Businesses often arise from business leaders with visionary ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit. These businesses and business leaders in India play a pivotal role in shaping economic development by generating revenue, facilitating trade, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities. The Indian economy is growing rapidly, and many reputable and innovative Indian business legends have contributed to it. Together, they continue to energize the country through innovation, infrastructure, technology growth, employment, and self-reliance. Successful business leaders find new solutions to even old problems at every turn. That's why the success stories of Indian business legends are always the steps for upcoming leaders. Here are inspirational quotes from five business legends.

Ratan Tata

A visionary leader, Ratan Tata, spearheaded the globalization of the Tata Group, transforming it from an India-centric conglomerate into a global powerhouse. His leadership style is characterized by a long-term perspective, a commitment to ethical business practices, and a focus on sustainable growth.  

• Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.
• Empowerment of individuals is a key part of what makes open source work since individuals can make decisions and drive things forward.
• Quality and consistency are not an accident; it’s the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution.
• What I would like to do is to leave behind a sustainable entity of a set of companies that operate in an exemplary manner in terms of ethics, and values, and continue what our ancestors left behind.
• Youngsters have the courage and also the understanding to react to the needs of the times – they are not bound by the traditions of the past.

Azim Premji

In the world of business and philanthropy, Azim Premji is an awe-inspiring figure who has risen from a young entrepreneur to one of the world's leading philanthropists. As Chairman of Wipro, Azim Premji's story is a testament to the transformative power of leadership, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to a higher purpose.  

• What is excellence? It is about going beyond what we expect from ourselves. Part of the need for excellence is imposed on us externally by our customers. Our competition keeps us on our toes, especially when it is global.
• If one has been blessed or has been fortunate enough to have much more than normal wealth, it is but natural that one expects a certain fiduciary responsibility in terms of how that wealth is applied, used, and leveraged for society.
• Being in the consumer business helps us groom talent in areas like marketing, finance, and logistics. We can benchmark our outsourcing business to our consumer business and its best practices.
• I think the most important reason for our success is that very early in our quest into globalization, we invested in people - and we have done that consistently, particularly in the service business.
• You need a commitment that is long-term and a commitment to leadership because that's the only way you build excellence.

Anand Mahindra

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, is renowned for his dynamic leadership style and innovative approach. His journey provides several leadership insights that can guide professionals to achieve excellence in the modern workplace.

Anand emphasis on innovation underscores the importance of creative thinking. Leaders can foster innovation by encouraging a culture of brainstorming, welcoming diverse ideas, and providing resources to bring new concepts to life.

 

• I don't think the disruptor and the business model of a disruptor necessarily are an indication of the topography of the future. If it did, you would say then that everyone will make high-end electric cars, when the answer is no.
• Sustainability is a part of our 'rise' philosophy. You cannot rise if you take more from the community than you put back.
• Whether in services or manufacturing, the trick is to stay ahead of the curve. I believe we should not wait to be disrupted - we should become disruptors ourselves.
• I do believe it is important to be future-ready with a portfolio to be able to deal with however the market evolves. This is better than just forecasting accurately— having the weapons ready to deal with the uncertainties.
• The best way to propel the economy may be to encourage different parts of the country to go their own way.

Shiv Nadar

There are very few people in the world of business and technology with as much respect and admiration as the Founder of HCL Technologies, Shiv Nadar. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming the founder of HCL Technologies, one of India's leading IT services companies, is a testament to the transformative power of vision, perseverance, and relentless innovation. 

• Adaptability and constant innovation are key to the survival of any company operating in a competitive market.
• When you are running a business, there is a constant need to reinvent yourself. One should have the foresight to stay ahead in times of rapid change and rid ourselves of stickiness in any form of business.
• I believe good corporate governance is critical in enhancing competitiveness and creating industry-leading profitable growth and superior returns for every stakeholder of the institution.
• Any organization has to go through at least one depression to see how it survives, and a normal economic cycle takes seven years.
• I admire companies that give back to communities. Organizations need to watch, mitigate, and improve their impact on the environment, people, communities, their health, and overall well-being. But this is a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition.

Kumar Mangalam Birla

Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla says leadership skills are not important to have by nature but can be learned through observation, positive attitude, and determination.  

• The work environment is very important in determining how enjoyable work is. It is very important to work with smart guys who have a superior level of intellectual bandwidth and still have softer skills as well.
• I think a leader has many roles to play. So, you know, one role is that of incubating talent; the other is that of being a strategist. It's a very interesting job I've got.
• The young generation is willing to experiment more. Firstly, they are less motivated by money and compensation, unlike the previous two generations. Secondly, integrity and governance are very important issues for them.
• Being a conglomerate, each of our businesses has a different challenge; the business landscape is different for each business. It makes it challenging as well as exciting. 
• I think the golden rule I can think of is the fact that you must follow your passion and do something close to your heart. And I think that that's very important, well, to be successful and to be happy.