In 2002, Raghu Mukherjee, the Karnataka lad won the Mr India title and went onto win the coveted Mr International pageant later. Watching Grasim Mr India pageant with my parents is my earliest memory of Aditya Birla Group (ABG). That is when the golden hues and the bright red Sun rays of the logo grabbed my attention. And with time, like the crisscrossing Sun beams in its new logo, refracting into multidimensional facets, ABG has forayed into and become big in my life.
The clear focus of ABG in becoming a premium global conglomerate has helped it achieve revenue of $44.3 billion. Its continued superior value delivery to all its stakeholders has garnered the organization many international laurels. In 2018, ABG’s Pantaloons was recognized as ‘India’s Most Trusted Fashion Retailer’. It grabbed IMAGES’ ‘Most Admired Retailer of the year’ because of its enterprise solution implementation. World Quality Congress Award and Social Impact Award (by Indian Chamber of Commerce) are a few of its others achievements with regard to its sustainability drive. There is no wonder ABG is one among the only 12 Indian companies to be listed as Forbes’ ‘World’s Best Regarded Companies’.
ABG’s inclusivity is reflected in its addressing its every employee as a colleague. What more can create a sense of belongingness in the employees of an organization! With 14% women in managerial cadre, one of the leading figures of women representation in Indian organizations, ABG has been a landmark in promoting women at work. As a supporter of feminism, I look for what a company has done for its women employees. With inspirational women leaders like Samata Dhawade, Vice President, Central Economic Cell, Deeksha Vats, Joint President, Sustainability, Pinky Mehta, Chief Financial Officer of Aditya Birla Capital and many more, ABG has gained respect from inclusivity perspective too.
Saksham project of ABG in Tikiri, Odisha, for tribal women’s empowerment, Hindalco’s Renukoot plant’s effort in convincing the local panchayats for the remarriage of 200 widows and such other CSR initiatives hold ABG at a very high pedestal in my view.
My English teacher often said “Be the jack of all trades, don’t shy away! But try to master at least a few!” ABG has been exemplary in teaching me how to be a master of many facets in life. Aditya Birla Group has taught me to convert my vision into a milestone! And that is why it is big in my life.