New Delhi: 'Sir' is a word that doesn't exist in their lexicon — they respond only if colleagues call them by their first names. They have neither reserved car parking slots in office, nor reserved tables in the canteen. Fresh, talented and aggressive, they also think out-of-the-box. Meet the young breed of CEOs/COOs/MDs who are sweeping aside cobwebs of outdated practices, and ringing in a whole new outlook for India Inc.
A decade ago, when Kumar Mangalam Birla took over as chairman of nine companiesowned by India's second-largest industrial house at the age of 30, everybody sat up and took notice of the young scion. Not any more. As corporate India ages, more and more young CEOs are calling the shots. Leadership is not associated with grey hair any more.
Take 28-year-old Rajul Garg, CEO of Induslogic, for example. He started out at 23, and now heads a company of 600 employees with offices in India and the US. Jasjit Sawhney became CEO of Net4 at 26, while Soumya Baner-jee, co-MD of Sapient Corporation — a global business and technology consultancy — was 36 when he took over last year. "My taking
over was celebrated across the company as an example, since I had risen from the ranks. I joined as an associate and went on to become co-MD," Banerjee says.
What makes this bunch tick is the way they function. Informality and transparency are office norms. As Banerjee explains, "It helps in networking and developing relationships." Moreover, being young makes them adaptable and less inhibited about expressing ideas. Garg says, "I'm very frank and open with my colleagues."
But is their age held against them while dealing with older, more experienced people in office? Most young CEOs insist they face
no problems. "It's mixed," says Mihir Kittur, the 31-year-old COO of Ugam Solutions. "For older colleagues who were aware of my capabilities, it's business as usual. With some others, we needed to work together."
Experience versus age — who has the edge then? Both are critical, say CEOs. However, some agree experience can be a hurdle at times. "It can become a baggage if they are not willing to experi ment and try out new ways of doing a job," insists Garg. However, the right mix is both talent and experience. "There is no tussle," explains Harshavardhan Chitale, MD, Honeywell Automation.
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