4:40
Meet Ann Ramakumaran
The supplier diversity advocate is celebrating 20 years of her technology and business consulting and staff augmentation firm in 2024.
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Every founder’s journey features some measure of adversity. To better understand how leaders manage through market challenges and respond to trends, we’re speaking with business owners guiding their companies and industries to new heights. Topics include business resiliency and scaling for growth, access to capital, financial discipline and strategic planning, talent management, and leadership.
This is the fourth conversation in our ongoing “Thriving in uncertain times” series, in which diverse, women, veteran and LGBTQ+ business leaders share how they’re building resilient organizations. In this discussion, Frederick Royall III, National Head of Diverse Businesses for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, spoke with Ann Ramakumaran, founder and CEO of Ampcus, a technology and business consulting and staff augmentation firm—and JPMorgan Chase supplier—celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Side note:
Bright music plays.
Text on screen:
Thriving in uncertain times.
Logos:
- J.P. Morgan;
- (and) Chase (with the Chase octagon symbol).
Text on screen:
Meet Ann Ramakumaran - Celebrating 20 years of her technology and business consulting and staff augmentation firm in 2024.
On screen:
A man with closely cropped dark hair and brown eyes begins a virtual interview. He wears a light blue dress shirt and dark blue suit jacket.
Text on screen:
Frederick Royall the Third. National Head of Diverse Businesses, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking.
Fred:
Ann, thank you for joining us today. You've been thriving for years, and I'd love to dig into your story. How did your early years in India shape you both personally and professionally?
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Ann, a woman with long black hair and brown eyes, replies. She is wearing a black suit, paired with gold earrings and a necklace.
Text on screen:
Ann Ramakumaran. Founder and CEO, Ampcus.
Ann:
Fred, I moved to the United States a little over 24 years ago, born and raised in a city called Pune, which is close to Mumbai in India. There were four things that my parents really ensured that my brother and I followed, and they made it a point of reminding us every single day. And those four things were, one, importance of education and focusing on continuous learning. The second thing that my dad would always remind me of is, remember, not all days are going to be glory days. It's important that you continue to work hard, stay focused, and most importantly, continue to do well by doing good. And most importantly, whatever you do, do it with the most honesty and integrity. And all of those things kind of stuck to me, and, you know, that's what actually shaped me to who I am personally. One thing that my parents would always talk about, and that is, you know, it's so important to work hard, be disciplined, there's no shortcut to success, but remember there's a solution to every single problem. And from a professional standpoint, I started working for a headhunting and a consulting company in India. So fast forward, Fred, moved to the United States 24 years ago, worked for a startup, and that's where I realized that there were a lot of companies, Fred, in the United States that either focused on providing business consulting services, technology consulting services, or staff augmentation services, but there weren’t many diverse businesses to solve business challenges by infusing the right technology solution, by bringing in the right talent, and provide contingent labor services. Hence felt the need of starting that entrepreneurial journey in 2004.
Fred:
What's your elevator pitch for Ampcus? What makes it unique in the marketplace?
Ann:
Fred, great question, so Ampcus is a global business and a technology consulting and a staff augmentation firm headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington, D.C.
Logo:
Ampcus -
Collaboration redefined.
Text on screen:
- ISO 20000, ISO 27000, ISO 9001, CMMI DEV/3 (service mark) and CMMI SVC/3 (service mark) certified global provider of technology and business consulting and staff augmentation services;
- Founded in 2004;
- (and) Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia.
Ann:
What we do is provide innovative, cost-effective quality and sustainable IT and business solutions and staff augmentation services to over 80 of the 100 Fortune companies, agencies, nonprofits, and managed service providers. Today, Ampcus and Ampcus-owned subsidiaries together employ over 2,300 employees globally, we have 17 customer support offices in the U.S., seven global tellery centers, and two innovation labs. And we exist to bring positive impact in the lives of our customers. There's so much that we've learned in this 20 years, and because of having that right attitude of continuous learning, adapting and embracing change, Fred, we've continued to grow, thrive, and succeed in the marketplace.
Fred:
Tell us about your involvement in the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. Why are these partnerships so important to you?
Ann:
Yeah, Fred, as you're aware, National Minority Supplier Development Council is a council that has been in existence for over 50-plus years, and they exist to bring positive impact in the lives of minority-owned businesses like us. And when we talk about WBENC, that's an organization that certifies women-owned businesses, and they've been certifying women-owned businesses for over 25-plus years. Ampcus is a woman- and a minority-owned and -certified company by both of these organizations. They really make our journey from connections to contracts, to contracts, a beautiful journey.
Text on screen:
Ampcus is a minority woman-owned company, certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) and other certifying bodies.
Ann:
It's really helped our business get to where we are today. We've always believed in doing well by doing good, and that's the reason why we've done our part as well. Last year and the year before last, we've spent a little over $22 million with other diverse businesses that are certified by NMSDC, WBENC, and USPAACC.
Text on screen:
In the past two years, Ampcus has spent more than $22 million with other diverse businesses certified by NMSDC, WBENC and USPAACC.
Ann:
This is our way of saying thank you for all the great things that they've been doing for diverse businesses like us.
Fred:
Ann, it's been wonderful hearing your story, your growth, the trajectory. There's so many key lessons learned, so just wanted to say thank you for your time and the advice that you've shared.
Ann:
Thank you, Fred.
Side note:
Bright music plays.
On screen:
Ann smiles as the video concludes.
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- J.P. Morgan;
- (and) Chase (with the Chase octagon symbol).
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For more founder insights, check out Royall’s “Thriving” conversations with:
Supplier diversity is a business strategy of incorporating diverse-owned businesses, suppliers and vendors into a company’s supply chain and business practices. Diverse-owned businesses are companies that are at least 51% owned and operated by members of ethnic minority groups, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities.
Explore our collection of supplier diversity-related resources or contact our supplier diversity team for more information.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Visit jpmorgan.com/commercial-banking/legal-disclaimer for disclosures and disclaimers related to this content.
2 EPISODES
4:40
The supplier diversity advocate is celebrating 20 years of her technology and business consulting and staff augmentation firm in 2024.
Watch videoNow Playing
4:04
Ann Ramakumaran explains her approach to business resiliency and scaling over 20 years of growth.
Watch videoNow Playing
4:04 - Business
How to stay nimble and innovate through uncertainty
Apr 16, 2024
Ann Ramakumaran explains her approach to business resiliency and scaling over 20 years of growth.
4:40 - Business
Apr 04, 2024
The supplier diversity advocate is celebrating 20 years of her technology and business consulting and staff augmentation firm in 2024.
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