Category: Leaders

CONNECTING EVERYONE

Mr. Fernandes is the CEO of the Air Asia Group, a low-cost airline that operates scheduled domestic and international flights to more than 165 destinations in 25 countries. A graduate from the London School of Economics, he is currently the member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He always had a dream of owning an airline because he believed that airlines connected people. Thus, he planned to make connecting more convenient for them. Son of an ingenious businesswoman, he saw innovative business ideas being discussed and executed at close quarters. The concept of establishing Air Asia originated when he felt that people in South-East Asia like to travel in a budget-friendly way. His aim was to set up a low-cost airline so that everyone can fly at affordable fares.

With a goal to build a low-cost carrier that would make air travel cheaper for an ordinary person, Tony along with his business partner Kamaruddin Meranun took over Air Asia in 2001 Mr. Fernandes mortgaged his home and used his personal savings to acquire the company that comprised two Boeing 737-300 jet aircrafts and debt of US$11 million. But his precise acumen towards handling the operations of the airline helped clear all the debts within a year and the airline touched the break-even point. Soon it expanded throughout the continent as its affiliate airlines Thai Air Asia, Indonesia Air Asia, Philippines Air Asia and Air Asia India started serving a large number of passengers. The unique tagline of Air Asia “now everyone can fly” indicates the low fares that enable middle-class to travel by air and connectivity to places that were earlier not well-connected aerially. Mr. Fernandes’ biggest achievement has been to open up countries within the South-Asian region, which previously did not have open-skies agreements, to new budget carriers. He has always focused on reaching out to the remotest parts of the planet in order to connect these with the rest of the world.

TURNING THE DREAMS TO TRAVEL INTO REALITY

While establishing the airline, Fernandes’ vision was to make air travel affordable for everyone as he was well aware of the fact that that people want the best prices for the tickets and unbeatable airfare deals that can help them in maintaining their travel budget. So he came up with a unique and bold idea of providing discounted airfares that can let the passengers travel anywhere, anytime without burning a hole in their pocket. It also allowed them to book a last-minute flight without caring about the ticket prices as the airline started offering plenty of lucrative offers to its customers. Through its attractive offers and smooth booking process, the airline has become a one -stop destination to explore, dream and venture to new places and cultures and turning the commoner’s dreams to travel by air into reality.

He has a multifaceted personality and is an expert in handling various operations with utmost dexterity. Tune Hotels, a hotel chain based on the no frills concept having its presence in Britain, Australia and the far-east was the brainchild of Mr. Fernandes. He won the Asia House Asian Business Leaders Award 2017, which is issued annually by Asia House, the Londonbased Centre of Expertise on Asia, to recognise outstanding contribution to Asian business and society. He was honoured for AirAsia’s success and his ‘championing’ of ASEAN.

A BOOK THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE

The development of the most beautiful residential, recreational, and commercial structures in Thailand and South East Asia marks the experiential journey of the man whose life changed all of a sudden when he came across a book, “The Secret: Law of Attraction.”

Mr. Pira’s personal life has been a great struggle. After the demise of his grandfather, Mr. Pira’s financial condition turned completely disastrous, post which he decided to moved to Thailand from Stockholm, Sweden, on the recommendation of a booking agent. With a one-way ticket, he decided to start life afresh with no clue of where he would land up.

FROM BEING HOMELESS TO PROVIDING SHELTER

In his 20s, Mr. Pira was homeless and had to spend nights at a beach in Phuket; that was the turning point of his life. One of his friends offered him the book ‘The Secret: Law of Attraction’ while he asked to borrow some money from him; this was the book that became a savior and converted the 20-year-old homeless boy into a 30-year-old real estate tycoon. Reading through the book, he realised that nothing comes to you until you work towards your goals and start manifesting what you desire.

With complete determination, Mr. Andres Pira started focusing on how to be skilled enough to attract wealth, as it is not something that comes easy or given out of charity. As a marketing executive to a real estate developer in Thailand, the ace learned the respective skills and became a shelter provider himself.

OWNS A DISCERNING EYE

Being a struggler throughout his life, Mr. Pira has managed to develop a keen eye for detail. He never fails to focus even on the minutest things that he comes across. From the quality of the structure that is being developed to hunting for the right people to trust on with the business, he emphasizes on every important aspect that makes his team nothing but the best. He is ever-ready to identify and address the shortcomings, as and when they come into the notice.

