The Power of Partnering (POP) is a half-day event where women entrepreneurs, business leaders, corporations and procurement professionals come together to train, network and create matchmaker opportunities to help create and reach procurement and business goals.
Each agenda includes educational resources from thought leadership and subject matter experts and the opportunity to showcase your capabilities statements in a meet the buyer setting or matchmaker sessions.
Kanchana Raman is President and CEO of Avion Networks.
Avion Networks is an Atlanta-based, global telecom technology firm, specializing in converging communications, broadband network services, solutions and innovations.
With two distinct practice areas, centered on the Telecom and Technology sectors, Avion provides value-added network planning, design, installation, optimization and deployment services.
These behind-the-scene services enable seamless, anytime, anywhere access to information and entertainment. Historically, Avion’s roots originate in the Telecom Services sector, where we have played a critical role in helping to implement network infrastructures worldwide for major global operators and OEM’s .
Connect with Kanchana on LinkedIn.
This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.
TRANSCRIPT
Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open For Business. Now, here’s your host.
Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, back at GWBC Power of Partnering event at the Georgia Power Headquarters. I’m so excited to be talking to my guest, Kanchana Raman with Avacend. Welcome.
Kanchana Raman: Thank you for having me.
Lee Kantor: Well, before we get too far into things, tell us a little bit about Avacend. How are you serving folks?
Kanchana Raman: So, we are headquartered here in Atlanta, Georgia. I am on the board of the Georgia Women’s Business Council. And we’ve been in business for over eight years, so primarily doing data analytics, IT staffing, healthcare staffing nationwide.
Lee Kantor: So, what’s your backstory? How’d you get involved in this line of work?
Kanchana Raman: So, obviously, I come from a tech background and I’ve been doing this for many years and very passionate about the industry. And I’m passionate about different industries, I like to learn about what what other industries are doing and constantly try to diversify and, again, align with, you know, the changes around you. Like for example, today everything’s about AI, so you also want to learn and adapt and change and align with what is happening in the industry.
Lee Kantor: So, how is the industry changing when it comes to AI? Like, how can a candidate make themselves attractive to you or somebody you’re trying to place them at?
Kanchana Raman: So, I think one of the misconceptions about AI is that it’s going to replace you. I think it’s going to augment the work culture. It’s going to augment our work. So, it is almost like a copilot for you, right? So, if you start looking at it like that and see how you can work alongside AI and automate a lot of what your daily routine work is, I think it’s going to help enhance the entire industry and, again, enhance your own personal work as well.
Lee Kantor: So, is that something that you recommend a candidate be doing, is learn how that candidate can use AI to make themselves more marketable and more valuable to a potential employee?
Kanchana Raman: A hundred percent, yes. So, anytime you could use a tool, it’s more like adapting a technology, and as you progress in your work, I mean, there are some mundane tasks that can be done by an AI agent rather than you trying to do it on your own.
Lee Kantor: So, now, for you personally, why was it important for you to not only get involved with GWBC, but also to get involved at a level of a board director?
Kanchana Raman: I love what the organization does. I love Roz Lewis. I love her vision of where GWBC should be, and the focus of the organization, and also the amount of opportunities that they present to women businesses like me, and also the opportunity to meet local corporations. I think it’s so powerful to meet people in your backyard. And also support the companies who are here, whether it is women-owned businesses or Fortune 100 corporations. So, completely excited about the membership at Georgia Women’s Business Council.
Lee Kantor: So, now, for the women out there that are potentially listening that aren’t certified yet, a lot of people talk about, “Okay. Well, to get certified there’s a lot of hoops I have to jump through.” But the value of jumping through those hoops, can you explain what’s possible once you do that in order to get certified and to join the community, like the benefits, to me, outweigh the cost of getting certified.
Kanchana Raman: I don’t think there are any hoops that you need to jump to get certified, because I’m assuming as a small business or any business, you’re pretty organized internally. You have your tax records, your incorporation certificates, everything in place, your insurance, your CPAs, attorneys. So, once you have all of those, the day-to-day stuff in order, then the certification process becomes pretty easy. And, also, we have at GWBC some wonderful people who are there to help you through, handhold you through the certification process if that’s your first time.
Kanchana Raman: I mean, even for us as a WBE, we have to renew our certificate every year and I think it’s the same amount of information, updated tax records that you have to submit to get recertified year after year. So, I don’t think it’s any different from getting certified on the first day and then getting a recertification.
Kanchana Raman: So, I would highly encourage it because, I think, first of all, it’s the sisterhood, right? Especially during the pandemic, we were all sitting by ourselves in silos, and then we had communities like the Georgia Women’s Business Council that would have monthly meetings, and we would exchange notes as to what our journeys were. And then, many times it is great to know that you’re not alone in what’s happening. There are other people that are going through similar situations.
Kanchana Raman: So, one of the things I really love about the Georgia Women’s Business Council is the sisterhood that, you know, WBENC as an organization, GWBC as an organization brings to each one of us because as a founder and CEO, the journey could be pretty lonely.
Lee Kantor: So, if somebody wants to connect with you and learn more, what is the website, the best coordinates to connect?
Kanchana Raman: I would say LinkedIn, Kanchana Raman. I’m on LinkedIn, so the best way to connect with me is on LinkedIn.
Lee Kantor: Good stuff. Well, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.
Kanchana Raman: Thank you.
Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, back in a few with GWBC Power of Partnering.
