Category: Leaders

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Empowering Generations by Spreading the Light of Education

With a rich experience of over two decades in the field of education, the Founder, Managing Trustee and Correspondent of SSVM Institutions, Dr. Manimekalai Mohan believes in providing the students with an enabling environment thereby facilitating their holistic development and eventual emergence as victors in their chosen spheres

“She nurtures a dream to groom SSVM students into well-civilized, educated, dignified, learned pupils who would bring about a positive change in the country”

Cultivating a Rich Culture of Values

Believing in the notion that every minute of one’s life should be spent usefully in acquiring the best education that breeds confidence, Dr. Manimekalai asserts that the real learning has to draw out the best from the learners. She also advocates the fact that moral and religious values are not to be undermined, and the fundamental principles of civilization are
not to be ignored. Being well aware of the fact that disregard for everything old has become a fashion of the day; conflicts of ideas, manners, and habits are permeating the atmosphere, she strongly feels that the keys of all these social and global challenges can be sought only through education.

Environment Conducive to Holistic Development

Committed towards transforming education at SSVM by providing every pupil with access to reliable knowledge with ultimate poise, Dr. Manimekalai possesses a compelling vision for transformation and continually generates avenues for re-envisioning the learning experience. She is of the view that the teachers should strive to harmonize the traditional values of India with the new values brought through the progress of 21st-century learning and work to raise and stir the learners to work hard endlessly till the goal is reached.

She is quite clear about the fact that SSVM Institutions’ focus was, is and will always be the learners – their all-round development and making them responsible citizens for the prosperity of the nation. She always encourages her teachers to evoke intellectual curiosity,
build social awareness, and facilitate spiritual quests among the learners, which according to her increasingly influence their personality development. Always encouraging the students to question, reason, discover, and think critically, she appreciates critical thinkers
who accept correction, criticism, innovation, and questioning from peers and colleagues. As an educator, she believes in facilitating the skills such as rationality, self-awareness, honesty, open-mindedness, discipline, and judgment in the learners which lead to development of their critical thinking abilities.

Nurturing a dream to groom SSVM students into well-civilized, educated, dignified, learned pupils who would bring about a positive change in the country, she intends to see them transform the nation into a bribe-free and well-organized India. Her Leadership Initiatives and Business Innovations include focus on Social, Emotional, Cognitive, Language and Moral development; creating a facilitative environment, provisioning developmentally appropriate aid and providing a range of opportunities to teachers and students; meeting
diverse learning needs; implementation of diverse innovative pedagogical strategies; providing equipped connected classrooms with digital learning and bringing awareness why technology matters in education and teaching digital citizenship; facilitating students
to interact with educators and attend seminars and workshops without leaving the campus; focusing more on both ground level observations and advanced level scopes to make every individual a successful multifaceted personality and dedication to excellence with commitment as a keeper of values. It has been her dream to ensure that every child who enters the portals of SSVM would emerge as a winner.

A Long Trail of Felicitations

Owing to her immense contribution to the field of education, Dr. Manimekalai has been variously recognized and rewarded with Outstanding Women Award, Best Women Entrepreneur Award 2018, Vidhya Rathna Award, Shiksha Bharti Puraskar, Best Women Entrepreneur, Women of the Year, KALVI MAMANI Award & EDU ICON Award.

THE MASTER INNOVATOR

MR. SATISH N.S., THE PRESIDENT OF HAIER APPLIANCES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, IS AN ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE WITH OVER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. HE IS REGARDED AS A PIONEER WITH DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDIAN CONSUMER DURABLES MARKET

NOTABLE CREDENTIALS

Mr. Satish N.S. earned his B.E. degree from UVCE Bangalore and MBA in marketing from the Bangalore University. To expand his marketing and business knowledge, he later pursued an MBA and a fellowship programme in innovation and global leadership at MIT Sloan School of Management. He began his career as an Area Manager in Sales with MIRC Electronics Limited (ONIDA), overseeing operations in Bengaluru and supervising all significant accounts. Later, he became an Assistant General Manager of Sales at Samsung
India Electronics Limited. He educated himself to become more proficient and worked for prestigious firms like Panasonic, Onida, and Videocon, where he picked up a knack for business. In 2016, Mr. Satish joined Haier Appliances India as the Senior Vice President. He was promoted to President in 2021 and currently manages production, sales and marketing, and all other support services in India.

THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

Adapting to changing dynamics is one of the most memorable lessons Mr. Satish learned from his experience in the business world. Remaining informed about the continually evolving smart home solutions, scenarios, and technologies is crucial in his opinion. It aids in seeking out new avenues, allowing customers to explore and try products, and improving customer experience. He believes that customer-inspired innovation is a business’s most potent source of inspiration because it serves as a critical roadmap for brand growth. Customer happiness is fundamental to the company’s growth strategy, and his team at Haier is focused on being future-ready with their technological advancements and offerings. A genuine leader, he is recognised for his extensive knowledge of shifting client demands and his depth of cross-market solutions delivery expertise.

ENSURING CONSUMER SATISFACTION

Mr. Satish emphasises building and nurturing ties with consumers and believes that the most critical aspect is the client experience. He makes sure that his team constantly meets customers’ demands as they are an extention of the brand. While gaining new clients is crucial, he also focuses on client retention as in the contemporary market, they need to sustain client involvement. An omnichannel marketing strategy is the most efficient way to handle it, allowing his team to contact customers with the right message at the right moment.

ACCUMULATING AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Mr. Satish’s leadership and direction helped Haier Appliances win numerous awards. By winning the NAMC award in 2023, Haier Appliances India set a new benchmark in manufacturing. Haier’s Super Drum 525mm Series Washing Machine won the Best-in-Segment Product Innovation & Design Excellence award. The firm was named the world’s top brand for “connected air conditioners” and “self-clean air conditioners” by Euromonitor International. It was recognised for its ‘Made in India’ 3 Door Convertible Side By Side Refrigerator Series, Haier Deep Freezer, and Kinouchi 5-Star Heavy Duty Pro Air Conditioners with many National Awards for Excellence. The Haier India team has received the esteemed “Star of the Industry Award” for Excellence in Innovation under Mr. Satish’s direction. Furthermore, Haier was awarded the ‘Most Energy Efficient Appliance’ award at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2022 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India, for adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing and delivery methods to ensure minimal impact on the environment and planet. These accolades testify to Mr. Satish’s commitment and diligence in helping the business stand out in the marketplace.

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.

MAKING INNOVATION AND UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING A HABIT

Chasing a childhood dream and turning it into a lifetime achievement – If anyone is looking for an example of such a feat, you don’t have to look far

“He believe innovative management practices will help in transforming the company”

Sudhir Peter’s achievement as Managing Director of Sheenlac Paints Ltd is one such phenomenal journey. While at school, Sudhir’s role model was one of India’s greatest industrialists and icon Shri Dhirubai Ambani. When he moved to college, he realized that his heart’s calling was to transform his father’s Industrial Thinners & Wood Varnish business into a full-fledged Paint company. Sudhir pursued his graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and followed it up with a Doctorate in Alternative Medicine.Mrs. &Mr. John Peter (Sudhir’s parents) have always been his inspiration and motivational force. His sister Mrs. Shirley George was supportive of all his endeavours. Sudhir Peter’s wife has been his support during the ups & downs of life. He fondly refers to his children as his “stress busters”.

INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Sudhir Peter started his career in Sheenlac as ‘Director – Sales’ with a mission to make it the best paint company in India. He realized that this mission involved 3 Ps – Products, Process and People. Working on these 3 variables he went about setting developmental goals – both short term and long term. All through his tenure at Sheenlac, he has always attempted to change the rules of the category and emerge as an innovator. His father had already pioneered two such innovations. The company had launched a non-alcoholic wood polishing the 70’s which proved to be a winning move. The company broke convention in 1983 and marketed Thinners in PET bottles. When Sudhir took over the reins of the company he leveraged this maverick culture and brought in several Process & People related innovations. He added many new products & increased the distribution network to cover the entire country. He positioned Sheenlac as a value-for-money brand with the highest standards of quality.

Today, Sheenlac employs over 700 employees across various manufacturing facilities and 27 branch offices. Sheenlac has been able to expand its market presence not just because of market potential but also because of its policy to empower people. Sudhir is a people’s person. He strongly believes in training and the creation of an “ownership mindset” among his employees.