His clarity is what makes the principles he shares with the people across the globe so much more relatable. The leader has gone through so many unanticipated losses that he is no more scared of taking risks. However, he always recommends taking calculated risks to survive, even if the worst situations occur.

A READER-CUM-WRITER

Today, he is not only the man behind the attractive and luxury recreational centres across the world’s best beaches but also an influencer who inspires the youth by sharing his wealth-attraction principles around the world. In this way, he has been helping the younger generation with high aspirations to proceed towards the achievement of their goals.

He has authored a book titled “Homeless to Billionaire – The 18 Principles of Wealth Attraction and Creating Unlimited Opportunity” in which he offers practical tips to handle successes and failures. His strategies to attract positive vibrations have been universally appreciated and have been found quite effective. Through his book, he has succeeded in inculcating the feeling of optimism in readers across the globe.

After capturing the real estate sector in Thailand and Southeast Asian nations, he is all set to expand his group of companies to other beach locations beyond Phuket. According to his latest revelation, the next destinations that Blue Horizon Developments is planning to target include Bangkok, Krabi, and Samui.

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, and 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, and Dinara Safina. Her powerful strokes and effective style of playing made Sania one of the highest paid and 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 for numerous other sportspersons who wish to join her league.

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 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 determination and passion for the sport. While 2007 was the golden year for the tennis player as she was ranked the highest in her career as 27th singles player in the world; the year 2008 brought a brief halt to the professional 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, including the French Open and the US Open Grand Slams. Although it was a major injury, she didn’t stop and 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’. She was appointed as the UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador at the ‘International Day to End Violence Against Women’ awareness event in November 2013. Time magazine listed her as one of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ in 2016.

Having played the singles, doubles and mixed doubles formats, Sania Mirza 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.

All dreams are made of a magical concoction whose ingredients comprise passion, grit and an insurmountable determination to work hard and win against all odds. Sajjan Jindal inherited this magical concoction and chiseling his dreams, developed one of India’s leading business houses, with a workforce of over 40,000. Diversifying his Group gradually to master other verticals, he forayed into cement, infrastructure, energy and so on, with a dream to help build a new nation.

Leading India’s largest private steel producer, Sajjan Jindal has displayed mettle of steel as he has guided JSW Steel through the strategic tie-up with the world’s sixthlargest and Japan’s second-largest steel producer JFE Steel.

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

He and his brothers, Prithviraj, Ratan and Naveen, each run their own businesses that were primarily inherited from their father. Married to Sangita Jindal, who is the Chairperson of JSW Foundation, they have two daughters, Tarini and Tanvi, and a son, Parth.

He holds B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore being affiliated from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, Karnataka. Joining the family business right after his graduation, he moved to Mumbai to look after the western region operations of O.P. Jindal Group in 1983. He promoted Jindal Iron and Steel Company Ltd. (JISCO), for manufacturing of Cold Rolled and Galvanized Sheet Products in 1989, promoted Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Ltd. (JVSL), JSW Energy Ltd. (JSWEL), Jindal Praxiar Oxygen Ltd. (JPOCL) and Vijaynagar Minerals Private Ltd. (VMPL) to ensure complete integration of the manufacturing progress in 1995. In 2005, he merged JISCO and JVSL to form JSW Steel; their holdings group has the same name, JSW.

Helping India Grow

Commanding one of India’s fastest growing conglomerates, JSW Group which is a USD 13 billion company and an integral part of the O. P. Jindal Group, Sajjan Jindal has developed some of the major projects in India and has played a key role in nation building.

He asserts, “We pursue growth zealously. In the face of all challenges, the most effective way to overcome them was to grow. Faster than the market, bigger than the competition.”

Guiding JSW to become one of India’s top business houses, his innovative and sustainable ideas have helped all verticals of the Group: Steel, Energy, Cement and Infrastructure. Believing in creating values of the highest order, he has invariably focused on creating superior strength of products & services, a differentiated product mix, state-of-the-art technology, and then excellence in execution and focus on sustainability for assured success and growth.

Like all great leaders, he too initiated with small steps and a humble beginning in the steel sector of India; however, with consistent efforts guided his Group to expand its presence across India, South America, South Africa and Europe.

