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Prologue

There are times in our life, where it challenges us to take a step back or put a step-down. Almost all of us react sceptically to that and it would definitely be a farfetched possibility. But for a rare few, challenges are the ones that drive them forward, even if it is a hard decision to get rid of some comforts and routines that they were used to. Always it is a tough call to make; but imagine that you had to do it twice in your life and turn them to worthy decisions, and all you got with you are your perseverance, will power, hard work, and time management skills. Now it might look like a well thought out script for an upcoming movie, but in real it happened for a man who believed in himself all the way in his life. It is a story that would be inspiring for many of us, as he embraced the challenges with a courageous heart and sooner he rewrote on how the world perceives of himself. And that's Raju Kannampuzha, one of the most revered Event Managers in Kerala who broke the conventions and set a benchmark to his counterparts. Indeed, he has proven that every challenge that we face, if taken positively, make our life an eventful one.

Academic Life

Holding Double Master's degrees in Malayalam Literature and Journalism respectively, Raju Kannampuzha's academic life too was an eventful journey. Born to a lower middle-class family, Raju; since his childhood, realised that acquiring the knowledge will be the key to his success. The pursuit of making money at a young age; out of sheer necessity, and the passion towards teaching paved the path for him becoming an entrepreneur in the later years. Raju never thought to be an entrepreneur, and his part-time tuitions for needy students was truly intended to help the family. But back then, he learned a valuable lesson - time and knowledge are the biggest investment in everyone's life. Still, he holds the same principle to his heart and proves it right every time. Raju had his Graduation in Malayalam Literature from UC College Aluva. Though he studied in a different stream for a pre-degree, it was his passion towards creative writing made him inclined to Literature. After the PG, he again started teaching in a Parallel College - the term that was used in the 80s and 90s for private institutions that accommodated students who were not so good at their studies. He continued to be the parallel college teacher, despite he had to concentrate on his studies. That time, he was studying Master of Communication and Journalism from Madurai Kamaraj University. The effort that he had to take was herculean, but Raju was up to it by all means. And that changed his life. Forever.

Personal Life

Raju Kannampuzha's teaching career was indeed a turning point. It was not only for his entrepreneurial life but also it presented him the love of his life. He met Anu at the Holy Angels College, where she also joined as a Physics teacher. Within 4 years, they tied the knot on May 18, 1997. They have two daughters, Nidhi and Prithvi. He is the son of late K.C. George (former employee of Chakkolas Mills, Kalamassery) and Mary. His sisters are Ruby and Reena. During his school and college days, he was actively engaged in cultural activities. He was a part of Rajagiri Music Academy and his specialty was Tabla. During those times, he won prizes representing the church choir and he was a member of a professional Ganamela troop.

Pre-Entrepreneurship Life

Holy Angels College Kalamassery, this renowned parallel college in the 90s changed his fortune, but in surprising ways. He taught at another institution called Mount Carmel College Eloor, but Holy Angels provided him the exposure and experience that helped him change his world. Along with his studies, he was doing it well and the promoters of Holy Angels, who were NRIs, gave him the opportunity to be the working partner and he took that as a challenge and ran it successfully with three of his colleagues for some years. There he learned the basics of strategy formulation, recruitment, marketing, accounts and within no time he realized that he possesses the entrepreneurial skills that most people hardly had....Yet, it was too early for him to think of starting his own venture. After completing MCJ, his strong desire was to join Kerala's leading media houses. He had all the reasons for that too- a good result for Communication and Journalism Masters, and additional masters in Malayalam literature and his creative writings were published in Mathrubhumi and Kalakaumudy those time. He was pretty sure that he could be one of the prominent journalists soon. But the fate had some big ideas stored in for him. After being rejected by all the newspapers, he opted for the second option, choosing the PR job. Surprisingly, all through his life, a strong Plan B worked. There too was no exception. A person who had never been in the hospital during his life made it a second home for pursuing the profession. Raju Kannampuzha was appointed as a Public Relations Officer in Nilambur Chaliyar Hospital. He spent 7 months there and learned how to handle hospital administration, and that was just the beginning Mr. R. Ramanchandran, the administrator of RCM Hospital Thrippunithura, changed his perspective towards medical management industry. According to Raju, Mr. Ramachandran is the best mentor that he saw in his professional life. Mr. Ramachandran often provided him with new insights and that helped Raju to think differently. Within no time, their bond became stronger and they worked for a new hospital project – the first ever private sector single specialty hospital; for NeuroScience, Indo American Hospital in Chammanakary, Vaikom, and the hospital belonged to the first neurosurgeons of Kerala, Dr. Kumar Bahuleyan. An international Medical Conference was organized there in 1996, and Raju was the only non-medical member of the organizing committee. That event went well. Now came, one of the biggest decisions in his life. In 1997, Raju Kannampuzha got an appointment as LD Clerk in Alangadu Panchayath Office. Since Government jobs were found to be lucrative and respectable job during those time, his family members suggested going for it. Half minded, he joined there and with half the salary too. Within two days, he wanted to go back to the job that he started to love – in hospital administration, but somehow, he managed to be there. It was a great decision, that now he remembers, as it gave the launchpad to be an Event Manager who believes in challenges and innovations. Raju was bestowed with the responsibilities of Keralotsavam (Kerala Fest) and Janakeeya Asoothranam (People's Plan Scheme) and he didn't make a stone unturned. Within two years, he got promoted to a UD Clerk in Vengola Panchayath. Despite his busy schedule, he held good rapport with hospitals and worked as a freelancer for executing some programmes and events. 1997 marked an important year for due to several instances. He actively participated in the two-day camp organized by Malayala Manorama and Manipal Heart Foundation and there he met the vice principal of Kottayam Medical College and renowned cardiologist, Dr. Rajan Joseph Manjooran. It is believed that meeting some people at some point in life can change the course of our life. For Raju, it was Dr. Rajan Joseph Manjooran. In the year 2001, he couldn't anymore resist the call from the healthcare sector, and he joined Fathima Hospital, Kozhikkode as Director, Marketing and Administration. For that, he took leave from the Government Services; yet again proved to be a good decision. One day, after 6 months at Fathima Hospital, he got a call from Dr. Rajan Jospeh Manjooran. His question to Raju was a pretty straight forward one – ‘Do you want to start an event management company'. Dazzled by the question; due to the fact that the terminology of event management was completely unknown to him, Raju was not sure about that. But when Dr. Rajan described the opportunity – to conduct a National Conference of Cardiologists in Ernakulam and he wanted Raju to be the conference manager of that, he again was in a little dilemma to choose it, as it was again putting the foot back. Again, for half the salary and more strenuous work to follow for 18 months straight, Raju made that big decision. And this was for the second time in his life. Since then, he didn't look back. 18 months of hard work. One of the biggest conferences that Kerala has to witness. It was not easy for Raju Kannampuzha. But his perseverance and hard work did pay off. The event became a huge success and a great thing about the event was that he got an enquiry from Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram - To organize the Conference of Indian Association of Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeons. The event too was a great hit and it was rated the best in the 51-year history of the association. Both the events helped him to have a wide network of vendors and like-minded professionals and he realized that Event Management should be his future endeavour. That's how Executive Events came into existence in 2006, with a mere capital of INR 25000. Read More