GAPABA Member Spotlight
Manoj K. Mishra: Time to Play the Game
Manoj K. Mishra, GSU Law 2002, is Director of Field
Operations & Strategic Deals for North American and
European Financial Institutions for ACI Worldwide, Inc. ACI
is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (ACIW) that
provides banking and payment solutions and powers
electronic payments for more than 5,000 organizations
around the world. More than 1,000 of the largest financial
institutions and intermediaries as well as 300 of the leading
global retailers rely on ACI to execute $14 trillion each day
in payments. He currently manages a $350 Million annual
P&L.
Manoj Mishra recalls a critical experience that prompted
him to apply to law school—and it’s a good one. Then a
junior at Loyola University-Chicago, he was studying for his
Bachelor’s degree in history. Father John Piderit, then
President of Loyola, had been high school friends with
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and convinced his
esteemed former classmate to come speak. At the reception that followed, Manoj boldly struck
up a conversation with the Justice. They chatted for a good fifteen minutes. Impressed with the
young college student, Scalia remarked, “You’re pretty sharp kid, you should consider going to
law school.” Surprised, Manoj demurred, responding that his goal was to become a history
professor. But the seed was planted. The very next day, he asked his advisors whether law
school would be a better option than pursuing a Ph.D.
Manoj was born in New Delhi. At the age of three, his family immigrated in 1980 to Chicago
when his aunt sponsored them. His mother was a trained nurse, and there were tremendous
opportunities in the medical field at the time, especially for Indian and Filipino immigrants. The
family decided to take a chance and seize the opportunity to come to America. Manoj grew up
in Chicago and enrolled at Loyola for college, just as his parents made the move to Atlanta in
1995.
After graduating in 1999, he now had law school on his mind. Manoj wanted to rejoin his family
in Atlanta, but he was also conscious of the cost of law school. Perusing his options, he decided
the best choice was Georgia State University College of Law. He applied and was accepted into
the Class of 2002 and was one of the few Asian American law students matriculating that year.
Manoj moved to Atlanta in May of 1999 and that summer, he got a job selling used cars to help
pay for his tuition. He even continued with the gig part time as a 1L.
Having grown up in Chicago, Manoj thrived at GSU Law’s urban setting. By his second year, he
got a job teaching Friday Property Law tutorials, which involved reviewing law school lectures
with first year students. In exchange, GSU gave him free tuition, a stipend of $1,500, and free
books annually. Thus began Manoj’s love and affinity for his alma mater. “It was an incredible
deal—I got to go to law school basically for free. I graduated with virtually zero debt, which
provided tremendous freedom. It gave me the luxury of seeking a position that was right for
me.”
Graduating in 2002, he first joined a small corporate and
estate-planning boutique, Robertson & Gable, LLC in
Duluth. He began practicing corporate law, contracts, and
commercial real estate transactions. “I was there for five
and half years—it was a great firm, great people, and it
gave me a great foundation.” When it was time, he took
the leap into the corporate world. He applied to go inhouse at SAP America, Inc., one of the largest business
software solutions providers in the world. Although he
did not have a technical or computer background, SAP
was looking for negotiators. “They figured as long as I had
a strong background in negotiating deals and contract
law, they could train me in the technical aspects, which I
grew to find interesting.”
Manoj hit the ground running in the contracts
department, handling software licensing and support
services. “A contract’s a contract, after all.” After three
years, SAP decided to throw him into the Wild West of
software, or more accurately, the “Wild East.” He was
sent to SAP India, as Deputy Legal Counsel, and also
appointed Lead Counsel for SAP Thailand.
Arriving in Bangalore (now redubbed as Bengaluru), Manoj recalls the culture shock. “It was a
dramatic adjustment in every single way.” The first two months was sensory overload. One of
his Indian American friends invited him out early on for drinks. Bemused at Manoj’s
disorientation, he gave a toast: “Here’s to Manoj finding out what being Indian REALLY is!”