He reminisces, “Big rewards never came without the big risks. But not reckless ones! We had the remarkable ability to take measured but worthwhile risks, to go down uncharted territory knowing very well what could go wrong – and being prepared for it!”

Under his charismatic leadership, JSW has always been the strategic first mover to venture away from status quo, have the conviction to make fundamental changes and drive operational excellence on its quest to become better every day.

He shares, “Bettering ourselves helps us make ‘better’ happen for everyone else. We help ‘better’ happen for all the lives we touch – that means our employees, our business associates, our customers and the communities around the plants and facilities and the industry fraternity at large.” Learning immensely from his parents, as he is a secondgeneration entrepreneur, and having already proved himself as an accomplished business leader, Sajjan Jindal has been instrumental in building national infrastructure in sync with national philosophy of growth.

Firmly believing in the Make in India philosophy, he has taken care that JSW should not be recognized as a mere billion-dollar conglomerate, but should develop as a mark of trust and quality that millions of customers around the world depend on, and all stakeholders and the citizens of India must understand that it is a responsible partner in India’s progress.

Deserving Recognitions & Responsibilities

He has received the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award for his contribution to the steel industry, the Outstanding Business Leader of the year 2018 award, CEO of the Year award, JRD Tata Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership in Metallurgical industry, National Metallurgist Award in Industry category instituted by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, Best CEO award, and several other prestigious national and international awards.

An ex-President of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), he is a renowned and respected practitioner of sustainable business practices, and holds several other prestigious positions such as Member of the Executive Committee of the World Steel Association (WSA), President of Indian Steel Association (ISA), Council Member of the Indian
Institute of Metals, as well as the former President of the Institute of Steel Development & Growth (INSDAG).

Offering Back to the Society

Taking an active interest in CSR projects, Sajjan Jindal has ensured to participate in and initiate activities that assist in improving those areas of India that lack resources. Together with his better half, Sangita Jindal, he has committedly given back to the society in his bid to improve as many lives as possible through the JSW Foundation, focusing on providing the means to empower individuals to bridge the socio-economic divide and contribute to the creation of a more equitable and sustainable community. The Foundation is proud to have touched the lives of over 1 million people by providing them with opportunities for a bright and sustainable future.

Bringing positive transformation to every life his Group or his Foundation touches, he is building, then transforming and then earnestly giving back. Following his personal philosophy, his Group’s every activity is centered on building something new or bettering something that already exists.

Always eager to act beyond just business responsibilities, or fulfilling customer obligations, his professional and personal actions unfailingly positively impact the lives of his business associates, his customers, his employees, and, of course, the communities that he serves through his Group and the Foundation, and then the nations in which he operates.

These are extraordinary achievements when seen in the light of his efforts which are remarkably targeted towards prosperity of the society by building world-class infrastructure, creating inventive solutions, deploying world-class capabilities, and empowering people.

Born to Shantilal and Shantaben Adani – who had migrated from the town of Tharad in the northern part of Gujarat – Gautam Adani has seven siblings. His father was a textile merchant.

Gautam Adani was keen on starting his own business, so after studying at Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya in Ahmedabad he took admission for a BCom degree in Gujarat University, but dropped out after the second year, and instead of joining his father’s textile business, travelled to Mumbai in 1978 to work as a diamond sorter for Mahendra Brothers.

Learning the craft and the secrets of the trade, he wasted no time and after 2 to 3 years established his own diamond brokerage firm at Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai. However, holding a white heat of desire in his heart to grow, succeed and do something even bigger, he joined his elder brother Mansukhbhai Adani in 1981 to manage the operations of a plastics unit in Ahmedabad, recently bought by Mansukhbhai. This venture turned out to be Gautam Adani’s gateway to global trading through polyvinyl chloride (PVC) imports. Growing rapidly, by 1985 Gautam Adani started importing primary polymers for small-scale industries. Success came naturally because of his consistent and ingenious efforts, and in 1988, he established Adani Exports Limited, which is currently known as Adani Enterprises Limited and which is the holding company of the Adani Group. Adani Exports started with exports of agricultural and power commodities, and as due to the economic liberalization in 1991 trading and exporting became favorable for his company, he diversified and expanded his businesses into trading of metals, textiles and agro products.

