Mukesh Ambani

A Chemical Engineer from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Mukesh Ambani has pursued an MBA from Stanford University in the US. Being on the Board of Reliance Industries since 1977, he has played a significant role in the Group’s backward integration journey – from textiles to polyester fibres and further onto petrochemicals and petroleum refining, and going upstream into oil and gas exploration and production. Owing to his dedicated efforts in creation of multiple new world-class manufacturing facilities involving diverse technologies, Reliance’s petrochemicals manufacturing capacities have seen an increase from less than a million tonnes to about 21 million tonnes per year.

EXPANDING THE EMPIRE FAR & WIDE

In the late nineties, Mukesh Ambani not only created the world’s largest grassroots petroleum refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat, India, with a capacity of 660,000 barrels per day (33 million tonnes a year), but also integrated it with petrochemicals, power generation, port and related infrastructure. In addition, he set up another 580,000-barrels-per-day refinery next to the first one in Jamnagar. No wonder Jamnagar emerged as the refining hub of the world with an aggregate refining capacity of 1.24 million barrels of oil per day at a single location. He also spearheaded the development of infrastructure facilities and created a pan-India organized retail network spanning multiple formats and supply chain infrastructure. Since 2006, Reliance Retail has been delivering superior value to its customers, suppliers and shareholders and has established itself as India’s largest retailer. Its network of retail outlets all across the nation, delivers a world-class shopping environment and unmatched customer experience by virtue of its state-of-theart technology and seamless supply-chain infrastructure. Extremely optimistic about the future of the nation, he applauds India’s entrepreneurial spirit. He feels that every small entrepreneur in India can become a Dhirubhai or a Bill Gates as the entrepreneurial talent in India is huge. An advocate of innovation, he asserts, “Essentially, whoever is successful, whoever is going to do things that make a difference, is going to be talked about.” He feels that business is a level playing field where everyone gets an equal opportunity to excel. “Everybody has equal opportunity and I think that is true for everything,” he says. Despite reaching the pinnacle of success, he feels that there is still a lot of scope to grow and expand. As he puts it, “I think our fundamental belief is that for us growth is a way of life and we have to grow at all times.”

DRIVING A DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Mukesh Ambani has created global records in customer acquisition for Jio – the Group’s digital services initiative. He has efficiently spearheaded the creation of one of the world’s most expansive 4G broadband wireless network offering end-to-end solutions. It caters to the entire value chain across various digital services in key domains of national interest, such as education, healthcare, security, financial services, governmentcitizen interfaces, entertainment, to name a few. He is of the view that India has a mobile network that is better or at par with any country in the world and it is all set to become a “premier digital society.” He feels that the big change driving this transformation is the deepening of mobile networks that are currently working at a much faster pace than before. “It all kick-started in 2014 when PM gave us the vision of Digital India … 380 million people have migrated to Jio’s 4G technology,” he says. “Pre-Jio, the data speed was 256 kbps; and post-Jio, it is 21 Mbps, he declares with pride. He believes that policy steps are needed to accelerate the early rollout of ultra-high-speed 5G services that are affordable and available everywhere. He is certain about the fact that 5G will enable India not only to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution but also to lead it.

ENRICHING THE WORLD

Mukesh Ambani believes in knowledgesharing and actively contributes his rich insights as a member of various national and international organizations. He is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry, Government of India, and the Board of Governors of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, India. He is also a member of The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, the Global Advisory Council of Bank of America, Stanford Global Advisory Council, McKinsey & Company International Advisory Council, The Business Council, India Advisory Group of the London School of Economics, Indo-U.S. CEOs’ Forum, International Advisory Council of The Brookings Institution and Board of Governors of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, India. He is an elected Foreign Member of the prestigious United States National Academy of Engineering. Mr Mukesh Ambani is an elected Foreign Member of the prestigious United States National Academy of Engineering. Only nine other Indians have received this honour. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gujarat and India Advisory Council of The British Asian Trust.

GARNERING GLORY

Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian to be featured on Global Game Changers List of a leading international magazine. He has been awarded as Economic Times Business Leader of the Year, 2017 and has won Othmer Gold Medal by Chemical Heritage Foundation, USA in 2016. He was offered an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee in and Honorary Doctor of Science by Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai in 2013. He was conferred the title of ‘Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by All-India Management Association in 2013.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF A BETTER WORLD

Mukesh Ambani’s vision of an inclusive India is being realized through Reliance Foundation. Spearheaded by his better half, Smt. Nita M. Ambani, Reliance Foundation was established in 2010 to provide impetus to various philanthropic initiatives of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). The efforts of the group have already touched the lives of more than 39.5 million people across India in more than 40,000 villages and several urban locations.

Sajjan Jindal

CARRYING FORWARD THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

All dreams are made of a magical concoction whose ingredients comprise passion, grit and an insurmountable determination to work hard and win against all odds. Sajjan Jindal inherited this magical concoction and chiseling his dreams, developed one of India’s leading business houses, with a workforce of over 40,000. Diversifying his Group gradually to master other verticals, he forayed into cement, infrastructure, energy and so on, with a dream to help build a new nation. Leading India’s largest private steel producer, Sajjan Jindal has displayed mettle of steel as he has guided JSW Steel through the strategic tie-up with the world’s sixth-largest and Japan’s second largest steel producer JFE Steel.

