Address by Siddharth Jayakumar - Power Talk

The second day of L'Attitude 13 05 got underway with Power talks by people who have lived life on their own terms and who, perhaps, for the same reason, are a source of inspiration for many of us.

Mr. Siddharth Jayakumar is a certified 'Documentary Credit Specialist' (CDCS) from Institute of Financial Services, UK & is India’s first CDCS with Cerebral Palsy. He is a recipient of National award in 2008 by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment - The “Best Employee with Cerebral Palsy”.

Highlights of his address (non verbatim) -

Siddharth's speech was one that every person would remember as the most inspirational speech of L'Attitude 13 05. Siddharth suffers from a neurological condition called Cerebral Palsy that affects the coordination between his mind and body.

Always defeat the problem. You cannot allow the problem to defeat you were some of his first words...

How many of you manage yourself? How do you make your presence felt? How do you make people accept you? That is where the challenge lies for me. I learnt to manage my limitations very well...How can I blame myself for something that is not in my control?

I used to talk very fast that even my parents could not understand me. I realized that and then I put in every effort to talk slow. That is a very painful process because it is not easy to beat your own mind...

I cannot write my own exam. I have to depend on somebody. Once, I had a person who did not even know English to write my history exam. I had to dictate the 3 hour paper letter by letter. I became very stubborn then. I decided to become mentally tough to be able to handle these situations...

It is easy to have a lot of thoughts, but how many can we really implement? Implementation was not very easy for me...I succeeded because I wanted to succeed.

A lot of insensitive people just happened to put me down without understanding my problem. The doctors could not diagnose my problem for 9 years. A school refused to admit me because I was different. If somebody else was in my situation, they would have just given up...

My parents are people who never expected something great out of me. I never passed on any responsibility to my parents. Accepting responsibilities for who you are and accepting whatever result you get for your action, that is what I did. It is very easy for me to blame the system, but blaming the the system will make me a loser. After 6 years of my career, I have met a lot of people who cannot come to terms with my ability no matter how much they know me...

I learnt that there is no second opportunity for me. Many people take their opportunities for granted. Every single opportunity I had, I had to grab it and deliver the best I can...

He ended the address with the words Everyday I think about how I can make myself better!

Siddharth's speech was about the story of his own personal triumph over his limitations. On the one hand, it is deeply personal, while, on the other, it is a lesson in exercise of will power, perseverance and a deep seated urge to succeed despite overwhelming odds. One that we would remember for a long time in our lives...!

Arthashastra final results

The finals of the one of the flagship events of L'Attitude 13 05 - Arthashastra - were conducted over SKYPE with participants taking part from international B Schools. In fact, this is the only event of L'Attitude that had exclusive participation from the international B schools alone. After a gruelling test of management consulting and strategy skills, the winning team was announced by former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam during the inauguration of L'attitude. The winning team also gets to walk away with a prestigious trophy.

Here are the winners –

First Prize – USD 2500 + Trophy
Team name – Spartan
School – Michigan State University
Students - Gaurav Arora,  Amit Kumar Ranjan and Amanjeet Singh

Second Prize – USD 1000
Team name – SingBiz
School – National University of Singapore
Students - Anukish Garg, Vishal Narain and Surya Dipta

Congratulations to the winners!

Address by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – Chief Guest

L’Attitude 13 05, 2011 got underway in grand style today. Dr. Kalam, former president of India and one of our most distinguished scientists was the chief guest. His speech was on ‘21^st century Management Education’

Excerpts –

I would like to greet the experts and professionals in management, academicians, industrialists, corporate and all the guests present here. I was reading about the Great Lakes Institute of Management which has the motto “Global Mindset, Indian roots”. This amalgamation is indeed the need of the modern Indian Management Education in this new decade and beyond.

Economic development, competitiveness and creative leadership

Since I am in the midst of experts and professionals in management, let me discuss the linkage between national economic development and creative leadership.

1. A nation’s Economic development is powered by competitiveness.

2. Competitiveness is powered by knowledge power.

3. Knowledge power is powered by Technology and innovation.

4. Technology and innovation is powered by resource investment.

5. Resource investment is powered by return on Investment.

6. Return on investment is powered by revenue.

7. Revenue is powered by Volume and repeat sales.

8. Volume and repeat sales is powered by customer loyalty.

9. Customer loyalty is powered by Quality and value of products.

10. Quality and value of products is powered by Employee Productivity and innovation.

11. Employee Productivity is powered by Employee Loyalty.

12. Employee Loyalty is powered by employee satisfaction.

13. Employee satisfaction is powered by working environment.

14. Working Environment is powered by management innovation.

15. Management innovation is powered by Creative leadership.

For success in all the missions, it is essential to have creative leaders. Creative leadership means, exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect.