“But it’s funny how quickly you learn and adjust. After a while, you stop noticing the noise and
pollution, the vast numbers of people, honking cars. The traffic is crazy, snarled for hours by
any number of reasons, including random livestock. For Indians, if a sacred cow stops in the
middle of the road, you just have to get used to the idea that NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT. You learn to accept it, kick back, relax, and read a paper until the cow moves. You
learn to work in a different manner and pace from what you are comfortable with in the US.”
When asked what he noticed the most about the difference between living in India and
America, Manoj observed, “We see things as so separate in America. In India, there is no
separation. It’s hard to find anywhere where religion is not present—Hindu gods and gurus are
everywhere, a part of daily life. At SAP India there was a giant Hindu god in the lobby where
employees would make puja offerings daily. It seemed like there was a festival going on every
single day. Getting work done was challenging at times, especially with the Indian National
Cricket team doing phenomenally well when I was there. Our team interaction and dynamics
were unique, and I had to find new and fun ways to solve these challenges. ”
The exciting times in Bangalore were spreading throughout India. Driven by the IT boom, the
atmosphere was dizzyingly international, with a lot of expats relocating there for work and
many Indian Americans returning home. Manoj was impressed by the energy and drive of his
peers. “Two thirds of the population of India is under the age of 35. You have to realize—I was
the old man, the one they looked to for experience. I was surrounded by youth and enthusiasm
and treated as a senior leader. Living there made me truly realize how youth and technology
are changing the world. If you look at how Silicon Valley started in America, it started out of the
garages of geniuses like Gates and Jobs. That’s how Asia is like today. What’s happening over
there right now is thrilling.”
Manoj lived in Bangalore for nearly two years, traveling to Singapore and throughout Asia as
needed. It seems that he had just gotten used to the rhythms of India when SAP called him back
to the U.S. in May of 2013. He was assigned to support SAP America’s Western Region, out of
Palo Alto and later the Central Region out of Chicago as well.
At that time, a colleague was making the move to ACI and suggested Manoj come along. He
declined since he had just returned to Atlanta from Asia. A year later, however the same
colleague circled back and courted him with an offer to join ACI as Director of Field Operations
for U.S. Banks—an offer he could not refuse. “It was a way for me to challenge myself beyond
the legal world. I was looking for an opportunity to pursue the business side of work. This was
the best way to do it, especially with a rapidly growing company like ACI.” He joined the
company in May 2014 and now works out of ACI’s office in Norcross.
How challenging was the transition from in-house counsel to senior business executive? “I’ve
never worked harder in my entire life to make that learning curve as short as possible, to
become a resource for the team as quickly as possible. I had to also learn ACI’s business, which
was entirely new to me. But I’m not naïve to think I know everything—that’s foolish and
arrogant. I hope to learn until the day I die.”
What does Manoj notice most about the difference in perspective? “Lawyers approach
problems in ways that may not always be pragmatic. We want to have as much information as
possible, but counsel to make the least commitments possible. However, in business, you must
be prepared to make authoritative decisions with the LEAST information available. This makes
lawyers very uncomfortable due to our training. A lawyer is a strategist, a very valuable asset to
any team or organization. But a General is the decision-maker. You have to live—and die—by
those decisions. Not everyone is comfortable with such responsibility.”
Manoj’s
transition
to
the
corporate world also opened
doors for him to give back,
inspired by his law school
memories. “My years at GSU Law
were some of the happiest of my
life. I had so much fun, and I loved
my classmates and professors. I
developed lifelong friendships
from GSU, soon approaching
twenty years. I’ve had the
pleasure of watching our careers
Manoj Mishra with fellow GSU Law Alumni and Cobb County Judicial
grow. This year alone, two of my
Candidates Kim Childs (running for Superior Court) and Aaron Strimban
classmates are running for judicial
(running for State Court)
office in Cobb County—Kim Childs
for Superior Court, and Aaron Strimban for State Court. How exciting is that? We get to share
in our colleagues’ successes, and it’s amazing and inspiring to see people in my class doing great
things for our society.”
GSU Law approached Manoj for alumni support when they were fundraising for their new
building and establishing new scholarships. In March 2014, the stars aligned. Manoj
remembered how he was able to attend law school practically for free. “Because of my
education, I was able to accomplish so much. The very least I could do was repay GSU Law a
portion of my gratitude, so I pledged my support. I told Dean [Steven] Kaminshine that I want to
give our law students all the tools they need to become successful, because they’re going to go
out there and represent GSU Law. I want us to be recognized as the #1 law school in Georgia—
because we are!”
