Speaking at the “Strategy MasterClass” organised jointly by the CIMCON Management Foundation and IIM Nagpur on Saturday, renowned corporate leader R Gopalakrishnan highlighted three essential pillars for entrepreneurs aiming to scale their businesses. Delivering the keynote address, he emphasised that a focus on productivity, targeting global markets, and investing in human capital are critical to taking enterprises to the next level. During the insightful session, Gopalakrishnan urged entrepreneurs to prioritise improving operational productivity. Citing examples of various successful corporations, he noted, “China has done it very well.” Elaborating on his second point, he advised entrepreneurs against restricting themselves to narrow geographical boundaries. “Fearing competition, many entrepreneurs launch their products only in small territories. Instead, they should focus on global markets. Chinese companies have successfully adopted this exact approach,” he explained. On his third point, he shared his perspectives on leadership, asserting that the primary job of a leader is to create and nurture future leaders. Reflecting on broader economic trajectories, R Gopalakrishnan further pointed out that India and China stood at a similar starting point regarding GDP roughly 40 to 45 years ago.

 

“However, today China has achieved massive infrastructure advancements and world-leading manufacturing capabilities. On the other hand, while India has fared well, it is no longer in the same economic league,” he observed. In light of this, he urged Indian entrepreneurs to set aside geopolitical and diplomatic differences with the neighboring country, advocating instead for a pragmatic approach toward Chinese businesses. “Business relations should not end at any point. It should flow the way water flows.

 

When a stream of water encounters a hurdle, it simply takes a different path and continues its journey,” he explained, adding that combining Indian capabilities with Chinese technology across various sectors would immensely benefit domestic entrepreneurs. Addressing the rising prominence of artificial intelligence (AI), R Gopalakrishnan cautioned against viewing the new technology as ‘Ravana’ - the ten-headed demon from the Ramayana. “About four to five decades ago, when computers first arrived in the country, people felt unsafe and threatened. Yet, computers ultimately helped us in countless ways,” he recalled. The masterclass, centered on the theme “Enterprise Growth Ideas,” focused on Contd on page 2