Then, it happened which catapulted Adani Group into unprecedented global success, recognition and respect. In 1993, the Government of Gujarat announced managerial outsourcing of the Mundra Port and in 1995, Gautam Adani bagged the contract. The same year, he set up the first jetty, and began port functions from the Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone; later shifting them to Adani Ports & SEZ Limited (APSEZ). Initially, Gautam Adani took approval from the Gujarat government to set up a harbor facility to handle its own cargo at Mundra Port; however, sensing the potential in the project, he decided to turn it into a commercial port, and built rail and road links to it by individually negotiating with more than 500 landowners across India.

Growing consistently, Adani Ports & SEZ Limited has become the largest private multi-port operator in India, and Mundra Port is the largest private sector port in India, with the capacity of handling close to 210 million tons of cargo per annum.

In the meantime, Gautam Adani focused on developing other verticals and in 1996 itself, founded Adani Power Limited – the power business arm of the Adani Group, and generated success in all verticals together. Holding thermal power plants with a capacity of 4620 MW, Adani Power Limited is the largest private thermal power producer of the country. It is also India’s largest closely held thermal coal producer and the largest coal trader.

Entering the power generation business in 2006, he acquired Carmichael Coal in Queensland and Abbot Point Port in Australia. In 2018, he completed the acquisition of the power business of Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure in Mumbai. He has also entered the petrochemicals sector in a USD 2.6 billion joint venture with Germany’s BASF and has also won bids to run 6 domestic airports.

Peerless Entrepreneurial Vision

Rapidly succeeding as one of the fastest-growing professionally owned enterprises in India, while maintaining world-class quality standards and a customer-focused approach, Adani Group had reached a milestone of more than INR 250 billion by 2009 itself, in just two decades, and in the process, had also become one of India’s most trusted and diversified trading houses.

Known for quickly taking decisions and believing in fast growth, Gautam Adani asserts, “If you analyse a problem too much, you will never tap the opportunity”. Today, the Adani Group has diversified into more than 50 companies dealing in resources, logistics, energy, agriculture, defence, aerospace, real estate, ports, special economic zones, IT-enabled services and several more, while its core businesses include commodities trading, edible oil manufacturing, Mundra port operations and distribution of natural gas.

A special pattern visible in Adani Group’s expansion is the synergy among its business units with which they stay together and make each other more productive and competitive. The Group emphasizes on converting partnerships into winning relationships and is committed to satisfy its stakeholders by constantly delivering good returns. Ranked as the 4th most powerful person in India, his net worth is estimated to be around USD 11.6 billion as of July 2019.

He shares, “The macroeconomics of India have never looked stronger and our continued investment has been driven by our confidence that over the next two decades, India will easily be one of the Top 5 largest nations in the world fuelled by the demand of its own population and energised by the sheer potential of a young workforce unparalleled anywhere else in the world.”

Rewards & Recognitions

Gautam Adani has led the Adani Group to several prestigious national and international awards and honors for its corporate performance, and has bagged numerous awards himself for his professional commitment, entrepreneurial success and unique vision. Adani Group has received the Dun & Bradstreet – Rolta Corporate Award for outstanding performance in Trading, the Five Star Export House award, the FIEO’s Niryat Shree Gold Trophy, the ICSI award for Excellence in Corporate Governance, the GCCI Export Appreciation Award, the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS) for compliance by Ministry of Shipping Govt. of India, the SRTEPC award, etc. Its Mundra Port and SEZ has been awarded the Port
Authority Award by Lloyd’s List for the Best Port in Middle East and Indian subcontinent. Gautam Adani himself has been honoured with the Excellence in Management Award by Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Offering Back to the Society

Gautam Adani is the President of the Adani Foundation, and together with his wife Priti Adani, has been leading it passionately and ingeniously. Founded in 1996 as the corporate social responsibility arm of the Adani Group, it works in the spheres of education, community health, medical aid, rural infrastructure management & development, sustainable livelihood management and charitable initiatives not only in Gujarat, but also in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The Foundation initially worked with a few rural communities around the Adani port at Mundra, and gradually developing a team of committed professionals who have been painstakingly planning and implementing developmental and growth programmes in rural communities, it has enabled holistic development of several communities it has worked with. The Foundation follows a participatory approach to ensure a sense of ownership for the services it provides and the community wealth it creates, and through institutional and individual grants for education and medical relief has brought about tangible changes in the lives of rural communities.

