Category: Leaders

Intro: Breathing its last, it wanted to take wings again. But the ailing creature had been devoid of any spirit. With half-closed eyes, it dreamt of a knight in shining armour making a vehement effort to bring it back to life

Text: Only one person could save it! The man who was instrumental in its birth, who nurtured it, and who in the first place helped it soar to great heights. This man was Ajay Singh!

Fit to be a Silver Screen Story

The dramatization of above facts is not far from truth. Ajay Singh actually saved SpiceJet airlines from a near-death experience by coming back to its rescue as the majority shareholder.

In economic terms, Ajay Singh revived SpiceJet from near bankruptcy, when it didn’t have funds to even refuel its airplanes, which were left stranded at the airports waiting for oil companies to make a move. Ajay Singh had already made his move, and after meeting civil aviation ministry officials at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan a decision was taken to make part payment on outstanding dues to oil companies. Within an hour, wheels had started rolling at the airports.

The near-bankruptcy stage of SpiceJet wasn’t a one-day event. Flights were regularly being delayed, and also rescheduled at short notice. Employees had not been paid for a long time, and gradually they stopped reporting at airport counters. The customers experienced harrowing experiences one after the other. Word got out.

In December 2014, SpiceJet took a drastic decision and cancelled its more than 1,800 domestic flights scheduled for the month.

The Golden Flashback

Known earlier as Modiluft, SpiceJet was one of the first private companies that stepped into the Indian aviation sector. Ajay Singh, along with Bhupendra Kansagra, acquired & rebranded Modiluft owned by S K Modi and Lufthansa in 2005, and launched it as a Low Cost Carrier with the highest consumer value, to price-sensitive consumers.

Ajay Singh’s impeccable management immediately made the airline popular as the best in India in terms of on-time performance and with least cancellations. Its aircraft utilization was also among the highest in India. He made high-level tie-ups with some of the best-known names in the world including Honeywell and Weber Seats to provide highest safety standards to its consumers. Not surprisingly, it was voted India’s Favourite Domestic Airline, Top 5 Best Budget Airline in Asia, Best Low Cost Airline, and much more.

However, in August 2010, Kalanithi Maran – the Indian media baron and CMD of Sun Group – acquired 38.7 percent controlling stake in SpiceJet by paying INR 750 crore to Wilbur Ross and Kansagra family, and Ajay Singh had to quit the board. Soon, profits turned into losses, and strategies into mismanagement. One decision that started the airline’s dive was Maran’s decision to buy 15 Bombardier Q400s aircrafts for $450 million to target its network in smaller towns and cities. However, with the purchase, airline’s debts and expenses flew up and within a year, the debt figure reached INR 855 crore in 2012 from INR 55 crore in 2011. The company’s net worth turned negative from INR 321 crore in 2011 to INR minus 147 crore in 2012. Another year, and the debt figure became INR 1678 crore in 2013.

To improve things, Maran made desperate but unprofitable deals with vendors and service providers, which further deteriorated SpiceJet’s financial condition. The strategy of providing deep discounts to improve frequency of flights also boomeranged. No investor stuck with the company for long. However, the final nail in the coffin is considered by many as Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s decision to impose stringent curbs on airlines’ schemes. With clipped wings, SpiceJet was ready to nosedive and crash, when Ajay Singh made his appearance again as a silver lining in a dark cloud.

Take Retake

It has been alleged that Singh bought 58.46 percent shares of the airline from Maran by paying Just INR 2; however, Ajay Singh’s return to SpiceJet saved the airline company.

In December 2014, a tentative agreement was signed between Maran and Ajay Singh. He immediately started talking to the government. In January 2015, a formal deal was struck and Ajay Singh reentered the SpiceJet’s space as its Chairman and Managing Director. He immediately got down to the basics.

However, when he met the promoters before the deal, they told him plainly that they intended to shut it down. The reason he convinced them to think otherwise was his great deal of passion in starting it in the first place and his conviction that he could quickly bring it to the same state of profitability as it was in when he left it.

He very well remembered the Kingfisher experience. When on 17th December 2014, SpiceJet shut for a day as fuel companies refused to refuel its airplanes, Ajay Singh knew that the trick was to get back right away. He asserts, “If you shut down for even a few months it is difficult to come back.”

He also remembers the excitement of the early days when he had started in 2005, “We had no money to advertise but we went ahead and started the bookings anyway on May 16. We were down here in the basement of the same building. We switched on the call centre at 4.30 in the morning and the phone started ringing immediately. We thought, ‘how did these people know our number’. There was a press conference at noon. By that time we had sold off all the tickets.”

When he came back to the pilot seat of SpiceJet again, he brought his old model of operations back, re-signed contracts, tightened revenue management, and instead of chasing market share – which according to him is an illusion in aviation, as it is not sustainable – brought operational integrity back to a level where he could convince his customers that the bad phase wouldn’t come again.

Within five months under his operational expertise, SpiceJet’s on-time performance was back, costs were down, he had paid off all statutory dues, and the biggest of all – after five years from 2010 – SpiceJet recorded profit again. In the third quarter of 2016, SpiceJet registered its highest-ever profits of INR 238 crore. Currently, SpiceJet has about 6,400 employees and a 13% domestic market share.

