Aim for the stars. But Stay Grounded!

It was 31st July 2008. I had just begun my MBA life. We had a seminar by Mr. D Shivkumar [M.D Nokia] on  "Where did the leader learn leadership". The seminar was really interesting and  gave great insights on leadership. But the most interesting thing was the lesson learnt after the seminar. 

Everyone left after the seminar got over. But Mr. Shivkumar stayed. He waited to have a chat with few of his colleagues [sub ordinates] from Nokia. 

Later when he left NMIMS premises, he treated his colleagues with vadapav and cutting chai at a roadside joint. Normally when someone comes for a seminar, they wait to talk to students and then leave in their BMW's and Mercedes. 

This guy did not just wait up on his colleagues for tea and snack, he also made sure everyone got into the co. bus before him and only then he left. His humility made an impact on me.

In these two years of MBA, I have attended many seminars by eminent personalities from C.K Prahlad to Kishor Biyani. Every one was unique in their own way. But Mr. Shivkumar left an impression.




This Blog was published by Rediff :  http://getahead.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/feb/01/slide-show-1-specials-i-met-my-idol-d-shivakumar.htm

Inspiring Confidence to be Distinctively ahead.

Bajaj Auto, the country's second-largest manufacturer of motorcycles, has different plans than its competitors.

The time when competitors are adding different models, entering new segments there is Bajaj which is exiting all the loss making segments. Slowly and steadily it started phasing out geared scooters. And now its phasing out Bikes ( Platina, XCD etc.) to avoid cannibalization. 

Is this the right strategy ?  Or Again a mistake what Bajaj did it in past with greater emphasis on Chetak as a brand.

Only Future will tell us the answer. But for now Rajiv Bajaj has different plans all together. He is the man who believes in putting all the eggs in the same basket. He want Bajaj Auto to be the no. 1 Motorcycle manufacturer in the world. And its due to his vision that he is taking steps, which has invited all the critics in the world to question the strategy of Bajaj in the two wheeler segment. 

May be a greater emphasis on Bajaj Pulsar may dilute the Pulsor brand all together, But riding on the winning horse success is proving to be beneficial for Bajaj's growth in the Bike segment. 

Only future will tell us How right Mr. Rajiv Bajaj was in putting his eggs in the same basket. This reminds me of a very famous quote :-

" I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence : two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." 
- Robert Frost