Industry leaders from across sectors talk about what their learnings— professional and personal—have been through the Covid-19 pandemic
Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director, Nestlé India
There is nothing like a full-blown crisis to bring out the best in people. As the Covid-19 pandemic swept across industry sectors, upending established processes and putting lives and livelihoods at risk, business leaders learnt to quickly adapt to evolving realities and recalibrate priorities. It was not just business processes that had to be re-engineered, but even personal lives, as people found themselves juggling office and house work while remaining confined within their homes. Leaders from across various sectors shared with Forbes India their experiences, learnings and self-discoveries, and how they turned a crisis into opportunities for themselves and their teams.
‘Resilience, Authenticity and Compassion Are Values That’ll Define Our Future’
Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director, Nestlé India
While the pandemic has made us realise we are living in unprecedented times, it has also accelerated changes that were under way, and triggered an essential re-think of how organisations work. It is time now for the three Ps—people, purpose and partnerships—to come before profit. To deliver optimum results, there should be a focus on trust, empathy and compassion, as much as on driving growth.
Every crisis leads a company back to its values and purpose. ‘Purpose’ is not an add-on or an occasional adoption of the cause du jour to make headlines and win awards. It speaks of a higher cause of trust and responsibility, and a higher calling, where the company is guided by the values that determine its relationship with its employees, partners, stakeholders, customers and consumers. A defining moment for me has been witnessing ordinary people do extraordinary acts, seeing our employees and partners going out of their way to serve people in times of crisis.