Latest news with #DhirubhaiAmbani
India.com
5 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani says biggest risk of his life was…, failure predicted! still Reliance Industries invested billions of dollars to…
Billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani called his 2016 reentry into the telecom sector with Reliance Jio the 'biggest risk' of his life, emphasizing that even if analysts' predictions of financial failure had proven correct, it would still have been worth for them as its contribution to India's digital transformation was far bigger. In an interview with McKinsey & Co, Asia's richest man shared that Reliance Industries invested billions of its own dollars to deploy 4G mobile networks, despite skepticism from analysts who doubted India was ready for such advanced digital technology. 'But I told my board, 'In the worst case, we will not earn much return. That's okay because it's our own money. But then, as Reliance, this will be the best philanthropy that we will have ever done in India because we will have digitised India, and thereby completely transformed India',' he said. Mukesh Ambani On Reliance Jio Since its launch in 2016, Jio has revolutionised the Indian telecom market by providing free voice calls and extremely low-cost data, compelling competitors to cut prices and driving rapid digital adoption across the country. Before Jio's arrival, mobile internet in India was relatively expensive and inaccessible to large sections of the population. Its entry led to a price war that significantly reduced the cost of data, making internet access affordable to millions of Indians, including those in rural and underserved areas. The result was increased internet penetration — India now has over 800 million internet users, making it one of the largest online markets globally. It hastened digital inclusion as affordable data has helped bridge the digital divide, bringing first-time internet users — many from low-income households — online and fuelling growth of digital services like e-commerce, fintech, edtech, and entertainment. 'We've always taken big risks because, for us, scale is important. The biggest risk we have taken so far was Jio. At the time, it was our own money that we were investing, and I was the majority shareholder. Our worst-case scenario was that it might not work out financially because some analysts thought India wasn't ready for the most advanced digital technology,' Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Ltd, said. Jio today is the country's largest telecom operator, with over 470 million subscribers and a growing footprint in 5G, cloud, and AI services. 'We are believers that, at the end of the day, you come without anything into this world, and you leave without taking anything with you. What you leave behind is an institution,' he said. Mukesh Ambani On Dhirubhai Ambani's Lessons He went on to recall words of his father and legendary industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. 'My father said to me, 'Reliance is a process. It's an institution that should last. You have to make sure that Reliance lasts beyond you and me.' That's my commitment to him — that Reliance will last beyond us. In 2027, Reliance will celebrate its golden jubilee. But I want Reliance to continue to serve India and humanity even after completing 100 years. And I am confident it will.' Ambani said the mindset has to be to believe in the businesses of the future. 'If you think about the Reliance of the 1960s and '70s, or of the 2000s and 2020s, it's a completely different organisation now. That's because the world changes every five or 10 years. It goes against everything that we learned in business school, such as not integrating across the value chain. 'We have challenged all of those things. What has also happened is that, as we chase the opportunities of technology into the future, some of these opportunities become bigger than our existing opportunities. And we cannot leave them alone,' he added. 'You start off by thinking in terms of what the worst is that could happen, and then you have to survive that. This has been one of my principles.' 'About 30 or 40 years ago, I said that another principle I should personally have is to look any of my employees in the eye. At Reliance, we tell our leaders that it's important to have eye contact because then you express your sincerity. I think we can put all our principles to our top 100 leaders by saying, 'These are our principles. We'll do what is right. Whatever we do, we should be able to look at each other and say we are not embarrassed',' he said. And this is how Reliance built its institutional culture. 'And this institutional culture is our best insurance against any kind of risk.' (With Inputs PTI)