Son of the Indian businessman and parliamentarian, Om Prakash Jindal and India’s richest woman, Savitri Jindal, Sajjan Jindal belongs to the highly revered Jindal family and the JSW Group, whose net worth is USD 13 billion.

He and his brothers, Prithviraj, Ratan and Naveen, each run their own businesses that were primarily inherited from their father. Married to Sangita Jindal, who is the Chairperson of JSW Foundation, they have two daughters, Tarini and Tanvi, and a son, Parth. He holds B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore being affiliated from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, Karnataka. Joining the family business right after his graduation, he moved to Mumbai to look after the western region operations of O.P. Jindal Group in 1983. He promoted Jindal Iron and Steel Company Ltd. (JISCO), for manufacturing of Cold Rolled and Galvanized Sheet Products in 1989, promoted Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Ltd. (JVSL), JSW Energy Ltd. (JSWEL), Jindal Praxiar Oxygen Ltd. (JPOCL) and Vijaynagar Minerals Private Ltd. (VMPL) to ensure complete integration of the manufacturing progress in 1995. In 2005, he merged JISCO and JVSL to form JSW Steel; their holdings group has the same name, JSW.

HELPING INDIA GROW

Commanding one of India’s fastest growing conglomerates, JSW Group which is a USD 13 billion company and an integral part of the O. P. Jindal Group, Sajjan Jindal has developed some of the major projects in India and has played a key role in nation building. He asserts, “We pursue growth zealously. In the face of all challenges, the most effective way to overcome them was to grow. Faster than the market, bigger than the competition.” Guiding JSW to become one of India’s top business houses, his innovative and sustainable ideas have helped all verticals of the Group: Steel, Energy, Cement and Infrastructure. Believing in creating values of the highest order, he has invariably focused on creating superior strength of products & services, a differentiated product mix, state-of-the-art technology, and then excellence in execution and focus on sustainability for assured success and growth. Like all great leaders, he too initiated with small steps and a humble beginning in the steel sector of India; however, with consistent efforts guided his Group to expand its presence across India, South America, South Africa and Europe.

DESERVING RECOGNITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

He has received the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award for his contribution to the steel industry, the ‘Outstanding Business Leader of the Year Award’ at the 14th edition of the CNBC IBLA 2019 Awards, the Outstanding Business Leader of the year 2018 award, CEO of the Year award, JRD Tata Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership in Metallurgical industry, National Metallurgist Award in Industry category instituted by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, Best CEO award, and several other prestigious national and international awards. An ex President of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), he is a renowned and respected practitioner of sustainable business practices.

Elon Musk

In an era often defined by new technology, the 50-year-old zillionaire, Musk has emerged as one of the most genuinely innovative entrepreneurs of his generation. He has been an inspiration for the world to go green. No wonder leading auto companies ranging from Ford to Volkswagen to Mercedes-Benz to Toyota have unequivocally committed their futures to electric vehicles. As he puts it, “For a long time, the rest of the auto industry was basically calling Tesla and me fools and frauds. They were saying electric cars wouldn’t work; you can’t achieve the range and performance. And even if you did that, nobody would buy them.” But he has proved everybody wrong. In fact he has triggered a historic shift in the world’s auto industry towards green mobility. Musk rightfully deserves the credit of transforming one of the world’s most important industries – the automotive industry – and paving the path for a sustainable future.

EARLY LEANINGS

Born to a Canadian mother and South African father, Musk was brought up in Pretoria, South Africa. He briefly attended the University of Pretoria before moving to Canada at age 17 to avoid conscription. He enrolled at Queen’s University and two years later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Physics. Thereafter, he moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University. However, he changed his mind and decided instead to pursue a business career. Thus, he ended up co-founding the web software company Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. This startup was acquired by Compaq for $307 million in 1999. The same year, Musk co-founded online bank X.com, which merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. The firm was taken over by eBay for $1.5 billion in the year 2002. In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, of which he is CEO and CTO. In 2004, he joined electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc. (now Tesla, Inc.) as Chairman and Product Architect, becoming its CEO in 2008. In 2006, he helped create SolarCity, a solar energy services company that was later acquired by Tesla and became Tesla Energy. In 2016, Tesla became the world’s first vertically-integrated sustainable energy company with the acquisition of SolarCity, the leading provider of solar power systems in the United States, and in 2017 it launched Solar Roof – a beautiful and affordable energy generation product.

BOOSTING GREEN MOBILITY

As the Co-founder and CEO of Tesla, Musk has been leading all product design, engineering and global manufacturing of the firm’s electric vehicles, battery products and solar energy products. Under his exemplary leadership, Tesla has been on a mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy for a cleaner future, since its inception in 2003. Roadster sports car was Tesla’s first product, launched in 2008.

