CIOInsider India Magazine

Today, there is immense interest in cultivating emerging technologies in India, facilitating the growth of technological literacy, offering talent development programs, and, in turn, drawing remarkable outcomes in smart technologies. Not to mention the amount of effort being made to make the best out of artificial intelligence while making equal attempts to ensure technological sovereignty so as not to violate democratic rights. Today, in celebration of National Technology Day, CIO Insider brings together five masterminds without whom the Indian tech realm would not be what it is now.

F.C. Kohli
F.C. Kohli, referred to as the "Bhishma Pitamaha" of the Indian software industry, was a kind man, a mentor, a skilled strategist, a visionary, and a superb businessman. The Indian IT industry is already well-established on the global map, thanks in large part to the efforts of legends like F.C. Kohli, who saw beyond their comfort zones and drew out a wider picture for the sector. F.C. Kohli practically envisioned the IT industry. Others were simply executing and putting his ideas into practice.

Being a sharp thinker well ahead of his time, he was one of the creators of the Global Delivery Model, which made India the center of the world's back office and provided the foundation for the remote provision of offshore IT services that occurs today. TCS employs skilled men and women from all social strata in India due to its present huge expansion. Distributive justice in the workplace was, in a sense, mostly Kohli's doing. His direction produced a gender-neutral work environment.

People of different genders, castes, communities, and places may now access elite professions thanks to Kohli's innovative and transparent platform. It is important to acknowledge this part of his effort, which was largely disregarded. The typical Indian's way of thinking has undergone a striking shift as a result. In a way, TCS—or, more accurately, the Kohli-led company—was probably the first in the Indian business community to create a just and welcoming workplace.

Ratan Tata
2008 saw the introduction of the Tata Indica, the first vehicle from the Tata Group's automotive division, Tata Motors. Ratan Tata collaborated extensively on the Tata Indica, an automobile that was introduced just as the automotive industry was heating up. Tata Motors' acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover catapulted the business into a worldwide league and brought recognition and experience from abroad to India. However, this achievement has a backstory of retaliation. Tata made the decision to sell the company after Indica received a poor reaction from the market.

Although JLR's value dropped precipitously following the takeover, it currently serves as the backbone of Tata Motors' operations. The most popular cars made by Tata Motors are the Land Rover and Jaguar models. For Ratan Tata, electric vehicles (EVs) represented the future. Tata Motors spearheaded the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in India by launching models like the Tigor EV and Nexon EV. Safety and innovation were given top priority at Tata Motors under Ratan Tata's leadership. 'Born of Pedigree' and other campaigns brought attention to the high level of safety that their vehicles upheld. Tata gave Tata Motors full support. The company's operations have enhanced and helped other ancillary firms, strengthening India's automotive industry.

Shiv Nadar
He subsequently went on to establish HCL in 1976 after making an initial investment of Rs 1,875,000. The UP government was impressed with Nadar's business idea and granted him an extra Rs 20 lakh in exchange for a 26 percent stake in the company. Since the company was owned by the government, he was allowed to rename it "Hindustan Computers Limited."

The corporation saw an opportunity in Singapore and established Far East Computers in 1979. It was successful in bringing in Rs 10 lakhs. Nadar made a botched attempt to enter the US computer hardware market in 1989. Following that, the company formed HCL HP Limited in collaboration with HP (Hewlett-Packard). HCL then went on to work with other global corporations such as Ericsson and Nokia. Nadar continued to be the company's largest stakeholder despite having a less prominent role in management. Known as the pioneer of modern computing, HCL employs more than 169,000 people in 50 countries and generates over $10.1 billion in sales annually.

Nadar is more enthusiastic about the importance of education in one's life than most entrepreneurs are. His contributions to the field of education make this clear. With his financial assistance, NIIT was founded in 1981. Using his father's name, he founded SSN College of Engineering in Tamil Nadu in 1996. During the "customer is the king" era, he was able to develop a strong and moral staff team by prioritizing his employees before his customers. Even in the middle of the Lehman Brothers crisis in 2008–2009, he gave his personnel the assurance that he would not fire anyone. This 75-year-old businessman has shown that one may achieve greatness even in the absence of financial success.

Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani's rise to fame started with the rapid expansion of RIL into telecoms, refining, and petrochemicals. Under his leadership, RIL expanded to become one of India's largest publicly traded companies and a global powerhouse. One of Mukesh Ambani's biggest accomplishments was founding Reliance Jio, a telecom company that revolutionized the Indian telecom industry. By offering free phone calls and affordable data plans, Jio transformed the market, gaining a sizable customer base and compelling competitors to rethink their strategies.

The traditional leadership philosophies of transformational and autocratic leadership do not appeal to him. He is an interesting leader in the present period since he always goes his own way. One of his characteristics is that he constantly prioritizes accomplishment over communication. He is not in the mood to discuss important economic issues at conferences like the World Economic Forum. He would rather focus on his companion.
According to its official website, Reliance provides financial and logistical support, teacher capacity building, and infrastructural enhancements for local schools. Additionally, Reliance offers community-based skill-building and income-generating initiatives.

Azim Premji
Wipro's outstanding expansion and contributions to the Indian IT sector are clear results of Premji's vision and leadership. Premji made the decision to establish an Infotech department within the company after observing a boom in technology and researching the potential of the IT industry. The accomplishment of Azim Premji in transforming Wipro from a traditional business into a top global supplier of IT services emphasizes the need for adaptability and staying current with industry trends. His tenacity in conquering obstacles in both business and philanthropy is an inspiration to the power of grit and unwavering dedication to one's goals.
Azim Premji's leadership was characterized by his commitment to moral principles and corporate governance. Leaders should prioritize ethics and integrity above all else when making decisions.

The success of Wipro can be attributed in large part to his focus on employee development and empowerment. It is the responsibility of leaders to support the growth and well-being of their teams.