By: Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA
People and leading them in an organization are vital for its growth and success.
Tapping best talents and more importantly enabling talents in people for their own and organizational benefits are the hallmarks of a good leader.
To know what is needed for the organization and its employees enables a visionary leader to be successful. This aspect is visible in the passionate and dedicated efforts of Mr. Veeravalli Raghunathan of Charlotte, NC. Raghunathan, who holds a graduate degree in mechanical engineering from the internationally acclaimed Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India having come to the United States in 1997 to grow his professional career, never lost focus on his passion—to create organization to promote culture and fine art of living.
While starting as one-man show, quickly tapped people who share similar interest and passion to found cultural organizations, which are six in number today. This is a good model for industrial leaders to pool people with matching talents and interests to deliver results.
“A leader has to be accommodative, not afraid of insults and failure,” stated Raghunathan. As is evident from his organizational skills, providing products for diverse pool of people to satisfy their needs is important. This is a valuable organizational strategy, so that industry can have broad-based market. In the case of Indian textile sector, broadening its product base, as is the case with the Chinese textile sector will help with its diversification and growth.
Raghunathan’s success in chasing his passion rested on organizing people, all the way motivating them towards the common goal. All modes of modern day communication have been effectively used that connected people spread across the goal such as India, United States and Middle East. Prompt and timely response sometimes tiring, helps—a good organizational skill.
“People are important,” stated Professor Siva Parameswaran, a colleague of mine at Texas Tech University, when I joined the University as a young professor many moons ago.
Never be afraid of admitting mistakes, but those should be quickly corrected towards growth and development, which leaders like Raghunathan practice. A sage personality and professional development mantra indeed!
