His Way

That was when we last met him, May 2019. Cheerful, intense, and full of animated stories about his travels, the people he had met, his combat with the latest health issue and how he came out winner. Just like he had back then(1998) after an open-heart surgery when the doctor said he would never be able to ski again – went back to skiing, completed the highest bungee jump at Victoria Falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe), summited Mt.Kilimanjaro and went on the famous shark dive among the great whites in Cape Town, South Africa. The ‘Mind Over Matter’ guy, who often quoted Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” (lyrics Paul Anka).

The first time I met Hatim Tyabji, the CEO of VeriFone was in the year 1990, few months after the India office inauguration. It was at the Windsor Manor where we stood in awe as he addressed the employees with stories of the company from around the world – the same cheer, the same intensity, passion and gravitas. We would see him many more times at his famed ‘All Hands Meets’ where every employee had the opportunity to hear him and be heard. So would all other employees at all VeriFone offices, in over 40 countries.

Hatim was known for many things – his passion, integrity, courage, resolve, tough leadership style, commitment to excellence in action and thought, and a staunch belief in corporate ethics. But what stood out was his belief in the power of human connections. Connections with customers, with employees and their families. In a company that was ahead of its time in virtual work environment, he became the most travelled CEO. He met and knew most of his customers. Flying in and heading from airport to meeting, from meeting to airport, or back home to touch base with family between hopping in and out of countries was true Hatim style. He traveled almost 2/3rd of the year to keep the connections going. He never stopped traveling until the very end.

I was new at VeriFone and I remember seeing him at an All Hands Meet after a year. He paused when he saw me and said – I remember you were expecting your first child when I saw you last. Was it a boy or a girl? Hatim had an uncanny memory for names, faces and events. Every person he met, and their family went into his mental database and reappeared in all future conversations. And we got to see his biggest cheerleader and supporter, his wife Durriya at important milestones in the VeriFone journey.

Hatim went on to lead other companies, was on the boards of others, and invested in a few. Even so, VeriFone was truly one big family, with a cultural diversity spread across the globe and the VeriFone Philosophy trickled down from Hatim. Much like college and high school reunions, there are VeriFone reunions around the world and till recently Hatim was in attendance whenever his schedule allowed. We will miss you Hatim. And Durriya, you have a large family you can count on.