Fortune India Best CEOs wasn't just the best CEO awards that Fortune India celebrated, it was a deep dive into understanding what really drives the captains of Indian industry.
P. Venkatesalu, Managing Director of Trent, brought an element of freshness and authenticity to the show, a masterclass showcasing the real leadership pattern in the most competitive retail market of India.
Along with his very presence, he brought a new idea that has been the engine of Trent's quiet revolution turning it into one of the most profitable Indian retail empires. Behind the shy facade is a person who clearly has spent years thinking deeply about these questions.
His message? Evolution is way more important than disruption, as simple as that, and yet so seldom this practice is observed.
On a question regarding the leadership roles he would never delegate, Venkatesalu was quick to answer. "Accountability," he said.
It is not a matter of micromanaging or mistrusting. Venkatesalu says that the time when a leader begins to distance himself from failures is the time when the company culture gradually corrupts. Therefore, he himself is most often the one who takes responsibility for the wrong outcomes.
Venkatesalu unmasked his most essential habit of the day: being a "learning machine." He says, he tries every single day to become a little more thoughtful. In a volatile market that changes even faster than the quarterly results, here the pledge to non-stop learning is not merely a line of motivational speech but a matter of survival.
Next generation leaders can find the genuine instruction here. It is not glamorous MBA programs or rare executive retreats that shape future leaders but a resolute dedication to learn from every interaction, failure and market sign.
He advised, "First learn to collaborate effectively with people." Not only people in your business, but the lives of everyone you come into contact with. Be of real, positive, relevant, and lasting help to them.
This ideology is the core of Trent's private-label strategy. Each Bombay Paisley kurta, each Zudio dress, each Luna Blu shoe— these are not mere goods. They are the company's assurances to customers of quality, price, and their deserved respect.
Talking about being listed among India’s best CEOs, Venkatesalu quickly changed the focus to someone else. He pointed out that this prize is the whole team's, not only the present team but every colleague along the way who contributed to the making of Trent.
