IIM Indore, November 22, 2009: As part of the ongoing
dialogue of EPGP students of IIM Indore with business leaders, three
business leaders from diverse industries, were introduced by
Professor N. Ravichandran, to sensitize the students with the
challenges they face as leaders in their organizations.
In a joint session
with EPGP students, Mr. Raghavendra Rao (MD, Orchid Chemicals), Mr.
B. Santhanam (MD, Saint Gobain Glass India) and Mr. Arun
Balakrishnan (Chairman and Managing Director, HPCL) suggested how
EPGP students can become future business leaders and sustain
themselves in leadership positions.
Mr. Raghavendra Rao,
founder of Orchid Chemicals, endorsed the fact that matrix
organizations provide managers various opportunities to understand
different business functions, and attain more responsible positions
and grow faster in their careers. He emphasized the ability of a
leader to see beyond immediate predictions based on statistical
data. He pointed out that a leader should recognize the capabilities
of his team and entrust it with appropriate responsibilities.
Therefore appropriate delegation of authority and responsibility was
important according to him.
Mr. Santhanam,
highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence for a leader
and explained how emotional intelligence coupled with good
analytical skills helps to collaborate and compete simultaneously.
He mentioned that envisioning, delegation and emotional intelligence
are the most significant characteristics of a leader. He advised the
students to focus on networking and social commitments along with
their managerial responsibilities in the future.
Mr. Balakrishnan
discussed the importance of transparency, equal opportunity and
boundary management in an organization. He underscored the
importance of healthy relationship between management and worker
unions in an organization like HPCL. This is in parts due to the
fact that PSUs like HPCL, both the management and the trade unions
are equally powerful and therefore both are equally aware of their
responsibilities and authorities. He encouraged students to be a
part of growth in PSUs, as they offer larger responsibilities at an
early stage in career. He further stressed that, given the
demographic changes of the students in terms of their ages and
academic value addition it may be a good idea for the PSUs like HPCL
to revisit their recruitment policies so as to benefit from full
time executive programme like EPGP.
The programme concluded with a
vote of thanks from the EPGP Chair to the three CEOs and the
audience present in the summit.