On September 9, 2015, Manoj joined Dean Kaminshine and other dignitaries, including
Governor Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice
Hugh P. Thompson for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the gleaming new GSU Law building at
85 Park Place in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
The $82.5M building includes the Manoj & Neha Mishra Lecture Hall, with a capacity for 90
students. On the same floor is the 50-person, Mishra Family Classroom. Sprinkled throughout
the building are three additional study rooms on Floors 1, 5, and 6, also with the Mishra
namesake. But Manoj is perhaps most proud of the scholarship he and his wife Neha endowed
to honor his parents: the R. P. Mishra & Annamma Mishra Law Scholarship. Two students
received the inaugural award in January of this year at GSU Law’s 8th Annual Scholarship
Luncheon.
An avid sports fan, Manoj is also very excited that GSU established a football team in 2010. “I’m
absolutely thrilled with [GSU President] Mark Becker’s leadership. The recent $300M
acquisition of Turner Field [for the GSU Panthers] will not only revitalize that part of Atlanta,
but the entire region. It is a game changer for the school and the city.” His hopes for the
Panthers? “I’ve attended many games in President Becker’s Suite. We’ve seen some great
wins, some losses, but hey, we went to the [AutoNation Cure] Bowl this past December. All
points to positive. This can be Atlanta’s team, sort of like the U is to Miami.”
He’s also a fan of the other kind of football—and is excited that a Major League Soccer
Franchise is coming to Georgia in 2017, the Atlanta United Football Club. “We will be season
ticket-holders. We’re looking forward to the game day atmosphere at the new Mercedes
Stadium. From all accounts, it will be a remarkable facility, one which will make Atlanta proud.”
Manoj has a few other interests outside of the law. “My hobby is real estate. I love doing deals,
and dabbling in real estate is a fun way of investing. My wife Neha, who I married in 2007, is
from London. We have a passion for travel. Our favorite places at the moment include London,
Switzerland, Dubai and the Caribbean. We also are big fans of cruising. We try to sail at least
once a year to get away and unplug.”
How did Manoj begin attending APA Bar events? “There are a number of GSU Law alums who
are heavily active within GAPABA, and they invited me to attend the GAPABA Silent Auction
Fundraiser for Nepal Earthquake Relief last year. Also, back in 2004 - 2005, I was member and
an officer of the IndusBar [now known as the South Asian Bar Association of Georgia].”
Remarking on the growing numbers of Georgia’s Asian American legal community. Manoj
notes: “It’s very encouraging to see the rise of APA attorneys and judges. It’s a positive, not just
for the Asian community, but for the entire region, as Atlanta truly becomes a global city. Our
diversity will be a true asset in the coming years, especially as Asia continues to grow
economically and fully opens up its legal markets to foreign firms. The practice of law is
changing dramatically in this new world order.”
Manoj’s parting words of wisdom to our GAPABA members: “There’s no substitute for working
hard. Whenever you think you worked hard, try working harder next time. That intensity will be
recognized and eventually rewarded. You have to be ready to play the game. The game will not
wait on you.”
What’s left on Manoj’s bucket list? “Like so many business executives, I would one day love to
become a CEO myself--be the General. I want to continue advising startup cloud companies on
best practices and the software business. Neha and I are looking forward to launching our real
estate development company, Mishra Developments Ltd., no later than early next year. We
plan to build custom homes in-town. Also, Neha and I want to expand our philanthropy as we
grow in our careers, to help make a real difference in our communities. We are looking to
support educational goals starting with GSU, and then eventually moving on to other local
institutions/causes. Atlanta has been great to the Mishra Family, and we want to return the
kindness.”
He pauses and adds, “I’d also like to teach as an adjunct professor at GSU Law one day.
Teaching has always been a true passion of mine, but I’m only 38.” Somehow, we think that
can probably be arranged. And somewhere, Scalia is probably smiling.