NAINA LAL KIDWAI
DIRECTOR, HSBC ASIA-PACIFIC & COUNTRY HEAD, HSBC INDIA
I ENJOY MY WORK AND the varied nature of my day. The positive energy of the people I work with provides me a high-energy environment and fun at work.
The influence of my father [who headed a top insurance company] and my early exposure to heads of companies led me to believe that I could aspire to be like them. The fact that I demonstrated my abilities and proved to the many disbelievers that they were wrong has kept me going.
A firm belief that the tide will turn has helped me survive in times of turmoil. Tough times are great to rework one’s skill sets, reflect, and often prove to be the positive turning points in one’s career.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: My BlackBerry, mobile phone, iPad, Tandberg and Polycom [video conference and telepresence software], and a laptop.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: I like to catch up on reading and spend time with my family.
HARSH MARIWALA
CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARICO
THE FACTORIES MOTIVATING success keep changing through your life. When you are young, you want to make money, and that drives success. Then comes the sense of achievement and recognition that go hand-in-hand with success. But beyond a point, money loses its sheen and you measure success in terms of the impact you make on society and how much you give back.
I never had a role model or a boss I looked up to, so there is no one person or thing that inspires me. It’s a combination of people, books, lectures, colleagues, etc., that motivates me. I am focussed, and a lot of my inspiration comes from within.
I feel that some degree of confidence, not just in yourself but also in the organisation, helps you sail through tough times. If you have the courage of your convictions and perform to the best of your capabilities, you can overcome challenging situations. The important question is: Can you learn from your mistakes and move on? Speed of growth and risk always go together and it is worth taking a risk rather than being overcautious.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: I normally use only a mobile phone at work. I am not a very gadget-friendly person.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: I love to exercise—tough day or not.
SANJIV GOENKA
CHAIRMAN, RP-SANJIV GOENKA GROUP
IT'S THE SENSE OF 'HAVING ACHIEVED' that drives me to be successful. Wealth, after a point, becomes incidental. My father has inspired me immensely and continues to do so. One piece of advice my grandfather gave me was not to be frightened by the size of a problem. If it is too big, the best thing is to divide the problem and try to attack each part separately. There have been moments of disappointments, but I have never lost heart.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: I am not much of a gadget person and I rely more on people.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: Earlier, the best way to relax was to be with my daughter and son. But they are both away from home. Also, I never miss my puja so that I am never de-motivated.
RANA KAPOOR
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CEO, AND FOUNDER, YES BANK
SINCERITY, HARD WORK, AND dedication, teamed with entrepreneurial vision and strong interpersonal and execution skills are the main drivers of success.
The biggest motivation for being your own boss is that you can legitimately claim that ‘I made this, my way’. Being true to yourself, trusting your instincts, and always being prepared for challenges are attributes that help in building an institution.
I wanted to be self-employed and create an entrepreneurial culture that would stimulate and foster innovation, not only in products, services, and processes, but also in business and the financial model in banking.
Prioritising my goals early in my career allowed me to focus on attempting to establish the “best quality bank of the world in India”, through a clear vision, strategy, and execution-driven management. The journey of a professional entrepreneur is rigorous. You have to take the high road, and it requires extraordinary courage, determination, contagious energy, and drive.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: I rely mostly on my smartphones to access e-mails and real-time financial information. I prefer gadgets that are simple, reliable, and practical.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: To de-stress I spend time with my mother, wife, and three daughters. I am an avid reader and also like to watch programmes on economic and political issues on TV.
R.S BUTOLA
CHAIRMAN, INDIAN OIL CORPORATION
I BELIEVE IN THE ADAGE THAT SUCCESS is not a destination, it is a journey. The passion to excel is what drives me. I believe that whatever we do, we must excel at it. It is this belief that drives me to aim for perfection in all endeavours.
My inspiration, when I started out, was not very different from my aspirations today. My professional desires have not changed much over the years—I have always wanted to excel. Going the extra mile to earn something or reach a goal is important to me. Very early on, I realised that nothing in life comes easy; I thrive on challenges. I believe in leading from the front and egging my team on to rise to the occasion.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: Though I am not enthusiastic about gadgets, I carry an iPhone, which helps me stay in touch and access my work from anywhere.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: I believe in working hard and playing hard. I love to unwind with friends and family after a hard day at work. I like to read a lot on any subject that I come across.
MALVINDER M.SINGH
GROUP CHAIRMAN, FORTIS HEALTHCARE (INDIA)
I’M DRIVEN BY MY SENSE of purpose, which is to improve the lives of people in India and provide them access to quality health care at affordable prices. India sorely lacks reliable health care facilities and we try to bring good health and hope to countless lives.
