to share the news and celebrations with them. What has been your biggest challenge during your career? Despite being faced with many challenges throughout my career, I have always said the difference between success and failure is how you overcome obstacles and problems – only the resilient survive and thrive. The most challenging obstacle I have faced was the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. When the pandemic started and international markets began to close, PG Paper’s cash flow was tighter than ever, with millions owed to the business from customers around the globe. Additionally, the pandemic brought many challenges at supply chain levels, such as container shortages, a reduction in supply, increasing customs charges, increased rates, congestion at ports, and limited vessel availability. However, with every difficulty comes an opportunity, and I always strive to focus on that. So, to combat this, I had to refocus and re-strategise the business with my team, adapt to new innovative ways of working and pivot our core operations to ensure survival. It was a trying time that involved cost cuts and intense negotiations, but I am proud that as a direct result of these efforts, we have grown as a business and now look ahead optimistically. What has been your biggest achievement during your career? I have been fortunate that my career has brought many achievements, of which I am incredibly proud. Of course, my recent OBE was a major highlight. However, with every business success or win, I always believe there is an opportunity for the company to give back. In 2021, India faced a surge in Covid-19 cases, and our team harnessed resources across our international offices, securing close to 5,000 oxygen concentrators. The essential life-saving equipment was delivered to hospitals, covid centres, and organisations around India in a concerted effort to meet their urgent need for oxygen. Never has our purpose as a business been so important, and this effort will always stick in my mind as something I’m extremely proud of. that be in my hometown, nationally or overseas. A few examples include the British Asian Trust (BAT), which I have been heavily involved with for several years supporting fundraising and community projects. The BAT was founded by His Majesty King Charles III and British Asian business leaders to tackle widespread poverty, inequality, and injustice in South Asia. I am also extremely proud to be a benefactor of the UK’s leading veterans’ mental health charity, Combat Stress, after several years of fundraising efforts and most recently, I was appointed as a Local Recovery Ambassador, supporting communities across Scotland in accessing government funding for projects that matter to them. These charities and community projects, along with so many others, all do incredible work, and I am very fortunate to be able to support them in various ways, whether that's through funding, supporting events, or providing guidance and advice. 42 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2023 - Issue 341 Q & A / PUNEET GUPTA OBE THE NITTY GRITTY First things first, what is your favourite place in the world? It’s hard to choose just one when there are so many beautiful places in the world. From a scenic perspective, it has to be Lake Pukaki in New Zealand, it is truly stunning. I love visiting London as a city, and definitely Dubai for the winter sun! Next up, what is your favourite animal? I would have to say a Lion because they are strong and courageous – the king of the jungle! A tough one for many, what is your favourite song? I love music, and it all depends on my mood, atmosphere, and who I’m with when I turn to my playlist! If I had to choose, I really love John Legend – All of Me. And finally, what is your favourite movie? I have a top 3 – The Shawshank Redemption I love, and Trading Places was a classic when I was growing up. More recently, it has to be The Wolf of Wall Street. ▲ Lake Pukaki, New Zealand years PG Paper has been in business 20 There are a number of issues hitting the paper and print industries at present such as energy prices and supply issues. Is there any advice you’d give to businesses feeling the pressure at present? I think all businesses are facing different pressures at the moment, and it is a challenging time for many with a lot of uncertainty. For me, I focus on resilience, hard work, and having a clear purpose, and I would recommend this to everyone. I truly believe that purpose is essential for any business. Of course, a business’ success isn’t purely down to purpose. You need to have a solid business offering to succeed, but when this is brought together with values, vision, and a clear purpose, I believe a business is much more likely to stand out from the crowd and truly excel. You’re involved in a number of charities. Can you tell us a bit about this and the charities you support? Over the years, I have worked with many different charities close to my heart, all of which support important causes, whether
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