A STORY OF GROWTH

Armed with self-confidence and the support of some of his patrons, Mr. Reddy started Shathabdhi Townships way back in 2008 at Hyderabad. Ever since, he has achieved many milestones of success and set an example for others with entrepreneurial aspirations. Under his able leadership and supervision, the company has completed six projects including Suvidha, Magadha, Shathabhdi Valley and Sampada. The high standard of quality Mr. Reddy has maintained in each of these projects has not only attracted more buyers but also helped him earn the trust of his clients in a short span of time.

Another defining feature of Shathabdhi Townships is its success in always adhering to project completion timelines. Right from the identification of land to handing over the completed project, the company takes pride in providing 360-degree real estate solutions. A talented strategist, Mr. Reddy carefully oversees several aspects of planning and construction like the effective utilization of funds and efficient management of various teams in order to deliver quality projects.

A VISIONARY PAR EXCELLENCE

Mr. Reddy is a pioneer in conceiving and implementing modern real estate projects that are innovative in design and adhere to superior construction standards. He takes immense pride in fulfilling the dreams of many individuals through his affordable yet aesthetically designed residential housing projects.

With his innovative real estate offerings, unparalleled professionalism and unwavering focus on quality, Mr. Reddy has carved a distinct identity for himself and his company in the highly competitive real estate sector. He leaves no stone unturned in making each project a centrepiece in its category.

By following the best practices, Shathabdhi Townships works towards maximizing value for all its stakeholders. Its ISO 9001-2015 certification reveals the company’s emphasis on quality management, which in turn reflects a deeper commitment to its clients.

HALLMARK OF QUALITY

After demonstrating his capability in leading Shathabdhi Townships to become a prominent developer of highend residential projects, Mr. Reddy has now forayed into low-cost and affordable housing.

Mr. Reddy has also been credited with introducing quality checks into every aspect of the project, be it the procurement process, HR practices, sales and marketing or customer relations. He has been instrumental in redefining the core business processes together with promoting a disciplined work culture as well as planning and utilizing stateof-the-art technology to create the best living solutions for his clients.

Through his operational brilliance and strong project execution skills, Mr. Reddy has boosted the financial health of Shathabdhi Townships. By developing advanced and better residential ecosystems that exert a pull on homebuyers, the firm continues to address the growing need for sustainable infrastructure development. Its mantra of creating affordable and quality housing solutions through sustainable means has propelled it towards success. With an eye on the future, Mr. Reddy works towards providing verdant and modern townships to ensure a safe, active, and comfortable living for all his clients. He plans to achieve this by prioritizing needs over trends, quality over quantity and more importantly, people over profit margins.

Till a few decades ago, not many women joined the legal profession. Those who did had to claw their ways to success and it is still true to some extent. Though, the situation has improved over the years, law is still considered a male-dominated profession.

A Towering Personality

Against all odds, Ms. Prasad, being a powerhouse of confidence and optimism, has become a predominant name in the legal profession. Apart from being a prominent lawyer and mediator, she is also a successful entrepreneur running one of India’s most eminent law firms. For the past two decades, her passion for righteous justice has been the biggest factor for her steady rise in the legal field.

Glorious Achievements

When Ms. Prasad started her journey, she did not have a huge backing or much support on her side. But, these hurdles and criticism amplified her desire to succeed as a lawyer. Fervour coupled with hard work made her dreams possible and helped position her as one of the celebrated experts of her field. She practices in the Supreme Court of India, Indian High Courts, Districts Courts and other Judicial Forums and Tribunals and also plays her part in the Royal Court of London (UK) and Wolverhampton Court (Sydney, Australia). With a mediation degree from a reputed US-based institute, she is adept in arbitration and dispute resolution and is one of the best mediators in the country. As a founder of a rapidly growing law form – C & V Associates – and a member of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), she also has an excellent reputation among the NRIs.

Disciplinary Teamwork

Under Ms. Prasad’s guidance, C & V Associates makes strides efficiently and with strong attributes like teamwork, attention to details, and client-centric approach. She readily connects with the clients and gains a deep understanding of the clients’ business to offer practical solutions and advice to any predicament. As a mentor and a companion, she values the input of her team members and encourages them to work independently, holding their hand only when required. Ms. Prasad is a perpetual source of positivity and enthusiasm in the work environment. She considers her team as a second family and doesn’t hesitate to extend her support.