The knowledge society in 21st century

The world in the 21st century will be a knowledge based society with multiple opportunities. I was studying a book, "Empires of the Mind" by Denis Waitley. This book gives what type of the new world which we are facing now? What was yesterday and what is today. I have modified certain points of the author to suit our conditions. I have also added a third line which is pertinent to the action required by the management institutions.

It especially says that “what worked yesterday won’t work today”

1. Yesterday – natural resources defined power

    Today - knowledge is power

     Institutions will be the powerhouse for knowledge.

2. Yesterday - Hierarchy was the model

     Today- synergy is the mandate

     Institutions will be enabler of intersection of multiple faculties towards mission goals.

3. Yesterday – leaders commanded and controlled

  Today – leaders empower and coach

   Potential Leaders will be empowered through exposure to the needs of sustainable       development.

4. Yesterday - shareholders came first

    Today – customers come first

    Education should inculcate sensitivity to "customer" needs.

5. Yesterday - employees took order

    Today – teams make decision

    Institutions can inject team spirit.

6. Yesterday - seniority signified status

    Today – creativity drive status

    Institutions are the breeding environment for creativity.

7. Yesterday – production determined availability

    Today – Competitiveness is the key

    Competitiveness is powered by research and university has to have the motto of "teaching-research-teaching".

8. Yesterday - value was extra

    Today – value is everything

    Value based education has to be introduced as a part of the curriculum, at least for one hour every week.

9.  Yesterday – everyone was a competitor

     Today – everyone is a customer

     During education industrial and entrepreneurship training is essential.

10. Yesterday - profits were earned through expediency

      Today – Work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

      Home, organizations and educational places should become learning places

Conclusion: 

We will have to find newer methods of cooperation so that core competence of even remote villages can be synergized for competitive products. So, everything global must have the tone; management for the 6 billion; water for 6 billion; energy for 6 billion; education for 6 billion; healthcare for 6 billion. Such empowerment will lead to a world which is prosperous, peaceful and grows on sustainable path of development. It is beyond doubt, that the enterprises and business models will play an increasing role in the evolution of the humankind and nations in the future. They would be recognized by the contribution which they make the lives of the people and the profits would be recognized only when they come with integrity.

Profit with integrity:

 Profit with integrity leads to sustained growth. How is it possible? We need to have National ethics for sustained growth and peace. Where from it starts?

* Nation has to have ethics in all its tasks, for sustained economic prosperity and peace.

* If nation is to have ethics; society has to promote ethics and value system.

* If society is to have ethics and value system, families should adhere to ethics and value system;

* If families have to get evolved with ethics and value system, parenthood should have inbuilt ethics.

* Parental ethics come from great learning, value based education and creation of clean environment that leads to righteousness in the heart.

Friends, for 21st century one of the very important business ethos will be the song "I will work with integrity and succeed with integrity". It is indeed a tough process, but only tough minded people, defeat the problem and succeed.

With these words, I inaugurate the L’Attitude 13 05’ being organized by the Great Lakes Institute of Management. My greetings and best wishes to all of you. May God Bless you.

To a question on how the rural urban inequality can be tackled, Dr. Kalam gave the example of project PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) This project provides urban amenities in rural areas by providing physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity. Once this in place, this can facilitate earning capacity leading to economic connectivity and upliftment of rural areas.

Dr. Kalam wanted the students present in the audience to send him a mail with 5 names consisting of a politician, a bureaucrat, a corpocrat, a social worker and a public personality who have practised integrity and have succeeded in their domains.

Talking about integrity, in his typical style, he made the audience repeat the following-

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character,

When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home,

When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation,

When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”

Dr. Kalam gave us ample food for thought when he said, “can you be you or do you want to be everyone else? The World around is doing its best, day and night to make you like everyone else”. As he ended his address, he left us with this single overpowering message – “Work with integrity and succeed with integrity”

L'Attitude 13 05 - Guest Speakers

If you went through the post on the Guest of Honour and the CEO Conclave and were impressed by the profiles of speakers, well, this list is going to impress you more...as guest speakers for the event, we have –

Mr. Arvind Talekar representing the ‘Nutan Mumbai Dabbawalas Association’ will be speaking on ‘The Magic of Dabbawalas Unfolded’. Even though 85% of them are illiterate, the Dabbawalas have Six Sigma, ISO & several other certifications to their credit. . The Dabbawala Association which was started in late 1890 by Late Shri. Mahadu Havji Bachhe now has 5000 employees and they deliver as many as 200000 boxes a day with a very high degree of accuracy. 

