Tata Group chairman Chandra calls for risk-taking amid volatile environment

Calling uncertainty the new constant, Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran urges bold risk-taking, disciplined execution and long-term investment to seize strategic opportunities ahead

As volatility becomes the new constant, bold risk-taking and not caution will define who succeeds, Tata Groupchairman N Chandrasekaran said in his year-end letter to employees, calling on the conglomerate to lift its sights and invest for the long term even amid volatility.  “When volatility is constant,caution can be tempting. But half measures rarely succeed in times likethese.Boldness,meanwhile,has outsized payoffs,” Chandrasekaran wrote, laying out priorities for 2026 in what he described as another year likely to be marked by uncertainty and flux.  The emphasis on riskt aking comes after what Chandrasekaran termed a “humbling year, unrelenting in its unpredictability”. Global growth held up better than expected — supported by fiscal expansion in Europe, stronger-than-anticipated growth in China, easing inflation, and improving financial conditions, he said, while cautioning that heightened geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change posed fresh operational challenges for businesses worldwide.  Against this backdrop, India’s economic performance continued to stand out. Chandrasekaran said the country remains on track to become the world’s third-largest economy this decade, positioning it — and the Tata Group — to benefit from global realignments that create openings for youthful and dynamic economies. For the year ahead, Chandrasekaran identified three priorities: Disciplined execution, stronger teamwork, and the willingness to take calculated risks.  Execution, he said, creates stability in a volatile world; teamworkbeats talent every time; and bold investments —particularly inresearchand scholarship — are essential even when returns take time. The year, however, was also marked by difficult moments.  Chandrasekaran referred to the devastation caused by the crash of Air India Flight 171, noting that it affected the entire group. He thanked employees across Tata companies who came together during the period of anguish to support those impacted.  Looking ahead, he said the current era of uncertainty carries “big strategic opportunities” for India and for the Tata Group, adding that the coming years could be among the most successful in the Group’s long history. He highlighted continued momentum in advanced manufacturing, reiterating his view — first articulated last year — of a coming goldenageforIndianmanufacturing.  The group has expanded precision manufacturing capabilities, including facilities for making iPhones and the finalassemblyofC- 295 defence aircraft, with ten new factories already built and six more under construction.  Chandrasekaran also stressed that data, AI infrastructure, and applications must move together rather than in silos, describing this integration as a major opportunity for a diversified group like Tata. He outlined five pillars to build resilience: Fostering an AI-led organisational culture, redefining a “Bridgital” human-plus-AI operating model, creating a future-ready talent base, developing industryspecific AI infrastructure and applications, and deepening collaborations across institutions.