It was followed by the Model S sedan, which was introduced in 2012. Model S proved that electric cars could compete with the best on style and performance. Its Model X SUV was launched in 2015. These models have garnered immense popularity over time. Model S has received Consumer Reports’ ‘Best Overall Car’ and has been named the ‘Ultimate Car of the Year’ by Motor Trend, while Model X was the first SUV ever to earn 5-star safety ratings in every category and sub-category in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s tests.

Tesla came up with Model 3 in the 2017. Model 3 has successfully brought technology to a wider market. It is a mass-market electric vehicle with more than 320 miles of range. It also launched Tesla Semi, which is designed to save owners at least $200,000 over a million miles based on fuel costs alone. It unveiled Cybertruck in 2019, possessing better utility than a traditional truck and more performance than a sports car. Its Model Y compact SUV, began customer deliveries in early 2020.

BRINGING SPACE CLOSER TO EARTH

As lead designer at SpaceX, Musk efficiently oversees the development of rockets and spacecraft for missions to Earth orbit and ultimately to other planets. Under his able leadership, the SpaceX Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to reach orbit in 2008, and SpaceX by re-flying both a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft for the first time, made further history in 2017. Soon after, Falcon Heavy, the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two, completed its first flight in 2018. In 2019, SpaceX’s crew capable version of the Dragon spacecraft completed its first demonstration mission, and the company flew NASA astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time in 2020.

Currently, SpaceX is developing Starship (a fully reusable transportation system that will carry crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond) and Starlink, which will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable. By pioneering reusable rockets, SpaceX is pursuing the long-term goal of making humans a multi-planet species by creating a self-sustaining city on Mars. Talking about Starship, he elaborates, “Starship is a hard, hard, hard, hard project. This is the biggest rocket ever made. It will have a thrust and mass double that of a Saturn V, which is the largest rocket to reach orbit, and is intended to be fully and rapidly reusable. If we are successful with this, which I think we will be, I don’t know if we will be there in 2022. I hope so. This is a profound revolution in access to orbit. There has never been a fully reusable orbital launch vehicle. This is the holy grail of space technology.” He adds, “It is the fundamental breakthrough that is necessary for humanity to become a space civilization. This absorbs more of my mental energy than probably any other single thing. But it is so preposterously difficult that there are times where I wonder whether we can actually do this.”

INNOVATING HIS WAY TO THE TOP

In 2013, Musk proposed the Hyperloop, a high-speed vactrain transportation system. It is a high-speed vacuum tube transportation system that is twice as fast as air travel, and much more energy efficient. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit research company that promotes friendly artificial intelligence. In 2016, he co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company focused on developing brain–computer interfaces. As the CEO of Neuralink, Musk has been developing ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect the human brain to computers. No wonder, he has been dexterously driving Tesla, SpaceX, & Neuralink towards new horizons of success.

Ananya Birla

Apart from being a karmayogi, who is living the dream, she is driven by the vision to bring about a positive change in society. Her venture Svatantra Microfin supports women entrepreneurs in the rural areas to grow and become financially more secure.

PLAYING PLEASANT NOTES

Ananya always chose to do things differently. A quiet, observant and introspective child, she had an interest in music since an early age. She learnt to play santoor when she was just 11 years old. As she grew, so did her interest in music. She taught herself to play the guitar with the help of video tutorials on the web. This was the beginning of a passion that continues to grow even today. She is an acclaimed singer who writes her own songs. ‘I Don’t Want to Love’ is her much acclaimed song which first brought her to the music scene. She was signed as an artiste by the Universal Music Group (India). Her debut single ‘Livin the Life’was launched worldwide in November 2016. ‘Meant to Be’ is the second international single to be released in July 2017 & has been certified ‘PLATINUM’ as per the standards followed by the Indian music industry, which makes her the first Indian artist to go Platinum.

EMBRACING LEARNING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS

Ananya studied at the Oxford University, UK, where she pursued degrees in Economics & Management. As a student, she developed keen interest in music & started singing & playing the guitar; while still managing her microfinance venture Svatantra over Skype calls with a capable team back home in India. During her stay in London, Ananya also worked as a counsellor for a student welfare charity. She met & interacted with many young people of her age who were suffering from anxiety & depression. This experience shook her from within & after returning to India, she set up a mental health initiative called MPower along with her mother Neerja Birla. MPower works to stamp out the stigma towards people with mental illness in India. It also sensitizes people towards mental illnesses like anxiety & depression that are so common in our society today & can be controlled with family’s cooperation. She felt a greater need to start Mpower because in India, it is difficult to change perceptions related to mental health, so she decided to take up the challenge of repairing the innate conditioning of the people which perceive mental illness as an evilHer venture MPower is a timely step in this direction as it is high time to fight for rights of people with mental illness & help them to be understood & treated supportively like any other person who is unwell. Under her able leadership, The MPower centre provides holistic mental health care solutions to children, young people, and adolescents, & their families. The foundation helps people with psychological difficulties lead meaningful lives without social exclusion. It also helps create awareness by organising workshops for the youth. Ananya’s entrepreneurial instincts led her to start an e-commerce platform – Curo Carte – which is a global ecommerce platform that provides handmade & high-end luxury products, curated from nine countries. The online portal is an amalgamation of design, beauty and lifestyle & offers around 1500 products across 70 categories. An inspiration to today’s youth, Ananya Birla exemplifies the courage to let go of the comfort zone and pursue one’s dreams by working hard to be the best at each & every endeavour, and light up the way for others simultaneously.

