In our third episode of ’10 Questions With..’ let us introduce Vatsal Gaur! Vatsal is a partner at King Stubb and Kasiva, a full service national law firm in India, and attends to clients in Corporate and M&A, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Blockchain and Web3 practice areas.
Vatsal also has significant ownership interest in Reblock Technologies, blockchain development studio and The Happiness Room, a metaverse development studio and an Unreal Engine training centre, backed by Epic Games. Vatsal is also an active angel investor and mentor and business advisor to several startups in Web3, blockchain and ESG.
After years building up an impressive resume, Vatsal decided it was time to take his his work and lifestyle on the road. Embracing the lifestyle of a Digital Nomad, albeit a very successful one, Vatsal considers Bali his home for now.
Here we go! – 10 Questions with..
1. What inspired you to embark on a location-independent lifestyle or start a business while traveling? Was there a specific moment or realisation that led you down this path?
It was a process. I started to notice that for work, I didn’t need to stay in on place. The pandemic really propelled this, when I moved to Goa, for 8 months.
I straddle two functions. My first being a corporate lawyer focussing on venture capital and investment transactions, tech advisory and consulting, and the other being my tech services company, where we specialise in building mobile applications, tech POCs, blockchain and AI solutions for paying customers globally.
2. How do you maintain a work-life balance while constantly being on the move? What strategies or routines have you found most effective in staying productive while exploring new places?
When someone asks me if I am on vacation, I say no, I’m just living here. For me that’s how I see it. Can you take a place and consider it an extension of where you live?
Regularity in routine is key. Whatever your ordinary routine is, best to keep that rhythm going wherever you are. This is the main secret sauce 🙂
3. How has traveling and experiencing different cultures influenced your business or work? Have you encountered any challenges or opportunities that were unique to a particular location?
Locations that have more business are more conducive for networking. That’s the crucial distinction.
It also depends on what sort of work you do. If your work is purely remote then I suppose location doesn’t matter.
4. What essential tools, apps, or gadgets do you rely on to run your business efficiently while being on the road? Are there any specific resources that have been game-changers for you?
Business is run mostly through emails and WhatsApp, and once clients get onboarded, in my tech service firm, we bring them on to Slack and / or Jira to manage work flow. At the law firm, it’s more standard, on email.
5. Do you have a favourite location or type of environment that you find most conducive to your work? What makes a place your ideal workspace?
Overall, locations that promise good internet, ideally tropical weather, and lots of nature are my favourites. I also like places that have a thriving community from all over the world. It helps to lose one’s identify and connect to a more global identity. That also helps in coming up with ideas.
6. How do you approach networking and building professional connections when your physical location is constantly changing? Any tips for maintaining a strong professional network remotely?
This is a tough one. Networking mostly becomes online. In my case this also means I may miss various speaking opportunities back home, but that’s a price to pay for the life one wants.
Having said that, if you’re creative enough and your energy is open enough, I believe you can attract opportunities anywhere.
7. Have there been any particularly memorable cultural experiences or encounters during your travels that have influenced your perspective, either personally or professionally?
I usually do immerse myself in local cultures at least slightly when I travel. But I don’t think they aid in business per se. But it does help in creating mental flexibility and neuroplasticity.
8. Can you share a specific achievement or milestone in your business that you reached while traveling? How did the environment contribute to or challenge your success?
Well, being asked to feature on this magazine is one ☺
Apart from this, I’d say I enjoy when there are serendipities, that happen when you meet like-minded folks in similar business areas.
I also meet several other entrepreneurs on the move and learn from their experiences even if they operate in different areas.
9. While traveling and working on the go, have you ever found yourself in a particularly embarrassing or comical situation? Whether it’s a mishap during a video call or a cultural misunderstanding, we’d love to hear about a moment that made you cringe or laugh in retrospect
Haha, no I try to do as few video calls as I can 😉
If I do, I’ll always take it from my hotel room or my home, as the case may be.
10. As someone who has successfully combined work and travel, what advice would you give to aspiring digital nomads or entrepreneurs looking to build a business on the move? Any lessons learned or key takeaways you’d like to share?
I’d say stick to routine. Stick to how you would live if you were working remotely in your own country. Make sure you understand that this might need adjustment for time zones and that becomes tougher as time zone gaps increase. So far I’ve only ventured into places that are within 5 hours time difference.
Additionally, get on digital nomads bali community and meet like minded people. It helps a lot.
Thanks a lot for your time Vatsal. Click here to connect with Vatsal on Linkedin.