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

HCL Enterprise

24 Aug 201610:55

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Early Days of Digital Computing

The speaker reminisces about the early days of digital computing, dating back 40 years to a time when 8-bit processors were emerging. He discusses his time at DCM, a leading Indian company, where he and a friend, Arjun Malhotra, pondered why more people didn't venture out to start their own businesses. They eventually approached the government with their ideas, leading to the establishment of a new venture. The narrative touches on the infancy of modern computing, mentioning that IBM was focused on mainframes and Apple and HCL were just beginning. The speaker reflects on the evolution of the industry, noting that while many companies have come and gone, a few like Apple have endured. He emphasizes the importance of dreaming big, taking risks, and being prepared for failure, as success may come unexpectedly. The speaker also highlights the growth of HCL to a $7.2 billion global company, with a focus on technical excellence and a culture of innovation, driven by many teams and individuals.

05:02

🚀 Impactful Milestones and Partnerships

The speaker discusses significant milestones in the IT industry, including the establishment of the National Stock Exchange in India and the transformation of the capital market in the early 90s. He shares his experience with the dot-com era, emphasizing that while they did not directly participate, they recognized the enduring potential of the internet. The narrative includes the formation of global partnerships, such as with Perot Systems and Deluxe, which were considered risky but ultimately successful. A notable project involved assisting the National Stock Exchange, which was a high-stakes endeavor. The speaker recounts a moment when they were chosen over AT&T for a contract, highlighting the trust placed in their company due to their local presence and commitment. He also shares a personal anecdote about the launch of trading on Diwali, a significant achievement that was met with both excitement and relief. The speaker praises the courage and fearlessness of young executives in the company, who are driven by the same values and are not intimidated by challenges, even in difficult circumstances.

10:03

🌟 Global Mindset and Long-Term Vision

In this paragraph, the speaker stresses the importance of having a global mindset rather than confining business to an Indian context. He argues that businesses must look beyond national boundaries to thrive in the long term, as global companies will dominate. The speaker encourages a forward-looking approach, suggesting that the long-term vision is built on a series of tomorrows. He also touches on the company's ventures into talent and health, indicating a desire to diversify and expand into adjacent fields. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for businesses to adopt a broader perspective and to prepare for a future where global competition is the norm.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡DCM

DCM stands for Digital Products Division, which was part of the fourth largest company in India at the time. It is central to the video's narrative as it sets the stage for the speaker's professional journey and the inception of their entrepreneurial venture. The speaker reminisces about working in DCM and the discussions with a friend that led to the establishment of their own company.

💡Arjun Malhotra

Arjun Malhotra is a significant figure mentioned in the script, a dear friend of the speaker who shared many discussions about entrepreneurship. His name is closely tied to the video's theme of innovation and the decision to step out and start their own venture, which eventually led to the formation of a successful company.

💡8-bit processors

8-bit processors refer to the early microprocessors that were just emerging around 40 years ago, as mentioned in the script. This term is crucial as it places the discussion within the historical context of computing technology. The speaker reflects on how far technology has come since the days of these early processors, highlighting the rapid evolution of the industry.

💡IBM PCs

IBM PCs represent the early personal computers that had not yet been conceived during the time frame the speaker is referring to. The mention of IBM PCs in the script serves to underscore the infancy of the personal computing industry and how it has since grown and transformed, with only a few companies like Apple surviving the test of time.

💡National Stock Exchange

The National Stock Exchange is a key term in the script, representing a significant project that the speaker's company undertook in the early 90s. This project is an example of the company's ability to innovate and adapt to new challenges, changing the face of the capital market in India and demonstrating the company's technical prowess and global partnerships.

💡HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies is the company that the speaker is discussing throughout the script. It is the central entity of the narrative, with the speaker detailing its humble beginnings, growth, and the various milestones it achieved over the years. The company's journey is a testament to the speaker's entrepreneurial spirit and the importance of embracing challenges and opportunities.

💡Global Partnerships

Global partnerships are mentioned as a strategic move that HCL Technologies embraced, which played a crucial role in the company's growth. The speaker highlights partnerships with companies like Perot Systems and Deluxe, emphasizing the importance of such alliances in expanding the company's reach and solidifying its market position.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a core theme in the video, as the speaker recounts the story of starting their own company and the challenges and successes that followed. The term encapsulates the spirit of innovation, risk-taking, and the pursuit of opportunities that define the speaker's journey and the growth of HCL Technologies.

💡Innovation

Innovation is a key concept in the script, as the speaker discusses the company's approach to technology and business. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being ready to fail and to dream big, which are hallmarks of an innovative mindset. The company's history, from launching the first 8-bit computer system to computerizing education, is a testament to its innovative spirit.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities are a recurring theme in the script, as the speaker encourages the audience to seize the chances that come their way. The speaker reflects on how the world is full of opportunities and how taking the right attitude and approach can lead to success. This concept is closely tied to the company's growth and the speaker's personal journey.

💡Talent

Talent is mentioned as a critical component of HCL Technologies' success. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a strong, technically proficient team and the role of partnerships in attracting and nurturing talent. The company's focus on talent is a reflection of its commitment to excellence and its ability to adapt and innovate in a competitive market.

Highlights

Recounting 40 years ago, the speaker worked at DCM, the fourth-largest company in India, focusing on digital products.

The speaker and Arjun Malhotra considered creating something new, but funding and approvals were challenging, leading them to approach the government.

The early era of 8-bit processors is mentioned, predating IBM PCs and coinciding with the birth of Apple and HCL.

HCL launched the first 8-bit computer system, alongside Apple’s introduction of Apple II.

The company achieved a significant milestone in 1981 with the computerization project.

AIT was founded with the vision of establishing computer education as a subsistence, impacting India's IT industry.

HCL played a key role in building the National Stock Exchange in India during the early 1990s, revolutionizing the capital market.

The company strategically embraced high-risk partnerships, including with Perot Systems and Deluxe, which ultimately proved successful.

HCL won a significant contract against AT&T to assist the National Stock Exchange, a project initiated by Dr. Manmohan Singh and Dr. Patel.

The project was executed with a high level of technical expertise, which allowed HCL to triumph over larger competitors.

HCL's leadership demonstrated resilience by competing against AT&T and securing the project during a challenging period.

Despite being a smaller company at the time, HCL's commitment to the project ensured its long-term success, including the introduction of trading on Diwali.

The company’s work with the National Stock Exchange marked a turning point, highlighting its capability in high-stakes situations.

HCL's leaders, even in their 20s, were unafraid and driven by the belief that nothing is too small or unachievable.

The HCL Foundation exemplifies the company’s commitment to social responsibility, with young executives working fearlessly in rural areas.