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
5 Key Lessons from Mukesh Ambani's Leadership Playbook
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. From betting against conventional wisdom to building an institutional ethos grounded in societal value, Mukesh Ambani's leadership journey offers more than corporate lessons. As Asia's business landscape becomes increasingly volatile and tech-driven, the Reliance model may serve as a rare compass. Mukesh Ambani, chairman, Reliance Industries, lays out the guiding philosophies that have shaped Reliance Industries' evolution from a modest textiles operation into one of Asia's most consequential conglomerates. Drawing from decades of experience, Ambani's remarks offer practical insight into risk-taking, innovation, institutional culture, and building for the long term. Here are five powerful takeaways: 1. Vision anchored in impact, not wealth Ambani doesn't mince words about what drives business at Reliance. Profit has never been the North Star; purpose has. Recounting his father Dhirubhai Ambani's founding philosophy, he recalls: "If you want to start a business to be a billionaire, you are an idiot… If you want to start a business to impact a billion people, then you have a good chance of success." This belief, embedded deeply into the company's DNA, has guided Reliance's expansion; from polyester to petroleum, from telecom to green energy, with a consistent eye on societal transformation. "Our vision and purpose of doing business have to be impact-led," Ambani emphasized. That core mission has not changed; only the business strategy has evolved to meet new challenges. 2. Bet big but prepare for the worst Risk, for Ambani, isn't a gamble; it's a calculated obligation. He applies a strict rule before diving into any major venture: "You start off by thinking in terms of what the worst is that could happen, and then you have to survive that." This mindset formed Reliance's boldest leap, investing $25 billion in Jio at a time when few believed India was ready for advanced digital infrastructure. Ambani told his board that even if it failed financially, it would still be "the best philanthropy that we will have ever done in India because we will have digitized India." 3. Reinvent relentlessly Ambani is not interested in building businesses that merely survive market cycles. His commitment is to build institutions. "Reliance is a process. It's an institution that should last," he said, echoing his father's charge. That institutional longevity is fueled by continuous reinvention. "Even today, we reinvent our business every three, four, or five years," he explained. Whether it was moving early into 4G, launching the world's largest start-up refinery in Jamnagar, or now investing in clean energy and deep-tech manufacturing, Ambani remains convinced that static models are a liability in fast-changing environments. Legacy, for him, is not about what's been built but how well it adapts. 4. Culture is the strongest insurance policy For Ambani, Reliance's internal culture is grounded in sincerity, transparency, and shared values. It's how the company mitigates risk and scales complexity. Ambani talks about making eye contact with employees as a litmus test of sincerity: "We should be able to look at each other and say we are not embarrassed." The foundation of Reliance's people philosophy lies in three Cs: character, competence, and culture. Character tops the list. "Competence can be built," he says, "but character is essential." In a system that empowers ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things, culture acts as glue, compass, and engine. 5. Own the future or fall behind Ambani's approach to technology is aggressive and unapologetic. "We have to be owners of technology. We must be innovators," he says, dismissing the old model of relying on foreign licenses. Reliance's 5G rollout, where the company developed most components in-house, reflects this shift. His ambition for the next decade is to turn Reliance into a "deep-tech and advanced manufacturing company" with a unique play in AI: not racing into high-risk areas like GPUs, but focusing on downstream applications that solve real problems. The strategy has helped attract top talent with purpose, not just perks. "If you are clear about your goal, and you know how to use technology, then you will achieve your North Star." Mukesh Ambani was speaking on McKinsey's Leading Asia interview.
