At his first summer job, working for $3.50 an hour in an electronics shop, little had Kenneth Kannappan, CEO of Plantronics foreseen that he would go on to head a $800 million company. His first job however, became a turning point in Kannappan�s life because it taught him, how lack of collaboration and motivation amongst employees could hinder organizational goals. As a result, under the guidance of Kannappan, Santa Cruz based Plantronics�an electronic company producing audio communications equipment went through massive restructuring in tandem with technology revolutions such as the IoT. Best known for its wearable technology, particularly its headsets, Plantronics believes that IoT holds the potential to transcend communication to create a deeper and comprehensive impact on the smarter working environment.

Innovation through Five Decades
Transforming the classic headset to go beyond the capabilities of audio, Plantronics' devices can be connected to applications, platforms and Cloud. "Innovating relentlessly in sound communication, we create new ecosystems which consist of hardware, tools, developers, and integrators which go beyond the call,� remarks Kannappan. Plantronics� lightweight headsets are coupled with noise-cancelling technology and used by pilots, astronauts, 911 workers to global enterprises and contact centers. After Kannappan assumed the role of CEO in 1999, the company has only delivered one innovation after the other in terms of call clarity and ingenious ergonomics. In 2005, the release of the Discovery 640�a Bluetooth headset combining technology with a light weight design simplified mobility for users. In addition the company redefines hands-free convenience with Voyager Pro that aligns smart sensor technology with HD streaming audio in their headset system. In the case of Avanade, a company providing business technology solutions, cloud and managed services could improve communication and increase mobility through Plantronics' headset�Voyager PRO UC. The headset was integrated with mobile phone and Microsoft Lync at the same time which resulted in reduced phone charges. Owing to the integration, Avanade can be reached on a single number, regardless of location and device. "Plantronics was the first headset to be used in outer space for the Mercury mission and we continue to make breakthrough models that cater seamlessly to the multimedia, gaming and Internet era," remarks Kannappan.

Satisfied Employees for Satisfied Customers
The CEO�s �smarter working� philosophy is not only limited to the company�s technology implementation but also extends to its Tijuana based manufacturing plant�Plamex which through the years has earned accolades for its employee centric initiatives. The facility is equipped with design and engineering centers, testing labs, education opportunities and goes the extra mile by even arranging marriage ceremonies for employees. "Regulating operations from Mexico for over forty years now, we hold our employees and their culture in high regard. Our goal is to create an effective and engaged working environment and in the process cut down on real estate costs," explains Kannappan. Vesting keen importance on employee participation, Plantronics is always open for suggestions and feedback from employees and conducts surveys that have led to enhancements in its vision-care policy, retirement plan, and training budget. The company also holds monthly town hall meetings and organizes summer management conferences for the utmost benefit of its staff.

A visionary in the truest sense, Kannappan is not only prolific when it comes to meeting the demands of his personnel but in times of crisis he has deterred the company from unfavorable market risks. In 2001, the company observed a huge downturn in their revenue juxtaposed by the enormous opportunity in wireless and mobility looming in the horizon. Kannappan took a heady decision to increase their investment in trending technology advents even with the company's trickling earnings. �Although it was hard to convince investors and our stock price went even lower, over the next few years we had a 10-point increase in global market share and profits,� exclaims Kannappan. Since then, Plantronics has only experienced the winds of fortune. The company�s latest financial reports for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2016 exhibited a growth in cash equivalents and investments to $683 million. �Our financial results were in-line with our expectations and we executed well on the product side with the recent introduction of several innovative new products for unified communications, consumer entertainment and gaming,� states Kannappan in a press release.