Behind the Scenes

Ajay Singh was born and brought up in Delhi’s Maharani Bagh area. His father belongs to Alwar, Rajasthan and his mother is from Meerut, UP. During his school time, he was the captain of cricket and hockey teams of St. Columba’s School, and was part of the football team too. Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan was a year junior and was the wicketkeeper in his cricket team. He was awarded the Sword of Honour, the school’s highest award, presented to the student who excels in academics as well as sports and co-curricular activities.

An engineering graduate from IIT Delhi, an MBA Finance from Cornell University, USA, and LLB from Law Faculty, University of Delhi, he was appointed to the Board of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in 1996 with the task of reviving the corporation. Under his guidance, the fleet of buses in DTC increased from about 300 to 6,000.

Two years later, he was given the responsibility of revamping Doordarshan by the then Information & Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan. He launched DD Sports and DD News. Mahajan was so impressed with his capabilities that he took him along as Officer on Special Duty to the then Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, where he helped draft the National Telecom Policy and the Information Technology Act.

In between 2005 and now when he bought and sold SpiceJet to and from Kalanithi Maran – from 2010 to 2014 – he bought Daewoo Motors India Ltd., invested as an angel investor in a nanotechnology company in Bangalore and an IT company in Mumbai, invested in real estate, and is in a public private partnership with the Delhi Government for operating low-floor buses.

He has also taken active interest in BJP’s election campaigns in 1999, 2004 and 2014. He is credited to have given BJP’s winning slogan in 2014: “Abki baar Modi sarkar”. He was recently elected as the President of the Boxing Federation of India.

Pull Quote: “I will put all my energy behind it (turning around SpiceJet) and try and make sure that this thing succeeds and the airline doesn’t go down.”

Intro- Having a unique understanding of the business of education worldwide, David Edwards has a special ability to review the requirements of stakeholders that can translate into strong commercial success of an institution. His inimitable leadership style has taken GEMS World Academy to new heights of popularity and success

Text- A firm believer of the fact that all problems in the world can be fixed through education, David Edwards – CEO of GEMS World Academy – has contributed a large portion of his life in improving the quality of education globally. He sees education as the most beneficial of businesses and uses his exemplary entrepreneurial skills to augment its presence. He strives to build great teams that focus on a clear purpose, vision, and mission to develop leading programs inspired by the rapid changes in other industries. His vision is to build a strong task force that can lead the future of the world in a progressive direction and for that he is working tirelessly to prepare children for realities of the life, which await them after the school ends.

The resilient and determined nature of David Edwards has been highly inspired by his father. He believes that whatever he is today he is because of his father, who is also his role model. It was his father’s love and respect towards the institution of education, which he inherited and which made him a successful person. He recalls, “My father was a remarkable human being and the inspiration for entering the field of education.”

INITIATING CHANGE

Before taking the position of CEO for GEMS World Academy, David Edwards had spent more than 20 years in the field of education serving various leading international schools across Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore in various capabilities like Director of Sport, Assistant Head of Boarding, Curriculum Coordinator, School Principal, etc. He uses this extensive experience and strong business insight to keep a tab on the ever-changing modules of the education world, and keeps on updating his leadership skills according to these changes. While leading any institution, the main goal for David Edwards is to ensure that all the people who interact with the organization are provided with outstanding learning opportunities. “These opportunities extend from children, to parents, and across staff,” he says.

His focus remains on tackling the challenges creatively, and he uses industries apart from education as an example to learn the tricks that can ensure a successful business. With his incredible determination, resilience, and independence to rectify underperforming businesses, David Edwards has brought a massive change in the education sector. His prime motive is to promote a holistic development of his students. Through GEMS World Academy, he is training the generation comprehensively in all the domains – academics, arts, and sports.

THE EXEMPLARY VISION

David Edwards follows a unique leadership style and has demonstrated an entrepreneurial mindset within the private K12 education space. He constantly keeps on innovating neoteric and better ways to improve the quality of education. Because of his tremendous skills and knowledge, he is regarded as an expert within the startup school scene, and he is a world-leader in developing initiatives that can retransform the sector of education globally. This has helped him in matching the growth graph of the education sector with other industries, which will in future host the students that he and people of his like will train.

His ceaseless efforts have been recognized internationally and he has got many chances to share these thoughts with his counterparts in many summits and seminars. Along with being a celebrated public speaker, he is also a noted writer and contributor to the education world.

A soul with action, expression and inspiration, a personality imbued with intellect and a heart of gold, Arif Iqbal Sheikh – Arif – as we all fondly know and call – brings to the table a lot more than just business ethics with his amiable being. Mr. Sheikh keeps on spreading happiness all around him and keeps the environment around him charged

Hailing from the beautiful city Udaipur, Arif Iqbal Sheikh- Group CEO and Chairman of Governing Council of the US$1.2 bn Quality Group consisting of more than 100 companies in 28 countries has got the strokes of splendor and brilliance of the place etched in his personality as well. He is a very confident and energetic person and often an entire room pulsates with his presence. An extremely focused, committed, passionate, honest, and caring human, Arif considers himself to be the creative master of bringing improvement.