Mr. Siddharth Jayakumar is a certified 'Documentary Credit Specialist' (CDCS) from Institute of Financial Services, UK & is India’s first CDCS with Cerebral Palsy. He is a recipient of National award in 2008 by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment - The “Best Employee with Cerebral Palsy”. Being a person with cerebral palsy, life was not easy for Siddharth. He had to encounter a number of hurdles. A turn around moment for him was when he got a call from Dr. Kalam’s office when the latter was serving as president. Thereafter Dr. Kalam went on to mention Siddharth's name on many occasions & forums including the ‘World Disability Day’.

Mr. Peter Van Geit, born and raised in Belgium, is living in Chennai for the last 12 years, working as a Project Manager in CISCO Systems India. An explorer by nature, Peter has driven over 50,000 kms across India on his bullet and has conquered the Himalayas thrice. A few years ago, he founded the Chennai Trekking Club (CTC), a non-profit volunteer based group of trekking enthusiasts who explore mountains and jungles across South India nearly all weekends of the year. This Chennai based group has currently close to 8000 members and is rapidly growing with 500 new members joining each month. It is the largest and the most active trekking community in India.

Mr. T Chendil Kumar or CK as he prefers to be called is a corporate trainer and a guest faculty at IIM Bangalore. With over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing and entrepreneurship, CK took a decision to switch over to training and speaking at the age of 45. He doesn’t regret it one bit because he now does what he enjoys best – connecting with people and enabling confidence in them. CK is an avid Toastmaster and a much sought after speaker. He has sponsored more than 10 Toastmasters Clubs in India. A redeeming feature of CK’s talks has been his sprinkling of relevant humour in his talks and programs.

Mr. Firdose Vandrevala is Chairman and Managing Director of Hirco Developments. Prior to joining Hirco, he was Chairman of Motorola in India. Mr. Vandrevala has had a long, successful and distinguished career with Tatas from 1972 -2005. He has been on the Boards of several companies. Currently besides Hirco, he is on the Board of Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd., Power Systems Operations Company and also on the Board of RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) India and UK.  Mr. Vandrevala’s interests have led him to be actively involved with many organizations like Rotary, CII, and Multiple Sclerosis of India (MSSI).

Mr. Kamal P Nanavaty heads RIL’s Polymer and Cracker Business. He played a key role in capacity expansion through acquisition of IPCL in 2002 which enhanced the polymers market share from 40% to 70%. He has also been with Reliance Infocom, Reliance Retail and IPCL. He has presented numerous papers and key note addresses in conferences of international repute like APIC, NPRA, SPI, CMAI, Chemical week, ICIS, Tecnon, Plast India and others

Are you looking forward to listening to these speakers? Then, do join us on the 6^th and 7^th Jan, 2011 as we usher in the new year in our own style!

L'Attitude 13 05 - Guest of Honor and CEO Conclave

This year, L'Attitude 13 05, is all set to dazzle the audiences with an eclectic array of guests, CEOs and speakers - those who have taken the less beaten path, those who have made it big in the industry and as the crowning glory, a former president of India. 

Chief Guest 

The guest of honour is none other than Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. The former president hardly needs any introduction. Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with a unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He is also a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions. People loved and respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam so much during his tenure as the President that he was popularly called the People's President. Before his term as India's president, he worked as an aeronautical engineer with DRDO and ISRO. He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology.

CEO Conclave 

As part of the CEO conclave, we have Sampath Ramesh, Satish Pradhan and K Raghavendra Rao. 

Mr. Satish Pradhan, Chief, Group HR, Tata Sons heads the Tata Group HR function. During the last 30 years he has worked with Steel Authority of India, CMC, ICI India, Brooke Bond Lipton India Ltd (now Unilever India), ICI Plc in various capacities in the HR area. He is on the boards of various Tata group companies, professional bodies, NGOs and is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD.

Mr. K Raghavendra Rao, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd has transformed Orchid from a single-product company to a multi-product operation with end-to-end connectivity from discovery to delivery. He has previously worked with Ashok Leyland, the SOL group and the Al Buraimi Group based in the Sultanate of Oman. 

Mr. Sampath Ramesh (Sam) is the President and Co- founder of Meso America Inc, USA a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of products to the Food Service Industry. In addition, Sam is also the President of Showatech Inc, USA, a subsidiary of Brakes India (A TVS Company) and looks after the distribution of Brake parts and components to major OEMs and Tier 1 companies in North America. He trains CEOs and Senior Managers of Leading Companies on the cultural aspects of doing business with India.