Adar Poonawalla

The CEO and Executive Director of Serum Institute of Technology, Adar Poonawalla is a perfect combination of vigor, energy, and sharp focus. The son of Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, the young leader has inherited all the right and relevant qualities to run a successful business from his father, who had established the Serum Institute of Technology in 1996. Now in his position as the leader, Adar is taking his father’s vision ahead with real-time planning, smart innovation, and the zest to take the firm to newer heights of success.

STEPPING UP TO BE THE LEADER

Adar got the first-hand experience of running businesses by observing his father, who was leading one of the biggest enterprises in India today. He always learnt keenly and was motivated to be a part of the growing company. Therefore, after completing his education from the University of Westminster, he joined the company in 2001. He spent a decade across positions learning the tricks and trades of business and keeping a fine balance between the two main aspects — leader’s vision and learner’s attitude. He was then promoted to the position of CEO and now holds full control of the day-to-day operations of the company. Since then, he has taken major policy decisions that have influenced the growth of the company in a positive way.

SUCCESS LEADING TO NEW VENTURES

At the time when Adar joined the company, the Serum Institute was very much India-centric and was exporting to not more than 30-40 countries.

Adar saw it as an opportunity to expand the company’s business to other parts of the world and successfully accomplished the mission in less than three years. Since then the company’s exports have grown and now Serum Institute exports to 147 countries.

Also, In the year 2014, Adar Poonawalla initiated the launch of Serum Institute’s Oral Polio Vaccine, which went on to become the best seller for the company, and now he plans to launch a new vaccine for promoting health every year.

Lately, the institute also collaborated with University of Oxford and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for making the COVID-19 vaccine, ‘Covidshield’ and is conducting trials in India. Adar has said India’s vaccination drive may begin by January 2021 as the company is hoping to get emergency-use authorization by the end of 2020.

AN EPITOME OF MODESTY, HONESTY, AND HUMANITY

The zeal to carve a niche has made Adar the honed leader that he is today. Apart from possessing great business acumen and being socially responsible, Adar Poonawalla also happens to have had a humble upbringing; being the only child to very fortunate parents did not spoil him.

In fact, his father had been a very strict parent to him during his childhood days and taught him the human values, shouldering responsibilities, and being accountable to those around us. Adar believes that his father has been the greatest source of inspiration for him and he has learnt a lot when it comes to the way one manages people, looks at opportunities and weighs risks.

He also believes, like his father, that wasting time on something that is not worth is useless and quick decision-making is a key skill for success in business. As a socially responsible entrepreneur, Adar has invested over $20 Millions in philanthropy and for various other humanitarian causes.

Dr. Christina Rahm

Dr. Christina Rahm is a true polymath, with a diverse educational background from Harvard University. She has a comprehensive understanding of areas as diverse as nanotechnology, pharmaceutical management, nutrition, education, and philosophy. She has fortified her intellectual pursuits with a Master of Science degree, while attaining a doctorate in Strategic Sciences from Charter University in December 2014.

MASTERING MULTIPLE DOMAINS

Dr. Rahm established DRC Ventures to cultivate a collaborative environment that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Through philanthropic foundations, beauty and fashion brands, influential platforms, and reputable organisations, DRC Ventures facilitates widespread access to medical, supplementary, and environmental services.

Under her astute leadership, DRC Ventures has emerged as a formidable powerhouse. Through strategic investments in pioneering start-ups that challenge conventions, she leads the company to actively nourish the advancement of groundbreaking technologies, services, and paradigms in the business sphere. DRC Ventures actively shares its invaluable insights and experiences through compelling content, industry conferences, and impactful speaking engagements.

Furthermore, she champions diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship, acknowledging its potential to spur innovation and propel success. Under her guidance, DRC Ventures actively promotes underrepresented entrepreneurs, providing opportunities for women, minorities, and marginalised individuals, thus cultivating an inclusive culture that breaks down entry barriers within the start-up landscape.

A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Rahm has also achieved remarkable success with The ROOT Brands, an esteemed social sharing community platform, which has swiftly amassed a substantial following across over 60 countries. The platform facilitates connections and engagement among like-minded individuals.

THE UPHILL JOURNEY

Despite grappling with formidable health obstacles, including Lyme disease and multiple instances of cancer, Dr. Rahm has displayed a remarkable embodiment of fortitude and determination. Her indomitable spirit has not only allowed her to surmount these challenges, but also glean profound insights along the way. Furthermore, through extensive global travels and interactions with individuals from over 80 countries, she has amassed a vast reservoir of academic, professional, spiritual, emotional, and intuitive wisdom, instrumental in navigating the intricate stages of her health journey.

CREATING A POSITIVE IMPACT

Dr. Rahm’s dedication to philanthropic endeavours is deeply rooted in her upbringing, shaped by the values of generosity, compassion, and selflessness imparted by her grandparents and parents. They taught her that a life of privilege and abundance comes with a corresponding responsibility to give back to others. She believes that philanthropy is not merely an act of benevolence, but a moral imperative that lies at the core of our shared humanity.

