In a world increasingly shaped by leaders of Indian descent, Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé India, highlighted the qualities that have propelled Indian executives to the global stage.
Speaking at the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit in Mumbai, Narayanan emphasized that the Indian ethos of “leadership in thought” has been a defining characteristic of the country’s influence on global business.
“We often overlook the fact that many of the world’s most iconic ideas have been conceived by visionary individuals from India,” he said. “This underscores how ‘thought leadership’ has positioned us as leaders on the world stage.”
He also pointed to India’s rich intellectual and philosophical traditions as foundational to its leadership success. Drawing from the country’s longstanding Guru-Shishya Parampara—the revered teacher-disciple tradition—he cited the doha of the 15th-century poet-saint Kabir:
‘Guru Gobind dono khade, kake lagoon paye? Balihari guru aapne, Gobind diyo bataye,’ which translates to: ‘The teacher and the divine both stand before me; to whom should I bow? I surrender to the teacher, for he leads me to the divine.’
Narayanan highlighted that such values have given Indian leaders a distinctive edge, fostering a culture of mentorship and knowledge transfer.
Further expounding on India’s ability to thrive amid contradictions, he referenced the philosophical concepts of Nirgun Nirankar (the formless, invisible divine) and Sargun Sakar (the tangible, perceptible divine). These dual perspectives, he suggested, help Indian leaders navigate complexity and adversity in an ever-changing global landscape.
The introspective nature of Indian leadership, Narayanan added, is another defining strength. Quoting another couplet from Kabir—’Bura jo dekhan main chala, bura na milya koi, jo dil khoja apna, mujhsa bura na koi’ (“I went looking for evil in the world but found none; when I searched within, I discovered the worst was myself”)—he emphasized that self-reflection is a powerful leadership trait.
Having led Nestlé India for more than 25 years, Narayanan attributed the success of businesses not merely to strategy but to the strength of their leadership and corporate culture.
“Rarely do companies fail due to poor strategy,” he said. “More often, they falter due to weak leadership and a decaying culture.”
For long-term corporate success, he advised leaders to embrace three key principles: Ibadat (prayer), Insaniyat (humanity), and Inayat (decency), in addition to agility and foresight.
“The most underleveraged elements in corporate life are people, culture, purpose, values, and perspective,” he noted. “Companies that adhere to these seemingly simple yet profound values tend to thrive, while those that deviate often find themselves as mere footnotes in history.”
On the rise of artificial intelligence, Narayanan was unequivocal: “AI is not meant to become human, and humans are not meant to become AI.”
As he prepares to retire from Nestlé India on July 31, 2025, Narayanan will be succeeded by senior Amazon executive Manish Tiwary on August 1. His legacy includes navigating Nestlé India through the Maggi crisis and steering the company toward sustained growth. Over a 26-year tenure, he has held senior leadership roles across geographies, including Singapore, Egypt, and the Philippines.
With Indian-origin executives increasingly assuming leadership positions at major global corporations, Narayanan’s reflections offer a window into the cultural and philosophical foundations that have fueled their ascent. As the corporate world continues to evolve, these values may serve as guiding principles for the next generation of business leaders.
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More about the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit
The Global Pioneers Summit is a celebration and exploration of the transformative potential of creativity, empowering individuals and businesses to think differently, act boldly, and craft a future that resonates with purpose and vision. Creativity is not just about artistic expression — it is a force for solving real-world problems, innovating products, and creating connections in ways that traditional methods cannot. And there are pioneers behind this shift, who have dared to think different.
The Global Pioneers Summit stands as a premier celebration of the visionary forces propelling businesses forward, spotlighting the global brands emerging from India — an ever-growing hub of creativity and innovation on the world stage. From groundbreaking innovations to impactful storytelling, key decision-makers and innovators from business, marketing, advertising, tech, and academia exchange insights, build connections, and draw inspiration from some of the most compelling work driving industries forward globally.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, creativity can be a powerful force to drive business growth, shape industries, and influence societal behavior, culture, and values. Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit puts the spotlight on the true purpose and power of creativity and the pioneers leading the way.