Success isn’t just a stroke of luck; it’s a journey marked by hard work, determination, and patience. Ever wondered about the humble beginnings of India’s most successful individuals? From leading global corporations to amassing immense wealth, their stories resonate with ordinary beginnings and extraordinary achievements.
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Let’s embark on a journey to uncover the first steps taken by these iconic figures, shedding light on the trials and triumphs that shaped their paths to greatness. Join us as we explore the early chapters of their professional lives and discover the essence of perseverance and ambition that propelled them to the summits of success.
Dhirubhai Ambani
Dhirubhai Ambani was a successful businessman who started from very little. He grew up poor in a village in Gujarat, India, and had to leave school early to help his family. He worked odd jobs to support them. His first job was at a gas station in Aden, a British colony, where he got his first paycheck. At 17, he moved to Aden with dreams of success. He worked for Ramniklal Ambani’s company, A. Besse & Co., where he didn’t get paid at first but gained valuable experience. Later, he earned Rs 300 as his first salary while still working at a gas station.
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata is one of the most successful businessmen in India. He’s won important awards like Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan and done a lot of good things for people. People admire him not just for his smart business ideas, but also for humanity and kindness. Even though he’s a big name in the business world, he’s very down-to-earth and kind.
first job was managing operations on the shop floor of Tata Steel in 1961, later he joined Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO) now called Tata Motors as a trainee for six months. Despite getting a high-paying job offer from IBM, he chose to work at his own company and gain experience.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Kiran Majumdar Shaw is a successful businesswoman from India. She started a company called Biocon Limited that focuses on biotechnology in Bangalore. She’s the Chairperson and Managing Director there. She’s won many awards for her work, like the Othmer Gold Medal and being named in lists by Financial Times and Forbes. People think highly of her because she’s done a lot in business and science. She’s also known for being generous, giving money to help others. She has a net worth of around $2.5 billion as of January 30, 2024, mentioned in Forbes. Kiran’s story is inspiring, especially for women who want to be entrepreneurs. She started her career in Australia, working with breweries as a trainee brewer. When she moved back to India to pursue her career in brewing she faced discrimination. Despite that, she’s achieved a lot and is a role model for millions.
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Gautam Adani
Gautam Adani a first-generation entrepreneur is the Founder and Chairman of the Adani Group with a net worth of $83.4 billion as of April 13, 2024, mentioned in Forbes. Gautam Adani went to Mumbai when he was a teenager in 1978. He got a job sorting diamonds for Mahendra Brothers. After working there for about two to three years, he started his own diamond trading business at Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai.
Sudha Murty
Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon, North Karnataka. She studied engineering and did well, even getting a gold medal. Now she is the Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and is the wife of the co-founder of Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy. But did you know? Sudha Murty sent a postcard to the Chairman of TELCO back then, saying she didn’t like how the company treated women differently. They talked to her and gave her a job right away. She became the first woman engineer hired at TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO), known called Tata Motors, India’s biggest car maker. She started working in Pune as a Development Engineer, then later moved to Mumbai and Jamshedpur. She also worked at Walchand Group of Industries in Pune as a Senior Systems Analyst.
Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi is a very smart and important leader in business. She was the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world, PepsiCo for 12 years. She’s the first woman who isn’t white and the first immigrant to lead such a big company. Under her, PepsiCo made more profit and tried to be nicer to the environment and make healthier food. Nooyi is a major philanthropist and also gives a lot of money to help others.
Nooyi was born in India in 1955 in a normal family and was very good at studying. She liked things that most girls didn’t like at that time, like cricket and playing guitar. After completing his graduation in 1974 at the age of 18 she started her first job as a business strategist at a British textile firm and then product manager at Johnson & Johnson in Mumbai where she introduced menstrual pads, Stayfree, to India.
Ardeshir Godrej
Ardeshir Godrej started the Godrej Godrej Brothers Company long ago, even before India became independent. The brand now known as the Godrej Group made locks that were better than the ones imported from England during British rule. His locks were more affordable because they didn’t break as often. He started his business in a small shed.
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After coming back to India, he started working at chemist’s shop as an assistant. That got him curious about making tools for surgeries. Even if it didn’t go well, he kept trying hard to make it work, and that became his first business. Then, a businessman named Merwanji Cama lent him money to start a new company making locks.
