Meet Dave Ryan, the first U.S. employee of Tata Communications, a $83.5 billion global telecommunications and communications company headquartered in India. With its second largest market in the U.S., Ryan is now CEO of Tata Communications North America. Ryan told WashingtonExec that if you are looking to expand abroad, it is best to team up with an already locally-established firm, such as Tata Communications. WashingtonExec also asked Ryan what he thinks most executives do not completely understand about globalization as well as where his favorite spot to do business is.
Tata Communications U.S. operations are headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.
WashingtonExec: Please tell us about your background and what led you to Tata Communications?
Dave Ryan: I’ve been in the telecommunications and communications industry my whole career, and held management roles at NTT America, Sprint, and Global One prior to joining Tata Communications as the first U.S. employee in 2004. I’m the Senior Vice President for the Americas Region and was attracted to the role because emerging markets offer such significant growth potential to U.S. multinationals, and as emerging market companies are seeking communications and Enterprise bridgeheads to the world’s largest economy.
WashingtonExec: Tata Communications is known for its business in developing countries, how did you make it a sustainable company in the Washington, D.C. area?
Dave Ryan: When I started working for Tata Communications we had a strong presence in India and key emerging markets, but were just beginning our expansion in the United States. The U.S. was a test bed for us in many ways; could we expand and succeed in a mature and highly competitive telecommunications marketplace? Seven years later, I can answer yes and that we have made the business sustainable by providing competitive and bespoke global communications and Enterprise solutions to our customers. It would not have been possible without the commitment and technical expertise of our workforce who have driven growth in what is now our second-largest market outside India.
WashingtonExec: What advice do you have for local corporations/companies looking to expand abroad?
Dave Ryan: I would advise them to partner with Tata Communications because of our deep expertise in taking U.S. corporations into high growth emerging markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It’s critical for U.S.-based companies to find the right business solutions partner for the particular market they are looking to expand into, and a partner that understands their unique communications and IT network needs. Emerging markets present technological and regulatory challenges, but partnering with a communications provider that has established emerging markets footholds provides a lot of know-how to companies looking to expand into new markets such as India or South Africa.
WashingtonExec: Do you think executives are fully aware of the potential business to be had abroad? What is something you think most executives do not fully understand about globalization?
Dave Ryan: Globalization is not a new concept in the sense that ancient trading routes like the Silk Road have existed for thousands of years, but what has changed is the speed of communications and decision-making. The majority of the traffic carried by our global terrestrial and submarine cable network, the world’s largest, is data and particularly video. We have seen increased demand for Telepresence, our high-definition immersive video-conferencing service and the global connections it provides businesses. Video-conferencing supports faster due diligence and reviews of mergers and acquisitions for example, and a quicker ability to engage and tap customers in new markets. It is being driven by the communications and data revolution, and it is accelerating globalization.
WashingtonExec: What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received? What do you attribute to your success to at Tata Communications?
Dave Ryan: My mother once told me that if you don’t have anything good to say, you should keep your mouth shut. The lesson learned from my mother is that it’s much easier to be critical, but it takes much more thoughtfulness to be constructive and positive.
WashingtonExec: Your job requires a significant amount of traveling. Where is your favorite location?
Dave Ryan: I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have visited great locations around the world including old palaces in India, world historical sites in London, sushi bars in Tokyo, but probably my favorite place is Sydney, Australia. It seems to me to provide the best of everything: a mix of the U.S. east and west coasts, the ocean, good wineries, great scenery, mountains and beautiful weather.
*Featured in the 9/30 issue of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority online magazine E-Bird.