MANAGEMENT GURU C.K. PRAHLAD: from knowledge world to divine world
I can’t believe C.K. Prahlad is no more. He was always such an imposing presence that he seemed invincible and larger than life. To hear that an unknown virus snatched him prematurely away from us seems like another of life’s cruel jokes. I am sure CK’s best was yet to come. It also feels like deja vu — six years ago we lost another Indian giant of management thought, Sumantra Ghoshal, at just 55.
CK was inspiringly brilliant. In his signature passionate and provocative style, he relentlessly challenged the board comprising senior leaders from the most prominent corporations of India and the world — how were we going to be distinctive? In our excitement at creating something new, we had clearly not thought things through. CK inspired us to innovate and think differently.
He was insightful — his thinking was elegantly simple. In a consulting assignment for a successful and major MNC, he told the top management that they had the best people but were not getting the best of out of them. I will never forget how he went on to convince them that getting high-achievers to work in teams was a perennial challenge. But the best organizations got teams going by demanding from individuals a level of performance that they could not deliver on their own.
Innovation was at the core of what he believed in. When a company expressed concern at down-trading by customers, he challenged them to find ways of building scale at lower price points. This was the precursor to his idea of Fortune at the Base of the Pyramid. At the time, people thought CK had actually lost it when he proposed the company could make profits by selling water and financial services to the residents of Dharavi.
CK stood his ground and went to evangelise his idea to the world despite the scepticism. Today, microfinance, healthcare and other services to the poor are seen as profitable and scalable businesses.C.K. Prahlad was every time appreciating AMUL. He was also fan of Gujarat. In fact, he was marketing Gujarat across the globe. He was with me during Dubai’s meet and I had found him as usual and prompt.
A legendary Guru was a strong follower of LUCK. His favorite slide was “LUCK”.
He has a special connection with Gujarat. Whenever he visits IIM-A OR AMA. He was emphasizing on the airport facilities. Gujarati’s wants to go at global level but they have to change first, Airport.
His strategy to create global company was 10 * 11 = 110 countries. According to him next business destination is “Africa.”
According to him most shocking news was that India is the country has no national goal. He said 60 years after independence are not small time for any nation to grow. Even still today, we do not have common goals as Indian. He believed that SEZ (Special Economic Zone) will reduce distance between urban and rural Indian and migration will be gradually stopped.
CK had amazing energy and was a gentleman. Everyone wanted a piece of him and got it too! He would always be most helpful. . Most recently, he had started to talk about his vision for the India@75. Anyone who heard him talk came away inspired and changed.
He said “we have two ways to think, positive or negative. I would love to select positive.” Instead of cannot, let us love “CAN”.
Of course, it was his ideas and brilliance that left everyone impressed. But more than anything, it was his commitment and passion for India. Making his vision a reality will be our greatest tribute to CK, the patriot.
Today, he is not with us physically but his Omni presence will admire us throughout life. I salute to his “GURU” factor.
