The Man of Action - Amitabh Kant

He’s not your regular Sarkari babu. He works even Saturdays to finish tasks and makes way for meetings that were due long. He has been the face startups recognize not just with Startup India and Make in India. Before he started working on these projects he has worked on successful campaigns like creating the image of India and states with the likes of “Incredible India” and “God’s Own Country” for Kerala, the state from where he passed the IAS cadre in 1980. He’s the one who’s has been known for the right branding at right time. He works to deliver or delivers for work. Even at the age of retirement, he seems to be gung-ho with not just his strong words but how can that be turned into action. This man has surely had a fool-proof plan. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog seems to know the pulse of the nation. His India branding was rightly timed. And now when the whole nation seems upbeat about startups and Vocal for Local, he has taken it to a different level by involving startups across India and states in the Make in India initiative. Looking at how he was moderating at Startup India by how he introduced startups in his classy way or how just like a class monitor he held all the joint secretaries answerable for the audience at large. Kant lives by the can-do attitude as he knows how to get things done. Here’s the Make in India man who’s also better known as the BFF of Startups.

- Punita Sabharwal

How difficult it is to think entrepreneurial while being in the government? How do you think new every day?

An entrepreneur thinks about maximizing impact, scaling up, transforming lives and so do we. The only difference would be that while an entrepreneur may think of profit maximization, we in the government think of the larger good- growth, the progress of the country and the welfare of the citizens. We attempt to ensure that whatever we do through projects, policies and interventions, leads to the overall benefit of the country and its citizens. I read a lot of books, I spend time listening to presentations that are interesting and have out-of-the-box ideas and I like interacting with people - this allows me to broaden my horizon and think afresh and anew. Moreover, NITI Aayog is a vibrant, dynamic organization full of young professionals who generate a lot of new ideas.

What has been the most defining moment in your professional journey?