The bias against youth is a peculiar Indian trait. It surfaces every time a new Central government gets sworn in. This time too, it was no different. Politicians long past their expiry date grabbed berths in the jumbo cabinet, nudging out younger contenders. There were some new faces, but for the most part, it seems as if experience (read jejune ideas) won the day.
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That’s why I’d encourage our political class to read our cover story on Infosys. It is instructive because of a variety of reasons. Its founders stayed the course, despite huge setbacks, to form one of India’s best known companies. Yet today, instead of clinging on to their seat of power, they are actively grooming a crop of young leaders to take over. If Apple is any evidence, it’s a transition that’s as risky as it can get. Neither employees nor the outside world seem to trust new faces. Despite that, why are Murthy, Nilekani & Co. preparing to move out well in time? I’m not giving away the answer, except to say that the ground rules of business seldom stay the same. Today, the worst downturn in living history has forced Infosys to re-examine its established business model. Should it stick to 50-year-olds with years of experience and enormous public profile or repose faith in a new breed of energetic, young 40-year-olds whom the world outside has never heard of?
I admit it’s not an easy call. But we’ve been through that decision at Forbes India. Our average age in the newsroom is about 30 years. And they come in all shapes and sizes. They bring loads of spunk, passion and a questioning mind. Almost every day, they teach us seniors an important lesson: It’s never too late to learn. Occasionally, the experiment does fail — and it can be frustrating. Stories sometimes have to be junked because they lack the analytical firepower or the nuances to appeal to discerning readers that we hope to target. But if our magazine’s mission is to break the mould, our young turks have the fresh ideas to make it happen.
There’s a set of simple precepts we’ve learnt to get the maximum out of our young team. Give them the tools to learn. Allow them to express their views. Set the bar high. And then watch them soar. It’s an experience that beats any other.
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Drop us a line at editor.forbesindia@network18online.com or join the conversation on my blog
