India corporate scene at the first Fortune India Best CEOs event came with something beyond the awards and the applause. The event was a night of straight talk where the titans of the industry not only recapped the landmark moments of their journey but also opened up about the values that led them there and the ultimate lessons they foresee for the forthcoming generations.
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Ltd, who moved out of his comfortable chair as the head of Tata Steel to take over the world's largest integrated zinc producer that has since turned into a green powerhouse, was at this event more than once the winner of a prestigious award, it was a confirmation of a revolutionary idea that he had quietly and single-handedly carried out in one of the most difficult sectors of India. He was awarded the India Best CEOs 2025.
He discussed his views with the Hook team.
In response to the question about the thing he would never hand over to someone else as a CEO, Misra said without a second thought, "Never let someone else bear the pain of making a hard decision. Never let someone else do that. That's yours."
These were not just empty words. This rule was the main factor behind HZL's change. HZL had a target of 1.2 million tonnes of annual production with only 750,000-850,000 MT being produced when Misra arrived. Covid-19 came on top of that with zero industry-future certainty. Still, he made his bold choices. Though the world was still in lockdown, he launched a Sustainable Development Goal vision for 2025 that put emission reduction and water conservation as top priorities.
Misra directed his message to business leaders of tomorrow in a very down-to-earth manner in a world that is rapidly becoming artificially obsessed with value creation. "You have got everything at your disposal, information, IT, technology. Let us be very aware that one still has to make a real product. The whole imaginary product and imaginary economy cannot last for long. Make a product that solves people's problems, help people out, help the country grow. I think that's the best way to survive," he said.
What Misra does to keep his mind sharp and his focus on point was revealed when he was asked the question. He attributed his clarity and focus to his morning runs. For an executive who is at the helm of a business worth ₹33,041-crore and generates ₹10,353 crore in net profit, his answer was not boardroom strategy or meditation apps but rather the discipline of a two-hour morning jog which was also the habit he followed when he first visited Udaipur.
Misra, upon being honored with the Best CEO award, immediately turned the benefit to others. The success was of his team, the company, and the group, he said. It is the Vedanta teaching combined with personal humility, a reminder that individual recognition in the business world is of no value without the team that made it possible.