Arif believes in challenging his own strengths and improves with every passing day. With each sunrise, he raises in himself a new quality and a new skill. This fearless man takes a lot of risks whether it’s personal life or professional and emerges out as a winner. For him the major factor that assures success is self-belief. He feels that believing in self can lead a person to unachieved heights. He is passionate about what he does and proudly reverberates the words, “I’ll either find a way or make one” to keep himself motivated every time.

TALENT’S POWERHOUSE

Arif Iqbal Sheikh has worked with many companies and led them to glorious success in his career which spans over 30 years in four continents- 20 years as CXO and on senior leadership positions.

He led multinational teams who managed large corporations which were representing brands like Mercedes Benz, Xerox, Bosch, Newgen, GE Healthcare, Schneider, Siemens, Motorola, Pfizer, Bosch & Lomb, Nair, Pigeon, Oracle, and companies like Gammon, Ansal, Hiranandani, Walmart, and Harrods. The core industry verticals in which he has provided his expertise include Retail, Real Estate, Exports, IT, E-commerce, Logistics, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Investments, Trading and Agency representation as well as Services.

He brings a new lease of life and energy to every company he works with. His vision and strong work ethics always translate into sure-shot success of any project he puts his hands on. For his exceptional performance as an employee and a leader he has been rewarded with several awards like Excellence in Leadership, Best-CEO and Retail Chain award Dubai Shopping Festival, STAR-Business ICON award, etc. Quality Group won four major awards in last one year itself from House of Lords, Best Real Estate to Africa’s Most Iconic Award to Most Innovative Company under his leadership.

Apart from being a skilled entrepreneur, Arif is an academician as well and has authored two books and more than 100 articles in international publications. He is a visiting faculty to many international B-schools across Asia including the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM). His sound intellect and eloquent thoughts have been the motivation of several people who are treading towards the path of unmatched entrepreneurial journeys.

Arif is a recognized motivational speaker as well and has delivered many lectures at International forums, conferences and seminars. He is very active on social media platforms too and keeps on writing blogs about management and entrepreneur skills. Mr. Sheikh has a great insight of the consumer’s mind which he keeps on sharing with others through these write-ups.

“APART FROM BEING A SKILLED ENTREPRENEUR, ARIF IS AN ACADEMICIAN AS WELL AND HAS AUTHORED TWO BOOKS AND MORE THAN 100 ARTICLES IN INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS”

Following the success mantra of Umesh Modi Group which states that, “Achieve the benchmarked, then set your own standards and surpass them too”, Mr. Umesh K. Modi is undoubtedly making headway in the business world of the Indian Subcontinent. It is his effervescent personality that is the guiding light for the new generation

Holding a steadfast determination in heart and a firm belief in his mind, Mr. Umesh K. Modi spearheads one of the leading conglomerates in India. The Umesh Modi Group has ascended the mountain of success and has become an inspiration for other ventures of the nation as well under the leadership of Mr. Umesh K. Modi.

A zest to do something big drew him to the business world in the year 1972. A gold medalist in chemical engineering from Banaras Hindu University, young Umesh K. Modi set his foot in the business of his father. Since then, Mr. Modi is taking every possible step to enhance the empire. The Group has flourished at a great pace under the pragmatic and productive leadership of Mr. Umesh K. Modi.

THE MOTIVATING FORCE

Founded by his father, Shri Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi, a known industrialist and humanitarian, the Umesh Modi Group has witnessed a great transformation by establishing itself as a towering name in the industry. In 1968, Shri Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi was also felicitated with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India.

Following the footprints of his great father, Mr. Modi has come a long way on the path of success. He not only inherited his father’s business but also his habits which help him in being a leader who knows the outcomes of his actions. One of those habits is reviewing the profits and losses of his business personally. It is not wrong to say that the biggest source of inspiration for this business tycoon is none other than his own visionary father. It was his father whose life encouraged Mr. Modi to achieve a greater goal by implementing discipline & extraordinary management strategies in making accurate and clairvoyant decisions.

THE VIGILANT ONE

With an aim to create benchmarks in the business world, Mr. Modi forged ahead with his strategic steps and expanded the Group’s presence in fields such as Sugar, Iron and Steel, Distillery and Liquor, Engineering, Power, Writing Instruments, Packaging, etc.

Believing in the idea that one ought to have world-class partners to be ahead in the ever-changing world of business, Mr. Modi also formed new alliances and joint ventures with American and European companies. It was his anticipation that pharmaceutical industry has a long way to go in the future, which encouraged him to form a joint venture with Mundipharma Group of Companies, Switzerland in the year 1990. In the present time, Mr. Modi has over 10 partners in Pharmaceuticals business worldwide.

The journey that began with a single Modi Sugar Mills turned into a diversified group and has left its footprints not only in the nation but also at the international level. It was his efforts that have helped the conglomerate to hold a firm position in the South Asian, African & CIS nations and other international markets. All these achievements would not have been possible without his extraordinary guidance. For his perseverance and contribution, Mr. Umesh K. Modi has been honored with several awards. In 1984, the Ministry of Industry awarded him with “Man of the Year” Award.

