‘Enterprise is vital for growth of modern society’
   Date :14-Oct-2019

 R Gopalkrishnan
 
Business Bureau :
 
HIGHLIGHTING the importance of enterprise, R Gopalkrishnan, former Director of Tata Sons said, “Enterprise is one of the most important factors for the growth of modern society. We need all types of businesses. This is the only way society can grow and sustain itself for the future.” He was speaking on the theme ‘Balconies of Business’ organised by Vidarbha Management Association (VMA) on Sunday. R Gopalkrishnan was also former Managing Director of Brooke Bond Lipton, former Chairman of Unilever Arabia, author of several books and corporate advisor. He has completed Electronic Engineering at IIT Kharagpur and studied at Harvard Business School. He said that entrepreneurs operating an enterprise should have a feeling of pride as they constitute an important component of society just like any other profession. Enterprise is one thing that provides a person to earn legitimately. It does not matter if a person is a small trader or running a large manufacturing business.
 
They should have the feeling of fulfillment to serve the nation. With this, all types of activities take place including trading, manufacturing, R&D. Apart from this, a modern society should have activities like arts, music, dance etc. This is essential if one wants a modern society. Sharing his rich experience of 50 years in corporate world, R Gopalkrishnan said that an entrepreneur needs to find the purpose of running an enterprise. Is it only for earning profit or to serve society. It is extremely important to understand the purpose of running a company or creating an institution of great repute like Tata, Birla, Godrej etc. Entrepreneur need to change their mindset. Giving an example, he said that in the 1880’s William Hesketh Lever stated that his objective in running a business has been cleaning millions of people across the world. Similarly, Jamsetji Tata stated that his aim has been returning money to society.
 
Even today, worlds largest charitable organisation is run by Tata Group. He relates the ‘Balconies of Business’ to the Qutab Minar, Varanasi. He once visited Qutab Minar and while climbing the towering structure he saw many balconies at various stages. Every stage provided a smaller view of the city. In the same manner, it reminded him of his journey in corporate world to be no different. He said that there are three different leaders.
 
First the fundamental leader, second corporate leader and third holistic leader. Fundamental leaders mindset is of meeting people having same objective in an organisation. Corporate leader has to deal with people having opposite views and take decision. Holistic leaders aim is to improve profitability and think why they are running the business. Aniruddh Hazra, President of VMA, Sachin Jahagirdar, Past President, Mahendra Giridhar, Secretary, Prasanna Dani and andothers were present.