FILA winners: The game changers

Leaders are of various kinds. There are those who like to get their hands dirty and do things themselves, and there are others who like to delegate and prefer to be involved at a broader, strategic level. However, there is one thing common among good leaders: They are able to attract followers, people who rally around them and share their goal and vision for the enterprise. A good leader will be able to ensure his team shares his vision, and that becomes the goal for the organisation as a whole. In the process, the enterprise is able to create value and wealth for shareholders.

Sounds lofty? Not if you take a look at the stories we bring you in the following pages as we seek to celebrate some of the country’s finest leaders and their organisations. The Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA), now in its fifth year, honours leaders who have forged unique paths, battling odds in the process, managing to bring about deep-rooted change. They are disruptors and innovators who are able to create lasting legacies. They are also those who believe not just in creating value, but also in the spirit of giving back and doing good.

We at Forbes India began the process of identifying this year’s winners months ago. The first stage, as always, was of preparing an exhaustive long list of potential candidates by speaking to several domain experts and conducting extensive research. We were ably aided by our Knowledge Partner KPMG, and arrived at a shortlist of 45 names, across nine categories. These shortlisted names were then presented to the FILA Jury, which comprises some of the most respected names in the world of business. This year, the jury was chaired by Harsh Mariwala, chairman of Marico Ltd, and had Naina Lal Kidwai of HSBC India, Sanjay Nayar of KKR India, Noshir Kaka of McKinsey India, former Blackstone India chairman Akhil Gupta and Manish Sabharwal of TeamLease Services as members. The Jury picked the winners after an intense round of deliberations.

The people and organisations we introduce you to in this special issue are among the finest in the country. As you read their stories, you will understand how each of them has been able to make a difference in their sectors and transform their businesses. Whether it is a private sector bank, a state-run institution or a startup, these leaders have made an indelible impression by the sheer dint of their leadership and acumen. That’s why they are game changers, inspiring others to follow their path.

India needs many more like them.

Happy reading.

Best,
Sourav Majumdar
Editor, Forbes India
Email:sourav.majumdar@network18publishing.com
Twitter id:@TheSouravM