“HE NOT ONLY INHERITED THE BUSINESS OF HIS FATHER BUT ALSO HABITS WHICH HELP HIM IN BEING A LEADER WHO KNOWS THE OUTCOMES OF HIS ACTIONS”

As true achiever, Mr. Malhotra’s personality not only carves a strong impression on one’s mind but also sparks an inspiration to achieve the dreams through a constant confidence and strong will-power. He believes that life is an uphill battle and one can emerge as a winner only if he/she has a confidence in the abilities

A determined faith in one’s actions and a belief of standing tall in any the situation fosters a person on the route to a prosperous destination. Mr. Harpreet Singh Malhotra, the CMD of Tiger Logistics, is that person who edged forward from his humble beginning and laid the foundation of Tiger Logistics which is one of the well-known logistics service providers in India with a global presence as well.

Mr. Malhotra Received his Bachelor’s Degree in B.Com from Delhi University and a specialized course in Foreign Trade from IIFT, Delhi. After completing his studies, Mr. Malhotra worked for some years in the Logistics Industry.

“Hard Work is the key to success in life.” These words have always given hope to this dynamic and foresighted leader. Mr. Harpreet Singh Malhotra believes that life is an uphill battle and one can emerge as a winner only if he/she has a confidence in the abilities and the determination to do something astonishing. He believed in his firm and knew that one day he will be the king of the logistics industry with his ever-growing empire.

THE PIONEERING THRESHOLD

For a first-generation entrepreneur, it is quite challenging to begin a new firm. Mr. Malhotra too faced a lot of hurdles when he made the decision to institute “Tiger Logistics”. He laid down the foundation stone at a time when he himself was not in a financially stable situation. However, he had a resolute mind which directed him to dream big and transform that dream into his own firm.

Mr. Malhotra started his business with a small team whose dedications and aims were big. With a profound faith in Mr. Malhotra’s leadership, they stayed on the course and transformed their firm from the small room of a rented apartment to several offices across India. In the present time, the company has more than 200 employees who are serving the firm with utmost devotion. Most of these employees are in the company for more than 10 years.

Hounding a firm faith in his ethical values, Mr. Malhotra makes sure that there is not a single activity in the company that is morally deprived. He makes no compromises in terms of the qualitative services and timely deliverance. To provide “value-added, cost effective” solutions to the customers, Mr. Malhotra has joined hands with various reputed firms across the globe. His innovative and faithful approach has not only earned him respect among the leader but also endowed him with an acclaimed list of clientele.

Tiger Logistics is the result of a continuous struggle of Mr. Malhotra in the market. It is his undeterred courage that has helped Tiger Logistics to grow substantially with every coming year. They had around 254 Crores turnover with 25 – 30% growth consistently per year from year 2000.

THE PHILANTHROPIC WAY

In a heart which is strong-willed and focused, emotions such as kindness and empathy for fellow being also reside and encourage Mr. Malhotra to lend a helping hand towards his society and the nation’s progress. He runs campaigns such as “Do Mutthi Aahaar” to eradicate poverty as well.

“HIS INNOVATIVE AND FAITHFUL APPROACH HAS NOT ONLY EARNED HIM RESPECT AMONG THE LEADER BUT ALSO ENDOWED HIM WITH AN ACCLAIMED LIST OF CLIENTELE”

Deemed with an experience of more than 30 years in the industry, Mr. Nitin Shah’s vision includes remaining a front-runner in the digital economy space and enabling the on-going lifestyle changes onto a unified digital platform. As a business leader, he has always looked out for the next big challenge, the next big opportunity

Mr. Nitin Shah is a unique combination of a questing, restless spirit imbued with patience and perseverance. These seemingly contrary qualities have paid off well for Allied Digital Services Ltd., the company he founded in 1984.

Over the years, his push to become and remain best-in-class has helped the company consistently conquer new frontiers – be it in moving to automation, technology and tool-based remote infrastructure management and shared services, as opposed to depending solely on dedicated people;and setting up the country’s earliest network operations centre (NOC) and security operations centre(SOC) in Mumbai. “The company’s growth has mirrored exactly the growth of the global IT industry. By moving fast to adopt and deploy new technologies, we have managed to grab the early mover advantage with each new technology,” says Mr. Shah.

THE DIGNIFIED VISIONARY

As an individual, Nitin Shah’s credo is perfection, in himself and others. Over the years, this has meant grooming and mentoring a second and third layer of command within the company and empowering employees to deliver their best for the clients and the company.

His personal credo of excellence combined with a focused vision has seen Mr. Nitin rise to the challenge of tough times and make difficult decisions – in 2012, the company underwent a complete internal restructuring along with a change in its business model to sustain future growth and deliver value to investors and clients. His personal and business values of integrity and honesty and putting the clients before everything else, has always paid huge dividends for Allied Digital Services.

GOING THE DIGITAL WAY

Allied digital Services has built a niche for itself in the IT Services space. Mr. Nitin Shah gave up a well-paying job with CMC computers in 1984 to start Digital Data Services Pvt. Ltd. From a three-person team, today the company has grown to 3000-plus people across 90 countries. He managed to create an identity for himself exclusively on merit and competence and by delivering on his promises. An opportunity to support a large consulting firm led to subsequent business deals.