A Champion of Women’s Rights

Ms. Prasad takes up women’s issues with great passion. The cause of women empowerment is very close to her heart and through Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) and the Bar Council of Delhi, she is actively involved in providing education regarding women’s rights. She specialises in dealing with matrimonial disputes and also battles against social issues such as dowry disputes, domestic violence and gender discrimination. She believes mediation and arbitration are good routes to resolve marital issues in a fair manner. She also provides legal assistance to the destitute women and mentors her team to handle CSR cases as well.

She is at times more than a lawyer for her clients and she becomes a friend and a guide for a client who is emotionally disturbed. She provides mental strength to them and helps them gain confidence. Not only a stalwart in her profession, but she is also an amazing role model. Breaking the social stereotypes imposed on a woman’s career choices, Ms. Prasad has proved to be a leader with an outstanding ability to bring new ideas of litigation strategy and business practices to the fore and transform the workings of the industry.

She envisions a world where women are provided with equal opportunities to chase their dreams. A champion of women’s rights, she is consistently working hard to empower women around her.

An accomplished specialist in the field of Obgyn care, Dr. Hema Divakar, Medical Director at the Divakars Specialty Hospital in Bangalore has developed her organization as a center of excellence for women’s healthcare and also a center for Skill Enhancement. She is also the CEO and Chairman of ARTIST – Asian Research and Training Institute for Skill Transfer – with research and capacity building activities through onsite and digital platforms.

She is a leading medical professional of India with a vision to improve the healthcare services ecosystem for the welfare of women. She has, over the last three decades, been a game changer in healthcare, establishing new benchmarks, standards and touching women’s lives in the process.

Before initiating her professional journey and then during the course, Dr. Hema has gained several academic achievements such as a Masters in Alternative Medicine, an MD from Wadia Maternity Hospital in Mumbai, a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Law and Ethics, a Diploma from All India Institute of Management, and a PG Diploma in Preventive and Promotive Healthcare.

She shares, “There is never a dull moment in my life. I studied MBBS at a time when not many girls explored this profession.”

As she realizes that every day, hundreds of women die worldwide because of pregnancy-related health problems, and 99 per cent of these problems occur in developing countries, she has been tirelessly working to improve the women’s healthcare services in India.

Specializing in high-risk pregnancies, she has set up clinics that deal with miscarriages, foetal medicine, and diabetic obstetrics, and to support women and children in rural India she has also founded the Divakars Services Trust. She asserts, “Women’s healthcare is one of the most neglected issues in the country. India has a long way to go in improving the healthcare services for women. We have just made a beginning. There is a lot more to be done and I want to accomplish them with the support of my fraternity and the government backed by policy framework.”

To improve the overall women’s healthcare services in India for long-term results, she has been contributing to nation building in her own capacity. To change the fact that the MMR in India is poorer than that of Bangladesh, she has launched two flagship initiatives: Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) and Save Mothers, which have now been institutionalized in a few states of India.

She says, “It is a fact that whichever country had a healthy population prospered on all fronts. About 30 per cent of India’s population is in the age group of 10–19 years. It is estimated that there are almost 331 million adolescents in India. They represent a resource for the future whose potential has to be nurtured. We have to address major health issues affecting the population of the nation, particularly the womenfolk.”

As she is also a Member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, she has contributed not only towards capacity building in the healthcare sector, but also towards policy making regarding the social and legal issues concerning women’s health in India. Her contribution to nation building through determined efforts in the entire healthcare industry is commendable.

Wearing Several Hats

Diversifying her expertise, Dr. Hema currently holds an exhaustive list of important positions of great responsibility within the country as well as in Asia: She is a speaker, an activist, technical advisor to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Vice Chair of the NCD committee at FIGO- international obgyns, National Coordinator for FIGO FOGSI WDF on Diabetes in Pregnancy, National Co-ordinator for FOGSI MANYATA Quality initiatives, and an adviser at India Institute of Public Health and IIM Bangalore. In the year 2013, she was the PRESIDENT of FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric & Gynecological Societies of India), with 32,000 specialists on roll as the members.

She says, “To head the FOGSI was the high point of my career because the initiatives launched then are policy programmes for some progressive states today. The FOGSI Vision 2022 captures our aspirations and goals to make India a vibrant and healthy nation.”