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Mukesh Ambani on vision for Reliance: ‘If you start a business to be a billionaire, you are an idiot, but…'
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has a 'north star' vision for his company — being impactful. Quoting his father, RIL founder Dhirubhai Ambani, the richest person in Asia noted that businesses succeed when they fulfil a need for the people. Speaking to McKinsey about Reliance, his guiding philosophy, vision for the future, and carrying forward his father's legacy, Mukesh Ambani feels clarity in goal and right talent can drive innovation and create impact. When asked about what is the guiding light or 'north star' for Reliance's oil-to-telecom conglomerate, Mukesh Ambani was quick to credit his father for setting the tone. 'I am very loyal to my father's vision… Our North Star always has been that our vision and purpose of doing business have to be impact-led… My father used to say that if you want to start a business to be a billionaire, you are an idiot; you will never get there. If you want to start a business to impact a billion people, then you have a good chance of success, and, as a byproduct, you can make a reasonable amount of money,' he shared. Ambani noted that at Reliance, the process is to 'figure out where to get' and then acquire the right talent for the goal. 'Our goal was to contribute our utmost to making India a prosperous nation and enabling all Indians to live a better life,' he added. When asked about his approach to risk management, Mukesh Ambani said that they consider the worst-case scenario and determine the possible outcomes, before proceeding. He cited Reliance Jio as an example here. 'The principle is whether you can survive in the worst-comes-to-the-worst situation. You start off by thinking in terms of what the worst is that could happen, and then you have to survive that. About 30 or 40 years ago, I said that I should personally have is to look any of my employees in the eye,' he told McKinsey. Mukesh Ambani further shared his aim for longevity of Reliance and leaving behind a lecagy though the company. 'We are believers that, at the end of the day, you come without anything into this world, and you leave without taking anything with you. What you leave behind is an institution,' he noted. He further recalled his father's words: 'Reliance is a process. It's an institution that should last. You have to make sure that Reliance lasts beyond you and me.' 'That's my commitment to him—that Reliance will last beyond us. In 2027, Reliance will celebrate its golden jubilee. But I want Reliance to continue to serve India and humanity even after completing 100 years. And I am confident it will,' he added. On how he achieves the 'right people' for his company and vision, Mukesh Ambani said that the focus is on three Cs — character, competence and culture. 'In terms of what we want… Character is even more important than competence because competence can be built. We've also always believed in motivation because if you can win a person's heart, their mind will work for you,' he said. On culture, he added that it takes effort to bring in new people as 'not everyone comes with the same orientation and same thoughts'. 'It takes a conscious effort to bring new people into the common institutional culture of Reliance—our vision, our values, our purpose and our organisational philosophy. Part of our culture is that once you are part of us, we take care of everything. Fundamentally, we take ordinary people and allow them, encourage them and empower them to do extraordinary tasks,' he shared. When asked about the key success factors in 'unlocking extraordinary potential from ordinary talent', Mukesh Ambani noted that clarity in the goal and mission is most important. 'I am a big believer that, individually, all of us have great potential, but we are limited by our habits… I believe that organisations are also limited by their systems and structures,' he said. On working beyond the limitations, Ambani noted that sometimes company structures prevent people from becoming high performers, adding: 'If we align the systems and structures to our outcomes and goals—which is what we do at Reliance—we create flexibility. Flexibility is the secret sauce that ensures organizational capability doesn't get limited.'
India.com
6 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Meet richest woman in Mukesh Ambani family, not Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Shloka Mehta, Radhika Merchant, she owns....
Meet richest woman in Mukesh Ambani family, not Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Shloka Mehta, Radhika Merchant, she owns.... Mukesh Ambani is considered India's richest person, and the reason behind his staggering income is Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). Founded by Dhirubhai Ambani, the giant conglomerate ranks as one of the most valuable companies in India, spanning across various sectors including energy, petrochemicals, retail, digital services and others. But, do you know Mukesh Ambani is not the largest shareholder in Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)? Let's find out who owns maximum shares in RIL! Who is the largest shareholder in Reliance Industries? According to the recent data by shareholding pattern, the Ambani family collectively holds a staggering 5,60,01,426 shares in Reliance. This includes Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani and Anant Ambani- holding 80,52,021 shares individually. Notably, the largest shareholder in the promoter group is Mukesh Ambani's mother and the wife of late Dhirubhai Ambani, Kokilaben Ambani. According to a report by ET News, she holds a staggering 1,57,41,322 shares in Reliance Industries, which interestingly makes her the richest woman in Ambani family. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani's net worth is around Rs… Born on 24 February 1934 in the town of Jamnagar, Gujarat, Kokilaben Ambani comes from a modest family. She married Dhirubhai Ambani in 1955, when he was still in the process of founding a textile business. She had no fancy education, but that didn't stop her from evolving as a force of nature between the old Reliance and the new. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani owns Rs 1.57 crore shares in Reliance, which makes her the single-largest shareholder in the company. Reports claim that her net worth is around Rs 18000 crore. When Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani decided to part ways in 2004-2005, it was Kokilaben Ambani who personally saw the division of Reliance between her two sons. It shows how much power and respect she holds not just in the family, but in the business too, which was founded by her husband.
