Rahul

Pratap

Singh

Kaurav

The 6 Corporate Species

Malini Goyal

The Economic times in MAGAZINE

[January 20-26, 2013] pp. 12-14

MNC CEOA-listers all their life, they are elitists coming from top colleges with an

inflated sense of self. Hierarchical and brand-conscious, they choose

their company, words and moves very carefully. Working for MNCs with

big infrastructure, they are used to a big support staff.

Habitat: Can often be found at corporate lounges at five-star hotels. Are

globetrotters, making frequent trips to the MNC HQ and many global

off-sites

Expert at: They are smart extroverts with a slight accent and great

networking skills

Idea of a Holiday:Only exotic, top-end foreign holidays in quaint, offbeat destinationsCurrent State: In a happy, enviable state in a relative sense, particularly when their counterparts in other countries are battling economic slowdownMood Code: Up

slowdownMood Code: Up

Sarkari Babu

Sahibs have lost some of their charm but they still enjoy enormous power and perks. They relish and flaunt things that money cannot buy and are out of bound for the aam aadmi — eg a car with red beacon, VIP passes for Republic Day parade, a midnight tour of Qutab Minar. Batch-conscious, they size each other up within seconds of meeting to establish the hierarchy.Habitat: The smartest ones are likely to reside and work in Lutyens Delhi. North and South Blocks, Gymkhana Club, Delhi Golf Club are their likely hangout spotsExpert at: Have a great 360° view of how India operates. But their speciality lies in knowing how not to take a decision and pass the buckIdea of a Holiday: They would ask the batchmate posted in tourist destinations like Goa to book that sea-facing suite in the PSU guest house at some ridiculously low rate. Or swing an international official trip and have a blast while “at work”Current State: In paralysis with sword of CBI-CVC-CAG dangling over themMood Code: Down

Desi CEOThey are go-getters who have risen up the ranks

and know how to get things done, never mind the

means. Flexible and ego firmly under check, their

moves may often appear opaque and

unpredictable. It is not them — it is the promoter

boss, their veto power and the firm’s work culture.

And, yes, the stinginess that you spot on issues like

bathroom tissue rolls and travel allowance is part

of their DNA.

Habitat: Often found at the corporate HQ hard at

work. They can also be often spotted at the

chairman’s office or residence discussing some

important matter, at odd hours.

Expert at: Managing ambiguities and

‘environment’, they are go-getters great at

multitasking.

Idea of a Holiday: What’s a holiday?

Current State: Short-term gloom as policy paralysis

hits India Inc. But long-term optimism intact

Mood Code: Up

Jholawallah CEOPassionate about what they do, work is their life.

Understated and casual in their appearance, they are more

democratic and accessible, unlike most CEOs. Many of them

come from elitist backgrounds, know what wealth and

consumerism is and have chosen to shun it. FabIndia, Anokhi

are some of their shopping joints.

Habitat: Often found working with the grassroots. Easily

spotted at Delhi’s India International Centre or protesting at

Jantar Mantar or social networking websites, venting their

anger Expert at: Can straddle multiple worlds with ease.

Hands-on and extremely grounded, can hold a conversation

as comfortably with a vegetable vendor as with the CEO of a

topnotch MNC donor

Idea of a Holiday: A friend’s farmhouse in India, trekking in

the Himalayas, volunteering in a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya

Current State: Rainbow-like — happy (about the success of

Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal), sad (about the obsession with

GDP-led growth gaining traction) and anxious (about drastic

cuts in foreign funding)

Mood Code: Optimistically anxious

The FRI

(Foreign-

returned

Indian)

Perpetually anxious, they are of two distinct

types — one comes with a know-it-all superiority

complex and the other is mentally prepared to

deal with all hardships. Keenly aware that

opportunities lie in the east, they are

desperately trying to fit in. MNCs are an obvious

choice but some are also finding courage to work

with smart Indian entrepreneurs.

Habitat: Well, they are still finding their feet in

India and do not have a defined habitat yet

Expert at: Global citizens, they are well-heeled

and have a good global view of managing the

corporate world. Well-versed in the MNC way of

doing things, they know global best practices

Idea of a Holiday: Go back home (countries

where they lived) and reconnect with their past.

Some do the opposite — go on a discover-India

journey

Current State: Perpetual outsiders, they are

anxiously trying to fit into a country they belong

to and yet don’t

Mood Code: Up & Down

Footloose

ClimberThey grew rapidly over the past decade, moving from one sunrise sector to another, finding new opportunities and positioning themselves well to land plum jobs. Sectors like insurance, telecom, retail absorbed many. A by-product of India’s growth story, they saw meteoric rise and fat pay packets as their businesses boomed. But many are struggling now as slowdown has changed the game.Habitat: Wherever they can networkExpert at: Great opportunists and networkers, they spot opportunities and land them. Extremely flexible and nimble, they can handle change with easeIdea of a Holiday: Google what’s the newest hotspot where all the big CEOs are headed and then book ticketsCurrent State: Restless — looking for the next sunrise sectorMood Code: Down

Come Together | Kumbh Mela

The Economic times in MAGAZINE

[January 20-26, 2013] pp. 16-17

Is the Swiss Bank Snking

Bennett Voyles

The Economic times in MAGAZINE

[January 20-26, 2013] pp. 18-20

Reshmi R Dasgupta

The Economic times in MAGAZINE

[January 20-26, 2013] pp. 30