At 92, most people are content reflecting on a life well lived. Hemen Parekh, however, is busy building the future. From his early days as a mechanical engineer in the 1950s to pioneering India’s executive search industry in the 1990s, and now to launching a multilingual AI platform, Parekh has never stopped reinventing himself. His journey is not about chasing success—it’s about creating satisfaction through impact.
For product founders, community builders, and technologists, Parekh’s life is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and purposeful innovation. His AI avatar, available in 26 languages and powered by his extensive personal writings, is more than just a tool—it’s a glimpse into the future of personalized, human-driven AI.
We sat down with him to trace his extraordinary arc and the lessons it holds for the builders of today and tomorrow.
On redefining “success” as “satisfaction”
“Looking back at my 30 years at Larsen & Toubro and later with 3P Consultants, I wouldn’t call it ‘success’—I’d call it ‘satisfaction.’ We shaped an industry, built ethical practices in executive search, and influenced countless careers. That impact, to me, is far more meaningful than any financial metric.”
For startups and product owners, Parekh’s redefinition is a powerful reminder: true value lies not in valuations, but in the ecosystems you shape.
On staying ahead of six decades of disruption
“I bought my first PC in 1995, launched 3pJobs.com in 1997—11 months before Google—and kept asking myself: how can this technology solve today’s problems? My motto has always been: ‘If you don’t obsolete yourself, someone else will.’”
On resilience and staying “young” at 91
“Age is just a number. The fire keeps burning because I see every disruption as an opportunity. The moment you stop learning is when you truly become old.”
On building India’s first digital job platforms in the 1990s
Parekh saw the inefficiency of traditional hiring and bet on the internet at a time when only cyber cafés offered access.
“We created job search centers in cafés, simplified interfaces in local languages, and built trust through verification. That grassroots approach helped digital recruitment gain acceptance when internet penetration was negligible.”
On personalized AI vs. generic large-scale systems
“The future lies in personalized, human-identity-driven AI. My own platform integrates my writings and answers in 26 languages. We need hybrid models—large systems for scale, personal AIs for context. It’s not either-or, but coexistence with human values at the core.”
On the societal challenge AI must solve in India
“The biggest challenge is ensuring AI doesn’t widen the urban-rural divide. AI must empower villages—through agriculture, healthcare, and education in local languages. Unless inclusive, AI will fail its greatest promise.”
On advice to young founders
“Don’t just build what you want—talk to customers, validate constantly, and be ready to pivot. Celebrate small wins. And above all, find mentors. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Conclusion
Hemen Parekh’s story isn’t just one of endurance—it’s one of relevance. At 92, he remains sharper, hungrier, and more adaptive than most founders a quarter his age. For product owners and startup communities, his journey underscores three key truths:
- Curiosity outlasts every wave of disruption.
- Products must solve real problems for real people.
- Satisfaction comes from impact, not valuations.
As India enters a golden age of product innovation, Parekh’s life offers a blueprint—build ethically, stay adaptive, and never stop learning.
“I’m still a young man,” he laughs. And looking at his AI-powered legacy, you can’t help but believe him.