She regularly contributes to publications and textbooks, and conducts educational workshops all over India.

She has been instrumental in getting March 10 declared as the Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Day, the first by any country, as the number of diabetics in India is very high. She explains, “We conducted a survey and our findings revealed that approximately 10 per cent of women, who get pregnant every year, developed diabetes during the gestation period. Even with 10 per cent, the numbers in this country are whopping, as it works out to about three million women every year. This is an alarming trend, which cannot be ignored. From being called Diabetes Capital of the world, we want India to be Diabetes Care Capital of the world.”

Working with the Karnataka Government on several issues through The Asian Research & Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST), which she started as a premier institute for learning, she has initiated a public-private-partnership with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to adopt and manage the First Referral Units (FRUs), exclusively dedicated for maternal healthcare services, in several economically backward districts of Karnataka.

Further, she has also collaborated with the state government to make 2,00,000 women workers in garment factories of Bengaluru Anaemia-free.

Deserving Recognitions

Dr. Hema has been creating waves in the entire Asia for her complete focus on making a positive change in India’s healthcare industry. She shares, “To be recognised with other achievers of Asia thrusts on me a greater responsibility and ownership to reform the women’s healthcare ecosystem in an innovative and impactful manner.”

Her ingenious work in the healthcare industry has received worldwide recognition and praise, as they directly improve the people’s requirements in the healthcare industry of India. She understands and is deeply emotional about the fact that Indian women and children don’t have easy and affordable access to quality healthcare, especially in rural areas. So, she has set out to changing the face of the country’s healthcare sector where it’s most relevant.

Offering speciality services, she has worked on lesser known issues of women, and has catered to basic pre- and postnatal care. Her committed efforts have been recognized well, as she is the only recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Diabetes Foundation (Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India) and the fifth Indian woman to receive the prestigious FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology & Obstetrics) Women Achiever’s Award. She has received the honorary fellowship from the Royal College London, Icons of healthcare Award in Singapore, and even Greatest Leader and Global Asian Awards. The hospital follows the philosophy of Dr. Hema, and like her, every employee at the hospital possesses exemplary determination, expertise in his/her own area of function, and a high consciousness for quality.

Her resolute efforts have resulted in the development of Divakars Speciality Hospital as a center of excellence in women’s healthcare focusing on all age groups, before and beyond pregnancy, offering the complete range of consultative and specialized services to meet the needs of adolescent, reproductive age and postmenopausal women.

Academic Brilliance

Dr. Omaid obtained his early education from Afghanistan and completed his Post Graduation in Banking & Finance from Pakistan and India. Later, he completed his thesis on Business Administration and Financial Management and obtained the Ph.D. from one of the premier institutions in India. An MBA with specialization in Banking, Risk Management & Finance, he also possesses a Diploma in Information Technology.

A Dynamic Leader

With a burning desire to create a niche for himself, Dr. Omaid began his professional career with Azizi Bank in 2006 as a Finance Officer and skillfully succeeded in ascending the steps to become the President and CEO.

During his career span, Dr. Omaid handled various distinctive and prestigious roles gaining rich & extensive experience in Finance & Accounting, Corporate Accounts Trade Finance, Corporate Credit Financing, Operational Banking, Investment Banking, and Retail Banking. He has been the founding pillar in ensuring Azizi Bank reaches the top of the helm. The bank is now not only considered as the most preferred bank in the country but also internationally recognized for its digital innovation and strong corporate governance.

Under his dynamic leadership, Azizi Bank has emerged as the largest bank in Afghanistan with more than 140 branches along with its 100% subsidiary bank—the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan, the country’s first full-fledged Islamic bank. What’s more, Azizi Bank also has a fleet of more than 100 ATMs – the highest in the country.

Progressive Ideas

The business strategies of Dr. Omaid are based on five core values – operational excellence, customer focus, product leadership, people management, and sustainability. As a committed enthusiast, Dr. Omaid strives to establish a high quality and state-of-the-art private Afghanistan Bank with a vision of “Building the Best Quality Afghanistan Bank with World Class Services” by 2020. Under his leadership, Azizi Bank has steadily evolved as the Professionals’ Bank of Afghanistan with exemplary business and financial outcomes.

