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The Gita Piramal Chat

Rishab: What's to stop you from becoming an Indian Fortune 500 then I'll write about you and you can order Sushin Datta around.

Ms GP. I plead guilty. I AM paying thousands of dollars. Can you tell me how to make it big without doing so (and charging consultancy fees right now for the answer).

This is certainly very interesting. What I want to know from you is this: is it possible to be successful in India without working the system, if you know what I mean.

In your blind defence of family-owned companies and family-run managements, you are underminging the spirit of Indian managers like HLL's Dutta.

Will the Tatas splinter, and the Ambanis split up after Mukesh and Anil inherit the mantle?

Shiva: Titan(watches) and VIP Elanza(luggage) are the only two brands who have launched globally . The jury is still out.

Rishab: None of them do. Infact Rajashree Birla told me that she asked Aditya Birla why he worked so hard and he replied "For the power". Then she thought that he never uses the power so whats the use? Sure they have the trappings of wealth , people to carry thier briefcase, executive jets , but I don't think they work so hard for the trappings as for the recognition they recieve from happy share holders or the media .

Ms. Pirmal, pls tell me up to what level a professional manager should involve himself in the affairs of company.

Thanks, Ms GP, for the answer. Here lies the crunch. The best watches are Swiss, and Japs. Best electronics - Japs, best cars, Germans, etc. In which product does India have a competitive advantage, in the sense suggested by Ricardo and Michael Porter? Or will we have to wait for some new invention/discovery? How about software?

James: Since 1991 we are headed towards a far greater transperancy ( Sukhram's moneybags notwithstanding) in accquring licenses so you don't need the "system " if by that you mean bribing politicans and bureaucrats but you do need to appreciate Indian environment and cultural diversity to sucedd in India.

Shiva: Comparing the 8 men there are 3 trends I've picked up about success . 1] Character: They are all focussed and they know their business , they are obsessed with work and their companies and they have incredible high level of energy .

2] In their management principle they trust easily and hence can delegate well , they run their plants to full capacity and they create wealth in the form of tangible assets such as described by Stephen Covey as opposed to Harshad Mehta style creative financial engineering.

3] With the exception of Goenka and Bajaj each had a mentor who gave them a big helping hand. So that answers success. So now I'll wait to write about you.

Madam, in continuation of my 1st question, pls give instances where professional managers are sharing ownership with family after they have worked hard for family run organisation for years,

Just curious, who was Mr Ambani's mentor?

James: I want to know what work you do?

Which are the Indian companies going multinational? And how do you find Indian companies treating non-Indian employees? Especially in Africa, where many Indian companies have sprouted? Do Indian managers treat Africans with as much respect as he would a white?

Jaswant: T A Pai, chairman, of a Syndicate Bank

Nikesh: Zero

Maharajah: Government just reported that Indian companies have invested 200 million dollars in ventures abroad in the 1990's I suspect that these are too small yet to be of any significance don't forget Birla companies in South East Asia and the diamond companies in Antwerp and Thailand. I don't know anything about Africa.

You mentioned a mentor. So I am going to request you to be my mentor. Hope you don't mind.

Hey Rishab Sushin is a friend of mine and I think that what he did for HLL was excellent. What do you think about Chugh?

You mean to say that Mr Pai provided the cash for Dhirubhai's success. What drew Tonse Anant Pai to Mr Ambani?

A Business Baron survey recently said that social concern ranked rather low among Indian CEOs. Is this true. Does that mean they are more obsessed with money and profits rather than India's well being?

Who are the most exciting Young Turks among the younger businessmen to watch out for?

Ms GP, I often read about many top Indian corporate leaders opposing transnational companies from coming into India. Yet they remain keen to become TNCs and go abroad. Is this not a streak of hypocrisy?

Maharajah: When Dhirubhai was younger he said that businessmen are in business to make money and they should spend their time making shareholders richer and through this he could do something more worthwhile tha spending time on charity work. When he turned 60 he changed his mind.

Jaswant: Subhash Chandra CEO Zee Tv, any of the steel tycoons ( Jindal, ESSAR though they have their up and downs ) maybe one of the three electronic entertainment guys I'm not sure.

Last Two questions!!!

Why are the Ambani boys better than the Bajaj and Goenka boys?

Sri Sen: Bajaj and the Goenka boys are much younger so we don't know what they are capable of.

Was professional and family jealoousies behind the Birla group breakup. Would they not have been far more powerful today, if they had stayed united, especially in light of the reforms. Why do Indian companies always break up(like our politicians, all want to be PM or CM). Why don't they just work and accept the best as the CEO?

Harsh is born in 1957, so is Mukesh. Anil is 37, Sanjeev is 35. So your thesis is incorrect. the Bajaj boys are younger, but are they in the same league?

Thanks, Ms GP, I am signing off now. And waiting to welcome the first Indian brand that evokes recognition like Coke. And also to join the top ranks after my studies are through, even though now I wonder if its worth it. Thanks Rediff. See you again.

Can the answers come in a little faster!!

From the maharajahs of yesteryears, who do you rate the best (exclude G D Birla and J R D Tata)?

Tha's a good question, Maharaj. Ms GP, how would you rate the old barons?

You know, there is a common complain that our industrialists are cry babies. They constantly want protection from the govt, are scared of competition (except Ambani, so u know y i admire him). What is your opinion.

Sri Sen: How demanding at the fag end of the chat. OK. Dhirubhai had a stroke in mid-1980's forcing Mukesh and Anil to take tough decisions when the group was passing through a very difficult phase they were in the middle of a fight with Ramnath Goenka the market for their products had vanished there was a strike at Naroda and credit was tight so they had to borrow at very high interest rates plus they were in a middle of a debenture issue. They learnt fast and so won respect from us. In the case of Harsh and Sanjiv there has been no such baptism by fire . I don't know how well they would cope were they in Ambani chappals. I don't see any reason to feel that they would do a bad job.

Maharajah: I belive family divorces make for strong companies they make businessmen more aggressive because they want to show that they are better than their brothers and this makes for stronger companies.

Thats all from the Maharani for now. Hope you have fun reading my book. Good Night.

Hey, answer my queries, maharani. don't leave me this way?