Category: Leaders

COMMITTED TO NON-VIOLENCE

An author, speaker and renowned humanitarian, Ms. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee is known all over the world for promoting peace, solidarity and culture. Belonging to one of the finest lineages in the country, she is the grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi and carries a fine legacy of non-violence, peace and harmony with her. She has dedicated her life to Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti by propagating the life-mission and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi amongst different sections of society.

“BEING A SOURCE OF BREAD AND BEAUTY TO MILLIONS IN INDIA, A HAND-SPINNING WHEEL, THE CHARKHA, IS ALSO A MEDITATIONAL THERAPY. METAPHORICALLY AND LITERALLY, THE SUBJECT AND THE WORLD OF KHADI ARE INSEPARABLE FROM MY LIFE, SHE SAYS”

Ms. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee was born to the youngest son of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Devadas, and daughter-in-law, Lakshmi Gandhi – the daughter of India’s last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari – on 24 April, 1934. She was the eldest child of her parents, and her childhood was rife with some of the most momentous memories with Mahatma Gandhi. She fondly remembers being a part of his evening prayers in Delhi and even visiting him at the Aga Khan Palace where he was put under house arrest in 1942 for 21 months.

AN UNFORGETTABLE CHILDHOOD

The granddaughter of both Gandhiji and Rajaji, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee’s childhood was populated by freedom fighters and leaders, who laid the foundation for an independent India. She is 88 now, but there was a time when, as a sprightly little girl growing up in Delhi in the 1940s, she bore witness to World War II, the tumultuous run-up to India’s freedom, the country’s tragic partition, and Gandhiji’s assassination.

Ms. Bhattacharjee spent some quality time with her grandfather and was highly influenced by his efforts to end social disparities, his way of life, and his ideologies. Currently, an Honorable Trustee of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust (KGNMT), Ms. Bhattacharjee has dedicated her life to working for Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. She also works for rural women and children with the KGNMT set up by Mahatma Gandhi.

Ms. Bhattacharjee’s husband was eminent economist, the late Dr. Jyoti Prasad Bhattacharjee. Her daughter Sukanya Bharatram is married to Mr. Vivek Bharatram and they have a son Akshar Vidur Bharatram. Tara’s son Vinayak Bhattacharjee is married to Louise Versteegh and they have three daughters — India Ananya, Anoushka Lakshmi, and Andrea Tara.

Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee had the position of Vice-Chairperson of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti for nearly nine years. Gandhi Smriti is the site of the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi for truth and non-violence. She is also involved with Save the Ganga Movement, a Gandhian non-violent movement to protect rivers and the environment of the country.

WORKING FOR THE GREATER GOOD

For the last three decades, Ms. Bhattacharjee has been working with all devotion for the KGNMT, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in the memory of his wife. The trust is one of the oldest pre-independence, nongovernmental institutions serving the needy women and children of rural India. In 2019, she was appointed the chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi. In 2016, Ms. Bhattacharjee was decorated with one of France’s top honours, The Order of Arts and Letters for her contribution in promoting peace, solidarity, culture, education and development.

Ms. Bhattacharjee is a leader who stands apart on the principles and values she follows. Just like her grandfather, she is also a staunch supporter of non-violence. “Non-violence and peace are a celebration of our consciousness to honour life and creation. This celebration of our consciousness should be translated into the objective of a people’s movement for cleaning the human mind of violence and protecting the environment from pollution. This celebration is a universal message that goes beyond the social, political and religious divisions,” she says.

According to her, non-violence means much more than just the lack of violence. It is also action and introspection. Nonviolence is the courage of truth with love. It is the reawakening of the spirit in harmony with nature and the environment and all forms of life.

She also suggests one to understand Satyagrah, which is the quintessence of Gandhism. In a letter to Lord Hunter, Gandhiji explained Satyagrah to be a movement based entirely upon truth. It replaces every form of violence, direct and indirect, veiled and unveiled and whether in thought, word or deed. Satyagraha is for the strong in spirit. A non-believer or a timid person cannot follow it. And, to follow it, the most important training is mental not physical.