Her involvement in the Rahm Foundation has allowed her to champion various causes, including the promotion of women’s rights and social, cultural, and academic empowerment programs. She is associated with the UN Women for Peace Association as a dedicated supporter. Additionally, as an ambassador to the European Women’s Association in the USA, she has demonstrated her passion for promoting tolerance and respect for women by advocating for access to education, freedom, and protection for women. She actively supports other foundations in Africa and South Africa. Through her contributions to organisations such as Korah Kids, Rudolph College, Grace Bible University, and The Treasured Foundation, she has helped to improve the lives of women and children in multiple countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Korah, Ethiopia.

Dr. Rahm’s dedication to advancing research and scientific institutions is truly remarkable. Through her tireless efforts, she has helped establish Medical School programs and Research Science Programs that have garnered significant acclaim and recognition. She has also been honoured with numerous awards, including Honorary Doctorate degrees and the naming of a building in her honour.

RACKING UP ACCOLADES

Dr. Rahm has received numerous accolades and awards for her contributions to the fields of product innovation, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. She was honoured with the “Network-Karriere for Product Innovation Award in 2018,” and her products were recognised as the best in the MLM industry by the “European Award for Best Products” that same year. In 2014, she was recognised as a Healthcare Hero Judge and awarded the “Nashville Healthcare Hero Award.” She has also been a finalist for the “NEXT Awards” and was named the “Enterprising Women of the Year Winner in 2012.” In addition, she has been recognised as a “Top Entrepreneur by Business Leader and was named the #1 Specialty Pharmaceutical Representative in the Nation in 1998.” She has played a key role in healthcare innovation, having been involved in ventures such as DC2 Holdings, NOC2 Healthcare, and Clinical Care Continuum (C3), which seeks to revolutionise medical research and care.

Dr. Rahm is also a prolific author with numerous published books. Her notable works include Cure The Causes and her latest publication, Cure the Causes Cookbook, both of which cover topics such as nutrition and the environment. Furthermore, her oratory skills have made her a highly sought-after speaker, captivating audiences with her inspirational and motivational speeches. Her profound wisdom, infused with practicality and universal understanding, make her a relatable figure who resonates with individuals from all walks of life.

Smt. Savitri Jindal

SERVING HUMANITY WITH KINDNESS & COMPASSION

The Chairperson Emeritus, OP Jindal Group, Smt. Savitri Jindal is not only renowned in Haryana and India but in the whole world as a popular leader. She has lead with grace the life of a successful wife, a successful mother, a successful politician as well as a successful entrepreneur. Even though all of her four sons are successful businessmen, they are rooted in values and their philosophy of life is of Gandhism – simplicity is their special identity. She has also successfully handled the responsibility of Ministry of Revenue and ban cal dies in ayana, in the ast he is cntibting t the field of education as the Chancellor of Jain Vishwabharati, Ladnun, Rajasthan. Her role as the President of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, a symbol of medical service in Southern Haryana, is being appreciated far and wide. A philanthropist to the core, she is extremely passionate about serving the society. Donning many hats with élan, Smt. Savitri Jindal is a living legend, whose life is an inspiration for one and all!

Q. You have played an important role in taking Jindal Group to great heights. Please share your experiences with our readers on how you went from being a successful housewife to a successful entrepreneur.

A. I was taking care of the house but after the sudden demise of Jindal sahib, I had to come forward to handle the business. If the shadow of a father suddenly removed from the head, then the mother has to play the role of the father. Jindal sahib left behind a legacy of keeping the society and family together in the thread of love. He had an amazing ability to take everyone along, so taking inspiration from him, I played my part as a link – both with the kids and also with the Hisar-Haryana family. I am very proud of my children, who have not only successfully handled the business following the path shown by Jindal sahib but are also living together lovingly and operating their business and family together.

In today’s environment it is difficult for two brothers to live together but it is a big thing for us that all my children are living together with love. Jindal sahib also thought that everyone should live together and our children respected his wish. We are all together. In my view, love and mutual trust are the keys to success.

Q. You are an inspiration to those women entrepreneurs who are trying their luck in various fields and aspire to achieve big goals. What is your message to them?

A. Knowledge, hard work, honesty, patience, mutual love and trust are the basic formulas of success in business. Jindal sahib used to say – “Each one belongs to us. All employees are ours, like family members.” I believe the same and my children also believe that employees are members of the family. I want to tell my entrepreneur sisters that you need to be always up to date about your businesses. Do your business with hard work and honesty; if you do not cheat on anyone, then God also helps you and you move forward.

Q. Despite having reached the pinnacle of success, you remain grounded and humble. We, at AsiaOne, appreciate your remarkable efforts to give back to the society. Please share some of the social causes which are close to your heart.

