If you think computers have lots of memory but no imagination, don't worry. Someone like Harish Mehta, Managing Director, Onward Novell Software (India) can compensate what computers lack-a fertile imagination. Mehta's imaginative abilities and his uncanny marketing skill have seen through the Onward Novel's next-gen networking suite, Novell Open Enterprise server and a complete desktop Linux solution firmly established in the Indian market.

But this is only few of the notable milestones for Onward Novell and for Harish Mehta. Besides heading Onward Novell, Mehta is also a co-promoter of Infinity Venture Fund-an Institutionalized Angel Fund aimed at promoting IT entrepreneurs. Holding a masters degree in Computer Science from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, USA, Mehta has been the founder member of Nasscom and a former chairman. He was the first president of TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs)-Mumbai Chapter.

He is a Trustee on TiE's Global Board and an advisor to American India Foundation (AIF). During his glittering career, he has bagged number of awards, which include CEO of the Year award by Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and TATA HRD Network in 1994. He has been conferred with the title of CSI for his outstanding services and achievement in 2004. Not only a leading English daily honoured him with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in HR Excellence. Mehta, who has been attached to IT revolution from its very beginning, believes that affordable computer solutions are what will make Indian businesses more competitive in today's world.

And that is what keeps him ticking. A joint venture between Novell Inc. and Onward Technologies, Onward Novell under Mehta has been responsible for the entire marketing operations in India. Headquartered in Mumbai with branches in all major cities in India, it provides information products and solutions to the Indian market, including training. Mehta, while taking on Microsoft in a software hotspot like India, is sure to make novel innovations that will revolutionize the Indian industry.