Ms. Bhattacharjee promotes Khadi fiercely. The handspun fabric that was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi is a symbol of growth and creation. “Being a source of bread and beauty to millions in India, a hand-spinning wheel, the Charkha, is also a meditational therapy. The world again needs to get acquainted with the fabulous texture of the handspun fabric and the hand-spinning wheel. I am unfolding the meaning of life and creation on the threads of Charkha. Metaphorically and literally, the subject and the world of khadi are inseparable from my life,” says Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee..

She has penned down some vivid and inspirational moments from her childhood in her book – Reflections of an Extraordinary Era that she published a few years ago. The book is an inspirational and vivid behind-the-scenes biography of the Gandhi family and the commotion of India’s independence. In the book, the author recollects Bapu’s evening prayers in Delhi, visiting him at the Aga Khan Palace, and later meeting him in Shimla during her school break. Inspiring and heart-warming, the book presents small but priceless memories of Gandhiji’s illustrious life, from Satyagrah to his efforts to end social disparities at Harijan Ashram, kindness towards those visiting him for advice, and his life as a family man.

LEADING A NO-FUSS LIFESTYLE

To be an inspirational leader, one has to be grounded and in touch with their inner self all the time. Ms. Bhattacharjee is very clear on how she wants to spend her time and what she wants to give attention to. Her lifestyle is truly inspiring and one can learn a thing or two about mindful living from her.

She gives a lot of importance to a good night’s sleep. “It helps you to be energetic and positive in the morning,” she says. As soon as she wakes up, she avoids any gadgets or even the newspaper. She says that it is best to avoid any negative or chaotic thoughts to enter your mind first thing in the morning. Instead, she starts her day with some positive affirmations and setting the tone for the day. She also likes to call an old friend in the morning to get some positive vibes through a good conversation. “Finish difficult tasks in the morning and give proper nourishment to your body every day,” she adds. As for her tips for leading a mindful life, all she has to say is that one should keep searching for peace of mind. Never deplete your energy with negative thoughts and give the mind lots of uncluttered moments. “A mind free of fear, free of clutter is an energetic mind,” she underlines. As a life lesson and people who worship Mahatma Gandhi, Ms. Bhattacharjee always says that one should keep Gandhiji in their conscience. She urges people to read his writings to understand him best and then follow his principles. She is hopeful in today’s youth, who question the norm and search for Gandhian thoughts.

Starting his career in 1961 on the shop floor of Tata Steel, shovelling limestone and handling the blast furnace, he was made the Chairman of Tata Sons by JRD Tata in 1991. Under his stewardship, Tata Tea acquired Tetley, Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel acquired Corus transforming the Tata Group into a global business house, whose 65% revenues come from abroad. His role was also prime in the development of the world’s cheapest passenger car, Tata Nano. His vision and trust in the young and promising business leaders was conspicuous when he invested his personal savings in Snapdeal – one of India’s leading e-Commerce websites.

ACQUISITIONS AND AWARDS

During his tenure, the group’s revenues grew manifold, totalling over $100 billion in 2011–12. Even after retirement in 2012 on his 75th birthday, he remains super-involved through various memberships and affiliations, including chairmanship emeritus of Tata Sons, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Council of Management of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; and membership of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry and the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council. He serves on the board of trustees of Cornell University and University of Southern California, on the board of directors of Alcoa Inc., and on the international advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation, JP Morgan Chase, Rolls-Royce, Temasek Holdings and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He has received Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and Padma Bhushan in 2000 – the second- and third-highest civilian honours awarded by the Government of India.

HUMBLE DISPOSITION

Ratan Tata was generally considered by the top business leaders of the country, the flag bearer of international dreams of India Inc. when he was at the helm of affairs at the Tata Group. However, he always found the fact “awkward to acknowledge”.

Those who know him closely wouldn’t be surprised by his down-to-earth attitude, as he is a very private person. However, when it came to colossal or seemingly impossible business targets, he made them appear simple and without the usual corporate struggles.

