Aditya Birla Group: Expanding and conquering markets worldwide

Apart from concentrating on the market, ABG reaches out annually to 7.5 million people through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development. Focuses on parameters like healthcare, education, the girl child, sustainable livelihood, women empowerment projects, infrastructure and espousing social reforms. Ongoing education, healthcare and sustainable livelihood projects in Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, Korea and Brazil have lift thousands of people out of poverty.

“Fear is a powerful beast. But we can learn to ride it.” -Justine Musk

When a 28-year-old Kumar Mangalam Birla first took over as the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group upon the sudden demise of his father in 1995, many expressed doubts over his ability to run the sprawling business, let alone expand it. But he proved them all wrong. There is a similar story associated with me. Belonging to a small town,I was short of options for quality education for my Under graduation. Being an introvert my whole life,I was prepared to sacrifice some quality institutes and settle for some average institute as in that case I will be closer to my family and would have got the leverage of staying at home.I was embracing my fear rather than battling it which was more disappointing. Then arrived my decision-makers for me: my parents, on whom I could blindly trust.They straightaway refrained me from making any sacrifices, not only in terms of education but also in any other aspect in life. When life gives you opportunities, it is foolish to let go of them. Rather we should pounce on the opportunities presented. This was the most important decision in my life as if I would have gone by my preference, then my personalities now would have been poles apart. 

Thus far in my very young life, I would say that genuine introspection had the most profound impact.

For the first time in my life I began to look seriously at my desires and what drove them as opposed to others’ expectations of me. This resulted in significant action and a momentous detour from the path that I was taking.