Ultimately, I’m motivated by the desire to make a difference with everything we do—the desire to create an institution that is built to last and is the best in its category.
My father has been my inspiration and set an example through the life he led—as a parent, as a professional, and as a leader.
I am a determined person and work best when I find myself in challenging circumstances. My persistent nature and will to succeed against all odds keeps me
focussed and helps me address challenges, overcome obstacles, and get past difficulties.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: Modern communications systems and the ability to stay connected are critical to my day-to-day work. My BlackBerry and iPad are the most important gadgets for me.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: Being with my family brings balance to my daily schedule and helps
me unwind.
JUNG SOO SHIN
PRESIDENT & CEO, SAMSUNG SOUTH WEST ASIA, OPERATIONS AND SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS
I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU strengthen the fundamentals of an organisation, in terms of the people and processes, the organisation has the ability to respond quickly to any situation. As CEO, my endeavour is to strengthen the competitiveness of my organisation so that we can respond to the needs of the market and our consumers with speed. I strongly believe in teamwork and empowering my team so that we can achieve our goals. My biggest motivation is how to make my organisation work better and faster.
At the time I graduated in Korea, about 30 years ago, global operations of companies in Korea were not very strong. I wanted to chart a new path for myself and I got into trading. I ran a trading business for three years before getting into Samsung Electronics. I am not averse to taking risks—not then, not now. I am an optimist and I believe that being well prepared and a challenging attitude help you get over difficult situations.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: Assisting me in my work are all the Samsung gadgets—my favourite is my Galaxy SII smartphone. A recent addition is the Galaxy tablet.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: My family.
SIGVE BREKKE
MANAGING DIRECTOR, UNITECH WIRELESS
THE GREATEST THRILL FOR ME is to bust presumptions. The more I manage to destroy, the more I want to. Hearing someone say that it wasn’t supposed
to be like that, that this wasn’t supposed to work, that’s a much bigger motivation for me than any reward or recognition. This also keeps me and my people in the game as we keep opening up an alternate future that is unscripted and, therefore, exciting.
For a long part of my life, my career was politics in my home country, Norway. The inspiration then was to undertake a career where I could make a difference and change things for better. It’s not much different from the expectations I have of my corporate career now.
I am a compulsive optimist. I have a stubborn belief in a positive future. I also never get overwhelmed by problems, as big and as many as they might be. I see problems as hurdles that will be overcome. Some will sort themselves out, others will need us to work at them.
I also feel that difficult phases are actually the ones where you can accomplish the most. It’s a time when you are expected to be struggling to deal with the problems. That’s when you can push harder and work harder to close the gap unnoticed. That’s when you get the ‘how could they manage this?’ reaction I spoke of earlier.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: I use a BlackBerry.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: Good exercise, preferably running, for at least an hour every day.
ONKAR S. KANWAR
CHAIRMAN, APOLLO TYRES
SUCCESS, TO ME, IS STRIVING to do better each time and embracing change to create relevance and value. My biggest motivation comes from executing carefully thought out plans and watching results pour in.When I started my career with Apollo Tyres, the net worth of the company had been eroded. At that time I aimed at achieving an impossible turnover of Rs 100 crore and triumphed. The initial struggle has served well as an inspiration over the years. I have not looked back since and believe that a mix of hard work, intellect, talent, and adaptability makes everything possible.
The test of an organisation or a leader, much like one’s own character, is the ability to outperform despite challenges, even as they keep their core values close to heart and their mission within sight. I treat each obstacle as just another opportunity for learning newer ways of doing business or further improving current processes and systems. And this is what excites me to move on.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: I like to be connected to my work at all times. I used to make do with a cellphone, but now I use a BlackBerry and an iPad when I travel.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: My family. I really cherish every moment spent with my grandchildren—their curiosity and keenness to learn is truly humbling.
PIYUSH PANDEY
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTH ASIA, OGILVY & MATHER INDIA
I AM DRIVEN BY PASSION. Passion to express—create brands and ideas that touch the lives of people. Every day when I wake up, I get the same feeling that I experienced when I used to play in the Ranji Trophy [a domestic first-class cricket championship]. When you took a stance at the crease you had the feeling that today was going to be your day.
In times of turmoil, I am reminded of something that Arun Lal, commentator, former cricketer, and
a dear friend, had said: For ordinary people a tough situation is a problem, for extraordinary people
it’s an opportunity.
WHAT HELPS ME WORK: During the day the only gadget constantly assisting me is my cellphone.
WHAT HELPS ME RELAX: I am driven by my colleagues and friends, and the best way to unwind is to be with them. Sometimes, I also tune in to National Geographic or the History Channel when at home.