This is Why Indians are Leading Large Organizations around the World [Parag Agrawal Special]
Being an Indian, it makes me proud to know that Indians are leading large organizations and conglomerates around the world now. They are an inspiration for all of us and we should recognize the business savvy. But should we actually be proud of it? Recently, Parag Agrawal, an IIT Bombay graduate, became the CEO of Twitter after Jack Dorsey, who co-founded Twitter in 2006, stepped down. After this news, people of India started giving their opinions about this. Some of them made memes and one of the famous line in that meme was- “Padhega India, tabhi to badhega America, Canada, Australia”. It means we Indians complete our education in India either till bachelors or masters in our respective fields and then move to foreign countries in search of better jobs and opportunities.
India’s Role in Shaping the CEOs
India, a country with billion people, where they still suffer rampant poverty, work gets done through corruption. But why do companies still choose Indians over equally qualified Americans for positions such as CEO’s? It’s not easy to just survive mentally and financially in places like India. There are endless battles and obstacles you have to fight everyday, for your survival. You have to deal with your emotional issues by not dealing with them and continuing to fight this battle with a goal set in your mind. You learn to work in a dynamic business environment. With all this, Indian families never make you forget your values and cultures. Family support during your years of struggle is what any person really needs to keep going in life.
We start from the scratch and move up from the bottom of a fragile ladder. It’s not easy to survive the early years of your struggle because of all the unjust the society throws in your way. Hard work and a passion for things is in the blood of Indians which is a trait any company would look for. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet and it’s subsidiary Google, told in a ceremony that his father spent a year’s salary on Sundar’s flight ticket to US. People who have experienced financial problems do have one goal in their life and that is — getting back all the money that was spent to support their journey.
Many companies, before having Indians as their CEOs, lacked healthy work culture, inter-related problems were hampering the growth of such companies. So boards of such companies recognized the need of the hour and decided to have TechSavvy Indians onboard which actually proved to be one of the best decisions for Microsoft and Google. Market capitalization of Microsoft increased from $300 billion to more than $2.5 trillion today after Satya Nadella ascended the throne. Sundar Pichai completely transformed the culture of Google with his Indian values and manners and shaped the company into one of the most trusted and respected organization out there.
Tweeting the New Indian CEO
Parag Agrawal joined Twitter as a programmer in 2011 and turned into the chief technology officer (CTO) in 2017. On 29 November 2021, Jack Dorsey declared that he was leaving as CEO of Twitter and that Agrawal was replacing him immediately. Parag has joined the list of all the Indian-origin American CEOs. Elon Musk also appreciated this with his tweet —
But with this celebration and excitement among Indians, it lights up the hidden truths.
Clearing The Commotion
CEOs of foreign companies from Indian origin doesn’t justify that every Indian-American is doing explicitly well. In India, you have to sweat blood to just start your journey of Engineering by clearing IIT JEE, which isn’t a piece of cake. Those fortunate enough who clear these entrance exams, get enrolled in foreign universities and since they’re good at test-skills generally don’t have problems in clearing more examinations further. You’re rewarded greatly in such countries. Indian-American CEOs stood out in the crowd of a billion people. Moving to foreign countries to pursue their higher studies is a forceful choice because India still lacks behind in a systemized working manner and rules.
Opportunities don’t usually come to you when you’re surrounded by old traditions and systems that hamper the overall growth, even when you’re the deserving one. Working amazingly well benefits you greatly in the US, and boards of such companies hire these people because they know surviving the hardest of times mentally and financially does shape you for a better future and Indians come from such places. Though, India has evolved a lot by the technological advancement and many American-based companies look for more Indians to join their teams and startups. Everyone wants to live the American Dream and practically speaking, you grow where you’re a beginner.
It’s all about who you are as a person and what values you possess. No matter how much you achieve in life, discipline and cultural values define you. Stick to them, like THEY did.
I’d like to end this blog with the list of all the Indian-American CEOs who have revolutionized this world with great minds and their life-changing, upbringing ideas.
