Raman Agarwal, CEO of Akran Marketing, Receives PPB's 2010 Best Bosses Award

Oct. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- PPB magazine, the premier resource for the promotional products industry, published by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), with more than 11,000 subscribers, announced today that Raman Agarwal, CEO of Akran Marketing, has been selected as one of PPB’s 2010 Best Bosses. The honour will be reported in the cover story of PPB’s October issue, the September 21 issue of PPB e-newsletter, and PPB Newslink.

Over the summer PPB magazine conducted a search for the industry’s best bosses. The magazine was looking for industry leaders who established a great work environment and made a real difference in people’s working lives. Their goal was to select innovative executives who built a happy, effective and motivated workforce that produced impressive business results.

"It's challenging to be a great boss, even in good economic times," said Agarwal. "There is a dynamic that often arises in relationships of unequal power. Many people in authority tend to become more self-centered and less mindful of what others need, do, and say. This is when managers fail as leaders. The most effective way to behave in work and business, as in life, is to guard against the belief that because you hold a leadership position, you automatically know everything necessary to exercise effective leadership. Every leader needs to be confident, yet open enough to accept the ideas and suggestions of others. They need to lead by example, without self-interest, placing customers, employees, the community and company first."

"Successful business people have a clear vision and lead with conviction," stated Agarwal. "They are able to communicate and share that vision with others. Leaders don't do anything by themselves. They get people, not through power or authority, but through motivation to help them achieve what it is they are looking to achieve. Good bosses stay centered in their own beliefs but have the integrity and courage to be self-reflective and face reality with a discipline to work toward change, and the brilliance to connect all that to a business vision that can be put into action."

Akran Marketing's goal is to help employees reach their full potential on the job. The company takes practical steps to promote training and development opportunities, to mentor and establishing career paths, and to set proper expectations while helping its people achieve a healthy work-life balance to keep a smile on their face. Trust-based relationships are at the heart of Akran’s business environment and everyone works together to build the business. When asked, Akran employees describe the company as not just a “fun place to work”, but “the best place to work in the industry.”

The entire Akran business culture is built on innovation, collaboration and communication. All 55 employees feel a sense of pride, ownership and accomplishment in offering the best customer service available and in the company's solid financial record and steady growth.

ABOUT AKRAN MARKETING
Akran Marketing is a privately owned Canadian company specializing in branding, premium Incentive and licensing with offices across North America. Akran provides promotional product branding, marketing and trend consulting, sales promotion and specialty advertising solutions to corporations worldwide. The company offers a broad array of comprehensive and modular, ready-to-use consulting, warehousing, contact support, order fulfillment and eBusiness services. Core competencies include product sourcing and custom manufacturing combined with logo imprinting, engraving and embroidery. Akran powers some of the most successful branding campaigns in North America.

For more information, please contact:
David Wendt
CIO & Executive Director of Communications
Akran Marketing

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Akran Marketing is a privately owned Canadian company specializing in branding, premium Incentive and licensing with offices across North America. Akran provides promotional product branding, marketing and trend consulting, sales promotion and specialty advertising solutions to corporations worldwide. The company offers a broad array of comprehensive and modular, ready-to-use consulting, warehousing, contact support, order fulfillment and eBusiness services. Core competencies include product sourcing and custom manufacturing combined with logo imprinting, engraving and embroidery. Akran powers some of the most successful branding campaigns in North America.