Asian Leadership Awards in Media, Business and Entrepreneurship recognised at Asian Who’s Who Awards
The winners were presented award accolades in the presence of a host of MP’s, dignitaries, industry leaders, celebrities and VIP’s in attendance. Award winners were selected by an independent panel of eminent advisors, including previous award winners such as Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer Lord Karan Bilimoria; Baroness Shreela Flather; and Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP.
The deserving winners included:
Asian Leadership as Young Entrepreneur – Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Founder & Chief Executive of RationalFX, one of the world’s fastest growing and most competitively priced independent foreign exchange companies, and Xendpay.com, a leading online international payments service.
Rajesh Agrawal was recognised for his gifted sense of entrepreneurship and for creating a multi-million pound commercial foreign exchange and international payments company which is fast becoming its marketplace leader. Born in Indore, India, Rajesh, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance & Marketing and an MBA in IT & Marketing, was 22 years of age when he left his small town home in India to live on only 5,000 rupees (approximately £63) a month in Chandigarh, Northern India, working for a small web-designing company.
Rajesh moved to London in 2001 after being headhunted by a foreign exchange broking firm and after harnessing over 10 years of experience in IT, currency risk management and commercial foreign exchange, he teamed up with colleague, Paresh Davdra, to create RationalFX. What started as a two-man enterprise based in Brighton is now a multi-million pound turnover business based in the City of London, with offices in Birmingham, France and Italy, and the firm is now one of the UK’s fastest growing companies. As a brand extension to RationalFX, Rajesh launched Xendpay, a leading provider of international payments and worldwide money remittance online.
Engaged in a number of high profile endeavours and community based engagements, RationalFX is also the principal sponsor for Birmingham City Football Club for Season 2011-2012, again testament to the company’s exponential growth and a further signifier of Rajesh’s commitment to supporting regional projects and grass roots organisations. In speaking about the Award, Rajesh said, “I am delighted and honoured to be recognised with this award for my achievements, by the community that has been the making of me. It is the Asian community that I have always been a part of that has instilled in me a value system and set of principles that dictate the way in which I conduct myself in my life and career. By following the great examples I have always had around me, whether family or the wider community, I have managed to overcome challenges and achieve my goals, with their support and encouragement behind me always. These awards are testament to the great achievements of Asian communities, not only in Asia but wherever they have settled across the globe, as they continue to inspire younger generations and make their mark in their countries of residence.”
Asian Leadership in International Media – CEO and MD of Sterling Media, Natasha Mudhar – Natasha was recognised for her rigorous business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. As CEO and MD at Sterling Media, one of the UK’s leading full-service communication agencies with global footprints in Middle East, India, USA, Canada and Pan-Europe, she is known today for her phenomenal contribution in the field of brand management, marketing, public relations, advertising, online and events.Natasha joined Sterling in 2004 which was established by Ms Teji Singh, one of the first women from an ethnic background to independently set up an international agency in the UK. Natasha’s exemplary leadership has spearheaded the company’s transformation into an award-winning, globally recognised name. With the good-will of over 17 years, Natasha’s brand building expertise has been sought by emerging brand names, which she has successfully propelled onto a global platform, as well as large corporates that regularly seek her unparalleled consultancy services.
The young achiever successfully manages an impressive portfolio of clients and her contribution to the company includes implementing campaigns for clients such as Live 8 for Make Poverty History I and II, Aston Martin, Lloyds Banking Group, Warner Bros. Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom, Sony Music, Sahara, Kingfisher Airlines and Force India. The company has also contributed to the UK Bollywood Boom and is passionate about raising the share of voice and mind for diverse communities within the media, promoting International and Ethnic events, issues and interests that were once perceived as niche to a wider mainstream and international audience.
In speaking about the Award, Natasha said, “It is truly humbling to have received the award and I thank the entire team and esteemed judging panel of Asian Who's Who. From being recognised as a tool for propaganda and now as a form of two-way communication, without a doubt the communications and media industry is one of the world’s most powerful with its ability to create change. To be a small part of this change through our work is an honour and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of a fraternity and company such as Sterling. Sterling wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of my fantastic team and clients but above all Sterling wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for the vision of Ms. Teji Singh who single-handedly set up the company 17 years ago. I am extremely proud of my Indian heritage and my kinship network, which has instilled in me a value system that promotes hard work and integrity to achieve success and overcome challenges.