In this episode of “Humble Beginnings,” we chat with Vishal Desai, president of the Workflow Automation Sector and a board director at SilverEdge Government Solutions, about how the experiences throughout his life shaped his perspective and the type of leader he is today. Desai takes us through key moments and memories; growing up in India, moving to the U.S. at age 15, assimilating to American culture in New York and what led him to study engineering at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Overcoming cultural, financial and personal barriers ⏤ including receiving over 300 job rejections after college ⏤ Desai landed a job at NASA and received his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He’d go on to lead NASA’s Next Generation Enterprise Management effort, but when it came time to manage larger programs, Desai ⏤ in his late 20s ⏤ wanted to start his own company instead. Knowing nothing about business, he chose to invest in himself. Tune in to hear how Desai founded, built and grew the Savli Group; the cultural fundamental values and learnings he carries with him today; and what ultimately led him to SilverEdge Government Solutions.