In the 16 years he was leading the Tata Group, he transformed the disjointed group into a cohesive global organization and increased the net worth of the organization from Rs. 13,000 crore to Rs. 129,994 crore.

IMPRESSIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE

Ratan Tata is a skillful leader and a man of ideas. In his typical high “dare quotient” style, he is recognized for increasing the competitiveness of the Group, going global with acute wisdom, and aggressively acquiring in cross-border deals, without compromising on the ethics of the Group.

He is part of the Tata legacy, but has carved a commanding height of his own.

He successfully filled JRD Tata’s shoes and proved himself another worthy legend in the Indian business community.

Dr. Habil Khorakiwala is a visionary who saw much ahead of his times what others couldn’t even visualize, and invested in research in antibiotics strongly convinced that it would not only bring huge commercial success, but more importantly would also lead to everlasting good of humankind.

Thus, he set out at a very early age to establish Wockhardt as a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology organization, providing affordable, high quality medicines for a healthier world. As no pharmaceutical and biotechnology organization would go the distance and stay the course without robust research and development, Dr. Khorakiwala industriously built it brick-by-brick to mould it as India’s leading research-based global healthcare enterprise with relevance in the fields of Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and a chain of advanced Super Speciality Hospitals.

He shares, “The secret to success in research is no different from the secret of success in business. One sees what everyone sees. But, one must imagine what no one else does. It is all in the mind. We have made a commitment to humanity that with our drug discovery programme, we will save millions of lives worldwide.”

AMBITIOUS DREAMS OF A YOUNG MIND

Drawing from the entrepreneurial spirit of his grandfather and father – who migrated from Palanpur in Gujarat, India to establish businesses in Mumbai as they wanted to make a mark in Mumbai convinced that in the future Mumbai would make its mark in the world – Dr. Khorakiwala joined his father’s company in 1966, Worli Chemical Works, and helped him turn it around when it was on the verge of closure.

Earlier, deciding to seek a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at the age of 17 in 1959, which obviously made his father happy as he had just bought Worli Chemical Works, Dr. Khorakiwala enrolled himself in the L.M. College of Pharmacy in Ahmedabad, and later took admission in the Master of Science course in Pharmacy at Purdue University in the US.

He reminisces, “I was all of twenty-four when I completed my Master’s programme at Purdue and returned home. As soon as I got back, I immersed myself in work, joining my father’s company. It provided a good training ground.”

ON TO BIGGER THINGS

Years passed, and several important changes took place in Dr. Khorakiwala’s professional life. In 1972, he suggested to move their manufacturing facilities to Aurangabad, as the Government had decided to promote it as a destination for new businesses.

In 1973, Worli Chemical Works was registered as Wockhardt Private Limited and by 1976 the business was finally shifted to Aurangabad, giving way to the beginning of a new phase for Dr. Khorakiwala. The Government of the time had enacted the India Patents Act, 1970, which came into effect in April 1972. While the pharmaceutical industry considered the provisions of the Patents Act a mixed bag, Dr. Khorakiwala felt that the new law also gave a boost to domestic manufacturing of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

He shares, “It was clear to me that we had to adopt a more aggressive approach to growing our business given the opportunity being provided. I knew the current structure of production and sales would not last for too long. We were at the cusp of change and Wockhardt had to ride the new wave.”

Eager to innovate and expand, he decided to manufacture nutritional and healthcare products, which was also a first in the industry. Dr. Khorakiwala reminisces, “No pharma company had till then entered this segment of the food industry. There were companies in the nutrition business and there were companies in the pharma business. I viewed both as being part of a common healthcare products industry. We launched a baby food brand, Dexolac, and then we bought a popular brand, Farex, from Glaxo. Marketing baby foods also gave us experience in the marketing of branded products. But I would always insist that we adhere to a strictly ethical route in the marketing of baby foods.”

