R Gopalakrishnan

Indian businesses must combine enterprise philosophy with societal service

The Constitution was enriched by ideas from diverse segments of the population, and its preamble is a brief statement that outlines its core values and philosophy

Public criticism of predecessors: Rare, but India is not immune to it

Outside clubs, cooperative societies, and politics, public criticism of companies is rare - but India is not immune to it

The CEO Mindset: Shiv Shivakumar puts behaviour at the heart of leadership

For leaders, what matters more - behaviour and mindset, or actions and practices? S Shivakumar's book argues for the former

Doing well by doing good: Swami Vivekananda's guide for modern enterprise

India has its own long tradition of business doing social good. These are deeply embedded in family businesses, partially captured in the series The Story of Indian Business

Serving vs ruling in a democracy: Rethinking attitudes to governance

Indeed, this is a Perry moment for India, but it is unlikely to be the last - unless we fundamentally rethink governance and adopt jana seva attitude toward citizens. Are people being ruled or served

'Western vs Indian': Differing management approaches reflect cultural roots

Western management abhors ambiguity. Indians tolerate and thrive in it

Susim Mukul Datta: Fountain of youth who left a lasting imprint on HLL

This piece is not an elegy or an obituary. It is an intimate portrait of one of India's highly accomplished leaders

India needs thousands of innovators like Suhas Patil and Anjan Bose

These are "hidden champions" of strategic research and innovation. They are worthy of emulation within Indian industry, and maybe even a Padma!

'Purposeful' deergha ayush: Long life is no virtue for an incapable company

Deergha ayush must be both biological and operating with a deep purpose

The true value of a book really lies in what the reader takes from it

If leaders read this book, reflect upon the contents, relate the lessons to their own experiences, and hold tight to their NI (natural intelligence), they increase their odds of success

Steps towards being Deergha Ayush: 7 lessons from famine-era Bengal

Leaders must recognise the existence and urgency of the crisis or problem

People at 'dheerga ayush' companies learn, grow and stay curious

Fulfilment presumes that there is some deep ambition and a personal purpose. It may be prosaic, like feeding your family, or philosophical, like providing music as soup for the soul

Exceptionally turbulent times: Why wisdom matters more than intelligence

These are exceptionally turbulent times with developments in America, Europe, and Asia

Humble CEOs are recalled fondly: History values performance with humility

What mental health is for young people, arrogance and ego are to boardrooms. Is the opposite, the quiet, low-profile performer, even possible?

Great leaders: Balancing efficiency, effectiveness, and community impact

Leaders who extract extraordinary efficiency from resources are lionised during their times and criticised later

Is business a living machine? The capitalist-enterprise model is broken

The capitalist-enterprise model is broken. It focuses on shareholders, but those who aspire, dream, sweat and yearn are usually not the shareholders, but its employees and vendors

Thomas Mathew's book explores the legacy of Indian business icon Ratan Tata

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.

Is the capitalistic model broken? India needs many more leaders like Tata

Ratan was not the first group head to receive adulation. Archives show when Jamsetji died in 1904, the public was full of praise and love for him

Ratan Tata: India's business icon and visionary who saw the future

Brand Tata has remained on the top of its list of peers for a gravity-defying period of 85 years - ever since 1939, when the size of India's top corporations was first reported upon

AI must be guided by humanism and compassion, not just tech experts

It is futile to resist change because tech progress is autonomous; nobody oversees developments. Only natural intelligence - humanism, conscience, and compassion of leaders -can provide oversight