With the aim of helping entrepreneurs explore the art of scaling up the business as well as one’s own self as a leader despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, a three-day virtual event titled ‘Isha Insight: The DNA of Success’ was held from November 27 to 29 under the auspices of celebrated yogi and mystic Sadhguru’s Isha Leadership Academy. Led by Sadhguru, the sessions were facilitated by noted Indian entrepreneur B S Nagesh, founder of TRRAIN and executive vice-chairman of Shoppers Stop Ltd.
The event was attended by 350 entrepreneurs and they included CEOs, potential CEOs and senior business executives apart from founders and promoters of SMEs who want to see their enterprises grow to a global stature. It offered them a platform for interaction as well as the chance to view the success saga of towering figures in the business sphere and explore the DNA of success. This year’s event showcased the success of businessmen who’ve turned the pandemic crisis into an opportunity.
On the first day of the event, programme host Nagesh welcomed the participants and the 31 resource leaders from different walks of life who have done great service to the community, society and shareholders. “This is a great chance of learning as there is a very diverse group of people brought together. The whole thing is about learning, sharing and collaborating and cooperation,” he said, adding that resource leaders will guide participants and mentor them.
Sadhguru, who heads Isha Foundation, delivered the welcome address remotely from the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences in Tennessee, USA. Addressing the entrepreneurs, he acknowledged the impact of the pandemic, including the fatalities and the loss inflicted on businesses and economies. However, he said most people misunderstand coronavirus as the “greatest disaster to hit this generation of people”, which he said was an exaggeration.
Sadhguru said the only way to keep the pandemic at bay is by “conscious and responsible behaviour”. Pointing to the fact that many businesses are suffering, he said entrepreneurs should explore opportunities in challenging situations, adding that they need to open their ‘inner eye’ and have the insight to turn adversity into opportunity.
He stressed the point that the quality of life is not determined by our activity and possessions or by touch, taste, hearing and smell. “Arrangements that we make around us do not become ‘us’. The moment you misunderstand the accessories of life as ‘life’, then you make an utter fool of yourself,” he said.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for those who dare to call themselves entrepreneurs. What is it that people might need tomorrow? You need to focus on that,” he said, elaborating that in order to become leaders in their respective business, entrepreneurs have to aspire for Insight, Inspiration and Integrity.
His address was followed by a question-and-answer session and a discussion between Nagesh and Hari Menon, co-founder of BigBasket.com. The focus of the conversation was on how Big Basket overcame the pandemic crisis by exploring new opportunities and reaping rich dividends. Participants were divided into groups and they held discussions with resource leaders.
Panel speakers on the second day included Sharad Sharma, an evangelist of the software production ecosystem of India and the founder of the non-profit iSPIRT Foundation, a think-tank aimed at making India a product nation; and Varun Berry, MD of Britannia Industries Ltd.
He stressed the need to transform India and make it a ‘product nation’. “We are the oldest living civilisation in the world, we have to do it for our own people and the rest of the world, we have to do it for our own future,” he said. “When you do things out of ‘No Greed-No Glory’ and you pursue your passion, it allows you to bring all of yourself to what you do,” he said.
There was also a tete a tete with FMCG major Britannia’s MD Varun Berry, which was hosted by Ajay Kaul, former CEO, Jubilant FoodWorks. Varun spoke on how Britannia overcame the pandemic crisis and boosted profits.
On the final day, Sadhguru said irrespective of the challenges, a leader must always inspire his employees. “If your hands are not clean, you must not touch another person. You must work upon yourself first. There are short-term goals and long-term aspirations. The purpose of business is not about money but should be about expansion, reach and impact,” he said.
It also included an interaction between Raman Roy, CMD, Quatrro Global Services, and Sanjeev Bikhchandani, who founded Info Edge, which is the low-key parent company of matrimonial portal Jeevansathi, job site Naukri, real estate listings portal 99acres and education website Shiksha. “Thinking big, Starting small – Naukri was an experiment till it became Big,” revealed Bikhchandani.
Isha Leadership Academy, which is part of the Isha Foundation, provides the highest quality of leadership education in India. It has been hosting leadership forums focussed on scaling up leadership, talent management and innovation with C-level attendees.
Sadhguru’s clarity of perception and deep understanding of spirituality, environment, business and international affairs, make him a much sought after speaker at world forums and in the media. Isha Foundation has a volunteer base of more than 11 million around the world and he strives to achieve the mammoth goal of raising human consciousness.
He has penned several bestsellers and they include ‘Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy’, which was a New York Times Bestseller. The latest is ‘Death: An Inside Story’ published in February this year. His biography is ‘More Than a Life’ penned by poet-writer Arundhathi Subramaniam.
Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Named one of India’s 50 most influential people, his work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through transformational programmes. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system, but offers powerful and proven methods for self-transformation. Sadhguru’s flagship programme, Inner Engineering Online, is currently free for healthcare professionals and at half price for all others.
For more information, please visit: www.innerengineering.com
For all enquiries, please email: leadership@ishainsight.org