CONSISTENT GROWTH

The 1980s proved to be a decade of growth for Dr. Khorakiwala, as in 1979 his manufacturing facility at Chikalthana in Aurangabad became operational and With the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas of January 2003, Indian companies were allowed to make overseas investments up to 100% of their net worth, and within a few months Dr. Khorakiwala acquired the UK based CP Pharmaceuticals. However, much before that in 1998, Wockhardt had already become the first Indian pharmaceutical company to buy a British pharma company by acquiring Wallis Laboratories. Later, he acquired Morton Grove in the US and Pinewood in Ireland.

Building on Wockhardt’s strengths in areas beyond its existing synthetic, chemistry-based pharmaceutical business, Dr. Khorakiwala explored, entered and expanded operations in a range of new areas. By 2008, he was operating the second-largest private hospital chain after Apollo Hospitals.

Zealously working on approval of new chemical entities, he has initiated several Phase III clinical trials in the US and Europe – having completed Phase I & Phase II studies – which are likely to be completed he also registered Wockhardt Synchem Private Limited, manufacturing bulk drugs at Ankleshwar in Gujarat. In 1983, he established Wockhardt Hitech Laboratories Private Limited, manufacturing nutritive foods at Kalol in Gujarat. In 1989, he diversified into medical services business and opened a day care OPD centre in Kolkata, and then next year followed it up with a super speciality hospital in Bangalore, the Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute. This was followed by the incorporation of Wockhardt International Limited for importing and exporting pharmaceutical products.

With the onset of New Economic Policy of 1991 and then the SEBI Act of 1992, he announced his decision to go public, and by December 5 managed to raise INR 675 million, while aiming for INR 580 million. Wockhardt became the first pharma company in India to go in for a public issue after the liberalization in 1991. With a robust performance, between June 1989 and June 1993 Wockhardt’s income had risen by 187% and profits before tax had grown by 385%. and approved by end 2020 or early 2021.

BACK TO THE SOCIETY

Dr. Khorakiwala established Wockhardt Foundation in 2008, which employs modern business practices. Through its flagship programme, Mobile 1000, it aims at operating a thousand mobile health vans in rural India, administering free primary healthcare to 25 million Indians every year.

Through its Pronto Toilets programme, it aims to construct more than 60,000 household toilets in Odisha. Other initiatives include health centres, Little Hearts, Pronto Bio Toilets, e-learning, Khel Khel Mein, the Wockhardt Skills Development Institute, SHUDHU water purification tablets, the Swachh the Bharat recycle machine and the Adarsh Gram Yojna.

An ever-optimist, Dr. Khorakiwala exhorts his fellow entrepreneurs and Indians, “We are on the threshold of a new phase in the development of the Indian pharmaceutical industry. For the Indian pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, the best is yet to come!”

The above-mentioned stunning genius, today, is best known as the Co-founder of Facebook. He is also one of the richest persons, an Internet entrepreneur, an economist and an angel investor.

BORN TO BE BIG

Born in 1982 in Sao Paulo, Brazil to a wealthy Jewish Brazilian family, he went to Harvard University in 2006 and graduated in Economics (Honors). His father Roberto Saverin has several businesses in clothing, shipping and real estate, and his mother, Paula, works as a psychologist.

Savvy, adaptable, and inherently strategic, Eduardo is considered the force that really made Facebook get off the ground, as he established Facebook’s first income-generating partnerships with Apple, Paramount Pictures, and others, as the first investor to put his money in the venture. He later worked as Co-founder, Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager of Facebook.

Currently, he makes seed, early-stage and growth technology investments as an angel investor and mentors a variety of companies from all parts of the world.

THE BILLION DOLLAR STORY

Eduardo made a friendship with Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University and as both of them realized that a dedicated social networking website for Harvard students was lacking, together they created and launched TheFacebook.com in February 2004 with Eduardo taking care of the servers. Within three months, by April 2004, based on Facebook’s exponential success, Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin and the third co-founder – Dustin Muskovitz, established a full-fledged limited liability company under Florida law, by the name The Facebook. Just two months later, by June 2004, Harvard had accepted that thefacebook.com had achieved unprecedented popularity.

