Kuldeep Sharma
Chairman & CEO, Crown Group of Hotels
Chairman, Sashi Security
Ontario, Canada
Janam Bhumi:
Jalandhar, Punjab
Dharma Bhumi:
Ambala, Haryana, India
Karma Bhumi:
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Chasing Winds across Cantonments & Continents
The ‘Kuldeep’ Factor: “The ultimate legacy is where the next generation picks up from where the father left.”
THE MAN
What do you call someone who walks away from the success he painstakingly built to start afresh in a new country, on a new continent? Foolhardy or remarkably brave? Or just restless?
For Kuldeep Sharma, it was simply choosing purpose over complacent retirement. By the time he was in his 30s, Sharma had achieved everything he had planned for himself. “My dream was to have a house, a small family, a car, and enough money to travel occasionally. I had achieved that dream.”
This approach can be attributed to the life he led as the son of Major Ram Kumar Sharma, a WWII veteran, and his mother, Vidya. Born in Jalandhar, Punjab, in 1957, Kuldeep spent his formative years in army cantonments across India. He says, “Discipline became a way of life.” He credits his father’s principles and his mother’s inner strength for shaping his character. Discipline combined with ambition can lead a man to reject comfort and defy convention.
Sharma decided to upend the status quo and moved to Canada. Today, as the President & CEO of Crown Group of Hotels, he still maintains the same attitude. Except, he does humorously admit that the most difficult thing for him to let go of was the autonomy of driving himself everywhere.
THE JOURNEY
Truly self-made, Sharma was the managing director of a pan-India security services firm. Starting in Faridabad in the 1970s, his firm grew to employ thousands. He had everything that was needed to live comfortably and in luxury. But something was nagging at him. The corruption and inertia of Indian political systems was not helping either. Sharma took his children out of school, packed the family’s bags, and set off to start afresh in a new continent. This was 2002, and Sharma was 54. His Indian savings were enough to keep the family comfortable for more than a decade. During that time, his wife, Poonam, ran a small coffee shop. He explored opportunities and quietly studied the local market. “I began attending seminars, studying the market and understanding the dynamics of doing business.”
Eventually, in 2012, he bought his first hotel in Brampton. With his daughter at the helm, they won the Gold Award in Hospitality within a year of managing it. From Toronto to Mississauga, now his primary base, the family-run Crown Group of Hotels has a portfolio of globally recognised brands in hospitality, including Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Choice Hotels.
Sharma is also a respected community leader and remains a supporter and sponsor of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, his contributions were nationally recognised when he received the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
As a child of a dedicated defence officer, Sharma understands the value of public service only too well. In creating a life for himself, he also found a way to empower others. From providing jobs to thousands in India to mentoring youth and supporting community causes in Canada, Sharma has lived life with a strong sense of selfless duty.
He says, “When I ran my security services business, I came across graduates and postgraduates from rural areas looking for a security guard’s job. It was shocking and painful to see. I consider myself privileged to be able to provide them with jobs.”
In Canada, this empowering spirit found its way into community spaces. He has also served as the President of the Indo-Canada Harmony Forum, and chairs the Haryana Association of North America (HANA).
He is a frequent sponsor and supporter of film festivals, health foundations, internship programmes, and city-level cultural events. “Educated Indians arrive in Canada and drive taxis or take on security jobs. Even if it’s just momentary, it gives them a sense of relief. And when you’re at the top of that pyramid, you do feel like you’re helping run the country in the best possible way.”
Sharma views mentoring more as an act of personal responsibility than a CSR tick. “I like to mentor other people. There are enough people in the world who need help, and there is so much one can do.”
THE LEGACY
What makes Kuldeep Sharma such an exemplary leader is that he is also a great delegator. He has built and led large teams in India and Canada. And unlike a poor manager, who falls prey to micromanagement, Sharma knows when to give up the reins and pass the baton with pride.
Of course, he has been fortunate enough to have a life partner like Poonam, an honours graduate from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College, who has been, he says, “the pillar of strength” behind his success. “If my wife didn’t create the right family environment, no progress was possible.”
Their daughter, Shivani, a University of Toronto graduate, took charge of the family’s first hotel in Canada and continues to steer the family business. Their son, Sameer, also a University of Toronto alumnus, serves as President of the Crown Group of Hotels.
The future safely in the next generation’s hands, Sharma and his wife now delight in the joys that their grandchildren, Myra and Neil, bring to their lives.
Sharma is often asked why he chose to travel halfway across the world to start again. He laughs, “If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question. I’m probably an exception. I had everything, but decided to start from scratch.”
He accepts that he migrated to Canada to enjoy clean weather and water and a better quality of life. “Money was never the criterion for me.”
He started on a motorcycle with no money, conversing with the winds, and taking on challenges. “I enjoyed every moment of life. I never felt I was working.”
Today, he may not be on a two-wheeler, but that does not stop Kuldeep Sharma from flirting with the winds and living life like it is meant to be lived.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“Those were very different days. We would travel with a bedroll and huge steel trunks. I remember coming from Pune to Jalandhar—it took us 4 days by train. Life was simple. Today, life is very different. We have reached space!”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“My wife and I come from defence families and share the values. We never made a conscious effort to teach our children any Indian values. Children see, they learn, and they live that life. The values of discipline, honesty, and hard work were lived, not taught.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“My daughter was taught the Gayatri Mantra by my father-in-law. I learned it then. Now they are more religious than I am. My daughter, son, and their children are all rooted in global values. We understand the Gita and enjoy jazz.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“I was able to generate employment in India and pay taxes, contributing to wealth generation. I feel privileged to have made a difference. I left India because of the corruption, monopolies, and scams. But today, India is excelling. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accomplished a lot in a short time. He transitioned everything effectively.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“The future of India is bright. As long as we can control the population, reduce corruption, and improve the quality of life, there is no stopping India’s ascent. To the youth, I say keep chipping away at it. There is no instant gratification. Everything comes in due course. The key is to never stop learning.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
I loved ‘aloo tikki’, ‘chana samosa’, ‘pani puri’, and simple ‘moong dal with roti’.
NOW
No matter what, our dinner has to be Indian.
Sport Spirit
THEN
I learned to play billiards (pool) thanks to a tea stall owner. I played hockey, ‘kabaddi’, marbles, ‘gilli-danda’, cricket, and even baseball.
NOW
I play golf and my passion for billiards continues.
Music Tastes
THEN
I was always a loyal Kishore Kumar fan.
NOW
I still play Kishore songs during weekly card sessions with friends.
Holiday Life
THEN
We travelled with bedrolls, steel trunks, tiffin ‘dabbas’, in half-broken Fiats.
NOW
The hospitality industry has changed the definition of travel with platinum cards and luxury suites.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Life was simple. We spent time playing outside.
NOW
I play golf, travel, and enjoy the peace of my own home.
AKA
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