Lessons in leadership
THE WEEK India|January 19, 2025
When I began my career at Hindustan Lever (as HUL was then called), I was deeply inspired by our chairman, Dr Ashok S. Ganguly.
SURESH NARAYANAN
Lessons in leadership

He was a leader who balanced toughness with compassion and honesty. His sincerity in both words and actions left a lasting impression on me.

Many years later, during my career with Nestlé, I moved to Nestlé Egypt just at the start of the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011. I had a boss named Roger Stettler, who headed the Africa division. Despite facing challenges, he stood by me, offering support and guidance every step of the way. Instead of inundating me with advice during the crisis, he trusted my abilities and encouraged me to focus on my team and our business. His belief in my authenticity and competence was truly rare and motivating. I believe trust is a binding factor between teams, and the onus of creating an environment that is conducive for teams to flourish rests with the leader.

This takes me back to the words of Mahatma Gandhi: A sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but how many leaders you create. Real leaders are those who trust their teams, work on their strengths and prepare a core of ‘future leaders’.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin January 19, 2025 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin January 19, 2025 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE WEEK INDIA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Lessons in leadership
THE WEEK India

Lessons in leadership

When I began my career at Hindustan Lever (as HUL was then called), I was deeply inspired by our chairman, Dr Ashok S. Ganguly.

time-read
2 dak  |
January 19, 2025
Political colours
THE WEEK India

Political colours

One of the greatest fashion statements of recent times was made in the Parliament's winter session by Rahul Gandhi and some opposition colleagues. India's most news-making politician (since his landmark Bharat Jodo Yatra) gave up his signature white polo T-shirt for a blue one.

time-read
2 dak  |
January 19, 2025
Chat roam
THE WEEK India

Chat roam

Vox pop content is seeing an uptick in India, with creators making conversations on current and social issues fun and funny

time-read
4 dak  |
January 19, 2025
Back home with BANNG
THE WEEK India

Back home with BANNG

Michelin star-winning chef Garima Arora, who recently opened her first restaurant in India, on all things food and family

time-read
4 dak  |
January 19, 2025
One supercalifragilisticexpialidocious New Year
THE WEEK India

One supercalifragilisticexpialidocious New Year

Once Christmas is over, tension mounts in our home as the little woman and I start ticking off the days. We both remain on edge because we dread the coming of the New Year—a time when the whole world goes crazy and adopts resolutions. We, too, make New Year promises and our ‘list of past resolutions’ is very long and impressive. Unfortunately, we are complete failures at keeping them and our ‘list of resolutions not kept’ is equally long and equally impressive.

time-read
3 dak  |
January 19, 2025
Six or out?
THE WEEK India

Six or out?

Cricket is a quasi-religion in India. And our pantheon of cricketers is worshipped with a fervour bordering on hysteria.

time-read
2 dak  |
January 19, 2025
DOWN AND UNDER THE WEATHER
THE WEEK India

DOWN AND UNDER THE WEATHER

After their flop show in Australia, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have to live on current form rather than past glory

time-read
6 dak  |
January 19, 2025
The new in news
THE WEEK India

The new in news

THE WEEK and DataLEADS partner to revolutionise news with fact-checks, data and Live Journalism

time-read
1 min  |
January 19, 2025
Hello Middle East
THE WEEK India

Hello Middle East

Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation, inaugurates a special Middle East section on THE WEEK website

time-read
1 min  |
January 19, 2025
BAIT CLICK
THE WEEK India

BAIT CLICK

Dark patterns fool millions of Indians every day. The government is finally acting, but it just may not be enough

time-read
5 dak  |
January 19, 2025