People, too often, are focused on the destination and not the task that will take you to that destination.’
As the chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi is one of the most well-known names in the corporate world. Her climb up the corporate ladder—and the numerous influential positions she holds outside her job—are a beacon of hope for everyone, especially for women who are often conditioned to believe that they can only advance so much before they are stopped by the imperceptible glass ceiling.
But how did she get here, and what motivates her to stay at the top? What imperative steps does she take every day? What are the beliefs—big and small—that she lives by?
In this revealing profile, Gunjan Jain provides a glimpse into understanding Indra Nooyi’s life mantras and the impact they have had on others.
When one is fortunate enough to be in a position to help others, I believe it is a responsibility to do so.’
In a country of over a billion, it is rare for someone to remain, at once, an enigma and an icon for decades. It is not often that a woman is associated with impeccable and unique sartorial taste, an astute sense of aesthetics, a sharp business mind, an enviable and loyal circle of powerful friends, a deep philanthropic contract with society and an unshakeable commitment to family. Parmeshwar Godrej is all that and much more.
Parmeshwar Godrej continues to remain the first lady of the patriarch league of industrialists in India. From being the versatile partner of one of India’s wealthiest tycoons, she has transformed herself into a public figure, on first-name terms with world leaders, writers, America’s most beloved talk-show hosts and rock star humanitarians.
Surely, a life like this must come with its own set of pressures and challenges. What does it take to deal with it? Find out as Gunjan Jain unravels the enigma that is Parmeshwar Godrej in this fascinating profile.
In the end, you need to figure out who you are, what gives you joy, where your core lies and how to stay true to it.’
Yasmeen Premji, the wife of billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Azim Premji, is part of a pioneering business family that stands at the centre of a world driven by the creation and sharing of wealth.
Yet, she is never overshadowed by her husband’s wealth or influence. Her life focuses as much on being herself—wife, mother, friend, writer, self-taught architect and an integral part of the family’s philanthropic initiatives—while living on her own terms without any pretences.
Read on to know more about the woman that is Yasmeen Premji in this revealing profile by Gunjan Jain.
Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance’—Coco Chanel
Sudha Murty has lived life on her own terms: she got her first job and changed the fundamentals of how the company hired female engineers; she funded her husband, N.R. Narayan Murthy’s, dream tech start-up (Infosys) while she ran the household and raised their children; and later, when Infosys was established, she chose to teach computer science while penning a slew of bestselling books.
A philanthropist who works at the grass roots, she is the chairperson of Infosys Foundation and a celebrated member of the Gates Foundation. The prolific author of several bestsellers, Murty champions the culture of Karnataka, and with her family, symbolizes a new India that thrives on knowledge and innovation.
But how does a superwoman like this come into existence? How does she manage to do it all? Read on as Gunjan Jain attempts to find the answers to these questions and more in this inspiring profile.
I take life as it comes. I have no complaints and hold no grudges. I am essentially content, and god is very gracious.’
Rajashree Birla was only ten when her engagement to Aditya Birla was fixed. Today, she spearheads the Birla group’s corporate social responsibility activities across forty companies. For someone who has been very successful with a job that was thrust upon her by circumstances, and for which she was totally unprepared, it is amazing to see her journey.
From dealing with curveballs of every kind to making every challenge a strength, Rajashree Birla’s story is truly inspiring. Read on as Gunjan Jain explores the secret behind the enigma that is Rajashree Birla.
Power cannot be brokered. Power is something that you lend to people and motivate them.’
She is the soft power of Reliance’s business. She is the perfect wife, an inspiring mother, an educationist par excellence, a hands-on patron of sports, a danseuse and a champion of social causes. She is Nita Ambani.
What does it mean to belong to a family that constantly makes headlines, to perennially be in the spotlight and have every move scrutinized? How did Nita—a very private person—grow into her very public role so flawlessly?
Read on and find out in this fascinating profile by Gunjan Jain.
“Only one moment exists—this moment—all else is a projection of the mind.”
We live planning for a future that is never guaranteed, building towards a life that we may not even be around to enjoy. The only guarantee one gets in life is death and it is the most difficult truth of all to accept.
The first step along the path of enlightenment is mindfulness—being extremely present in the moment, living the now to its complete potential. In fact, this is usually considered the secret to a happy life. And yet, so many of us forget to live in the moment, choosing instead to live weighed down by our past while constantly worrying about the future.
Living in the Now is Osho’s eye-opening guide to living a truly happy and fulfilled life, and how to make the most of our time on earth.
“You are both and neither, and that is transcendence.”
The ultimate destination on a spiritual journey is enlightenment. But there’s a reason why countless people embark on this journey yet only a handful reach the destination.
Enlightenment is as much about the journey as it is about achieving the goal at the end. It is understanding and accepting different truths—some easy and some nearly impossible to handle. It is about singular focus and accepting the bigger picture at the same time. In other words, it is anything but straightforward.
However, if there’s anyone who can explain a difficult concept in the most straightforward manner, it is Osho and in What is Enlightenment?, he does exactly that. Read on.
When a person truly becomes a disciple, trust without any judgements is the only trait they must possess. The unknown—the knowledge a master possesses—can only be learned, not taught. And the only person who knows whether the disciple is ready is the master.
This is why, truly knowing your master is as important as becoming a true disciple. But how does one get to know their master, let alone get chosen by one?
Read on as Osho throws light on a subject that is rarely talked about in this short but eye-opening guide, How the Master Chooses a Disciple.
“When you don’t search for happiness, happiness searches for you.”
The biggest irony of life is that we end up spending a lifetime searching for our true purpose without actually living. Learning to value the life we have been given is a rare skill and sadly, one that very few possess.
There is plenty of literature out there that claim to help one achieve wealth and success and not nearly enough literature that tells you to cherish the more important things in life, like love and happiness.
In The Gift of Life, Osho analyses a short but intriguing Sufi story to talk about the real gift we have all been given: life. Read on.