A. As a child, I have seen my grandfather, parents, uncles and aunts and both brothers and sisters – how they used to come forward to help the needy. After marriage, I got inspired by Jindal sahib as he used to take a great interest in social work. He used to say, “God has given us a lot, so we should also do something for the society.” He laid great emphasis on education because he believed that education is the right way to attain prosperity. He always used to inspire everyone for girl child education. He used to say, “If a girl studies, then two houses will prosper and if a boy studies then only one house.”

Education and health & wellness are subjects that are very close to my heart. I would also like to share one thing that wherever we have factories, we have built schools, colleges, and hospitals for the kids of workers so that they can study. Basically, our aim is to ensure that they can learn employable skills so that they may get employment after completion of their studies.

Vidyadevi Jindal Residential School, OP Jindal School, OP Jindal Global University, OP Jindal University – Raigarh, OP Jindal Community College are some of the initiatives through which we are trying to promote the talents of the country. Similarly, Acharya Shri Mahashraman ji has entrusted me with the responsibility of being the Chancellor of Jain Vishwabharati, which I am trying to fulfil sincerely.

As far as health is concerned, right now my focus is on the development of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha. Apart from Haryana, people from Punjab and Rajasthan also come there for treatment. Our team did a commendable job in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I believe that only a healthy and educated person can contribute to nation building.

Q. AsiaOne Magazine, through its “Greatest Brands and Leaders Asia GCC” series, endeavors to publish the inspirational success stories of top Asian brands and leaders from around the world who have enabled Asia to acquire a special place in the world. This series will highlight the contributions of top Asian leaders, who have contributed in making this world a better place. What is your message to Mr. Rajat Shukal, Global Head and Principal Partner, AsiaOne Magazine and AsiaOne Media Group for this endeavour?

A. I congratulate Mr. Rajat Shukal ji, and your entire team for the success of this series. I also thank you all as the initiative has given me an opportunity to connect with the world community. I am very much sure that I will definitely get an opportunity to learn from all of them. Keep doing positive journalism like this, which changes the lifestyle of people and makes them happy, healthy and prosperous.

K Srinivas Reddy

Story of Dreams, Determination and Diligence

The setting of the story of K Srinivas Reddy is similar to that of some Indian films, where a boy from a very poor agricultural family, belonging to a small village, toils day & night, and finally becomes super successful, riding on nothing but a white heat of desire to realize his dreams

“taking all challenges in my stride, never losing hope, I fought tooth and nail to grow my
business”

“Opportunities do not come often in today’s competitive world. One must make the best use of the available resources and stay focused, while improving productivity and strengthening one’s own self”

The village in K Srinivas Reddy’s story is Ramakrishnapuram in Hyderabad, and during those times the nearest school was eight km away. However, he never shied away from walking 16 km a day up and down barefoot to complete his studies. At the same time, he had to think about supporting his family, so he started a part-time business in pesticides,
where he dealt with farmers directly.

As not everything would be positive and predictable in such stories, K Srinivas Reddy’s story also had ups and downs. Though he finished his studies successfully, he ended up with a heavy loss in his business. He could not afford a loss like that, and to compensate it, he had to leave Ramakrishnapuram and go to Hyderabad in search of a job.

It took a lot of hardship and time as he kept on looking for a job, before he selected a real estate company and started working with an extraordinary desire to excel. A sincere
worker and a quick learner, he grasped the intricacies of the real estate industry in four years, and established his own company, Shathabdhi Townships Pvt Ltd.

Facing Challenges Head On

After launching his own company, he realized that his inner zeal to progress is not enough, and external factors also need to be taken care of. However, as life has taught him to face every challenge head on, his vision, excellent decision making and strategizing skills came to his help every time. He remembers, “Even after establishing my own company, the journey was tough! A severe recession set in and all software companies went down drastically. Also, the Telangana Movement was at its peak at that time and my business suffered for three years. Then, a sad thing happened, which shook all of us emotionally. The sudden and sad demise of then Chief Minister Shri Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy also impacted the entire real estate industry adversely, and overall it became an extremely trying time for people like me.”

He further elaborates, “However, taking all challenges in my stride, I never lost hope, and literally fighting tooth and nail to grow in my business, I kept encouraging my entire marketing team. I ensured that irrespective of business or no business, all of us should stick together, and I kept on fulfilling all their basic needs.”

K Srinivas Reddy’s hard work paid off, and he did not only earn better, he also garnered a rich experience in the real estate industry. He is passionate about growing himself in the industry, and simultaneously wishes to bring several changes for its better functioning. He feels that, “There should be transparency with the customers and also fool-proof government decisions with clear-cut guidelines. If I had absolute reformative powers, I would bring complete transparency in the real estate industry, and would develop it tremendously. I would also bring speedy revenue clearance from the concerned department, and prompt approvals for projects.”

Pinnacles of Success

Today, under his insightful leadership, Shathabdhi Townships Pvt Ltd has grown into one of the largest diversified real estate companies with a decade-long experience in the real estate sector. K Srinivas Reddy has also painstakingly developed the best team of real estate development professionals in his organization, who are dedicated to sincerely live up to the expectations of the buyers. Shathabdhi Townships Pvt Ltd has already completed six
projects in Shamshabad and Kothur areas, and has grown to the Number 1 position dealing with only government- approved plots like HMDA, DTCP with commitment, quality & timely execution. As a result of continued dedication of everyone at Shathabdhi Townships, it has created a dynamic team of 850 marketing professionals.