India.com
18-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
This man was Mukesh Ambani's first boss, his sons are highest-paid employees of Reliance, Dhirubhai Ambani was his...
Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, best known as Dhirubhai Ambani, was the founder of Reliance Industries. He went from being an errand boy to one of the best businessmen in the world. Dhirubhai Ambani's story is truly one of rags to riches and inspires many people today. Dhirubhai was not only a businessman; he was recognized for his kindness and humility. Dhirubhai and his wife, Kokilaben Ambani, remained down-to-earth and true to their roots after being incredibly successful. Kokilaben and Dhirubhai Ambani have four children: Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Deepti Salgaocar, and Neena Kothari. While many people recognize these names as household names, there are members of the Ambani family who choose to keep a low profile and stay away from the public eye and spotlight. One such member is Dhirubhai Ambani's elder sister, Trilochna Ben. Dhirubhai Ambani was born to Hirachand Gordhanbhai Ambani, who was a schoolteacher, and Jamnaben Ambani. He was born in the small town of Chorwad, in the state of Gujarat, with four siblings — a sister, Trilochna Ben, and brothers Ramaniklal, Jasuben, and Natubhai. While Dhirubhai Ambani gained fame as the founder of Reliance Industries, the family successfully supported him while remaining out of the limelight. His elder sister, Trilochna Ben, has been completely discreet; however, her family has contributed to Reliance as well. When Rasiklal Meswani was alive, he was one of the directors of Reliance Industries, and in honour of his legacy, his sons — Nikhil R. Meswani and Hital R. Meswani — are now the executive directors at Reliance Industries. Therefore, the family is intimately connected to the company Dhirubhai built. Nikhil R. Meswani, son of Rasiklal Meswani, one of the Founder Directors of the Company, is primarily responsible for the petrochemicals division and has made major contributions towards Reliance becoming a global leader in petrochemicals. Between 1997 and 2005, he handled the refinery business of the Company. In addition, he continues to shoulder several other corporate responsibilities, such as Corporate Affairs and Group Taxation. Hital R. Meswani is on the Board of the Company as Whole-time Director, designated as Executive Director, since August 4, 1995. His overall responsibility spans the Petroleum Refining and Marketing Business, Petrochemicals Manufacturing, and several corporate functions of the company, including Human Resources Management, Information Technology, Research & Technology, and Capital Projects Execution. Rasiklal Meswani's elder son, Nikhil R. Meswani, came to Reliance Industries in 1986 and by July 1988, was appointed to the board as an Executive Director. Nikhil played the role of leading Reliance's petrochemicals business and helped the company emerge as a global player in that space. He is also involved in the affairs of Reliance-owned Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Mumbai Indians, Indian Super League (ISL), and other sports initiatives of the Company. Rasiklal's younger son, Hital R. Meswani, is responsible for the entire operations of Reliance's Petroleum Refining and Marketing business. He is on the Board of the Company as Whole-time Director, designated as Executive Director, since August 4, 1995. His overall responsibility spans the Petroleum Refining and Marketing Business, Petrochemicals Manufacturing, and several corporate functions of the company, including Human Resources Management, Information Technology, Research & Technology, and Capital Projects Execution. Interestingly, very few people know that Rasiklal Meswani was Mukesh Ambani's first boss. When Mukesh joined Reliance, he worked with Rasiklal. In an interview with Rediff long ago, Mukesh Ambani talked about his experience of leading a team under Rasiklal's guidance, and lessons learnt in business in those early years of his career. 'This was in 1981. Rasikbhai Meswani, Nikhil and Hital's father, was my first boss. The management style used to be very open. We could walk into each other's cabin, join in a meeting or get involved in any discussion. My father encouraged it. But when I joined Reliance formally, he said you need to have a boss and I was put under Rasikbhai's charge. He was running our polyester business, which consisted of importing polyester fibre, texturising it and selling it to textile mills. It was a new business compared to our own textile mill at Naroda (near Ahmedabad) that brought in almost 60%-70% of the profits,' Mukesh Ambani was quoted as saying by Rediff.
