Money & Me: 'Get really good at something and money will be an obvious outcome'

Harsh Garg, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and executive based in Dubai, has built a multifaceted career spanning corporate leadership, startup innovation, and youth mentorship. As vice president of strategy and mergers and acquisitions at Ralliant, a publicly traded industrial technology firm based in North Carolina, Garg plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth trajectory. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, he co-founded Golchi, a travel-bottle startup that successfully raised over $400,000 from 5,000 backers via Kickstarter. Garg also serves as a strategic mentor at Founder Mode Bootcamp, a 12-week program aimed at guiding teenagers aged 13 to 20 in launching their own businesses. Garg relocated to Dubai with his family in December 2024 after spending 12 years in the United States. His current annual earnings, combining his corporate salary and a diverse investment portfolio including U.S. equities, bonds, gold, and real estate, amount to approximately Dh2.5 million ($680,000). This financial success, however, stems from a foundation laid during his formative years. Born into a middle-class family in Delhi, Garg grew up with a deep appreciation for money. His parents emphasized the importance of valuing money not just for material comfort but as a tool for self-improvement and continuous learning. “Money was always highly valued,” Garg recalled. “My parents taught me and my sister how to use it to unlock convenience in life, but more importantly, how to use it to upgrade ourselves, upskill ourselves, and continuously evolve.” Despite never feeling financially strained, Garg and his siblings were never exposed to excess, fostering a mindset of disciplined financial management. His first job came after graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. For six months, he worked on designing bridges and highways, earning around $500 per month, a substantial sum for someone in their early 20s in India at the time. This initial exposure to a steady income marked a turning point in his understanding of financial stability and personal growth. Despite the relatively modest income, Garg learned early on how to optimize his finances. He emphasizes that while money can fluctuate, the skills and personality traits developed through education and experience remain enduring assets. “One realization I had is that money will come and go, but the skills you develop, the personality you develop, will stay with you for the rest of your life and will keep unlocking your earning potential,” he explained. This philosophy underpins his work with Founder Mode Bootcamp, where he aims to equip young entrepreneurs with the tools to build their own ventures. Currently, Garg’s income comes from a combination of his corporate role and a well-diversified investment strategy. After completing an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, he transitioned into a more strategic role focused on business growth and scaling operations. His approach to finance includes both long-term wealth creation through stock and real estate investments and short-term cash flow generation through bonds and gold. While Founder Mode Bootcamp is still in its pre-revenue phase, Garg remains committed to its mission. “The idea is that even if we decide down the road that we want to pull the plug on the job and completely immerse into entrepreneurship, we have a safety net of regular cash flow to sustain us while we break through something,” he said. This balance between corporate stability and entrepreneurial ambition reflects his broader belief that financial success is rooted in continuous learning and adaptability. Garg’s journey from a civil engineer in India to a high-profile executive and mentor in Dubai illustrates the transformative power of education, skill development, and strategic thinking. His story underscores the notion that financial prosperity is not merely a result of luck or inheritance, but rather a product of persistent effort, informed decision-making, and a commitment to lifelong growth.