He wishes to remain a front-runner in the digital economy space and enable the on-going lifestyle changes onto a unified digital platform. By the early 1990s, Mr. Nitin Shah’s hunger for success grew manifold, and he strove to create a layered, value-driven organisation and recruited several CXOs. When the need for converting acquired clients into regular clients and a sustainable business model arose, he chose a direct service delivery model that helped with client retention. This helped to differentiate the company from its peers.

Mr. Nitin’s belief in empowering people extends well beyond his immediate environment to encompass the society at large. The Padma Pragnya Trust, set up in 2008, in memory of his wife and mother, helps students from humble backgrounds get an education and also offers healthcare facilities for the poor. He also set up a dharamshala at Shahpur for the people.

“HE WISHES TO REMAIN A FRONT-RUNNER IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY SPACE AND ENABLE THE ON-GOING LIFESTYLE CHANGES ONTO A UNIFIED DIGITAL PLATFORM”

Renowned as one of the most inspiring motivational speakers, authors, corporate trainers and business coaches in India, Bhupendra Singh Rathore has been
transforming the lives of over 25,000 people on a yearly basis and has been helping them live meaningful and purpose-driven successful personal and professional lives full of vitality and joy

Helping people AcHieve goAls

Bhupendra Singh Rathore (BSR) has given consultation to more than 1,000 companies (MNCs, MSEs &  SMEs) and has addressed over 200,000 people through more than 1,000 talks and seminars across the country, helping everyone achieve their personal and business goals faster and easier than what they anticipated. As a keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses corporate and public audiences that include the executives and staff of many of India’s largest corporations on the subjects of personal and professional growth.

His high-energy inspirational talks and seminars on motivation, leadership, business, marketing, self-esteem, objectives, strategy, creativity and winning psychology bring about prompt changes and long-term results. With his entertaining, customized, research-driven programs containing thought-provoking educational material, he stimulates the mind of the people with positivity and his keynotes and power talk sessions for corporate events and association meetings are quite effective in transforming the lives of numerous people who attend his seminars.

Renowned for his high-energy and engaging content, BSR is a highly sought- after speaker, consultant and advisor on policy execution, frequently delivering motivational speeches and corporate presentations to leaders in audiences comprising around hundreds to several thousands.

AwAkening   THe   people   – AwAkening THe socieTy

The Founder & Director of Indian Institute of Business Success Research Pvt. Ltd. and Visionary Management Network Pvt. Ltd., BSR is completely committed to help leaders and entrepreneurs of gradually evolving or rapidly growing companies enhance the worth of their organizations. The tremendous popularity of his motivational speeches has drawn many top corporate organizations across the world including Mercedes-Benz, DHL, Vodafone, TACO, Tata Technologies, Mahindra, JCB, Lear Corporation, BEHR India, Gestamp, Deutsche Bank and LIC towards him when it comes to the requirement of corporate training and motivation speech for Sales Conferences, Corporate Events and Business Meets.

Counting on his popularity as one of the fast-appreciated transformational speakers in India, BSR’s Vision 2040 is to transform 10 crore lives, and to achieve that he has created ‘The MAD India Movement’ as he endeavours  to ‘make a difference’ (MAD). He also imparts training to 50 trainers every year to pursue this philosophy through his 1-year-long Trainers Gurukul Intervention, which no one else does in the country the way he does.

UnleAsHing THe UnliMiTed poTenTiAl

Travelling around the world giving presentations to international audiences including entrepreneurs, schools, colleges and non-profit organizations, he designs suitable programmes for his audience to help them get rid of mediocrity and optimize their unlimited potential.

The author of an inspirational book, ‘Master Your Thoughts Master Your Life’, BSR conducts various workshops such as Dive Within, On Igniting The Spark, Animating Life With Joy, Take Charge, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Fear to Power, Take off Now, One Goal for All and You Decide, and is a winner first, teaching others to win the big way.

THE INVINCIBLE ENTREPRENEUR

From India’s richest woman to the leading lady in style, Nita Ambani breaks to turtle conservationists’ perception of Indians towards woman power play. She has proved that more than any sophisticated ornament; it is the beautiful soul that keeps the charming personality gleaming not known to many, from couple of months, Reliance Foundation, named after her husband Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, chaired by the ever-smiling Nita Ambani has been generously donating in major U.S. museums seeking to mount shows with ties to her homeland.

Soaring high with performance and fulfilling promises to make India a better place for everyone, Mrs. Ambani runs the largest CSR initiatives of the country called the Reliance Foundation. As she says, at Reliance Foundation, the vision is to build an inclusive India by pioneering a holistic model to address the nation’s multifaceted development challenges, and contribute to its collective aspirations.

The focal point is the commitment to enhance the quality of life of people from marginalised and vulnerable communities, by empowering them and catalysing change through innovative and sustainable solutions. Their steadfast endeavour is to create replicable and scalable models of development through an integrated approach in the true Reliance spirit of maximising societal value for all, and making it a movement.