Later, Eduardo went to New York for an internship at Lehman Brothers and launched another start-up – a job boards site called Joboozle.

THE MAGNIFICENCE CONTINUES

Being one of the richest in the world, the humble Eduardo credits his grandparents for being his inspiration in life. He is proud of the fact that, “All of us, always, ended up doing something.” He married Elaine Andriejanssen in June 2015, whom he met while he was a student at Harvard. She also has several businesses in Massachusetts.

With the legacy of being a Co-founder of Facebook, Eduardo further launched an impressive business of assisting startups through angel investing, his business base being in Southeast Asia. Though Eduardo likes to play safe on his investments, the interest of his investments has majorly been Asian tech companies as he has made about 20 personal investments in tech startups, which include Hampton Creek – a fraught egg-free-mayonnaise company, Orami – a female-focused e-commerce company, Redmart – a Singapore-based online retailer, etc. His other investments include Flightcar – a company that lets people who park at the airport rent their cars out to other travelers, and Silvercar – a company that only rents out silver Audi A4s.

The best thing about him is that he knows deep in his heart: “I’ve done it before; I can do it again”.

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.”

Turning ‘Startup India’ into Reality

An MBA and a renowned pioneer in Affiliate Marketing across India, Mr. L. D. Sharma is the Founder, Managing Director and the CEO of Optimise Media Group in India. A great admirer of the ‘Startup India Program’ flagged by PM Narendra Modi, he has supported a large number of network businesses to promote digital marketing in India and abroad.

“he supervises and manages thousands of affiliate websites and voucher-coupons in more than 25 countries”

Foreseeing the immense potential of digital businesses and as an angel investor, Mr. Sharma founded Shoogloo Group and Simouri Group and invested large sums of capital in these companies. He also played a significant role in promoting a large number of digital
marketing enterprises, namely, Flinto Box, Brown tape, Poster Gully, Docs App, Omnify, Air Stream, and Tiny Surprise among others. By virtue of his exceptional hold on the digital technology business, Mr. Sharma has been a valuable board member in many Indian and UK-based companies. His zest and vision to train greenhorns in internet marketing are focused on amplifying the sales from affiliate marketing programs. Presently, Mr. Sharma supervises and manages thousands of affiliate websites and voucher-coupons in more than 25 countries. Courtesy his resolute entrepreneurial outlook, Optimise Media Group is ranked as India’s number one affiliate networks in terms of quality of service and reliability.

Making His Way To The Top

Hailing from a financially marginalised and middle-class family in a little-known village of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Sharma is a self-made man who rose from the ashes like a phoenix and miraculously raised his socio-economic stature from a situation where his father was unable even to afford his academic expenses beyond class fifth. After serving in the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers for six years, Mr. Sharma, entered the world of business by opening a trading company L & P Associates in 1998-99; this was followed by his own travel agency, Bhardwaj Travel Services. Floated in India by Mr. Sharma in 2007, Shoogloo Group for affiliate networking was setup in the UK and France with the purpose of providing top quality internet traffic services to clients in travel domain and use mobile and web-b ased platforms for customer engagement and incentivised schemes such as cash back offers and reward marketing. Mr. Sharma also partnered with the British billionaire businessman Mr. John Robert Porter of Sapphire to setup more than fifty plus affiliate portals which included well- known names such as Make My Trip, Yatra, FernsNPetals, etc. As one of the founders and directors of DGM India, and the affiliate marketing product supplier at the Sirmouri Group, Mr. Sharma also spearheads end-to-end digital services for prominent business organizations like Expedia, Ali Express, Amazon, Agoda and others.

Multitalented Personality

He is an active sportsperson who participates in every car rally. He is, at present, the President of football association of Sirmour and supports the team morally and financially. Besides being a canine lover, he has also been engaged in research on ’Universal Mind’ and Consciousness through deep meditation. He partakes in social endeavors quite actively. Recently, he organized a blood donation camp in Sirmour, his native district. In another event organized by him to honour martyr Rotam Lal, he contributed for the development of Rotam Lal Memorial Club.

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.