Responsible Managers, Entrepreneurs and Leaders

Based on the commencement lecture delivered at Berchmans Institute of Management Studies on 20 March 2021 at the passing out of the 24^th MBA batch

I will peg my lecture on two incidents, based on interactions with two among you, MBA oath you have just sworn in, and a quotation from a management thinker.

Incident No.1

This occurred just a week back. One among you phoned me to convey the happy news that she was placed at J P Morgan, Bangalore and is scheduled to join on 30 March 2021. She added that this news should not be posted in our group. I asked her why not. She said, due to the pandemic many of her batch mates are yet to be placed and this news may deepen their worry. Her reply made me think on this value.

The said student makes us realise the true meaning of this motto. She surely has caught the essence of this value. She epitomises the value that those who were formed at S B should embody.

Incident No.2

When the lock- down was declared in March 2020, the classes were immediately shifted to online mode. I was getting ready for my penultimate class. I was logged in, camera and audio switched on and waiting for the students to join. To wet my throat I took a sip of water. Just then we could hear comment from a student in Malayalam “Oh, we are asked to join to see him drink water?” I replied in a grim tone “No, I was just waiting for you to join.” I proceeded with my class that day and finished the classes with another session after a couple of days.

A week later I get a phone call. The caller reveals his name and tells me that it was he who made the ‘water’ comment and confesses that he is sorry. He also adds that it took him a week to get over his sense of embarrassment and thus the delay for the call.

Dear students, the second incident brings out three values.

1. Empathy. The caller  had made out from my tone that I felt hurt by his casual remark Getting to know the feelings of the other is called ‘empathy’. Empathy is value emphasised by the CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella, hailing from Hyderabad. In fact the article in Readers Digest Magazine on his book Hit Refresh was titled ‘Empathy Code.’ Sreejith Krishna, in his vlog wisdomshots illustrates ’leadership lessons from Georgekutty’ based on the now hit Malayalam movie Dhrishyam 2. Empathy is one of them. In the beginning of the movie Varun’s father meets Georgekutty and requests for the mortal remains of his son to do the last rites to give moksha to the departed soul. But Geogekutty says it is beyond his control. However in the climax of the movie Georgekutty returns the ashes and bones in an urn to the parents. Please watch the vlog for the remaining lessons ^[1]. ‘Empathy’- putting oneself into the shoes of the customers, peers, the management and the public is a vital quality required for a manager.
2. Humility: Admitting one’s mistake calls for humility. The student took one week to bring himself to this level. This is not an easy stage to pass through.
3. Trust:  There will be a fear in the mind of the student on the outcome of admitting the guilt. “Will I get punished?” With the internal assessment marks yet to be finalised, should I take the risk? This thought process held him back for a week. Finally, he decided to admit his mistake, believing that I will not punish him. He trusted me. I personally found this to be the cherry on the cake- a satisfying reward conferred on me at the culmination of my forty -three -year teaching career. Building up trust is the core of relationships.

MBA Oath

After the global economic turmoil of 2008 there was a question mark on the moral compass of the MBAs who lead the major corporate outfits. In 2009, the Harvard Business School, the Mecca of management education, which completed 100 years in 2008, came up with an Oath to be avowed by the graduating students. Berchmans Institute of Management Studies introduced this oath the very same year. It continues the practice with religious fervour. I advise you to retain the copy of this oath and strive to live up to it.

The MBA oath may be explained in two parts. The first paragraph gives the purpose of a manager and the remaining part enumerates the actions required to realise the purpose. (a) The purpose of a Manager is the greater good of the enterprise and of the society at large.  (b) A Manager should uphold ethics, safeguard the interests of all stakeholders, strive for sustainable growth and be accountable for all his/her actions. In short, he/ she undertakes to be a responsible and responsive manager.

Some of you may turn out to be entrepreneurs. The oath holds good for those too. Replace the word ‘manager’ in the oath with the word ‘entrepreneur.’

As the Kerala Legislative Assembly election scenario is heating up, I feel disturbed by the moral stands of our present and aspiring political leaders. Moral chaos seems to be the prevailing state. There is very much to be desired. We find a professional move taken by a corporate in Kerala, which appears to offer a ray of hope. Professional leadership that adheres to high ethical standards is the dire need of the hour.

I just quote its last sentence: “Leadership is about self-awareness, recognizing your failings, and developing modesty, humility, and humanity.” These qualities are found wanting in today’s leaders from top to bottom. Prahlad was exhorting the MBAs to fill up that vacuum.

Blessing

Dear Students I wish, hope and pray that you live up to the oath you have sworn in and be responsible managers, entrepreneurs, and above all, true leaders.

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^[1] Leadership lessons from Georgekutty, Sreejith Krishnan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEf4QFJmhu4

^[2] HBR Column: The Responsible Manager by C.K. Prahalad: https://hbr.org/2010/01/column-the-responsible-manager