Learning from the CEO of Electro Imaging Systems, Inc.: A Conversation with Qasim Tarin

Abstract

Belal A. Kaifi, Trident University InternationalYalda Tarin, University of California, DavisAs an entrepreneur, Qasim has built his own successful organizations and has a consulting business helping other entrepreneurs develop their businesses worldwide. He is both a business owner and business developer, helping to rebuild Afghanistan's economy as well as restoring business. As an Afghan American, Qasim Tarin understands the culture along with the desires of the Afghans and can reach out and relate to them.In 1979, Qasim earned a degree in electrical engineering from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Kabul, Afghanistan. Through his education, Qasim was involved in connecting channels of telex and telegraph between Moscow and Kabul. He was also involved in the design of a typewriter to be connected to a PC through Teal Industry. Unfortunately, in the same year, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and war broke out. Qasim left Afghanistan for the United States so that he could start a new life away from war and turmoil. He landed in the U.S. with only 50 dollars in his pocket. He slowly worked his way up, determined to be successful for the sake of his family.Qasim has been trained and has worked with large corporations such as Toshiba America, IBM, Cannon USA, Xerox Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Ricoh Corporation USA and Sharp Electronics. Through his leadership training for management and education from IBM, HP, Xerox universities and experience, Qasim Tarin began developing his own dotcom and technology business in 1994 in Pleasanton, California. Electro Imaging Systems, Inc. (EIS) is a document solutions business that provides top of the line copiers, facsimiles, printers, scanners, software, Multi-Functioning Printers (MFP), Managed IT Services, and Managed Print Systems (MPS). He started his business from zero and built the company to a multi-million dollar corporation in Northern California. In 1988, he married Salma Tarin, an Afghan American who also left Afghanistan due to the Soviet invasion. They now have three beautiful daughters.With his wife, Salma, Qasim developed the idea of the Afghan Business Network to give his knowledge and expertise of business development to all entrepreneurs around the world.Authors: Why do you think it is important for leaders to be both task and relationship oriented?Tarin: I agree that both are important. Relationship creates a moral support process and task is when specific duties need to be fulfilled based on the structure of an organization. Leadership comes in both ways. It's a combination of both because as a leader you need to motivate by creating a relationship-oriented environment and thus create a task-oriented environment. For example, leaders may use positive relationships with their employees in a way to create motivation for them to complete tasks. Employees will take their tasks more seriously because leaders will create a more motivational and positive environment for their employees.Authors: How can a multi-generational workforce learn from one another?Tarin: A leader must understand diversity in a workforce with different generations working in a business. I see the differences in mentalities and personalities of the different generations and it sometimes causes discrepancies in a business. However, everyone is unique . Just like each finger print is unique, so are people. In order to manage different generations, have them work together efficiently and productively, a structured system needs to be created. You can't create a job for the person. You need to create a system and bring the right person for that job.I firmly believe that the younger generations need to become the leaders and the older generations need to guide them and contribute their experience to those leaders. If we put an environment in that direction, all will work together efficiently. They will get along very well because they will understand the boundaries around them. …