Achievers all

Cyrus Mehta, Arda-e-viraf Minocher­homjee and Hanoz Gandhi are the first recipients of the World Zara­thushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) awards for outstanding entrepreneurs, professionals, states the FEZANA Journal (Spring 2003). In the words of Ness Lakdawala, chair of the WZCC Recognitions Committee, they "spotlight the enormous latent talent in our Zarathushti community.”

Outstanding entrepreneur Mehta co-founded the Cytel Software Corporation in Cambridge, Massachussetts in 1987 and in Poona, India in 1998. Cytel’s software is used by universities including ivy-leaguers like Harvard and Yale, pharmaceutical corporations like Abbot, Bristol Myers, Wyeth and medical centers such as the Sloan-Kettering. A PhD in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mehta is adjunct professor of biostatistics at Harvard University and has founded the Harvard Zoroastrian Association, notes the Journal.

(L to R) Role model entrepreneurs Minocherhomjee, Gandhi and Mehta

Outstanding professional Minocher­homjee is a principal and managing director of William Blair Capital Partners, a premier venture capital firm where he manages healthcare investments ranging beyond $ 100 million and is recognized by his peers as "lead investor,” says the Journal. He is also on the board of seven other companies and has been The Wall Street Journal’s star analyst.

Outstanding Young (35 and under) entrepreneur/professional Gandhi developed the E-business strategy for the Bose Corporation of which he is a director. The Internet thus became a key part of the company’s revenue generating and operational infrastructure, informs the FEZANA Journal. Gandhi, a master of science in elec­trical engineering from MIT, has also led the implementation of offshore development for the corporation and is expanding the strategy globally.

The WZCC recognition of entrepreneurial talent simultaneous­ly aims to provide role models to Zoroastrian youths and encour­age them in striving for excellence in their careers, notes Lakdawala.