SOWING THE SEEDS OF KINDNESS

Mrs. Ambani is a familiar name when we count on people who are steering steering initiatives in the area of education, sports, health and art and culture. She has been involved in promoting multiple sports in the country with focus on developing talent through a number of large-scale grassroots initiatives. The grassroots programmes that she has initiated have reached out to over 3 million children in multiple sports.

Under her guidance, the Reliance Foundation has launched the “Health for All” initiative through a community outreach programme for the underprivileged within five kilometres of its hospitals. Her eye for details has transformed the working style of many at the organization. It is this attention to detail that also reflects in the relationships Mrs. Ambani builds, both at work and with friends. “She has a way to make you part of the Reliance family. She will ask about children. She would know if a child has an illness. I don’t know how she does it. But she has a way of figuring out. There are too many instances where she overwhelms you,” says a former employee.

Led by Mrs. Ambani, Reliance Foundation was set up in 2010 to provide impetus to various philanthropic initiatives of RIL. The efforts of the group have already touched the lives of more than seven million people across India, in more than 10,500 villages and urban locations. The Foundation has a comprehensive development approach. Its prime objective is to create and support meaningful activities through innovative institutions to address some of India’s most pressing developmental challenges. The Foundation lays significant emphasis on leveraging technology for developmental solutions. Following its model of direct engagement, the Foundation directly reaches out to the affected communities through trained professionals.

THE PLUNGE IN DIVERSITY

Over the years, Reliance Foundation’s initiatives have continued to evolve, while remaining responsive to the ever-changing needs of society. The Foundation is currently focusing on creating change in areas of Rural Transformation, Health, and Education, Sports for Development, Disaster Response, Arts, Culture & Heritage and Urban Renewal.
To maximize its reach and improve outcomes, Reliance Foundation has also established strategic partnerships with organizations that have the technical expertise and experience to undertake various programmes in the identified focus areas of operation.

Hailing from a Gujarati Family, Mrs. Ambani both music and classical dance is close to her heart. Her mother was a well-known Gujarati Folk Dancer and started to teach dance to Nita when she was just eight year old. Nita also started to show immense interest in dancing. She became quite famous for her skills in Bharatnatyam. It was this fondness for classical dance that captivated the heart of Ambani’s. Nita Ambani also used to perform Bharatnatyam at various stages throughout Gujarat. In one of her many performances, the Ambanis, specifically Dhirubhai and Kokilaben Ambani, who were at a cultural show, saw Nita dancing. They were so impressed with scintillating performances of Nita. She was not only dancing perfectly, but they also noticed an amazing beauty coupled with Indian tradition in her. Rest as they is history.

Social commentator, columnist Suhel Seth has always maintained that she is a “born Ambani”. “She is India’s first lady. He further added that Mrs. ambani carved an identity that doesn’t take away from that legacy. After she addressed at FICCI, a number of young girls went up to her asking for autographs. One of them said, ‘Nita ma’am, you’re our role model and inspiration for all of us’,” recalls Seth. At one time Parmeshwar Godrej was the face of Indian society but now Nita has displaces her. Seth feels, “It’ll be unfair to compare her with anyone. Nita has a much superior edge laced with sobriety and soberness. She has contributed in so many spheres – be it the school or her cricket team.

LEADING FROM THE FRONT

In the very famous words of Mrs. Ambani, “Between my past, the present and the future, there is one common factor: Relationship and Trust. This is the foundation of our growth”, she has never disappointed any of the task driven under her guidance to be able to carve a niche out of it. Following a recent series of events, Mrs. Ambani Nita Ambani, founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, has been elected as an independent candidate to be a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The election for membership, which officials say is a mere formality, is scheduled at the 129th IOC Session at Rio de Janeiro between August 2 and August 4. As per the selection process, Mrs. Ambani, will continue to serve as a member of the IOC until she reaches 70 years of age.

IOC President Thomas Bach, announcing the eight candidates at a press conference in Lausanne, said: “This is a very outstanding group of personalities that are experts in their respective fields.”

Nita Ambani was among the eight Indian leaders who featured in Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen 2016 list, released by Forbes earlier this year. A trained Indian classical dancer, she also looks after the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, the HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and played a key role in designing the residential part of the RIL
Township at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

A DOSE OF PANACHE

When it comes to living a luxurious lifestyle, Mrs. Ambani is second to none. Her love of crimson and has been often seen attending important occasions in variations of crimson colored Sarees. Her Gujarati background reflects in the designs as well as draping style of the saree. One of her favorite Indian designer is Abu Jani – Sandeep Khosla who churns out stunning Indian attires for her in succession.

Known for her opulent yet traditional styling, Mrs. Ambani’s wardrobe comprises of big jhumkas, heavy pendants and chunky bangles to subtle and sleek designs.
The aura of appeal and power which Mrs. Ambani reflects is par excellence. Her popularity has grown tremendously over the past couple of years which has also felicitated her with the honour of being the cover face of many international magazines like Femina, People, Verve (along with husband Mukesh Ambani), L’Officiel’s etc. Amongst the entire very special cover shoot for Hello was done with her daughter, where she shared the space with the gen next.

