Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Marketing Conference at Vizag, 6 th January, 2024

Public sector companies in our country have grown with the reputation of lack of innovations and R&D, absence of customer-centricity and a lack of fire in the belly. But not now. Today, the stock market is rocking in respect of public sector companies, including public sector banks. Over the last two decades, many PSUs have undergone massive transformation led by digital innovations.

Recently, I was invited to address the Marketing Conference of a leading public sector enterprise in defense – Bharat Electronics Limited. I was amazed to learn about its human capital, emphasis on R&D and marketing orientation. I was also wonderstruck to learn that it has about 5000 engineers out of which 2500 are in R&D.

It swells my heart with pride to see that India’s public sector is today second to none in its nation-building effort. As an inveterate public sector man, my faith in India’s public sector is vindicated.

Program on Corporate Governance for the Functional Directors of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), hosted by Oil India Limited, at Guwahati, 19 th January, 2024

Recently, the Department of Public Enterprise, Govt. of India organised a program on corporate governance for the Functional Directors of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), hosted by Oil India Limited, at Guwahati. I had the privilege of being invited to address a group of over 30 Functional Directors including a few Chairmen and Managing Directors of these companies.

I was amazed at the diversified talent in the group ranging from high-end technology, manufacturing, operations, finance, commercial, marketing, projects and human resources, and an urge to learn. Every one of them is already on the board of their respective companies and yet no one showed the tendency of ‘know all’ and in fact, they demonstrated a child-like curiosity to learn more from our experience. I was also privileged to co-teach with Mr. Anup Pujari, IAS, a Former Secretary, Govt. of India (who also teaches at Harvard).

In such programs, apart from sharing my experiences, I always learn from the insightful questions of such experienced and talented participants. India’s public sector talent at the top amazes me all the time. Even in such disruptive times, they are valiantly fighting the force of competition and are aligning their corporations to be evermore adaptive, resilient and shock- proof. Public enterprises of our country remain in the forefront of India’s growth story.

Mrs. Usha Singh, Director HR, MOIL Limited, received a copy of Dare to Lead for the best question asked during the end of session.

International Leadership Development Program at SBI Institute of Leadership, Kolkata, 4 th December 2023

It has been a privilege to associate as an advisory Board member of the Central Strategic Training Committee of SBI and also as an advisory Board member of SBI Institute of Leadership, Kolkata. This is a unique leadership development institute in the Banking sector in South East Asia.

On 4th December, I had the privilege of addressing the participants of an International Leadership Development Programme on Transformational Leadership, attended by participants from Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal and Bhutan. It was a pleasure signing copies of my book- Dare to Lead for each participant who were given this book by SBIL as a course material.

In the evening a panel discussion was conducted on 'Leadership in Disruptive Times' for a combined assembly of four on-going programmes and online participation of SBIL's alumni from different parts of the world. Shri SR Nair, a leading digital consultant who was one of the panelists sharpened the understanding on emerging digital reality and its implication on leadership. The other panelist, Shri Arun K Jain, Sr Vice President, SBI Capital, shared various initiatives in merger and acquisitions in the emerging times. Dr Krishna Kumar, Dean of SBIL, moderated the panel and raised some very insightful questions and kept the participants intellectually engaged.

SBIL's dynamic Director, Mr Benga Raju and a very enthusiastic and versatile Dean, Dr Krishna Kumar have made this place a vibrant place for learning and sharing.

HR Conclave, National Dairy Development Board, 15 th December 2023
Recently I had the privilege to speak in the HR Conclave organised by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on ‘Building Great Institutions- Role of Leadership’. The conference title, ‘Purpose, Governance and Imagination’ fascinated me.

The conclave held on 15 th December at NDDB, Anand was attended by over 400 professionals including CEOs and CXOs from Milk Union cooperatives, producers, IRMA students, faculty and NDDB staff. It was great meeting Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman NDDB and Mr Jayen Mehta, Chairman Amul and some well-known HRD icons

Anup Singh, Dr Aquil Busrai, Vikas Shirodkar and many others.
I spoke about the features of great organisations, as being consistent market leaders in performance, productivity and profitability, making waves as innovators, fanatical towards customer-centricity, and who always strive to be purpose-fit, vision-fit, talent-fit, leadership-fit, digitally-fit and culture-fit. I also shared my belief that great organisations are created by great leaders who pursue human values, build impactful community connect and care for their people.