In 1993, Sunny Kaila went to see the Statue of Liberty. A young immigrant from India with little money, he couldn’t afford a ticket to Liberty Island, so his friends took him to see the statue from the New Jersey side. Gazing across the waters, Sunny held a pure vision of the American dream in his heart. Never could he have dreamt that he would return to this site less than 28 years later in a totally different spot financially. Through hard work and a talent for connecting and organizing people across cultures, Kaila would establish himself as a tech entrepreneur and influencer. His new book, The Secret to Building a Winning Global Team, shares his strategies for success, as well as the key to personal and professional growth.
When Kaila first emigrated from India to the United States, he was eighteen years old, knew little English, and had only twenty dollars in his pocket. Before he left his family’s farmhouse for America, his father shared with him a Punjabi proverb: “Jindgi Ch Passae Kamunae Saukhe, Bande Kamuane Akuhe.” This translates to “It’s easier to earn money than to earn the respect and loyalty of good people.” Sunny would remember these words as he strove to build his financial success and establish himself as a tech entrepreneur and thought leader. He put himself through college by driving a New York City taxicab, starting what he dubs his “taxi to tech” journey.
In 2003, After graduating from NJIT with a degree in computer science, he founded IT By Design, a managed service provider (MSP) in New York City. His company mainly served Wall Street firms needing 24/7 tech support and Network Operations Center services. After learning that large corporations had taken to using offshore India-based talent, an idea sparked in Sunny’s mind: he would use his Indian heritage as an advantage to open an operations center in India, effectively offering his clients 24/7 coverage and bridging the gap between cultures. He switched his focus to providing global tech support for MSPs, dedicating offshore talent to drive immense growth and profitability for his company.
Sunny’s new business model would lead to success beyond his wildest dreams. His success expands beyond the financial, establishing himself as an influencer and leader in IT and MSP business models. Today, IT By Design ranks in the top Inc. 5000, 501 MSPs, is ranked as one of the Top 20 MSPs in the nation and is one of the largest privately held MSPs in the U.S. with offshore teams in India and the Philippines. He has served as a keynote speaker, and a podcast host, and has authored several best-selling books. His efforts in helping others grow their businesses have earned him the MSP Channel Influencers Awards. With his father’s proverb in mind, Kaila has achieved both financial success and the deep respect of his peers. He built his business on a foundation of a people-first culture, implementing his distinctive “Life by Design” employee care program.
In 2021, Kaila returned to the Statue of Liberty and the sense of freedom moved him to tears. This time, rather than being a spectator from across the harbor, he was able to rent out the entirety of Liberty Island for his company’s annual three-day conference. Standing on it, surrounded by the MSP community and singing “Proud to Be an American,” Sunny was overwhelmed with emotion. Freedom was felt in every direction. The American flag waved above him, Lady Liberty stood proudly to his right, the Freedom Tower to his left, and beneath him was the sacred ground of Liberty Island. It was the first-ever MSP conference at this iconic symbol of freedom—a moment of deep pride, unity, and an overwhelming sense of what it means to live the American dream.
Sunny’s journey proved to him that the American dream still perseveres and that no matter who you are or where you came from, you can build success in this nation. With his USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Secret to Building a Winning Global Team, he hopes to continue spreading this dream to others. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to persevere in difficult situations, saying, “Entrepreneurs should identify opportunities amidst challenges and embrace calculated risks when the time calls for a leap of faith.” To learn more about his secrets to success, follow him online and be sure not to miss out on his latest book from this global talent.
Source: USA TODAY