Mother Nita Ambani never disappoints her children, despite managing multiple tasks at a given time; she never fails to be a doting mother to her three extremely talented children. From being the driving force behind Anant Ambani’s drastic transformation while dealing with medical conditions to standing rock solid behind while Akash established his firm steps in the telecommunications business with Reliance Jio, she has been the source of inspiration to her family since forever.

SPEARHEADING THE NEXTT ERA

A Business tycoon, a humanitarian and a scholar, Mr. Arun Agarwal’s personality has all the elements that make him an exceptional leader. Embarked on the way to a rising success chart, this CEO of Nextt, the largest bedding company in North America is marking touchstones in the Indian Home Textiles Industry in the United States

Success is a multidimensional achievement. One cannot define it in terms of one or two parameters; rather it is a part of a bigger framework which comprises of million little threads that weave into an exceptionally beautiful phase of accomplishments. Taking little sturdy steps and enriching his life with valuable experiences, the Chief Executive Officer of Dallabased Nextt, Mr. Arun Agarwal is also intertwining his extraordinary abilities with innovative ideas to arrive on a prolific destination. From his teenager days, Mr. Arun Agarwal aspired to become a magnate and lead his firm towards the pinnacle of success. That was the reason he entered the textiles market with his innovative ideas and excellent leadership skills.

THE ENCOURAGING ASPIRATIONS

“No dream is too big. Keep a good head on your shoulders and pursue it. There is fine line between self-confidence and arrogance, make sure to define that line.” Keeping true to his words, Arun Agarwal decided to give life to his dreams by establishing Alok International eight years ago. A U.S. subsidiary of India-based Alok Industry Ltd., the firm has more than 20 brands which occupy a renowned position in the home textile market.

Today, as the Chief Executive Officer of Nextt, the front-end marketing arm for Alok Industries, Mr. Arun Agarwal is guiding the Indian home textiles sector on an international platform. Mr. Arun Agarwal has more than Fifteen years of experience in the industry which helped him in understanding the ways of business world. These valuable times that he has spent in the textiles field proves to be one of the most significant parts of his eminent personality.

Possessing an impressive educational background, Mr. Arun Agarwal acquired prestigious degrees to enhance and refine his abilities. After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Maharajas College in Jaipur, he went on for his further studies from the Institute of Management Technology where he got an MBA degree. At that time, Mr. Arun got a job as the youngest regional manager of JVC Onida for eastern region. Under the leadership of Mr. Sonu Mirchandani, he created a history in color television industry of India. However, his desire of acquiring more knowledge took him to the University of New Hampshire for the study of computer information systems and he achieved another Master’s degree as well International Business from Harvard University in Boston. The years that he spent in his colleges has a very special place in his heart for they evolved him into a dignified scholar who had a keen zest to bring a tremendous change in the field of entrepreneurship. From being a Secretary of Maharajas College student union to the President of Graduate Student Association of New Hampshire College, Mr. Arun’s personality always had the glimpses of a great leader.

A DETERMINED PURSUIT

It was under his leadership that Nextt has been able to achieve whooping revenue of more than $500 million. The company is a leading manufacturer of products such as home textiles, garments, apparel fabrics and polyester yarns. The firm also unveiled a 17,000 square feet flagship showroom on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Today, his company creates masterpieces of comfort and luxury in its headquarters at Dallas for some of the internationally renowned retailers such as Dillard’s, JC Penney, Target, Kohl’s, and Wal-Mart, and brands that include Trina Turk, Iman, Kathy Ireland, Jessica McClintock, and Ellen Tracy.

Mr. Arun Agarwal believes that uniqueness is like a stepping stone if one wants to excel in his pursuit. He wants to do things that stand aloof among the prevailing industry ideas. That is why he formed a team of young and enthusiastic minds who can adapt with the ever-changing scenario of the business world. He does not think that in order to do business one should follow any rulebook. Rather, they should follow a simple ideology of delivering excellence to the customers. He remarks, “Selling is as simple as being honest and winning credibility that you will do what you say”.

In a short time span, Mr. Arun Agarwal helped the firm in securing a “dominant proportion of private label”. It was due to his efforts that the company established various collaborations with the international brands. “In such a short time our reputation as a company is incredible in the retail

world,” confirms Mr. Arun Agarwal with a gleam of happiness in his eyes. “With the ecosystems we’ve created, we feel we are far ahead of the competition. But we need to keep evolving” he added.

For Mr. Arun Agarwal, the quality of services and products matters the most. It is never about prices but the durability that enhances the customers’ trust in any establishment or brand. During his early schooling in Jaipur, he did door to door market research for IMRB, which gave him some deep customer insights which still helps him in shaping his company’s future. According to Mr. Arun Agarwal he is not just “selling a sheet, but selling a solution”. He thinks that towels and sheet is basic commodity. “It’s more about the functionality. If you can combine fashion with function, it’s a winning combination.” he stated in an interview. Accentuating innovation in the company’s products, a technology of wrinkle-free sheet was introduced that created a benchmark in the industry. This sustainable technology has the ability to produce sheets that has cotton on the inside and polyester on its top which can fit the mattress of every size.