Looking back at the struggling period, K Srinivas Reddy recalls, “We had started with just 12 members in our marketing team in the year 2007. However, we all worked hard together and in merely four years’ time, we expanded our marketing team to 100 members, which was a turning point for us. Today, we have a team of 850.”

He shares further, “That was what was happening in business. At home, my family supported me completely and posed full trust in me without keeping too many expectations. It helped me a lot.”

Creating a robust team of 850 marketing professionals wasn’t easy, but K Srinivas Reddy’s approach to his employees and customers is unique, where he believes in creating relationships not business. He has focused since beginning on offering opportunities to youngsters, not only providing them an exciting career, where they can grow to any extent, but also taking care that they derive immense happiness from their jobs.

He explains, “We have more than 10,000 satisfied steemed customers, and associating with them we have created a win-win situation, where all of us are proud and happy! We have also concentrated on not only spreading individual happiness, but working for the entire society, which has enjoyed maximum benefits through our work and through our organization, as investing with us means an assurance of sound returns.”

Fulfilling Rising Aspirations of India

Focusing on offering finer experiences to his customers through his various projects, K Srinivas Reddy wishes to meet the rising aspirations of this emerging nation, while creating fresher and better benchmarks in improving the quality of life. His approach is very clear; everyone at Shathabdhi Townships strives to exceed the expectations of their customers, and through the spaces they have been building, they articulate their idea of a city designed to strike a fine balance between its structures and the communities that foster in them.

Under the insightful guidance of K Srinivas Reddy, Shathabdhi Townships has been endeavouring with powerful promises, meticulously chalking out its plans to ensure that its brand becomes synonymous with the highest standards in real estate quality – today, tomorrow and in the coming decades. It works by the philosophy of K Srinivas Reddy that successful real estate is about people: where they live; how they get to work; what they do when they get there; how they relate in their work environment to their partners, peers, and clients; and whether the workspace is efficient and effective at meeting the organization’s objectives.

Commitment, dedication and professionalism, being its core values, Shathabdhi Townships, through its ongoing and completed projects of Silver Springs, Vasudha, Sampada, Suvidha Grand, Vasudha Extension, Magadha, Shathabdhi Valley and Shathabdhi Valley Extension, has offered people extraordinary places to settle down with delightful designs, glorious living, and invigorating & innovative infrastructural amenities, completely fulfilling their expectations of reliability, confidence and trust.

Always One Step Ahead

As real estate business is highly competitive, K Srinivas Reddy always keeps one step ahead of his competitors through focused commitment and cent-percent customer satisfaction. He is also highly successful in his business, as he has always believed in implementing the right policies with clear-cut clarity.

Understanding that success is not easy, and though he could make it, there are a lot more like him out there, who also have been fighting daily their own battles, he shares his enlightening insights, “Opportunities do not come often in today’s competitive world. One must make the best use of the available resources, and stay focused, while improving the productivity of the company and the same time strengthening one’s own self.”

Sania Mirza

Born to a sports journalist, Imran Mirza, Sania was introduced to the game by her mother Nasima Mirza. Touted as one of the finest doubles players in the world and without doubt the finest women’s tennis player to have ever represented India, Sania Mirza’s achievements also include laurels like Arjuna Award, WTA Newcomer of the Year, Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, and the Padma Bhushan to name a few. She has won 13 medals for the country. Sania is the highest ever ranked singles player in the men and women category in the last 30 years and has been ranked as 27th in singles and the world number 1 in doubles.

MAKING A MARK

Her remarkable journey is replete with memorable singles wins over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Marion Bartoli, & Vera Zvonareva. The world number one tennis doubles player acquired this position by recording notable triumphs over the existing toppers of the sport, which included Martina Hingis, Victoria Azarenka, & Dinara Safina. Her powerful strokes and effective style of playing made Sania one of the highest-paid & extremely successful high-profile public figures not only in India but internationally as well. As the first Indian woman to win six Grand Slam titles, she has set really high benchmarks.

TENNIS – HER CHILDHOOD PASSION

Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Sania’s journey began at the age of six at Nizam Club Hyderabad. She received her initial training in tennis by C.K. Bhupathi, father of another tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, for the initial training. After obtaining professional tennis training from Sinnet Tennis Academy, Secunderabad, Sania joined the Ace Tennis Academy in the United States. As a junior tennis player, she won 10 singles and 13 doubles titles, which proved that she was meant to make it big in the realm of tennis. Since then, there has been no looking back for the champion. In February 2005, she defeated the ninth-seeded Alona Bondarenko in the A.P. Tourism Hyderabad Open finals. This enabled her to grab a WTA title, making her the first Indian woman to have achieved this feat.

THE UNDAUNTED TRAILBLAZER

Despite financial pressures and infrastructural constraints, she chartered her distinct course to success owing to her passion for the sport. While 2007 was the golden year for the tennis player as she was ranked the highest in her career as the 27th singles player in the world; the year 2008 brought a brief halt to the player’s career while she represented India in the Summer Olympics. She got eliminated from the singles tournament at the event because of a severe wrist injury. The injury led to her withdrawal from the famed tournaments. Although it was a major injury, she didn’t stop & continued with the doubles championships.

