Leadership & Humility

It was almost twenty years back, when I got down from a bus into a lush green campus, with career dreams and aspirations as vibrant as the greenery in the campus. A board at the entrance of the campus announced that we reached ‘Global Village’. It was a brand-new campus situated off the Mysore Road which a few IT companies made their new office location. MindTree Consulting was one among them, into which I stepped in for my first ever corporate job as a fresh MBA graduate from Christ College, Bangalore.

MindTree offered a whole lot of impressive perspectives of life for me as a youngster. One among them, that stands out even today after two decades was the humility of founders of the company. There are quite a few stories to share which will put to shame some of the self-proclaimed leaders of modern world who seemed believe that humility and leadership do not travel on the same boat.

A few days after our induction, I was walking down to the food court in the campus from the primary office where I was working. MindTree was established by ten professionals from different companies, each of them, being stars themselves. Subroto Bagchi, was one among the founders, who possessed a charismatic personality that you could not help but be at awe at his sheer presence! The reputation of the man preceded him. Most of us who joined from various Business Schools across the country, already knew him as an astute businessman, a fantastic writer, and a good human being. We were all waiting for a chance to meet him in person.

As I strolled down the path, I was quite excited to see him walking towards my direction. I saw many of my colleagues walking ahead of me greeting him with an equal amount of awe and to some extend even a fan fare which was akin to celebrities. I felt my heart giving competition to some of the best-known drum beats I had heard before. With every step I took forward, I was getting closer to the man, already known as a legend at MindTree.

Two more steps, and I found myself facing the very man who was one of the reasons for thousands to be drawn to the inspirational story of MindTree. He looked at me, smiled and then did something which I never imagined a C-level executive would do. At least, that was what I was thinking till that day as someone with no prior work experience.

Subroto stopped, bent down, and picked up something from the ground. It was a piece of scrap paper that was lying there, all the while the rest of us failed to notice and passed by. He then promptly disposed the paper in a bin and continued to head to his office, as though nothing ever happened.

As I write this experience, twenty years later, I want to tell the world one thing. Mr Bagchi may not remember this incident, but what he did not realize is the fact that, a simple action he performed that day left a permanent positive mark on me. Subroto, you taught me a lesson for life, without even uttering a word!

Leadership is not always about speeches. Many times, it is about actions that speak louder than words, which will hold the audience in a magical trance. We need leaders like this to inspire and make the world a much better place to be.

Thank you Subroto.