INITIATING A NEW PHASE

Mr. Arun Agarwal is the first Indian American to be appointed to Product Development and Small Business Incubator (PDSBI) Board in Texas. The board provides financial aid “for the development, production and commercialization of new or improved products and to foster the growth of small businesses” in the state. This achievement gave him a new perception towards the propensities of innovative ideas.

Impressed with the youth of India, Mr. Arun Agarwal feels that the pace at which the new generation of the country is moving ahead with their groundbreaking ideas, they can become one of the world’s best leaders that has the potential to set a new trend in the industry. He has a belief that if one gets a little help from the state then there is no doubt that his/her “ideas can turn into a big commercial success”.

Having a belief in the “Make In India” initiative taken by the Government of India to forge business growth in the country, Mr. Arun Agarwal thinks that this strategy can fuel the economic growth of the country to a great extent as it will give firm reasons to the international companies to invest in Indian establishments.

Mr. Arun Agarwal has a firm belief in business relationship. According to him, an honest approach and sincere commitments can make these associations fruitful for both the parties. Talking about his future vision for Nextt, Mr. Arun Agarwal hopes to utilize their exceptional infrastructure to subsidize the developing business models and trends. He also wishes to use his “knowledge of India to promote some products which are core to Indian economy” as well.

Even though Mr. Arun Agarwal is living away from India, his love and respect for the country is clearly visible in his constant efforts. As a proud Indian, he speaks to his daughter Anya about how lucky he feels, “We are the most fortunate people in the world. Connected to two of the best countries on earth– India and USA.”

THE COMPASSIONATE PERSPECTIVE

Apart from being a successful tycoon, Mr. Arun Agarwal is also an altruistic person. He engages himself in various CSR activities not only on a local level but on global platform too. Among these activities and initiatives, DIFFA and Chetna are radical steps taken by him through his company. The former initiative works towards the awareness and treatment of AIDS while Chetna helps the victims of domestic violence. For making a contribution towards the empowerment of women, Mr. Arun Agarwal also supports Living Dreams Foundation situated in Delhi. He also helped in the establishment of the largest Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in Dallas and also helped the Bhutanese refugee kids in DFW area.

This Founding father of Nextt is also an active participates in diverse organizations. For instance, he is one of the board members of various organizations such as Gift for Life, US-India Chamber of Commerce DFW, Indian American Friendship Council, and Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Mr. Arun Agarwal also received NRI Entrepreneur of the Year award. Apart from that he also won awards such as “Outstanding Entrepreneur Award”, “Minority Business Leader Award” and “Entrepreneur of the Year Award”. Due to his perseverance and creativity, Mr. Arun Agarwal is laying the groundwork for his future success and also inspires the people around him to achieve big in their lives. His confidence in his self flashes through his words, “A good idea, with proper support and execution always succeeds”. This NRI entrepreneur is making headway with the help of the plans that he has designed for being one of the front-runners of the industry.

Before Evelyn Mungai opened the first school of design in Nairobi, there was no such industry as fashion design in East Africa, and so of course there were no fashion designers. She took it upon herself to train thousands of young people across the continent. Under her expert guidance, some went on to start their own businesses in this lucrative field, while others were employed in the related textile and graphic and interior design sectors.

GLOBAL APPEAL

Her graduates span the globe, grateful for the foundation they received at the college. Because of her hard work and dedication, the name Evelyn College of Design has come to be associated with quality. In 1981, she was invited to join the prestigious Africa Business Round-Table (ABR), the high-profile continent-wide private sector body of the African Development Bank. She was its first woman member.

She has also been closely associated with the establishment and promotion of the Corporate Council for Africa and the Global Coalition for Africa, two influential US-based bodies that bring the American and African private sectors closer together. She later served as a board member of the Africa Project Development Facility of IFC, the private sector development arm of the World Bank.

VARIED INTERESTS

For many years, she published Presence Magazine, which provided a platform for strengthening and promoting women. She also published Kenya Women Reflections, a book about Kenyan women active in the struggle for independence.

She has several other business interests, including in property development, and at one time was Founder Chairman of Faida Biashara, a private-sector-driven micro-finance company that empowered small-scale business people.

She is also the member of the International Advisory Panel of the World Islamic Economic Forum representing Africa in this prestigious and influential global body that promotes business between Islamic countries and between them and the rest of the world.

She is a past Chairman of the Kenya chapter of Transparency International, and serves as a Trustee of the President’s Award Scheme. She was a founder board member of the Nairobi Central Business District Association, and also of the Kenya chapter of Safety on the Roads International.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND AWARDS

As the first woman member of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, she launched initiatives in the fields of education, agriculture, health, infrastructure and income generation, and provided for a home for 50 AIDS orphans.

Above all Evelyn Mungai has been a leading champion of women economic empowerment, in Kenya and all around Africa. Her mission as the Founder President of the All African Businesswomen’s Association (AABA), is to facilitate networking and personal development among senior women in the private sector.

Finally, she lives and promotes the best of traditional African values, in terms of respect for the family, awareness of cultural heritage, and integrity.
In 1993, she was awarded the Lincoln University President’s Award for excellence in business and finance. President Kibaki honoured her with the national award of the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW).