“Surround yourself with great people, and know that value comes from not just profit, but purpose.”
With this single line, Abhishek Lodha, MD & CEO of Lodha Developers, distills a leadership philosophy that goes far beyond real estate and quarterly numbers.” At Fortune India’s Best CEOs Awards, he shared his thoughts, offering a rare glimpse into how he leads one of India’s biggest real estate companies while staying connected to his family, responsibilities, and making a real difference in the long run.
To Lodha, being called one of the best CEOs isn't just a personal win; it's a win for the whole team. He sees the Fortune honor as recognizing the entire team, saying that thousands of people working toward a shared goal are what makes the company tick.
This focus on teamwork shows how Lodha Developers went from a regular Mumbai company to a well-known name in real estate, both in India and around the world. They’ve got some cool projects and a solid plan, all thanks to their skilled teams and systems.
When asked about one thing that keeps him focused, Lodha pointed to something surprisingly simple: eating dinner with his family. For a CEO handling huge projects, this daily thing is super important. It reminds him that life needs to be well-rounded.
The message for future leaders is simple: if you want to achieve your ambitions, you need to find balance and make time for what you care about. It’s not a luxury; it’s a must.
Now that everyone delegates and there are tons of experts, Lodha is firm about one thing a CEO should always do and not delegate: tackle the biggest problems and risks head-on. He thinks leadership means being in charge when decisions could change where the company is headed, like buying land, expanding internationally, or changing strategies.
Lodha himself has a history of turning a small family business into India’s biggest developer by sales, showing that he’s willing to take responsibility for those game-changing decisions.
Lodha’s advice to the next wave of leaders is pretty simple: surround yourself with great people, and don't forget that what you should have a purpose and that should not just be about making money. For him, this means creating a company that runs smoothly, investing in talented people, and making sure growth helps build better cities, homes, and lives.
As India's cities grow, his words at the Fortune India awards act as a simple instruction manual: stay grounded, take charge of the tough stuff, and never forget the why behind what you do in business.
