Shiv Nadar sharing his views on HCL's 40th Anniversary

Summary

The speaker reflects on the journey of HCL Technologies, starting 40 years ago with humble beginnings in the digital products division of a major Indian company. They discuss the early days of computing, the rise and fall of tech giants, and HCL's resilience. The narrative highlights key milestones like launching the first 8-bit computer system and the computerization project in 1981. It underscores the importance of dreaming big, embracing failure, and having a global mindset. The speaker also emphasizes HCL's strong technical foundation, its people-centric culture, and the company's commitment to social initiatives, like empowering rural communities.

Takeaways

• 🚀 **Innovation and Entrepreneurship**: The speaker reflects on the journey of starting a business in the digital products division and the importance of innovation.
• 💡 **Government Partnership**: They approached the government for support, highlighting the role of public-private partnerships in innovation.
• 🌐 **Evolution of Technology**: The discussion covers the rapid evolution of technology from 8-bit processors to modern computing systems.
• 📈 **Growth and Expansion**: The company grew to a significant size with a global presence, emphasizing the importance of ambition and risk-taking.
• 🏆 **Milestones and Achievements**: Key milestones like launching the first 8-bit computer system and the computerization project in 1981 are highlighted.
• 🌟 **Leadership and Teamwork**: The speaker emphasizes the importance of strong leadership and teamwork in the success of the company.
• 🌱 **Adaptability and Learning**: The company's ability to adapt to changing rules and learn from experiences is underscored.
• 🌐 **Global Partnerships**: The significance of forming global partnerships for long-term success is discussed.
• 💼 **Corporate Social Responsibility**: The company's involvement in social initiatives, such as working in villages, is mentioned.
• 🌱 **Long-term Vision**: The speaker stresses the importance of having a long-term vision and not confining the business to an 'Indian business' mindset.

Q & A

What was the initial challenge faced by the speaker and Arjun Malhotra in starting their own venture?

The initial challenge was that they couldn't put together all the money or get all the approvals needed to start their own venture.

How did the speaker's company approach the government for their venture?

They approached the government with the idea, and the government was happy to support it, which is how their venture started.

What was the technological landscape like 40 years ago when the speaker started?

Forty years ago, the landscape was dominated by mainframes, and 8-bit processors were just emerging. IBM PCs had not been conceived yet, and companies like Apple and HCL were just starting.

What was the speaker's company's initial focus?

The company initially focused on digital products and the development of early computer systems.

How has the speaker's company grown over the years?

The company has grown to be worth 7.2 billion dollars, with a global presence and a significant portion of its value belonging to its employees.

What is the speaker's philosophy on setting rules for the company?

The speaker believes in not adhering to fixed rules but instead doing whatever is the right set of rules at the given time.

What is the speaker's advice on dreaming big?

The speaker advises to dream big, be ready to fail, and understand that success might come unexpectedly.

How does the speaker describe the technical strength of the company?

The speaker describes the company as having a very strong technical core, with the best talent in the world, as evidenced by the leaders found in HCL labs.

What significant milestones has the company achieved?

The company achieved milestones such as launching the first 8-bit computer system, computerizing education, and helping build the National Stock Exchange in India.

What was the speaker's experience with the National Stock Exchange project?

The speaker was involved in a high-stakes project to assist the National Stock Exchange, which was a significant challenge but ultimately successful, leading to the start of trading on Diwali a year later.

How does the speaker view the importance of global partnerships for the company?

The speaker sees global partnerships as crucial, having established partnerships with companies like Perot Systems and others, which have played out well despite being risky.

What is the speaker's perspective on the future of Indian businesses?

The speaker believes that no business should be viewed as just an Indian business. Instead, companies should have a global mindset to succeed in the long run.