This gave me an idea of creating one-hour talk show, but changing it to a20-minute talk show because an interpreter in the United States works straight for only 20 minutes, to maintain and facilitate the whole communication process. Hence, I have used/created an independent course, as a part of MBA program with Mr. Ron Rizzuto to create and produce this show from scratch.

What is your overall goal with “The 20-Minute Talk Show?

My overall goal for “The 20-Minute Talk Show” is to inspire, motivate and encourage our audience in general by watching our whole episodes regarding entrepreneurs and professionals’ success stories. And I also want to turn this project into a business entity and hope to interview more than 50,000 professionals and entrepreneurs.

You interviewed fourteen different people who have had various business successes, of those, which one was your favorite one?

It’s hard to pick one, all fourteen different people’s success stories are of big inspiration and motivation. My favorite ones are Kimbal Musk, Mark Massey and Kim Schneider Malek because they are staying very true to their own values and passions – however, all fourteen different interviewees’ life experiences are amazing !

Of the interviews that you’ve done, which one do you think that you learned the most from?

I have learned a lot from David Groth – he quotes “you have to keep going, keep striving for better and keep pushing yourselves” – and, also from Mark Massey’s quote -”It’s not only being honest about what you say and do, delivering what you say you will, it’s about making all the cogs in the wheel”.

Most of your interviews were of those who were within the local business community in Colorado, is your goal to expand outside of Colorado? Nationally? Internationally?

Yes, my goal is to set our 20 minute talk show, on global level, this will happen only if we find a global production company to sponsor this show.

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?

The most difficult decision I have made in the last two years, is to attend MBA school in Denver, a city, that I have never lived or visited before, or I do not know anyone living in this city. So, I came to that decision by wanting a big change. Looking back at the last two years, I am really proud enough to say I made this right decision because I have been involved in many activities i.e. travels to London/Belgium and Israel, and different team projects.

What are your lifelong dreams? My lifelong dreams are 1. To give jobs to hundreds of people in the world, 2. To make difference in everyone’s lives, 3. To continue inspiring and motivating people, 4. To be successful entrepreneur in life and 5, to enjoy life. ~Vaibhav Kothari

What are you looking for in terms of career development?

I am graduating this June 2017 – so I am kinda in a stressed environment to look around for career and entrepreneurial opportunities in the States. I am hoping to making and establishing a long and exciting career in big cities like New York City, San Francisco and LA.

What’s the most important thing you learned in school?

The most important thing I have learned in school is that I have to work harder due to my deafness, as compared to my peers to meet all of my expectations – for an instance, I would have to work as a team not only with my peers, but also with interpreters as I’d have to see and schedule team meetings depending on their availabilities every week and also, to see if we click together as team very well. And also, the more responsibilities I take, the more appreciation and recognitions I get.

How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

I’d probably feel disappointed about taking no for an answer and would take some time to think about this reason, but I’d have to move on and find better opportunity the next time !

How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

I want to be better person day by day, I also want to be more responsible person for everything I do in life – both professionally and personally.

How would you describe your work style?

I personally think my work style is combination of learning and leading – I’d learn both new and old things and see if I have skills to contribute or not.

Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?

There are many people who have made difference in my career – I’d name Trilok Chand Kothari, my grandfather, as he has been a great visionary and leader, both professionally and personally.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of doing things I want to do – I am proud of all of my strengths and weaknesses, I have made many mistakes and failures, so I learn a lot from them.

What are your lifelong dreams?

My lifelong dreams are 1. Give jobs to hundreds of people in the world, 2. Make difference in everyone’s lives, 3. Continue inspiring and motivating people, 4. Be successful entrepreneur in life and 5, to enjoy life.

Vaibhav Kothari sitting posing for a professional shoot. — What do you like to do for fun?
I love meeting new people, checking out new restaurants, watching movies on netflix and amazon prime, traveling and hanging out with friends and family members. ~Vaibhav Kothari

Completely Silly Random Questions:

What would you do if you won the lottery?

If you refer the lottery to the money, I would invest in real estate properties in Manhattan, so I would get double returns than I’d get from the lottery, and then I will donate some to charitable deaf schools in India and invest in two to three films that would make difference in everyone’s life in the world.

Who are your heroes?

My heroes are Jackie Roth and Robert Rice – they have faced a lot of challenges and have accomplished a lot, despite of their deafness.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love meeting new people, checking out new restaurants, watching movies on netflix and amazon prime, traveling and hanging out with friends and family members.

What do you do in your spare time?

I am trying to do reading magazines and books, helping family members and friends and walking around the home or anywhere in my spare time.

What is your favorite memory from childhood?

My favorite memory from childhood is that I swam in the chambal river (that river has a lot of crocodiles) with my grandfather, my brothers and sisters in Kota, Rajasthan and loved annoying my grandmother as much as I could.