GARNERING GLORY

The ‘Pride of the Nation’, Sania Mirza has been featured by various national and international publications. An international magazine has named her as one of the ‘50 Heroes of Asia’. She was also listed among the ET’s ‘33 women who made India proud’. Time magazine listed her as one of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ in 2016. Having played the singles, doubles & mixed doubles formats, she has chosen to share her wealth of knowledge and will join broadcasters Star Sports as an expert to analyze the day-to-day action of the ongoing Wimbledon for fans across the country.

Anil Saini

CRAFTING A WINNING SAGA

Mr. Anil Saini, the Founder and CEO of Madison Intermodal LLC has been propelling the Pennsylvania-based enterprise specialising in Domestic Intermodal Drayage and Trucking Solutions to unprecedented heights since A visionary entrepreneur in the transportation sector, he also founded Saini Express Inc., a Harrisburg-based motor carrier company in 2007. Over the years, the resilient leader has consistently charted a course for his brilliant success. Mr. Saini’s success saga exemplifies unparalleled excellence, and the road ahead holds promise for further accomplishments

“MR. SAINI UPHOLDS A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL VALUES. HE HAS BUILT ROBUST RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESS PARTNERS THROUGH TRANSPARENT AND OPEN COMMUNICATION. HIS COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY PERMEATES BOTH HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE”

With a stellar academic background, Mr. Saini honed his business acumen at Pennsylvania’s Fox School of Business, post which he earn education from Delhi. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Under Mr. Saini’s sterling leadership, Madison Intermodal Dba SEI Transportation has ascended to the pinnacle of success and ranks among the leading intermodal enterprises in the Northeast region. His commitment revolves around consistently delivering services on time, besides ensuring satisfaction and achieving perfection across all business facets. Furthermore, he proactively ensures that his company remains debt-free by steering clear of reliance on external sources. By relying solely on internal resources and channeling earnings into essential needs, he aims to build a financially autonomous enterprise, besides building a healthy environment where business can thrive independently. Additionally, as a serial entrepreneur, Mr. Saini has achieved success by venturing into diverse sectors. Currently, he also serves as the CEO at Saini Express Inc., a freight shipping & trucking company from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has also previously owned and operated a bar and restaurant for over a decade.

DRIVEN BY AMBITIOUS GOALS

As the architect of a thriving business, his short and long-term goals revolve around steering his company to extraordinary heights over the next few years. A forward-thinking leader, he remains open to seizing new opportunities and experiences to keep pace with the changing times and evolving market scenarios. His goal is not only to succeed but also to elevate Madison Intermodal to the top of the intermodal industry in the USA.

Mr. Saini draws inspiration from resilient and unwavering individuals who, against all odds, forge ahead on their journey to success. These stalwarts, who refuse to throw in the towel in the face of challenges, have been the catalysts for Mr. Saini’s personal and professional growth. The leader not only appreciates such individuals but has also embraced a mindset akin to those gritty trailblazers for dealing with personal and professional setbacks with finesse. They inspire him to develop a positive outlook for transforming adversities into stepping stones towards his goals.

Mr. Saini’s CSR initiatives include sponsoring vibrant events for the South Asian community, ranging from concerts to family banquets. He has also contributed to building temples in India for communities in need and played a crucial role in fundraising for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Moreover, during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he took a proactive stance by organising and financially supporting vaccine sites. Madison Intermodal, under his stewardship, emerged as a lifeline during the pandemic-induced lockdowns by ensuring the unimpeded flow of essential goods, such as medical equipment and food to those in need. Even now, Mr. Saini continues to set up treatment and vaccine sites locally. Additionally, he went above and beyond by ensuring consistent employment for his team during the pandemic.

RACKING UP ACCOLADES

Mr. Saini’s commitment to excellence has earned him several prestigious awards. Marquis Who’s Who recognised Mr. Saini’s accomplishments in 2024 by listing his biography in their esteemed publication. The National Digest echoed his achievements in a comprehensive business article to honour his tireless efforts in both the business industry and the community at large. He was also crowned Best CEO of the Year by IAOTP in December 2023, a distinction celebrated on the iconic NY Nasdaq Times Square Billboard. Additionally, he clinched the prestigious Best Intermodal Award from the Better Business Bureau for three consecutive years 2021-2023. Also, Fortune Magazine’s February/March 2023 issue celebrated him as one of the National Top Professionals, while Forbes Magazine’s regional edition in August/September 2023 crowned him as a Top Business Owner. He was also featured in the Wall Street Journal among a select group of distinguished leaders in its Eastern Edition on October 26, 2022. Undeterred by his success, the humble leader is committed to continuous growth, ensuring that Madison Intermodal remains at the forefront of the industry. Mr. Saini attributes his success to his family–the bedrock of his life. He also prioritises a harmonious work-life balance and enjoys recreational activities such as swimming, camping, golfing, and skiing in his spare time.