Awareness about each of our individual rights and accountability are important when it comes to public governance reflectively states Srinath Shridharan, editor and author of “Time for Bharat”, a compilation of work by 19 rank academics and professionals that delves into India’s key governance and policy structures imperative for socio-economic change. Srinath is strategic counsel for leading corporates, he advises organisations and business leaders on finance, digital consumerism, GEMZ & ESG. Queenie Nair, editor -sustainability of ET Edge Insights speaks to Srinath on issues of organizational legacy, gender equality in India and on what it means to be powerful.
Excerpts of the interview
Editor & author “Time for Bharat”
Organizational culture in the present-day scenario and on what is required to build a legacy culture, one that which is aligned with the values and goals of the organization, and can sustain the test of time.
Traditionally thinking we are the trustees or the karta of the organization which means that while you build a legacy on what you like it has to last not only this generation, but also withstand the test of time and merge into the next generation – how you achieve it is a mindset. We have seen Indian businesses which have evolved across many generations and grown from strength to strength. The good part is that these organizations have chased not only profits, their purpose as an organization is also about people and planet so I think going back to the mindset transformation saying what are we doing this for; is it for short term; or is it for long-term, that is where the contradiction can be seen. Also, across corporates the average CXO are people who have been working in the same organizations for 20-30 years and then there are those who are working there for the last 3-4 years so how do we change culture if we don’t invest energy and time in it, this is where all stakeholders need to understand and work together to drive this change.
This also relates to a fundamental challenge that India will face with what I call the GEMZ challenge that is geek economy, millennials and generation Z these four words are actually transforming business models and the way we consume things so ultimately, a mindset shift towards long-term thinking and a purpose-driven approach can lead to greater success and positive impact for both businesses and society as a whole
What are the strategies that leaders can develop that is both ambitious and actionable to bridge the gender gap?
Very openly speaking communication is key when it comes to bridging the gender gap most of the organizations which have been successful in bridging the gender gap or are working progressively towards it or are great communicators.
The most important aspect here is for organizations to communicate and be transparent about their plans and actions around gender equality this is also means that it requires a disciplined approach that goes beyond the realm of just affirmative actions, which a lot of us do – but can we proactively say that we are going to train more and more women and bring them to mainstream employment and mainstream workforce and that is what we not only as organizations but as individuals need to do as a basic act to build trust and credibility with their employees, and stakeholders, and ultimately create a more diverse and inclusive workplace that benefits all.
Speaking of Time for Bharat the book attempts to frame India’s transformation over the next 25 years – in your opinion what is really required for this to take place.
Awareness about each of our individual rights and accountability are important when it comes to public governance, we always think it is somebody else’s responsibility to fix things so if in the public governance sphere while we expect the government, and judiciary executives to do their role, we as citizens also have a responsibility to what or how we contribute, at times it won’t be easy, but nothing difficult or nothing large was not built without the hard work so it is about public governance in a large sphere of how India at 100 by 2047 can be a global super power, building a global superpower like India by 2047 will require hard work and dedication from all of us. But by taking individual responsibility and working together towards a common vision we can make this goal a reality.
Speaking of women and gender parity what in your definition means powerful?
Self-awareness, supremely powerful, self-respect supremely powerful it really doesn’t matter if you ask all the successful women is the world acknowledging them important or the others acknowledging them is important, respect is important but they come from the sphere of self-respect and I think that is powerful