THE VISION TO BE THE BEST

Sudhir has remained unfazed during difficult times by just continuing to focus on his goal. Under his inspirational leadership Sheenlac has emerged as a huge force to reckon with in the paint industry. Sheenlac is currently ranked among the top 5 paint companies in India. Over the past 50 years, Sheenlac has become synonymous with wood finishes, automotive and decorative paints in India. In his quest for growth, Sudhir was inspired to go for joint venture partnerships as it was very much in the direction of his overall vision for the organization. Sheenlac set foot in Sri Lanka with Sheenlac Paints Lanka Ltd. Today Exports are also made to the Middle East, Vietnam & Mauritius. This was followed by a joint venture
partnership with Noroo Coatings, Korea – making it the largest paint company in South India. Sheenlac has recently entered into another significant joint venture partnership
with Jenson & Nicholson (I) Ltd – India’s second oldest paint company, for marketing decorative paints.

Mr. Sudhir’s goal is to make Sheenlac the largest paint company in India. He believes innovative management practices will help in transforming the company. The credo of Sheenlac is “why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Sudhirpoints to his perseverance
and unflinching determination as the reasons behind hissuccess. Apart from being at the helm of affairs at Sheenlac, Sudhir Peter is associated with the Boards of many companies. He is also a philanthropist who is involved in various social service activities.

On Top of the World

Committed to impact as many lives and touch as many hearts as possible, Lion Dr. Kiron is such a dynamic personality that he leaves an ever-lasting impact on every mind he meets, so people look up to him for creating avenues where they can walk, and at the same time his personality is so subtle that it attracts everyone who meets him and gets familiar with his high-powered way of living

“Serving as Chief Executive Officer of Suchirindia Infratech (P) Limited, Dr. Kiron is popularly known as Lion Kiron because of his youthful and enthusiastic disposition”

A Farsighted Leader

In the year 2005, Dr. Kiron laid the foundation stone of an infrastructure company that is today one of the leading real estate brands in the industry – Suchirindia Infratech (P) Limited. The company headquartered in Hyderabad is building world-class projects in multiple sectors – railways (Infrastructure), affordable homes, luxury villas (Real Estate), and state-of-the-art theme resorts (Hospitality).

Under the farsighted leadership of Dr. Kiron, the company has grown to create a rich, vibrant and diverse range of portfolio of projects, experience, expertise and exposure in executing large projects, possessing the necessary skills and capabilities, and is uniquely placed to take up the challenges in future.

Serving as Chief Executive Officer of Suchirindia Infratech (P) Limited, Dr. Kiron is popularly known as Lion Kiron because of his youthful and enthusiastic disposition. Of course, his distinct attitude wins over everyone who meets him.

His attractive personality and diversified knowledge of the real estate sector has played a significant role in his company’s extraordinary success. Dr. Kiron calls his growth a case of metamorphosis where with every passing day he labored hard, and with a white heat of desire to make his dreams come true, he moved ahead overcoming any challenge that came his way through only self belief, dedication and sheer determination to succeed.

The Knight in Shining Armor

Through the window of his multi-storey office, he never misses the sight of small
poor children begging at an age when they should be growing themselves and acquiring knowledge that would help them lead a better life, and this has led him to establish a foundation that would care and help these children with food, education, nutrition and every other thing that a normal child wishes to have. Suchirindia Foundation is trengthening the lives in need by uplifting the soul-of-life through paving the path full of options while raising up to be transcended.

Dr. Kiron is also a wonderful writer and is fond of penning down his thoughts and experiences and believes that this helps him pass on the legacy. Some of his writings have successfully been printed as books and have been appreciated by a big bunch of readers.

And then, he might have his diary full of appointments and work, but Dr. Kiron does take out time to swing his golf club some time or the other. The sprawling lush green fields are a stress-buster for him, and he also likes to travel and horse ride, as he believes that fitness is an important element of life and to continue doing good for the society one needs to be fit. Thus, he makes sure that he burns some calories every morning in his personal gym.

A Dreamer & An Achiever

Firmly believing in the power of dreams, Lion Dr. Y. Kiron feels that to be an achiever tomorrow you need to be a dreamer today. His powerful achievements have been well recognized by the industry, and he has won several awards including the Hall of Fame Award from United States Martial Arts Academy, National Citizens Award, Rashtriya Ratan Award and many more; however, believing in a unique philosophy, he is quite humble and benevolent, and more than awards is keen on winning hearts.