Dr. Omaid’s success is truly exemplary and can be attributed to his hard work and professionalism put in over the years. His diligent, meticulous, and scrupulous approach combined with an eye for detail and efficient decision-making abilities has led him to become an idol for many. His career graph is a dream that much nurture, but only the ones with a consistent drive like him achieve and reach the epitome of success.

Accolades & Achievements

Dr. Omaid’s experience and zeal for excellence have won him several international accreditations. He is the only Afghan who has been conferred upon with the honorary Professorship of Academics, Oxford. Under his able leadership, Azizi Bank was awarded the title ‘Bank of the Year-Afghanistan’ by Wealth and Finance (W&F) magazine in 2018.

He has also been awarded by the Government of Afghanistan for playing an effective role in the development of the Afghan banking sector. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense has honoured him for establishing a proper and transparent salary payment system for the Afghan soldiers. He has received Promising Young Banker Award from the Asian Banker, Singapore; Queen Victoria Badge by the Europe Business Assembly, the UK; and Best Private Banking CEO Award, Afghanistan, at the South Asian Partnership Summit – A SAARC initiative.

He is the Chairman of the Afghanistan Banking Association and the Banking Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce, Afghanistan chapter; in addition to being the Member of the Europe Business Assembly, the UK; and the World Confederation of Businesses, the USA. He also serves as a Guest Faculty at the various universities of Afghanistan.

AN INSPIRING AND TRUE BANKING PROFESSIONAL

Under the strategic direction and leadership of Dr. Mohammad Salem Omaid, Azizi Bank, Afghanistan’s largest commercial bank headquartered in Zanbaq Square in Kabul has expanded its presence across 30 provinces and is the upshot of the specialized and entrepreneurial commitment of its founder Mirwais Azizi and his team to establish a high-quality, customercentered, and a service-oriented private Afghan bank catering to foster the businesses of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

LEADING THE WAY

Established in 2006, Azizi Bank is progressively growing as the den of expert economists who work to realise the long-standing mission of “building the finest quality bank of the world in Afghanistan” by 2022. Azizi’s zeal to succeed and inventiveness led him to introduce banking services such as retail & corporate banking, treasury, payment & settlement, remittance services through Western Union, credit, and different delivery channels for diverse business segments

He is a doctorate in Financial Management from a leading Indian university, a post-graduate and also holds an MBA in Banking, Risk Management, and Finance. Playing an instrumental role Bank, Dr. Omaid has mandated his team to follow the globally best banking practices, premier standards of service quality, and operational brilliance at all stages of business. This has made Azizi Bank the largest bank in the Afghanistan, with over 140 branches and more than 100 ATMs, along with its 100% subsidiary bank, the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan.

Dr. Omaid has served the bank in various capacities and carries immense experience in the diverse areas of strategic policies, financial regulation, foreign exchange management, and banking operations. He has played a crucial and central role in maintaining international business relations with key corporate figures, banks, and stakeholders.

A highly distinguished banking professional, Dr. Omaid is a great manager and has been leading the bank to excellence despite acute political and economic uncertainty. Being a resultoriented businessperson who believes in upholding ethics, Dr. Omaid has established a transparent corporate governance structure at Azizi Bank to ensure accountability and make discipline, independence, and fairness key values to be followed by the management and the employees. Taking delegation and empowerment as important parameters to drive growth, he has been highly successful in mentoring employees and helps them grow as competent professionals. Along with continuing to work on expanding the presence of the bank and the scope of its services, Dr. Omaid supervises compliance, risk management skills, systems and processes for further enhancement.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Time and again, Dr. Omaid has been recognised by the government of Afghanistan and other international firms for his relentless efforts in strengthening the banking structure in Afghanistan. The government of Afghanistan awarded him for playing an effective role in the development of the national banking sector. Simultaneously, he has also been felicitated by the Ministry of Defence for the establishment of a proper and transparent salary payment system for the Afghan soldiers. International honours to his credit include the Promising Young Banker Award by the Asian Banker, Singapore; Queen Victoria Badge by the Europe Business Assembly, UK; Best Private Banking CEO, Afghanistan by the South Asian Partnership Summit.

Other than being the Chairman of the Afghanistan Banking Association, he is an active member of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, UK; World Confederation of Business, USA; and is the Chairman of the banking commission, The International Chamber of Commerce, Afghanistan wing.